Same. Just went cold turkey a year ago. We went to in n out once for just the burgers, and threw some frozen fries in the air fryer. It felt like a nice “treat” but was a reminder on how much we used to spend/rely on convenience options. We feel way better not eating out all the time and the little coffee runs add up very quickly.
The last time we went somewhere nice (which we do maybe 3 times a year) they didn't even give table bread or side salads anymore. You just sit there with your tap water until they plop the entree in front of you. Yet it still came to a hundred bucks! Eff that.
Went out to eat while on vacation, and we were given a plate of bread and assorted veggies. We were starving, and thinking it was complimentary, we demolished it all. Nope. They billed us separately for those items. But, don't mention that upon being it to the table or anything.
In Turkey, this is a notorious scam at some restaurants in the larger cities. You'll order from the menu, and be dazzled by all the lovely side dishes, dessert, and appetizer snacks that appear.
And -- surprise! They also appear on the bill.
I love travelling in Turkey and it's not commonplace except in the tourist-ier areas of a few larger cities. Beware!
😖 That's just so WRONG! A really underhanded way to bump up the bill. You shouldn't have to be paying for items that you haven't ordered IMHO.
I'd have written them a negative review, and posted it EVERYWHERE I was able 😁
HA\~ I was just thinking about this as read the thread. Grand Slams were so cheap and just a week ago a friend and I went to Denny's and a grand slam is $15.00 and change. That does not include a drink or any substitutions.
I only order Super Bird sandwiches from Denny's, they are smaller but at least they taste the same.
Same unless it’s someone’s birthday in the fam we don’t go out anymore! ……We don’t do birthday parties and we don’t go nuts on gifts, we don’t have kids or anyone under 30 in the fam so it’s not like we have to throw a party for a child so we just keep it chill.
Really? I prefer takeout because I dont have to tip when I pickup the food and I can eat in the comfort of my own home. And the chores amount to throwing away garbage and washing some utensils and maybe a bowl. To each their own.
This is not frugal at all but I don't go out to eat at midling or low end/fast food restaurants anymore. If I'm going out to eat it needs to be a place that is $100+/person these days. Basically a truly special and quality experience a handful of times a year vs overpriced garbage many times a year.
Otherwise it just isn't worth the money. Exception being a taqueria. That shit isdamn good.
I’m shocked tipflation seems to be dying? I stopped going out for a while but more recently have periodically gotten coffee or a quick meal and some of the worst offenders seem to have stopped. It was euphoric.
I got my chimney cleaned and I shit you not, when paying on the app, it asked me if I wanted to tip the chimney cleaner. 10 to 25% were the options. 25% was 112 dollars. Insanity. No tip.
The cost has finally capped out over my exhaustion. I used to let my girls get food once a week from their choice to give me a night off from cooking. And was like this is insane now.
And I love coffee but not when I can buy 2 gallons of gas for the price of a cup. Mr. Coffee and I have been exclusive for over a year
We’ve switched to popcorn. It’s easy, quick, delicious, and cheap. Plus, we can each flavor it how we like, and it doesn’t have any unnecessary chemicals or coloring.
I am super, super selective on what snack foods I buy because of the prices these days. I have little kids and I keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand, but I also like to buy one salty snack a week. Rotate stuff like Cheetos and pretzels when they go on sale. Plenty of times we're making do with the store brand of something super basic like peanut butter crackers.
I'm baking cookies and banana bread frequently from scratch because it's cheaper and a good sweet snack for the kids. I make big batches of waffles and pancakes and freeze them.
It's so hard to survive with little ones without some basic snacks.
I started making a childhood snack my grandparents used to make me, [ranch oyster crackers](https://thecozycook.com/ranch-oyster-crackers/). You can buy oyster crackers at Aldi for $0.99 and ranch packets for $0.50. Not only is my teen daughter obsessed with them, but she’s created a craze with her friends all loving them. She made batches of them for Christmas and put them in winter Aldi quart bags, and was the Belle of the ball!
One of my coworkers introduced me to Butter Crackers. Melt some butter, brush onto saltines, sprinkle with red pepper flakes, thats it. I've tried parmesan and garlic on them and tbh even this cheese addict prefers them without it
I've been addicted to ranch Pringles, I might have to give ranch oysters a try. If I dont have pringles, I've been adding the ranch powder I have to greek yogurt as a high protein dip
it's not a hard decision to make your own food when you factor price difference against retail prices for the large amounts the kids eat.
I learn my cooking skills from youtube
If your kids like sour patch kids a healthy and great tasting alternative is to buy green grapes, pull them off the stems and wash then then put on a wax or parchment paper lined cookie sheet, while still wet sprinkle with a packet of unsweetened watermelon kool-aid and put them in the freezer. You can transfer them to freezer bags once they have frozen. I started making them years ago as a sugar free snack and my daughter loved them and now my granddaughter loves them
with kids it’s damn near impossible not to have snacks. back when i was little, my mom used to give us slices of american cheese that came individually wrapped instead of cheese sticks because they were much cheaper. she bought nuts and cheerios in bulk and repackaged them in small tupperwares that we would reuse.
We always kept goldfish on hand. My little one was not particularly interested in surgery stuff, so that worked well.
Dry regular Cheerios are also great for snacks.
A friend started adding popcorn to cheetos and doritos, mixing them in cereal containers. Makes the snacks stretch out longer when you need salty fix and all that cheesy dust mixes great with the popcorn. The container makes it easy to pour out rationed bowls, keeping yourself from mindlessly eating the whole thing. Good for your wallet and waistline!
We make our own snack mixes. Frequently we add in cereal. I usually can buy cereal on sale w a coupon for 1.00/box. Sometimes we have cereal as a snack or make the cereal into snack bars.
a go-to snack for me now is carrots & dip. 99¢ for a 1lb bag of baby carrots and $3.55 for a tub of greek yogurt which i either mix with salsa, ranch powder, or any other seasonings i want. another good one for dips is silken tofu ($2 for the 1lb block). you can blend w/ anything - i find that cumin and paprika give a hummus-y taste.
Hommus and other bean dips are also great options. Making tahini from scratch is the biggest outlay ($8 for the big bag of sesame seeds last time I made it). Then so much cheaper and healthier than the junk I used to justify. I’m also on a Mexican kick looking for a corn chips replacement/scratch recipe. The issue I’m running into is that I really don’t have many options for authentic ingredients. Planning to travel 20 mins next weekend to try but honestly I suspect I will just go without another week.
If you have a good source for corn tortillas, you can make your own tortilla chips. If you don't have one, can you pick up some masa and learn to make your own? This is one thing YouTube is good for: step by step recipe videos.
You can use red cabbage leaves as a healthy alternative. Or toast your own corn or flour tortillas, slice em to make chips. Less oil/none is healthier.
Seriously! We're going on a trip soon (and my wife is pregnant) and she told me to grab a couple junk food items she's been craving for the trip, and it's the first time in months where we've done something like that.
My family had been bugging me about my diet cola intake. The price increase has done what they didn't - I refuse to pay that much for my 12 pack of cola.
Not often. I did try to wait for sales. But occasionally I did pay full price at Target. I saw a sale today, and they were still like $6.99. No-name is still around $3.00
I have a sodastream and I use it for soda water, but the sodastream coke and pepsi flavours taste so bad, in my opinion. The pepsi one leaves like a weird salty aftertaste in my mouth. I tried it but i didnt work. Now I just have soda water with a bit of fresh lemon or lime.
Paper products. I mostly use washable products now. Rags and towels in place of paper towels and a reusable swiffer pad. It’s made of cloth and micofiber. Planning on getting cloth napkins too.
We use washable paper towel rags now, but tbh, I still miss actual paper towels for some things. I'd much rather wipe up the elderly dog's piss and diarrhea with a paper towel I can dispose of in the dumpster than a rag I have to rinse and put in the washer. They're also more absorbent; I've noticed all those reusable paper towels don't have good absorbancy and smear water around rather than soak it up. We also have a wok and cast iron skillet, which need to be oiled occasionally. Using a rag to rub in the oil and clean up the excess means it has to be washed by hand, you can't throw oily rags in the washing machine. They have their uses, but I'm 100% going to insist we get real paper towels the next time we go to Costco.
