Things you used to buy but now you don't need to

[booksandnooks]

I used to buy coloured card for my children to draw on and make things with, now I just use the card in cereal boxes.
-paper- i just save letters for them to use the other side!
We were about to spend god knows how much on more module pots for seedlings, until I saw a video on YouTube where someone uses toilet paper tubes! Genius!
I used to buy lettuce bags and spinach bags for salads. Now I have a long plant pot on the windowsill and I havent needed to buy any for 2 years. So easy and grows all year round, same with spring onions!

Things I never missed once I stopped buying it
-foil
-cling film
-baking paper
-kitchen paper
-craft items from hobbycraft or poundland. I save so much money from making things with the kids instead of buying it all. I would never do that now! And the craft time we spend making the craft supplies is so much more fun than the actual activity we end up doing

has anyone got any more?

Oh yes.. No more box sets. I regularly used to buy them (eg Call the Midwife) now use netflix.

Meat.

@dementedma

Bottled shampoo and conditioner Shower gel Fabric conditioner Cotton wool Cling film Any spray cleaning products Face/body scrub Bottled water

Whats your alternative for these?

Apart from water

DVDs

Magazines
Kitchen roll
Cling film
Fizzy drinks
Ice cream
Biscuits

@SavingsQuestions

Ooh indoor lettuce and spinach? HOw much space does it take up? Do you keep resowing? Is it hard?

I gave up ironing..

not much space at all, I have a long plant pot which is about as long as 2 pringles tins together and you chuck a few seeds in, water and wait. you need the leaves though, you don't get big lettuce heads, just a pot full of leaves and you pick a couple every sandwich @SavingsQuestions oh me too! I havent ironed since I moved out!

I use tinfoil for almost anything that goes in my oven to cover so it cooks evenly before browning. This goes for meat, veg, lasagne. I definitely use loads.

Sauces: pasta/curry etc.

I used to assume homemade would be fiddly and less tasty. Once I took the time to teach myself a couple of easy recipes I realised how much cheaper and tastier homemade sauces were.

And contraception and sanitary wear. Diaphragms and mooncups may not be the most exciting purchases but I massively recommend both for the environment and convenience! Plus no pesky tablets to remember to take.

@Ericaequites

Condoms-I’m a lesbian now.

I love this

@speakout

Sanitary protection.

Same.

Bonus of hysterectomy

Candles.

I melted all the gunk left at the bottom of my many previous old expensive candles, poured them into ice cube trays, now I just melt them in a burner with one of the seven bajillion unscented IKEA tealights I own.

@Feelingconfused2020 how do you make curry?

oh yes I bought a mooncup but only used it once before getting pregnant and breastfeeding! I havent had a chance to use it for a couple of years now

You can buy roasting tins with lids instead of using foil. Tupperware or bamboo boxes for storing or carrying food. I’ve never used baking paper to make bread I just grease the tin.

Cigarettes, but I have up decades ago, so unsure if this counts.
Magazines, I used to buy loads not sure why
Dog food (sad though)
Beer (though still like a lager)
Make up
CDs

A couple of spinach leaves doesn’t go very far. I grow a “lot” of my own fruit and veg but don’t hesitate to buy spinach for at least 8 months of the year. You need way more than the set you describe to grow
spinach for even 2 people.

@ssd

Apart from water

Eco eggs or similar for laundry detergent.

I use things like Egg, henna, oats, bicarb for my hair. It rarely needs washing now- it took a while to work out what was best for my hair. Obviously that's without putting mousse/gel etc on. I'd have to wash it regularly if I used that kind of thing.

Bar soap in the shower

Tupperware type containers instead of cling film or foil.

Washable sanpro and a mooncup.

Cotton wool- I crocheted some washable pads, but actually prefer a fluffy fleece sock that I cut up, wash and reuse.

Can't remember what else was on the list...

I use tinned tomatoes, lots of spices, stock, ginger and sometimes garam masala. I find various recipes online. I'm veggie so I stick loads of veg in there.

@Ericaequites

Condoms-I’m a lesbian now.

Smash Hits

Kid magazines. The joy on their little faces if I'd come home from work with a cbeebies or ninjago pile of tat. Got quite a pang for the overpriced things the other day.

Is all vbucks now.

Interiors magazines.

I used to buy all of them but had started to get a bit bored before lockdown #1. When you start to recognise the same houses appearing in various magazines you know you’ve read too many!

For some reason lockdown was the catalyst to just stop all together.

Newspapers - I read them online now

I couldn't give up kitchen roll. It's the only way to clean certain things.
Baking paper/foil are useful to stop the oven getting really dirty.
Foil for wrapping up food isn't necessary if you've got good tupperware though.

Likewise foil for over roasts like slow cooked lamb? We only do a few times a year but what do you use instead?

I have a roasting tin with lid.

I don't line the tin. I flour it lightly.