In a world where consumerism is promoted, and we’re constantly bombarded with multiple marketing campaigns, it’s easy always to feel unsatisfied and want to buy things we don’t need. Sadly, most of these items waste money and clutter our spaces without adding any real value.
It’s never too late to cut out the excess and focus on what matters.
Here are 13 things you never need to buy if you embrace minimalism and mindful consumption.
Premium Gasoline
Premium gas is a waste of money for most cars. Previously, car owners bought premium gas to prevent knocking. Most car manufacturers have since added a knock sensor to modern vehicles to detect and avoid knocking. Using regular gas will be fine and save you from the extra cost.
Pre-Chopped Vegetables
Buying pre-cut vegetables and fruit may seem convenient, but it could expose you to bacteria such as listeria and salmonella. Due to the number of fruits and vegetables handled simultaneously, there’s a high risk of cross-contamination during processing.
Most of these products also have a shorter shelf life, which leads to faster spoilage. Cutting your veggies and fruits at home will save you money and your health.
Bottled Water
A Natural Resources Defence Council report revealed that 25% of bottled water is sourced from the tap. Manufacturers filter the water and sell it at a profit. Additionally, bottled water has been found to have traces of mold and arsenic, which doesn’t make it cleaner than tap water.
Filltering tap water and storing it in reusable, durable water bottles will save you money and conserve the environment.
Baby Shoes
Baby shoes are all cute, but your baby doesn’t need them until they start walking. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends socks to keep your baby warm. Pediatricians recommend babies learn to walk barefoot to strengthen the child’s muscles and tendons. You might waste your money getting baby shoes they don’t need until they start walking.
Credit Monitoring Services
Checking your credit score regularly is essential, but you don’t need to pay for credit monitoring services. Some services can cost upwards of $30 a month and won’t prevent your score from dropping. You can get free credit reports from your bank, credit card companies, or Experian.
Extended Warranties
Most electronic shops, appliance retailers, and automotive companies will convince you to purchase an extended warranty. All these new products come with a standard warranty that covers most defects and replacements. Extended warranties are expensive, and some won’t cover certain repairs or defects. Some repairs are even cheaper than the extended warranty.
Specialty Kitchen Gadgets
A fancy bread maker, coffee maker, or pasta maker may look convenient, but they are unnecessary purchases. These kitchen gadgets are expensive, and you’ll need enough cabinet or counter space to store them. You can still bake your bread in the oven, brew coffee with a French press, and make pasta without a gadget, saving money and kitchen space.
Brand Name Medication
Brand-name medications are expensive and a waste of money. You can save a few bucks by getting generic medicines that contain the same active ingredients, safety profile, and dosage. Generic over-the-counter medicine works equally as name-brand meds, and they are cheaper.
Travel Insurance
Some companies charge up to 10% of the trip price on travel insurance. You’re often already covered by the airline’s policies, your credit card, or by canceling ahead of time to get a full refund. Travel insurance won’t also cover pre-existing medical conditions, dental emergencies, mental health issues, or anything not specified in the policy.
Check with your credit card provider to determine what’s covered, and talk to your doctor about prescriptions you might need for your trip to save money.
Designer Handbags
Spending much money on designer bags is wasteful. Most of these bags are of poor quality, and you pay a steep price for the brand name. Consider buying good-quality leather bags that are durable and functional.
Designer Makeup
While some high-end cosmetics promise to help you achieve a flawless look thanks to their quality products, plenty of drugstore makeup is just as good. Some expensive cosmetics also contain harmful ingredients like parabens, which can lead to allergic reactions. Plenty of affordable makeup products at a drugstore will give you similar results.
Plastic Straws
You don’t need to stock several plastic straws in your house. While some experts claim that straws can help prevent cavities, the truth is that they only do this when you sip from the back of your mouth. A few plastic straws are made from toxic materials, which can harm the environment and make them hard to recycle.
Apart from not being biodegradable, plastic straws are a waste of money. Consider buying stainless steel, bamboo, or silicone straws to reuse.
Paper Towels
Paper towels are wasteful as they are non-recyclable and end up in landfills. Purchasing them every month is also expensive, considering their one-time use. Opt for more sustainable options like cloth towels, linen napkins, or microfiber clothes, which are reusable.
Mindful Spending
Eliminating these unnecessary purchases can save you money and reduce waste, allowing you to be more mindful of your spending and avoid cluttered spaces. When making your next purchase, focus on things that add value to your life.
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