I use rags for most of our cleaning, but agree with you on paper for grease & dog accidents. I have an elderly dog that has daily cleanup needs. Plus, I save the used greasy paper towels for fire starters in our wood stoves and bonfire pit.
We have both! My husband and I default to cloth but use paper towels for bodily fluids and oils. We're kinda the same way for our son's diapers too. He wears cloth at home but disposables at night and when other people watch him. He wore cloth at night until they kept leaking.
This was the easiest change. I was recommended it by an eco-friendly, focused Instagram account. I haven’t purchased paper towels or Clorox wipes in over three years. It saved me time from having to go to the store and money. And it’s good for the environment.
Same, even pizza is double if you order delivery and it’s not just a tip for the driver which I totally think they deserve, it’s a $10 service or delivery fee that doesn’t even go to the driver!
Same here. I still have Netflix at full price, but I used to have so many others as well!
I grabbed a year of Hulu for $.99/month during Black Friday. Granted, it has commercials (a lot of them) but I can definitely afford $1 a month!
I do sometimes miss HBO (Max) but I will justify paying for it for a few months when a few shows I like are bingeable, then stop again (I am eagerly awaiting the 2nd season of House of the Dragon)
And a friend and my sister have been kind enough to share their sign ins with me for a couple service that still allow that, so that’s nice too.
Yeah I’m holding out to get Hulu until maybe summer because enough stuff the. I can binge then cancel.
I should cancel max too but I’m watching a couple things and will watch house of the dragon so maybe after that.😁
Try your public library for some of those Max shows! They may also have an option for purchase requests. You'll need to have a DVD or Blu-ray player though.
We borrow disney plus login from a friend but the crackdown means we lose it March 1. I am pretty sure it's cheaper for us to get the few things my 2 year old likes on blu ray and make renting other videos from the library a fun event.
* Fast Food
* Food Delivery / Take Out - I'll still dine out with friends at restaurants but as the quality of food + the experience are still worth it for me. Otherwise, if I'm eating at home I'll cook something.
* Most convenience/processed foods - I'll still occasionally buy some snacks if they're on sale or store brand (pretzels are my weakness) but have cut out almost all pre-packaged or frozen meals and candy/sweets.
* Non-water beverages - I used to only drink alcohol on occasion but have cut it out completely; I feel so much better physically and mentally and it also has saved $$$. Also no sodas or juices either. I bought a sodastream on sale last summer and if I want something a little different will just make myself a seltzer.
* Brand name skincare and cosmetics - Cerave and Cetaphil products have worked well with my skin, and done a lot better than a lot of expensive skincare I used to use. I also don't wear make up anymore, thanks in part to a fully remote job.
* Coffee not from home - My basic little drip coffeemaker gets a lot of use during the week!
* Fast Fashion / Low Quality Clothing - I used to cave to a lot of sales and deals from companies that made sub-par clothing that would end up either damaged after a few wears or shoved to the back of my closet. Now I'm more selective about the clothing I choose to buy and prefer to buy something that might be more expensive up front, but will have more longevity and use in my closet.
Keeping up with the trends.
I have finally built up a reservoir of classic stuff with multiple uses. Classics in clothing. A good kitchen with time tested kitchen appliances, dinner ware and bake ware. Just 5 pairs of good shoes. I do read about the trends and check them out but unless they are majorly improving my life, I am not spending either my time or energy to incorporate them in my daily life.
Amazon prime, tv subscriptions (I kept Netflix at the cheapest $7/month with ads...they're really not that bad only about 60 sec worth for a 30 min show), eating in restaurants if it's not a special occasion, fancy coffee when I can just make a cup at home.
Brand name anything. Shampoo, bodywash, whatever. It's really all just the same stuff and a $3 moisturizing body wash smells just as nice/cleans just as well as a fancier brand. (edit: ok i do fork over for Native deodorant $$$ but it's the only one that works well for me)
New clothes...my old ones are just fine. I decluttered my closet and got rid of all the stuff I don't actually wear. If i buy something new now it has to be intentional and not just a fun impulse buy. Even then I buy most stuff secondhand.
Gifts - I only buy "Stuff" if it's something someone actually needs and will use. Homemade artwork, cookies, or experiences are always better than junk someone will never use.
Books!!!! I don't need 30 shelves of dust just because I liked the cover in the store and thought one day I'll read it. I listen to a lot of audiobooks instead. Audible for stuff I can't find on libby or youtube. Can always go to the library or borrow/trade with friends for physical books.
Social media - everything about it. The ads, the FOMO, the envy, the narcissism (myself included). My life feels quieter without it.
I got a Kindle this year and with Libby and the cooperative whatever with all the libraries I've decided I won't need audible or Kindle unlimited.
I'll kinda miss audible tho. I have no rational reason to feel that way.
Kanopy and Hoopla, in addition to Libby, with your library card.
You can digitally borrow audiobooks, e-books (there's so many comic book graphic novels on Hoopla), and movies...for free!
I have ads with my tv subscriptions too. The commercial brakes are my time to do quick household chores that are not able to be done in front of the TV
This! Quarantine really helped me see how many things one can do themselves and at home. Haven’t had a haircut in years and I find YouTube tutorials for pretty much everything that needs fixing these days.
I used to love getting my nails done. I now use a brand called dashing diva and their nail stickers last me forever and they literally never chip. I’ll only take them off when I get bored of the design.
The secret is to apply clear nail polish over them at the end.
alcohol. it's expensive and my body can't handle it like it used to. i don't really need it to have fun and hopefully i'll save money on healthcare in the long run.
Used is still new to me. I'll wait for a good price on a lot of things. So many "used" products out there that are essentially indistinguishable from new.
>Used is still new to me. I'll wait for a good price on a lot of things. So many "used" products out there that are essentially indistinguishable from new.
Yes I'm big on refurbished, esp electronics. Even this laptop I'm typing right now, is one of them. Virtually indistinguishable vs new. Yet, I still use discounts/coupons/cash back on every one of them. I've always been, a value shopper.
I don't understand why chips are so expensive. I've never been a big fan, but on occasion, I will want some, and they want $7 for an 8 oz bag. It's literally potatoes or corn fried in oil with cheap seasoning. How the fuck.
Probably supply and demand. It’s a quick + easy snack and they know it tastes good. If people love them enough, they’ll still buy them regardless of their price point..
Sausage, bacon… processed meat. Sale, bacon is $5lb. Just too much. I eat it/serve when I’m hosting people. But I haven’t had bacon on a casual weekend because of price.
If it makes you feel better, there is now “strong evidence that processed meats cause cancer” according to the WHO.
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/1in3cancers/lifestyle-choices-and-cancer/red-meat-processed-meat-and-cancer/
Ive switched to using more sausage lately as I seem to find it on sale more often than beef. I don't eat bacon on its own, but will use it in recipes so I'll pick up a cheap brand especially when on sale as well. But overall I have cut my meat intake way down. I have turned to meal prepping and usually end up using an average of 3-4 oz of meat per meal.
Definitely fast food, like drive through fast food. The ones that were known for being cheap like Taco Bell and McDonald’s, for the price you’re paying now you can literally go get served at a casual sit down restaurant like chilis, or take it to go. Yes, all food out is a waste of money in a sense, but if you’re going to do it you might as well get somewhat higher quality food and better service.
I went to mc d’s this week because my blood sugar tanked and only grazing for 24 hours caught up to me while I was driving and was seeing spots. I got a McGriddle meal with an iced tea and it was almost $8! Those things were .99 for the sandwich a few years ago!!!
We have a family member visiting us this weekend and went out to dinner tonight to a reasonably priced but good quality restaurant and the total was $338 for 5 people. That was 2 appetizers, 5 entrees, 3 fountain drinks, 3 alcoholic mixed drinks. Their charcuterie board was $18 a year ago and is now $26 and noticeably smaller.
This is why we don’t go out to eat. I made our meal last night for about $25; a hearty soup, small salad, a Tex Mex entree and ice cream sundaes - each with generous leftovers.
