Buying or Not Buying Products

 

Let’s talk about buy products or not buying products. We get into habits of buying certain things and don’t stop to think if we need it. In most cases we ended up buying way more than we need or can use within a reasonable time. That creates unused products, cramped storage, and wasted money. 

I stopped buying things that I don’t use often, or things I thought I could do without about 6 years ago. I don’t just automatically add things once used up to my shopping list. I wait to see if I really miss the items or find that I need it for whatever reason. Most often I never buy the product again. It seems weird but I had so much extra of everything that it’s taking years to use everything up. I’ve donated or trashed things that I knew I’d never use but a lot of products I knew that I would use up eventually so I’ve keep them. My supply is dwindling and it feels nice to not have so much products. It has reduced decision fatigue also since I have a shorter list of things that I buy and mostly buy the same brands over and over. 

 I buy the same brand and package size of Health and Beauty Aids such as toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, dish soap, dishwasher soap, storage bags, and trash bags every month. It makes it easier to not have to think about it since they are needed items. This category didn’t take long to use up and I was able to automate what I use regularly. 

The Personal Care category has been a bit harder. I don’t use a lot of product but I had a good amount of product. I didn’t have nearly as much as some people since I don’t use a lot but I had more than I needed. Makeup products, I limited myself to 1 blush, eyeliner, and 2 eye shadows. I limit my perfume, nail polish, and hairspray things too. I do have a few more of certain things than I ultimately want but since I use the product, I’ll use what I have until it’s gone. I’ll buy 1 of something when I need to purchase again. This category I'm doing pretty good with although like I said I still have a few things like body spray that i need to use up.

One area I am still working on using up is cleaning products. I haven't needed to buy more but I did still buy Comet for the bathroom. I stopped doing that about a year ago.  I was almost out of products when my daughter came home and brought her cleaning product for me to have. That was almost 2 years ago and it may be another 2 years before I use all hers.  She had big gallons of concentrated products that take awhile to use. I have my favorites but to me a cleaner is a cleaner if it does the job. I don’t use cleaners that much and that is one reason they are lasting so long. I like basic soap, water, a little bleach and comet for the bathroom. I’d probably buy an all-purpose cleaner than will work on the floor too. I’ll be saving my money until I use up what I have. 

In the case of food items I stopped buying things I don’t want to eat due to wanting to eat better, 6 years ago. I slowly used up the undesirable food items to save money, things like rice mix packets, hamburger helper, and frozen food items. Once the items were gone I’d not buy them again and buy healthier stuff. I buy basic staples like rice, pasta, beans, canned goods, flour, and sugar along with fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat. I don’t buy much packaged processed stuff; I buy one treat per week like ice cream, chips, or candy. We have 3 of our 4 adult children at home so I do have more of things due to them purchasing items for themselves that I need. 

What have you tried going without? What did you find? What worked? What didn't work?