As you read this list, try to do a little math in your head about the cost of each item and how many times per year one might buy these items. Also think of the isles in a grocery store dedicated to most of these items... isles we never have to go down. There are mass amounts of products we can completely ignore and eliminate from our shopping carts, our counter/cupboard space and our lives. Eliminating these items have helped our money situation, our physical and mental health and our environment all at the same time!
I hope to build this list and add the alternatives and my comments.
- garbage bags - including kitchen bags, large garbage bags, yard waste bags etc.
- paper products - paper towels, napkins, facial tissue, toilet tissue
- plastic wrap and plastic food bags
- hair products - shampoo, conditioner, gels, sprays
- toiletry products marketed to kids - e.g. flavoured toothpastes, coloured soaps etc.
- baby items - diapers, wipes, baby food, gimmicks, new items
- toddler food items - the multitude of processed foods marketed specifically for toddlers
- bottled water
- soda - including sparkling juices
- juice boxes, canned beverages, bottled beverages
- practically all processed foods
- junk food of any kind (candy, chocolate, ice cream, popsicle, chips, cookies, sugar cereals, cheese puffy things, all crackers but one kind, dips etc.)
- daily coffee out (reduced to the occasional treat only)
- eating out (reduced to the rare treat only)
- drinking out
- perishable foods (reduced to what we can eat quickly only)
- all cleansers - window, tiles, toilet etc.
- all air fresheners - including sprays, candles, and other scented items
- toothbrushes
- toys new from a retail store
- clothes new from a retail store (reduced substantially, but not completely eliminated)
- juice - the kind that has the water already added e.g. a 4L jug of juice
- land line telephone
- cable
- movie rentals and movie purchases
- CD/music purchases
- cell phone features like voice mail, call display
- dryer sheets and fabric softeners
- make up, make up removers, specialty cleansers (e.g. acne remedies etc.)
- jewelry
- gifts between my husband and myself and many for my daughter (valentines day, birthdays, christmas)
- knick knacks of any shape or form
- decorations for various seasons or holidays
- daycare costs
- parking expenses
- most things in the "isles" of a grocery store
- single use items - all paper plates, plastic utensils
- single use or disposable cleaning items for floors, dusting, for toilets etc.
- "white" food - white bread, white pasta, white sugar, white rice, white flour products etc.
- cans of shaving cream
- new books
- men's and kid's haircuts
- anti-bacteria anything
- "the latest" anything (electronics, computers, toys, household items, clothes, phones etc.)
- big television
- services we can do ourselves (oil changes, spa services, housekeeping, grocery delivery etc.)
- a home larger than our two bedroom condo (saves in many ways including furnishing, cleaning, commuting, utilities etc.)
- a gas guzzling vehicle for single occupancy trips
- a large vehicle for family use
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