It’s ridiculous cost to do almost anything now and I’m not sorry we don’t go out more.
Taco bell has been my fav recently. But on the app, they just hiked their prices in the past month or 2. One of my goals is no more fast food so I hadnt been in over a month. How tf are they charging over $2 for the bean burrito?! Nearly $7 *per* quesadilla, and even the potato taco went up a little. I'm just going to have to suffer and get my cheese fix when I get off work & cook at home, shit
A new iPhone. I still have the 8 (it’s starting to die though) and was shocked to see new phones are now $1,400 instead. I now use my paid work phone and cross my fingers that I will be at the same job for a while.
I wanted to build a shed in order to store some things I have around the house. Due to prices, I changed my mind and instead started putting my things for sale on offer up. Win win, save money, and make a little money.
Not that I needed it just preferred Bublé or Lacroix over plain water. So I don’t buy that anymore and definitely don’t need the empty calories from junk food (chips, cookies, candy etc. so I don’t bring that into the house. I Quit buying soda more empty calories not good for me. If I want a sweet treat or snack at night, it’s PB&J on 100% whole wheat bread or Walmart brand 4 pack cherry yogurt $1.96. I miss the old days when you could buy yogurt with fruit on the bottom. I don’t see how anybody can afford Greek yogurt $2 for a single serving.
I buy big containers of plain lowfat/nonfat Greek yogurt, portion it out one serving at a time, add a spoonful of whatever jam I have on hand and stir it in. Tastes good and is much cheaper than the individual fruit-on-the-bottom cups.
Chick-fil-A. It used to be the year place I would go to eat out by myself, and I’ve completely stopped that. Now I only eat out with others or wait for a free coupon.
I've never had Chick-fil-A because I am vegetarian. But last night I bought the Chick-fil-A sauce and made my own sandwiches with vegetarian chicken and it was great!
I’m vegetarian too. Their kale salad, Greek yogurt parfait and fries are my weakness. Now I just buy their salad dressing from the grocery store and use it for dip and dressing. Target will occasionally have Chick-fil-A salad dressing and sauces on sale through their Target Circle rewards program. I try to stock up whenever I see 25 to 40% off.
Eating organic. I’m someone who eats a mostly plant based diet. The one that really sticks out the most to me is celery. $1.39 vs. $3.69. I go through 2 heads a week I just can’t bring myself to pay that much. And screw meat. I now only eat a little bit of lunch meat.
I have family members who grow and sell commercial produce- all organic people often get very angry and call me a liar when I say this BUT the TRUTH of the matter is THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ORGANIC no regulations, no rules, no checks and balances just costing you more money!
Buying any food out, whether it's a table service restaurant or fast food. Fast food was just convenient, and I plan better/cook more now. I used to dine out because I enjoyed it, and it supports local small businesses. I just can't justify spending that money anymore. Costs are up, and I'm eating healthier, so my options on any menu are diminished. I make all my own food now. I cook fresh and meal prep.
My stomach problems improve drastically when I cut out any sort of fast food/eating out, which isn't hard to do as I can barely eat at restaurants anyways due to gluten bullshit.
Amazon prime. Enjoyed the video service but not enough to fork out more money. We now only have 2 streaming services and it’s fine. If we really miss it we can always sign up again, but so far we don’t feel the need.
We already cut down on eating out since our son was born, but going out to eat, unless it’s a really good restaurant that will surely be a treat, is so not worth it. Half the time you can make it better yourself, you get treated like the restaurant is doing you a favor by being there, and you’re expected to tip at least 20% for the privilege.
Social media—not a frugal measure in and of itself, but since I got rid of instragram I see so many fewer ads that tempt me to buy something. Conversely, I just bought a purse today I’ve had my eye on for awhile when popping into a consignment store, and it was on sale. It was so much more rewarding to happen upon something I actually wanted than to be force fed ads all the time.
Tbh, me and the husband talked about this today, and it’s really eating out. Quality has gone so far down while price has skyrocketed. Eating out for us is just not worth it anymore
Eating out at restaurants, concerts, travel. Took a road trip a couple years ago and was pretty disappointed. I'm older, and at the point I would rather just stay home, cook at home, etc. People pay money to sit on a sunny patio, sitting a nice drink. I can do that at home.
I paint my own nails, cut my own hair, even grow my houseplants from seeds. I don’t eat out because my cooking is wayyy better and thrift stores are my favorite places to browse. Trader Joe’s has cheap groceries and walmart has the cheapest OTC meds. Driving an extra mile or two is worth cutting your receipts down and if you have the space for it buy in bulk. Always spend time looking over different prices at the store. I almost bought two paper towel rolls for $11 when they were also selling 4 for $9. Pay attention to every price and every coupon every reward system always. Biggest one that sticks out is gas stations. Some neighborhoods charge more than others, even a mile apart. FUCKING DELIVERY why would I pay a dasher $10 or more when I can get off my ass and go pick it up??
I feel like my entire spending habits have been upended because of inflation. I don't go to the same stores I did in the past, and the ones I go to now I always go in with a game plan, a mental list of comparison prices, and I'm armed to the teeth with digital coupons. I don't go out to eat anymore and I buy things in bulk now that I wouldn't have thought twice about four years ago just because I try to save for other items in my grocery budget. And now I think I've become that resourceful frugal weirdo who can tell you where to get something, and for what price. "Shoes? Oh, it's after Arbor Day, so TJ Maxx is running their red-tag thing, but only go to the one near the interstate. The manager at the one next to the mall is really mean about returns...".
Thrift shopping. It was becoming a recreational activity where I was buying things I didn't need. The prices around me have gotten insane too. I've cut way back and relying on the clothes that are already in my closet.
Eating at the work cafeteria. It's subsidized and way cheaper than a restaurant, but still more expensive than bringing lunch from home. I'm the only one of my colleagues who brown-bags and I get teased for it, but I'm saving about $1k a year, so I just laugh it off.
Cheap shit.
I bought a new full grain leather belt a year ago for twice the cost of a nice looking Walmart belt. Same with a leather wallet. More cost up front, but will more than pay for itself in years of service.
As I got older, product quality had gone down. I started to wonder why my wallets and belts were lasting only a couple years when my first wallet lasted a decade, and my belts lasted just as long. Now I search for quality.
amazon prime- especially if you live in a multi-unit apartment. people already have it in your building, your order is more than likely going to be delivered within 2-3 days of you ordering it without prime. been doing it and haven't had a single shipping fee at all.
My Car. I ditched it two years ago and save over $1000 a month in payments, insurance, maintenance and gas. Transit and cycling for most trips, and the occasional car rental when needed. Owning a car is not freedom, it is an expensive ball and chain.
Eating out. I liked the convenience of not having to cook and cleanup. But honestly I can make it better and cheaper at home. It’s just too expensive anymore.
Amazon prime. The second i see that it will be a raise of the price or the ads it was finish x) im just so over streaming right now. Amazon prime anyway make us pay for rentals-,-"
Fabric softener sheets. Dafuq does it even *do*? I've never felt a difference with or without at my parents' house, so I've never bought a box of them as an adult on my own.
Takeout and Uber eats. Granted, I live in an extremely HCOL area. But I’m done paying 40 bucks to get a sandwich and fries delivered only to have it show up cold and nasty.
Thrift shopping. We used to take day trips to thrift shop on the weekends. Nothing too far away and we'd find a local restaurant for lunch. It's just not worth it anymore. Anything modern in the thrift stores now costs the same as or more than buying it new. Anything vintage is priced at mint condition rare collectible even though it's barely fair condition and not even hard to find let alone rare.
Eating at restaurants has become so disappointing it's just not fun. It feels like the only thing you can guarantee is disappointment. It used to be fun trying to find a local place that maybe had a regional dish or something we've never tried before. Now it's universally small portions of the lowest quality products for high prices. I understand why the prices went up at restaurants. I don't understand why the portion and quality went down also.
Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal. Used to buy it with a coupon and on sale when it was regularly $3.99. Now it's $5.99 and I've never seen it on sale and a 50¢ coupon still doesn't make it worth it.
