Things I’m Not Spending Money On Anymore

Today I thought it would be interesting to talk about some of the things I’m not spending money on anymore. I know, I know…..It’s not a fun topic, but I think it’s an interesting conversation. A lot of us are in the thick of tax season. We’re looking over finances and previous spending habits. What better time to talk about ways I’m changing my spending habits?!?! (If my husband is reading this, I know…I know….)

I am no finance pro. TRUST ME, I hate having anything to do with talking about money. I’m not the girl who loves sticking to a budget. However, there were quite a few areas of my spending that needed a bit of re-evaluating. Normally when we talk about our previous years spending, I tend to do a lot of deep breathing techniques and realize that: A) Holy shit it costs a lot of money to live and B) I probably need to cut it back a bit on a lot certain things.

If It’s Not In The Budget, It’s Not Happening

So here are the things I’m no longer spending money on anymore. Will that list change? Of course, but for now, this is where we’re at. It’s more about cutting back on the things that I know I don’t necessarily need or things that we’re not using right now.

Also, the one thing I have noticed is that when I’m on social media a lot, I’m really tempted to buy. They make it so easy to shop online nowadays. I tend to buy things on impulse and realize that I probably didn’t need it. I’m working on unfollowing the trigger accounts that tend to get me in trouble. Also, it’s a lot to constantly see sales and things every single day.

Extra Subscription Services

Those tv subscriptions really add up. Currently we have: Hulu, Max, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney, Apple+ TV, Peacock, and I feel like there is something else but that’s what comes to mind at the moment. We certainly don’t need all of these. So it’s my goal this month to unsubscribe to the ones that we aren’t using that often. At the end of the month I’m going to log in to each of these subscriptions and see how many things we actually watched. The ones we barely touch are gone.

Savings: At least $20.00 a month. Yearly over $240.00

Nail Appointments

A fun fact about me is that I can’t stand it when my nails aren’t in tip top shape. I just don’t feel like myself without a manicure and pedicure. I used to visit the nail salon every 3 weeks and drop at least $150.00. I realized that was costing me $1800 a year (and more) so I cut back. It just seemed so excessive?!?

I don’t love doing my own nails, BUT I think I have found a system that works for me. I saw Maddy share that she uses Manicurist and I ordered the starter kit online around December. So far it’s been a total game changer. It’s a gel-like polish, but it is so easy to remove. I can’t stand removing gel or dip polish, but this is completely different. The manicure usually lasts about a week and a half (or more) depending on what I’ve been doing. I’m really happy with it so far and find that I don’t really miss the nail appointments as much as I thought I would.

The Manicurist starter kit system was a little over $100 and it has everything I need. It features a travel lamp, a base coat and top coat and five polish colors. Plus, it came with their clips (what holds the cotton pads when you use the remover, which is also included) AND a remover pen. It’s all put together in a cute bag that stores everything.

Savings: $1800 (and more) (This is so shocking to type, ha)

New Product Launches

As a content creator who talks about beauty launches quite often, I’ve certainly cut back on my spending habits when it comes to new products. I used to feel like I had to try every new product and honestly, it’s just so unnecessary. I’ve also cut back on the amount of makeup I’m using. As a result, that means less trips to stores like Sephora and Ulta.

Do I still love chcking out all the new beauty products? Oh heck yes, but I have certainly cut back on what I’m purchasing. I used to buy at least one new product every week. Now it’s just what I need to re-stock or something that I’m really, really interested in and can justify the purchase. This month I’ve only purchased a La-Roche Posay moisturizer because my skin has been super dry and irritated and a new makeup setting spray because I was out.

Savings: I’d say at least $200.00 a month. Yearly at least $2400.00

Quick Lunches

One of the biggest habits I have to stop is just picking up lunch while I’m out. I pick up my niece everyday from her school. I then stay with her until my SIL is off work. So I’m in my car a fair amount during the week. Sometimes, I’m lazy and just don’t want to pack a lunch. I’ll stop at wherever and just grab something. As we all know, grabbing those quick, on-the-go lunches add up really fast. So I’m determined to be better about it.