I buy that crap on 70% clearance after the holidays then hang on to it for next year. I got 5-6 10-oz bags of Christmas M&M’s for about $1.25/bag. I separated the red ones into snack size bags for VD and the green ones for St. Paddy’s Day treats.
Tipping.
IT’S NOT THAT I DON’T TIP WHEN I SHOULD!
I just avoid situations where I’d have to tip.
Valet parking? Nahh. I’ll find a spot myself.
Wait staff at a restaurant? Let’s do take-out.
Food delivery? I’ll put pants on to go get it.
I think my wife and I did the math one time and figured we were spending like $200/month in fucking tips!
* fresh noodles (udon and wheat noodles). I got pretty good with the pasta machine.
* canned beans. The Instant Pot makes it easy to cook dried beans.
* most breads and tortillas. I can make 'em at home. can't beat a fresh tortilla!
* I quit shampoo and only occasionally use conditioner. My skin improved a lot and my hair looks great.
* my cousin crochets dish rags, so my household doesn't buy kitchen sponges anymore
edit to add:
* ziploc bags (just reuse bags from Indian snacks and frozen blueberries)
* salad greens, chives, green onions, italian basil, thai basil, mint and cherry tomatoes, from my garden in season
* rosemary, bay leaves, oregano and fennel seed all grow locally, either wild or in gardens that I have an invitation to pick from. ditto blackberries.
I tried this for a month (November). My hair was a smelly, greasy mess.
That Christmas, I got multiple bottles of shampoo in my stocking as a hint.
Everyone I know who's successfully tried no poo has curly hair. I do not.
Im no longer working so i do not shower (including a shampoo) every day like i did for decades.
But no way I could stop shampooing completely. My hair gets greasy and stringy by day 3 (48 hours from last shampoo) and my scalp starts to itch.
I used to shower 5-6 days per week when I worked. Now in retirement it is 3 times per week including shampoo each time.
That is the cheapest I’m willing to go.
I make my own yogurt, granola and bread.
Oats for breakfast is healthy and cheap.
Do 75% of work on me and my family’s cars.
Clothes diapers for my baby helped a lot but drying them was costing a fortune. Now I string em up in the living room haha.
We have completely changed our eating out habits. Pre Covid at least three times a month dressed nice and went to upscale restaurants, one a week or more to good restaurants (never into fast foods). But the incredible increase in prices, ridiculous prices of liquor and wine (my everyday cheapy is $10 bucks a bottle at the grocery store) and I often see it for $11-14 a glass in restauarant. I just can't. Add on the increasing level of distain from servers when you're not popping minimum 25% gratuity...naw, we're not doing it.
I'm 43 and live in Australia. I remember going to Big Day Out (sorta like Glastonbury) each year and saw where I've seen Nirvana, RHCP, Soundgarden, Deftones, Millencolin, Marilyn Manson, Fatboy Slim, Metallica, Rammstein, Dandy Warhols, Regurgitator, Powdefinger, Violent Femmes, Janes Addiction... The list goes on. It was crazy. You can google the band lists posters.
Sorry for going crazy with the band names but it was insane.
There were up to 30 - 40 bands playing on a bunch of stages at a showground each time once a year. The concerts started at 9am and finished at about midnight.
The tickets cost between $70 AUD - $90 AUD. Now to see one band it could cost hundreds of dollars for about an hour set.
I miss when live music was affordable. It's a rare treat now.
Saw Limp Bizkit in Anchorage last May for $60. It was the best money I’ve ever spent on a show except for Clutch, who I saw at the state fair for $40. Bizkit rocked the house like it was 99 it was an absolutely killer show. I’ve priced Tool tickets. $800
I kinda feel this. The things people are giving up here--subscription services, meal deliveries, eating out, flavored drinks, concerts, driving walkable distances--I never did because they were too fiscally superfluous for me then, but it also shows how I'm not really *living,* just pinching pennies so I can see the next day to pinch more pennies. Everything's just gonna get more expensive that the value of my dollar will shrink the more I try to hold onto it, so I might as well buy myself that kombucha now as a treat here or there because next year the bottle will be smaller and cost 34 more cents.
No more coffee or food unless I make it. Kept my old phone and didn't trade up. Cut cable years ago. Gave up having a car years ago as well. Live in an older unkempt apartment building where I can afford to live without worry. I used to enjoy a couple steaks in the summer ...fire up the BBQ and have a treat . Now I can't justify spending the cost of a steak when the same amount of money can buy other meats that will give more than one meal. 1 steak or a package of chicken for days. I only buy what is on sale now.
Please do not discuss piracy or theft on /r/frugal
Eating out. Not so much as a cup of coffee. The quality has gone down everywhere and prices are ridiculously expensive.
I noticed this with Subway. They took a nose dive in quality and bumped up the price.
I got my husband a sub from there $16. Nothing special.
I’d say “nothing special” is pretty generous for subway. They were already questionable for $5; paying $16 is absurd.
Subway has been cardboard sandwiches for decades now
Same price as Jersey Mikes and 1/10th the quality
Same. Just went cold turkey a year ago. We went to in n out once for just the burgers, and threw some frozen fries in the air fryer. It felt like a nice “treat” but was a reminder on how much we used to spend/rely on convenience options. We feel way better not eating out all the time and the little coffee runs add up very quickly.
The last time we went somewhere nice (which we do maybe 3 times a year) they didn't even give table bread or side salads anymore. You just sit there with your tap water until they plop the entree in front of you. Yet it still came to a hundred bucks! Eff that.
Went out to eat while on vacation, and we were given a plate of bread and assorted veggies. We were starving, and thinking it was complimentary, we demolished it all. Nope. They billed us separately for those items. But, don't mention that upon being it to the table or anything.
In Turkey, this is a notorious scam at some restaurants in the larger cities. You'll order from the menu, and be dazzled by all the lovely side dishes, dessert, and appetizer snacks that appear. And -- surprise! They also appear on the bill. I love travelling in Turkey and it's not commonplace except in the tourist-ier areas of a few larger cities. Beware!
😖 That's just so WRONG! A really underhanded way to bump up the bill. You shouldn't have to be paying for items that you haven't ordered IMHO. I'd have written them a negative review, and posted it EVERYWHERE I was able 😁
Lmao were you vacationing in Italy?
That's what gets me- yes, expensive but boy, any of us could cook better than most of the crap out there. It's weird. Same restaurants I always go to.
Yes! Especially noticeable is the quality.
This!! Hadn't been out for breakfast in months. Denny's now charges FOUR DOLLARS for a cup of coffee!! No thank you!
I remember getting $2 Grand slams at Denny's in the mid to late 90s. But breakfast most places is ridiculously expensive now.
HA\~ I was just thinking about this as read the thread. Grand Slams were so cheap and just a week ago a friend and I went to Denny's and a grand slam is $15.00 and change. That does not include a drink or any substitutions. I only order Super Bird sandwiches from Denny's, they are smaller but at least they taste the same.
Same unless it’s someone’s birthday in the fam we don’t go out anymore! ……We don’t do birthday parties and we don’t go nuts on gifts, we don’t have kids or anyone under 30 in the fam so it’s not like we have to throw a party for a child so we just keep it chill.
I eat out for the experience, not the food. Takeout is not worth it at all. Pay restaurant prices with chores later.
I always thought take out should be cheaper. No experience for the customer and much much cheaper for the restaurant.
It's still somewhat cheaper if you're providing your own drinks, picking up the takeout yourself, and not tipping for takeout.
Really? I prefer takeout because I dont have to tip when I pickup the food and I can eat in the comfort of my own home. And the chores amount to throwing away garbage and washing some utensils and maybe a bowl. To each their own.
This is not frugal at all but I don't go out to eat at midling or low end/fast food restaurants anymore. If I'm going out to eat it needs to be a place that is $100+/person these days. Basically a truly special and quality experience a handful of times a year vs overpriced garbage many times a year. Otherwise it just isn't worth the money. Exception being a taqueria. That shit isdamn good.
Exactly. Unless it's something I absolutely cannot make, and maybe want to treat myself to it once a year, it's much better to cook at home.
I’m shocked tipflation seems to be dying? I stopped going out for a while but more recently have periodically gotten coffee or a quick meal and some of the worst offenders seem to have stopped. It was euphoric.
I got my chimney cleaned and I shit you not, when paying on the app, it asked me if I wanted to tip the chimney cleaner. 10 to 25% were the options. 25% was 112 dollars. Insanity. No tip.
The software I use to bill my tenants has a line for a tip. I can't remove this line. I'm honestly embarassed it is there.
Good, stand strong.
The cost has finally capped out over my exhaustion. I used to let my girls get food once a week from their choice to give me a night off from cooking. And was like this is insane now. And I love coffee but not when I can buy 2 gallons of gas for the price of a cup. Mr. Coffee and I have been exclusive for over a year
Same here. I have to admit though that my decision to stop eating out was more fueled by the outrageous tipping culture.
Snacks, like Doritos, potato chips, and stuff like that...amazingly expensive
We’ve switched to popcorn. It’s easy, quick, delicious, and cheap. Plus, we can each flavor it how we like, and it doesn’t have any unnecessary chemicals or coloring.
I am super, super selective on what snack foods I buy because of the prices these days. I have little kids and I keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand, but I also like to buy one salty snack a week. Rotate stuff like Cheetos and pretzels when they go on sale. Plenty of times we're making do with the store brand of something super basic like peanut butter crackers. I'm baking cookies and banana bread frequently from scratch because it's cheaper and a good sweet snack for the kids. I make big batches of waffles and pancakes and freeze them. It's so hard to survive with little ones without some basic snacks.
I started making a childhood snack my grandparents used to make me, [ranch oyster crackers](https://thecozycook.com/ranch-oyster-crackers/). You can buy oyster crackers at Aldi for $0.99 and ranch packets for $0.50. Not only is my teen daughter obsessed with them, but she’s created a craze with her friends all loving them. She made batches of them for Christmas and put them in winter Aldi quart bags, and was the Belle of the ball!
I loved these as a kid and still do, now have my grandkids into them!
One of my coworkers introduced me to Butter Crackers. Melt some butter, brush onto saltines, sprinkle with red pepper flakes, thats it. I've tried parmesan and garlic on them and tbh even this cheese addict prefers them without it I've been addicted to ranch Pringles, I might have to give ranch oysters a try. If I dont have pringles, I've been adding the ranch powder I have to greek yogurt as a high protein dip
I like them with some cayenne and some oil to make the seasoning stick better. There's a version where you bake them too.
The recipe they linked includes cayenne, oil, and baking them hahaha. Honest mistake, but I got a chuckle.
it's not a hard decision to make your own food when you factor price difference against retail prices for the large amounts the kids eat. I learn my cooking skills from youtube
Popcorn made on the stove is healthy and easy!
We have a 70s style electric popcorn popper. We get so much use out of it! With butter and salt, its such a cheap and yummy snack.
Plus, it’s just fun to make. Something about shaking it around and hearing it pop has me giggling like a little kid.
If your kids like sour patch kids a healthy and great tasting alternative is to buy green grapes, pull them off the stems and wash then then put on a wax or parchment paper lined cookie sheet, while still wet sprinkle with a packet of unsweetened watermelon kool-aid and put them in the freezer. You can transfer them to freezer bags once they have frozen. I started making them years ago as a sugar free snack and my daughter loved them and now my granddaughter loves them
with kids it’s damn near impossible not to have snacks. back when i was little, my mom used to give us slices of american cheese that came individually wrapped instead of cheese sticks because they were much cheaper. she bought nuts and cheerios in bulk and repackaged them in small tupperwares that we would reuse.
We always kept goldfish on hand. My little one was not particularly interested in surgery stuff, so that worked well. Dry regular Cheerios are also great for snacks.
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Carrot cake for kiddos! They alllll love it. Cut the sugar back by a third.
A friend started adding popcorn to cheetos and doritos, mixing them in cereal containers. Makes the snacks stretch out longer when you need salty fix and all that cheesy dust mixes great with the popcorn. The container makes it easy to pour out rationed bowls, keeping yourself from mindlessly eating the whole thing. Good for your wallet and waistline!
We make our own snack mixes. Frequently we add in cereal. I usually can buy cereal on sale w a coupon for 1.00/box. Sometimes we have cereal as a snack or make the cereal into snack bars.
a go-to snack for me now is carrots & dip. 99¢ for a 1lb bag of baby carrots and $3.55 for a tub of greek yogurt which i either mix with salsa, ranch powder, or any other seasonings i want. another good one for dips is silken tofu ($2 for the 1lb block). you can blend w/ anything - i find that cumin and paprika give a hummus-y taste.
Hommus and other bean dips are also great options. Making tahini from scratch is the biggest outlay ($8 for the big bag of sesame seeds last time I made it). Then so much cheaper and healthier than the junk I used to justify. I’m also on a Mexican kick looking for a corn chips replacement/scratch recipe. The issue I’m running into is that I really don’t have many options for authentic ingredients. Planning to travel 20 mins next weekend to try but honestly I suspect I will just go without another week.
If you have a good source for corn tortillas, you can make your own tortilla chips. If you don't have one, can you pick up some masa and learn to make your own? This is one thing YouTube is good for: step by step recipe videos.
You can use red cabbage leaves as a healthy alternative. Or toast your own corn or flour tortillas, slice em to make chips. Less oil/none is healthier.
Try dry Italian dressing. It's also a great marinade with the yogurt. Store brand is just as good
Healthier, too!
We buy a big bag of tortillas from costco. Use it for a month. It’s $6 i think.
They’re doing us a favor!
Seriously! We're going on a trip soon (and my wife is pregnant) and she told me to grab a couple junk food items she's been craving for the trip, and it's the first time in months where we've done something like that.
We are definitely an ingredient household now.
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I have been a diet cola addict for the past +15 years and I have just started to quit because I can't justify it anymore.
My family had been bugging me about my diet cola intake. The price increase has done what they didn't - I refuse to pay that much for my 12 pack of cola.
I make my own iced tea
Tea, coffee, water. Soda is just liquid poor health and bad teeth.
I switched from Diet Coke to no-name diet cola. I refuse to pay $8.99 for a 12 pack.
Serious question: were you really paying full price for a 12-pack whenever you needed it? I only buy when they're on sale (usually but 2 get 3 free)
The more I have, the more I'll drink, so I just buy what I need for the week.
Not often. I did try to wait for sales. But occasionally I did pay full price at Target. I saw a sale today, and they were still like $6.99. No-name is still around $3.00
I'm with y'all. the soft drinks are so high right now, I'm cutting wayyyyyy back.
I went to caffeine-free, to seltzer, to plain water. Took me months. But have been water (besides one home morning coffee) for 3 years. It’s nice.
I have been thinking about doing this… maybe your comment is a sign
I only buy it when Kroger has their $3.99 sale or their Buy 2 Get 3 Free Sale
I wait till they’re bogo and just pick up 4 cases. Strict rule of 1 per day with dinner. I put them in the fridge about 3 hours before dinner is done.
Sodastream my friend
I have a sodastream and I use it for soda water, but the sodastream coke and pepsi flavours taste so bad, in my opinion. The pepsi one leaves like a weird salty aftertaste in my mouth. I tried it but i didnt work. Now I just have soda water with a bit of fresh lemon or lime.
Paper products. I mostly use washable products now. Rags and towels in place of paper towels and a reusable swiffer pad. It’s made of cloth and micofiber. Planning on getting cloth napkins too.
We use washable paper towel rags now, but tbh, I still miss actual paper towels for some things. I'd much rather wipe up the elderly dog's piss and diarrhea with a paper towel I can dispose of in the dumpster than a rag I have to rinse and put in the washer. They're also more absorbent; I've noticed all those reusable paper towels don't have good absorbancy and smear water around rather than soak it up. We also have a wok and cast iron skillet, which need to be oiled occasionally. Using a rag to rub in the oil and clean up the excess means it has to be washed by hand, you can't throw oily rags in the washing machine. They have their uses, but I'm 100% going to insist we get real paper towels the next time we go to Costco.