I’ve got snacks ready to go. I’ve got foods I know I’ll eat. Even drinks! My goal is to at least cut back to only grabbing something once a week instead of 5 days a week. This also allows me to be more intentional about what I’m actually eating. AKA making sure I’m getting enough protein and such during the week.

Savings: $50 a week (At least) Yearly $2400

Coffee Runs

I love a good iced coffee. I seem to love it even more when I’m out and about. There are Starbucks and coffee shops on every corner around here. A Starbucks trip is at least $7.00. At the very least. It adds up really quick. My husband surprised me with a new Barista Touch Espresso Machine and I love it. I have cut back drastically on Starbucks trips and to be honest, I’ve found that I enjoy my coffee that we make at home so much more. Do I skip Starbucks completely? No, but I do try to only allow myself once a week at most.

Savings: I’ll say at least $21 a week (I used to go at least 3 times) Yearly: At least $1000

Adding To My Bookshelf

It is no secret that I love to read. If you follow me on social media, then you see the books that I read. I LOVE escaping into a good book. HOWEVER, it’s an expensive hobby. I was getting really bad about buying book after book. What happens? They sit on my shelf until I get to them. Will I stop buying books? NO WAY. However, I need to be more intentional about how many I am purchasing.

Today I visited my library and knocked two books off my list I had intended on buying. I get frustrated because the library has such a long wait for books, but honestly, sometimes I’m buying books and they end up sitting on my shelf just as long.

Also, I can get free access to so many magazines using my library card. I used to be subscribed to so many magazines and I’d barely read them. Now I see if my library has access to them and read them online! Those subscriptions are so expensive!

It’s so easy to get caught up in the brand new releases that I sometimes forget that I have bookshelves at home full of books that I wanted to read at one point or another. I also have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited (I mean, I love a good romance book and they are endless on there) as well as Everand (used to be Scribd) which I pay for those monthly, so I plan on using those a lot more. *That is my affiliate link which will give you free access to the subscription service for 60 days if you want to try it out.

Savings: $30.00 (Even if I just stop buying one book a month) Yearly $360.00 (At least)

No More Grocery Store

I am the absolute worst person when it comes to unnecessary spending at a grocery store. To try to stop this expensive habit, I’ve gone to having my groceries delivered. I shop what I need online and they’re dropped off on my front porch. Not only does it save me the headache of going to the grocery store, BUT it also helps me not buy those extra things that I’d see while shopping at the actual store. The extra snacks that I don’t need but they were on sale or the Ice Cream that kept tempting me as I stopped and glanced in the freezer. Oh, Valentine’s Day candy?!? DUH, of course I need it all. Those are what got me in trouble.

Another goal of mine is to stop going to Target so many times. I can’t even count how many times I use the drive-up feature. It’s amazing when you’re in a pinch, but I think it makes it a little too easy. Will I stop going to Target? NO, but I need to go less than I am now. (There is one literally three minutes from my house)

Savings: Even if I skip one Target run or an extra run to the grocery store, I’ll say $50.00 a week. Yearly $2400

Total Savings

Even if I just cut back on the things listed above, I’m saving $10,600.00 a YEAR. That’s an incredible amount of money. It’s shocking to see that much totaled up and realize that we’re probably throwing away so much money on things that aren’t necessary. Yikes.

I’m also trying to be more intentional about purchases. I don’t need to keep up with fashion as it changes so much. Every week there is a new trend and honestly, for my day-to-day, I’m in the same type of outfit. Sure I like to update my wardrobe every so often, but I don’t need to be supporting fast fashion as often as I had been.

Another goal of mine is to try to learn more about investments and such. We have a financial advisor, but I’d love to know what else we could be doing. I’m sure he would have a lot more suggestions on ways to save more money as well that I haven’t even though of. I wish they would have taught more about finances in school.

Doing My Best

These are just a few of the things I’m not spending money on right now. Of course this list will change, but the big picture is to improve my spending habits and cut back. I’m privileged (and recognize it) that I don’t have to worry about having food on our table and worrying about our bills being paid. However, I know that I can be better about how I’m spending money. Even just cutting back a bit helps in the big picture.

Are there any ways that you are trying to cut back? Has there been anything that you’re not spending money on anymore?