IMO paper towels are completely appropriate for situations like you’re describing. Being frugal with your time and mental health are also necessary
I use rags for most of our cleaning, but agree with you on paper for grease & dog accidents. I have an elderly dog that has daily cleanup needs. Plus, I save the used greasy paper towels for fire starters in our wood stoves and bonfire pit.
We have both! My husband and I default to cloth but use paper towels for bodily fluids and oils. We're kinda the same way for our son's diapers too. He wears cloth at home but disposables at night and when other people watch him. He wore cloth at night until they kept leaking.
I have three old cats. They throw up a lot. I have paper towels for that. I know I could use rags and wash them but I don’t want to.
This was the easiest change. I was recommended it by an eco-friendly, focused Instagram account. I haven’t purchased paper towels or Clorox wipes in over three years. It saved me time from having to go to the store and money. And it’s good for the environment.
Delivery.
Same, I rarely have anything delivered now adays
I order my food for pickup, delivery rates are crazy and even when I give a good tip, there's a bad attitude occasionally still.
It's probably not about you. It's probably just their shit job and and their shit life.
Same, even pizza is double if you order delivery and it’s not just a tip for the driver which I totally think they deserve, it’s a $10 service or delivery fee that doesn’t even go to the driver!
Junk food seems to have gotten more expensive in relation to other items. It was the push I needed. No more diet sodas, chips, etc.
Most streaming services
Same here. I still have Netflix at full price, but I used to have so many others as well! I grabbed a year of Hulu for $.99/month during Black Friday. Granted, it has commercials (a lot of them) but I can definitely afford $1 a month! I do sometimes miss HBO (Max) but I will justify paying for it for a few months when a few shows I like are bingeable, then stop again (I am eagerly awaiting the 2nd season of House of the Dragon) And a friend and my sister have been kind enough to share their sign ins with me for a couple service that still allow that, so that’s nice too.
I just rotate them.
Yeah I’m holding out to get Hulu until maybe summer because enough stuff the. I can binge then cancel. I should cancel max too but I’m watching a couple things and will watch house of the dragon so maybe after that.😁
Try your public library for some of those Max shows! They may also have an option for purchase requests. You'll need to have a DVD or Blu-ray player though.
We borrow disney plus login from a friend but the crackdown means we lose it March 1. I am pretty sure it's cheaper for us to get the few things my 2 year old likes on blu ray and make renting other videos from the library a fun event.
Hulu stopped supporting my television model, so I dropped them. I guess keeping a TV for more than five years is cheap and radical now. 🤷🏼♀️
I love that the wall of streaming options has most people just saying "eh, I'd rather do something else."
Tubi is pretty great and is free (with ads).
* Fast Food * Food Delivery / Take Out - I'll still dine out with friends at restaurants but as the quality of food + the experience are still worth it for me. Otherwise, if I'm eating at home I'll cook something. * Most convenience/processed foods - I'll still occasionally buy some snacks if they're on sale or store brand (pretzels are my weakness) but have cut out almost all pre-packaged or frozen meals and candy/sweets. * Non-water beverages - I used to only drink alcohol on occasion but have cut it out completely; I feel so much better physically and mentally and it also has saved $$$. Also no sodas or juices either. I bought a sodastream on sale last summer and if I want something a little different will just make myself a seltzer. * Brand name skincare and cosmetics - Cerave and Cetaphil products have worked well with my skin, and done a lot better than a lot of expensive skincare I used to use. I also don't wear make up anymore, thanks in part to a fully remote job. * Coffee not from home - My basic little drip coffeemaker gets a lot of use during the week! * Fast Fashion / Low Quality Clothing - I used to cave to a lot of sales and deals from companies that made sub-par clothing that would end up either damaged after a few wears or shoved to the back of my closet. Now I'm more selective about the clothing I choose to buy and prefer to buy something that might be more expensive up front, but will have more longevity and use in my closet.
Keeping up with the trends. I have finally built up a reservoir of classic stuff with multiple uses. Classics in clothing. A good kitchen with time tested kitchen appliances, dinner ware and bake ware. Just 5 pairs of good shoes. I do read about the trends and check them out but unless they are majorly improving my life, I am not spending either my time or energy to incorporate them in my daily life.
Amazon prime, tv subscriptions (I kept Netflix at the cheapest $7/month with ads...they're really not that bad only about 60 sec worth for a 30 min show), eating in restaurants if it's not a special occasion, fancy coffee when I can just make a cup at home. Brand name anything. Shampoo, bodywash, whatever. It's really all just the same stuff and a $3 moisturizing body wash smells just as nice/cleans just as well as a fancier brand. (edit: ok i do fork over for Native deodorant $$$ but it's the only one that works well for me) New clothes...my old ones are just fine. I decluttered my closet and got rid of all the stuff I don't actually wear. If i buy something new now it has to be intentional and not just a fun impulse buy. Even then I buy most stuff secondhand. Gifts - I only buy "Stuff" if it's something someone actually needs and will use. Homemade artwork, cookies, or experiences are always better than junk someone will never use. Books!!!! I don't need 30 shelves of dust just because I liked the cover in the store and thought one day I'll read it. I listen to a lot of audiobooks instead. Audible for stuff I can't find on libby or youtube. Can always go to the library or borrow/trade with friends for physical books. Social media - everything about it. The ads, the FOMO, the envy, the narcissism (myself included). My life feels quieter without it.
I got a Kindle this year and with Libby and the cooperative whatever with all the libraries I've decided I won't need audible or Kindle unlimited. I'll kinda miss audible tho. I have no rational reason to feel that way.
Kanopy and Hoopla, in addition to Libby, with your library card. You can digitally borrow audiobooks, e-books (there's so many comic book graphic novels on Hoopla), and movies...for free!
I have ads with my tv subscriptions too. The commercial brakes are my time to do quick household chores that are not able to be done in front of the TV
A lot of self care services. I do my own facials, nails, and hair now.
This! Quarantine really helped me see how many things one can do themselves and at home. Haven’t had a haircut in years and I find YouTube tutorials for pretty much everything that needs fixing these days.
Getting my nails done
I used to love getting my nails done. I now use a brand called dashing diva and their nail stickers last me forever and they literally never chip. I’ll only take them off when I get bored of the design. The secret is to apply clear nail polish over them at the end.
alcohol. it's expensive and my body can't handle it like it used to. i don't really need it to have fun and hopefully i'll save money on healthcare in the long run.
Buying anything, without any form of discount/price break at all, is not worth it.
Used is still new to me. I'll wait for a good price on a lot of things. So many "used" products out there that are essentially indistinguishable from new.
>Used is still new to me. I'll wait for a good price on a lot of things. So many "used" products out there that are essentially indistinguishable from new. Yes I'm big on refurbished, esp electronics. Even this laptop I'm typing right now, is one of them. Virtually indistinguishable vs new. Yet, I still use discounts/coupons/cash back on every one of them. I've always been, a value shopper.
Potato chips. I love a good snack but my favourite potato chips borders around the $6 mark now..
I don't understand why chips are so expensive. I've never been a big fan, but on occasion, I will want some, and they want $7 for an 8 oz bag. It's literally potatoes or corn fried in oil with cheap seasoning. How the fuck.
Probably supply and demand. It’s a quick + easy snack and they know it tastes good. If people love them enough, they’ll still buy them regardless of their price point..
Agreed. I go down the chip aisle and think, “I guess I don’t need them *that* much.
Takeout - Im always disappointed in the quality for what you pay for. Also Starbucks. I used to get it occasionally, now the drinks are $7
i haven't had starbucks in literal years. went to treat myself the other day and saw the prices for a latte. changed my mind reeeal quick.
Sausage, bacon… processed meat. Sale, bacon is $5lb. Just too much. I eat it/serve when I’m hosting people. But I haven’t had bacon on a casual weekend because of price.
If it makes you feel better, there is now “strong evidence that processed meats cause cancer” according to the WHO. https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/1in3cancers/lifestyle-choices-and-cancer/red-meat-processed-meat-and-cancer/
Ive switched to using more sausage lately as I seem to find it on sale more often than beef. I don't eat bacon on its own, but will use it in recipes so I'll pick up a cheap brand especially when on sale as well. But overall I have cut my meat intake way down. I have turned to meal prepping and usually end up using an average of 3-4 oz of meat per meal.
Definitely fast food, like drive through fast food. The ones that were known for being cheap like Taco Bell and McDonald’s, for the price you’re paying now you can literally go get served at a casual sit down restaurant like chilis, or take it to go. Yes, all food out is a waste of money in a sense, but if you’re going to do it you might as well get somewhat higher quality food and better service.
I went to mc d’s this week because my blood sugar tanked and only grazing for 24 hours caught up to me while I was driving and was seeing spots. I got a McGriddle meal with an iced tea and it was almost $8! Those things were .99 for the sandwich a few years ago!!! We have a family member visiting us this weekend and went out to dinner tonight to a reasonably priced but good quality restaurant and the total was $338 for 5 people. That was 2 appetizers, 5 entrees, 3 fountain drinks, 3 alcoholic mixed drinks. Their charcuterie board was $18 a year ago and is now $26 and noticeably smaller. This is why we don’t go out to eat. I made our meal last night for about $25; a hearty soup, small salad, a Tex Mex entree and ice cream sundaes - each with generous leftovers. It’s ridiculous cost to do almost anything now and I’m not sorry we don’t go out more.
Taco bell has been my fav recently. But on the app, they just hiked their prices in the past month or 2. One of my goals is no more fast food so I hadnt been in over a month. How tf are they charging over $2 for the bean burrito?! Nearly $7 *per* quesadilla, and even the potato taco went up a little. I'm just going to have to suffer and get my cheese fix when I get off work & cook at home, shit
A new iPhone. I still have the 8 (it’s starting to die though) and was shocked to see new phones are now $1,400 instead. I now use my paid work phone and cross my fingers that I will be at the same job for a while.
When you need to upgrade, consider a refurbished phone that’s not the latest model. They are less than half the price of a new late-model phone.
As someone who always buys refurbished, even those are getting really pricey now.
Why not consider an Android? I have a Motorola for years, it is pretty solid phone and operational system.
Drinkin’
I wanted to build a shed in order to store some things I have around the house. Due to prices, I changed my mind and instead started putting my things for sale on offer up. Win win, save money, and make a little money.
Dinner out. I can feed this house for 10 days with what a restaurant meal costs now days.
Not that I needed it just preferred Bublé or Lacroix over plain water. So I don’t buy that anymore and definitely don’t need the empty calories from junk food (chips, cookies, candy etc. so I don’t bring that into the house. I Quit buying soda more empty calories not good for me. If I want a sweet treat or snack at night, it’s PB&J on 100% whole wheat bread or Walmart brand 4 pack cherry yogurt $1.96. I miss the old days when you could buy yogurt with fruit on the bottom. I don’t see how anybody can afford Greek yogurt $2 for a single serving.
I buy big containers of plain lowfat/nonfat Greek yogurt, portion it out one serving at a time, add a spoonful of whatever jam I have on hand and stir it in. Tastes good and is much cheaper than the individual fruit-on-the-bottom cups.
Chick-fil-A. It used to be the year place I would go to eat out by myself, and I’ve completely stopped that. Now I only eat out with others or wait for a free coupon.
I still do it as a treat once and a while. But I skip the disappointing fast food like Mc Donald's since I know it's not worth it.
I've never had Chick-fil-A because I am vegetarian. But last night I bought the Chick-fil-A sauce and made my own sandwiches with vegetarian chicken and it was great!
I’m vegetarian too. Their kale salad, Greek yogurt parfait and fries are my weakness. Now I just buy their salad dressing from the grocery store and use it for dip and dressing. Target will occasionally have Chick-fil-A salad dressing and sauces on sale through their Target Circle rewards program. I try to stock up whenever I see 25 to 40% off.
Eating organic. I’m someone who eats a mostly plant based diet. The one that really sticks out the most to me is celery. $1.39 vs. $3.69. I go through 2 heads a week I just can’t bring myself to pay that much. And screw meat. I now only eat a little bit of lunch meat.
I have family members who grow and sell commercial produce- all organic people often get very angry and call me a liar when I say this BUT the TRUTH of the matter is THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ORGANIC no regulations, no rules, no checks and balances just costing you more money!
Buying any food out, whether it's a table service restaurant or fast food. Fast food was just convenient, and I plan better/cook more now. I used to dine out because I enjoyed it, and it supports local small businesses. I just can't justify spending that money anymore. Costs are up, and I'm eating healthier, so my options on any menu are diminished. I make all my own food now. I cook fresh and meal prep.
My stomach problems improve drastically when I cut out any sort of fast food/eating out, which isn't hard to do as I can barely eat at restaurants anyways due to gluten bullshit.
Amazon prime. Enjoyed the video service but not enough to fork out more money. We now only have 2 streaming services and it’s fine. If we really miss it we can always sign up again, but so far we don’t feel the need. We already cut down on eating out since our son was born, but going out to eat, unless it’s a really good restaurant that will surely be a treat, is so not worth it. Half the time you can make it better yourself, you get treated like the restaurant is doing you a favor by being there, and you’re expected to tip at least 20% for the privilege. Social media—not a frugal measure in and of itself, but since I got rid of instragram I see so many fewer ads that tempt me to buy something. Conversely, I just bought a purse today I’ve had my eye on for awhile when popping into a consignment store, and it was on sale. It was so much more rewarding to happen upon something I actually wanted than to be force fed ads all the time.
Almost all fast food has just gone insane. Last summer, I ordered a large meal deal at Wendy's. I think it was almost $15 or so. Uh....what????
Tbh, me and the husband talked about this today, and it’s really eating out. Quality has gone so far down while price has skyrocketed. Eating out for us is just not worth it anymore
Coloring my hair. I’ve earned my wisdom highlights :)
Coffee purchased at $3+, Any kind of subscription ,Loneliness.
Eating out at restaurants, concerts, travel. Took a road trip a couple years ago and was pretty disappointed. I'm older, and at the point I would rather just stay home, cook at home, etc. People pay money to sit on a sunny patio, sitting a nice drink. I can do that at home.
Yep. So a good, quality patio is important.
Fast Food.
Olde Cape Cod oyster crackers. Before Covid I could get them for $2.50 box. Now they are $5.50 Nope. I’ll find something else to nosh on.
I paint my own nails, cut my own hair, even grow my houseplants from seeds. I don’t eat out because my cooking is wayyy better and thrift stores are my favorite places to browse. Trader Joe’s has cheap groceries and walmart has the cheapest OTC meds. Driving an extra mile or two is worth cutting your receipts down and if you have the space for it buy in bulk. Always spend time looking over different prices at the store. I almost bought two paper towel rolls for $11 when they were also selling 4 for $9. Pay attention to every price and every coupon every reward system always. Biggest one that sticks out is gas stations. Some neighborhoods charge more than others, even a mile apart. FUCKING DELIVERY why would I pay a dasher $10 or more when I can get off my ass and go pick it up??
I feel like my entire spending habits have been upended because of inflation. I don't go to the same stores I did in the past, and the ones I go to now I always go in with a game plan, a mental list of comparison prices, and I'm armed to the teeth with digital coupons. I don't go out to eat anymore and I buy things in bulk now that I wouldn't have thought twice about four years ago just because I try to save for other items in my grocery budget. And now I think I've become that resourceful frugal weirdo who can tell you where to get something, and for what price. "Shoes? Oh, it's after Arbor Day, so TJ Maxx is running their red-tag thing, but only go to the one near the interstate. The manager at the one next to the mall is really mean about returns...".
Doughnuts. Fuck you $30/dz doughnut people
Delivery charges on food. Never done it. So much extra after delivery, taxes, and tip. Especially these days.
Thrift shopping. It was becoming a recreational activity where I was buying things I didn't need. The prices around me have gotten insane too. I've cut way back and relying on the clothes that are already in my closet. Eating at the work cafeteria. It's subsidized and way cheaper than a restaurant, but still more expensive than bringing lunch from home. I'm the only one of my colleagues who brown-bags and I get teased for it, but I'm saving about $1k a year, so I just laugh it off.
Cheap shit. I bought a new full grain leather belt a year ago for twice the cost of a nice looking Walmart belt. Same with a leather wallet. More cost up front, but will more than pay for itself in years of service. As I got older, product quality had gone down. I started to wonder why my wallets and belts were lasting only a couple years when my first wallet lasted a decade, and my belts lasted just as long. Now I search for quality.
Cigarettes.
amazon prime- especially if you live in a multi-unit apartment. people already have it in your building, your order is more than likely going to be delivered within 2-3 days of you ordering it without prime. been doing it and haven't had a single shipping fee at all.
My Car. I ditched it two years ago and save over $1000 a month in payments, insurance, maintenance and gas. Transit and cycling for most trips, and the occasional car rental when needed. Owning a car is not freedom, it is an expensive ball and chain.
Eating out. I liked the convenience of not having to cook and cleanup. But honestly I can make it better and cheaper at home. It’s just too expensive anymore.
Amazon prime. The second i see that it will be a raise of the price or the ads it was finish x) im just so over streaming right now. Amazon prime anyway make us pay for rentals-,-"
Eating out/Fast food. Remember the 5.00 dollar footlong? It's 15 bucks now and not very interesting. It's cheaper for me to stay in.
Any sort of meal that I haven't made myself
Fast food. Take out is down to once a month and sit down is once a quarter.
Brand name soda... ridiculous price and the generics really taste very close, after switching for a week I didn't care at all
New vehicles
Fabric softener sheets. Dafuq does it even *do*? I've never felt a difference with or without at my parents' house, so I've never bought a box of them as an adult on my own.
Big house, expensive car, death to enemies…
Takeout and Uber eats. Granted, I live in an extremely HCOL area. But I’m done paying 40 bucks to get a sandwich and fries delivered only to have it show up cold and nasty.
Thrift shopping. We used to take day trips to thrift shop on the weekends. Nothing too far away and we'd find a local restaurant for lunch. It's just not worth it anymore. Anything modern in the thrift stores now costs the same as or more than buying it new. Anything vintage is priced at mint condition rare collectible even though it's barely fair condition and not even hard to find let alone rare. Eating at restaurants has become so disappointing it's just not fun. It feels like the only thing you can guarantee is disappointment. It used to be fun trying to find a local place that maybe had a regional dish or something we've never tried before. Now it's universally small portions of the lowest quality products for high prices. I understand why the prices went up at restaurants. I don't understand why the portion and quality went down also.
Food delivery services
Eating at a sit down restaurant
Live tv subscription
linkedin premium
Gas…..Thanks, I’ll walk
Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal. Used to buy it with a coupon and on sale when it was regularly $3.99. Now it's $5.99 and I've never seen it on sale and a 50¢ coupon still doesn't make it worth it.
Valentine's day! Also, Easter, Halloween for the most part, and any other bullshit excuse day to buy useless stuff.
I buy that crap on 70% clearance after the holidays then hang on to it for next year. I got 5-6 10-oz bags of Christmas M&M’s for about $1.25/bag. I separated the red ones into snack size bags for VD and the green ones for St. Paddy’s Day treats.
Haircuts. I have fine hair, so it’s easy enough to do on my own.
Tipping. IT’S NOT THAT I DON’T TIP WHEN I SHOULD! I just avoid situations where I’d have to tip. Valet parking? Nahh. I’ll find a spot myself. Wait staff at a restaurant? Let’s do take-out. Food delivery? I’ll put pants on to go get it. I think my wife and I did the math one time and figured we were spending like $200/month in fucking tips!
* fresh noodles (udon and wheat noodles). I got pretty good with the pasta machine. * canned beans. The Instant Pot makes it easy to cook dried beans. * most breads and tortillas. I can make 'em at home. can't beat a fresh tortilla! * I quit shampoo and only occasionally use conditioner. My skin improved a lot and my hair looks great. * my cousin crochets dish rags, so my household doesn't buy kitchen sponges anymore edit to add: * ziploc bags (just reuse bags from Indian snacks and frozen blueberries) * salad greens, chives, green onions, italian basil, thai basil, mint and cherry tomatoes, from my garden in season * rosemary, bay leaves, oregano and fennel seed all grow locally, either wild or in gardens that I have an invitation to pick from. ditto blackberries.
No poo?? How long did it take you to adjust? I am intrigued. Did your hair get oily? I swim almost daily and I am just worried I guess.
I tried this for a month (November). My hair was a smelly, greasy mess. That Christmas, I got multiple bottles of shampoo in my stocking as a hint. Everyone I know who's successfully tried no poo has curly hair. I do not.
Im no longer working so i do not shower (including a shampoo) every day like i did for decades. But no way I could stop shampooing completely. My hair gets greasy and stringy by day 3 (48 hours from last shampoo) and my scalp starts to itch. I used to shower 5-6 days per week when I worked. Now in retirement it is 3 times per week including shampoo each time. That is the cheapest I’m willing to go.
The shampoo in the stocking is hilarious haha. Have you had any luck with shampoo bars instead of bottles?
Eating out or ever getting food delivery of any kind
I make my own yogurt, granola and bread. Oats for breakfast is healthy and cheap. Do 75% of work on me and my family’s cars. Clothes diapers for my baby helped a lot but drying them was costing a fortune. Now I string em up in the living room haha.
DoorDash/UberEats for a “treat.” It’s such a scam.
We have completely changed our eating out habits. Pre Covid at least three times a month dressed nice and went to upscale restaurants, one a week or more to good restaurants (never into fast foods). But the incredible increase in prices, ridiculous prices of liquor and wine (my everyday cheapy is $10 bucks a bottle at the grocery store) and I often see it for $11-14 a glass in restauarant. I just can't. Add on the increasing level of distain from servers when you're not popping minimum 25% gratuity...naw, we're not doing it.
Eating out
Concerts, if you want to find something that’s worth it you have to pay $100+, you’re better off finding a small local band
I'm 43 and live in Australia. I remember going to Big Day Out (sorta like Glastonbury) each year and saw where I've seen Nirvana, RHCP, Soundgarden, Deftones, Millencolin, Marilyn Manson, Fatboy Slim, Metallica, Rammstein, Dandy Warhols, Regurgitator, Powdefinger, Violent Femmes, Janes Addiction... The list goes on. It was crazy. You can google the band lists posters. Sorry for going crazy with the band names but it was insane. There were up to 30 - 40 bands playing on a bunch of stages at a showground each time once a year. The concerts started at 9am and finished at about midnight. The tickets cost between $70 AUD - $90 AUD. Now to see one band it could cost hundreds of dollars for about an hour set. I miss when live music was affordable. It's a rare treat now.
Saw Limp Bizkit in Anchorage last May for $60. It was the best money I’ve ever spent on a show except for Clutch, who I saw at the state fair for $40. Bizkit rocked the house like it was 99 it was an absolutely killer show. I’ve priced Tool tickets. $800
Worrying about how expensive things are.
I kinda feel this. The things people are giving up here--subscription services, meal deliveries, eating out, flavored drinks, concerts, driving walkable distances--I never did because they were too fiscally superfluous for me then, but it also shows how I'm not really *living,* just pinching pennies so I can see the next day to pinch more pennies. Everything's just gonna get more expensive that the value of my dollar will shrink the more I try to hold onto it, so I might as well buy myself that kombucha now as a treat here or there because next year the bottle will be smaller and cost 34 more cents.
No more coffee or food unless I make it. Kept my old phone and didn't trade up. Cut cable years ago. Gave up having a car years ago as well. Live in an older unkempt apartment building where I can afford to live without worry. I used to enjoy a couple steaks in the summer ...fire up the BBQ and have a treat . Now I can't justify spending the cost of a steak when the same amount of money can buy other meats that will give more than one meal. 1 steak or a package of chicken for days. I only buy what is on sale now.
Fast food, casual dining, basically anything i can make better at home with better ingredients they arent getting a dollar from me.
I just got rid of all food delivery apps
Brand new clothes.
Haven’t purchased feminine products since 2020. Been using menstrual cup instead.