You’d be surprised how many things are marketed to us as “needs” when they’re not necessary. Here are ten examples of things you think you need that frugal people would never spend a dime on — and you should keep spending on these to a minimum yourself.
Bottled Water
We’re not saying you have to always drink directly from the tap, but investing in a filter means never having to buy another bottle of water a day.
Books
The genuinely frugal know the truth about buying books: you’ll almost always find what you’re looking for at your local library. So save yourself the scratch and see what they have instead of buying a book you’ll only ever read once.
Costly Coffee
If you think you can’t live without your morning coffee, you aren’t alone. Many people see their specialty coffee as an absolute must to function. But frugal people know better and make coffee exactly how they like it at home, saving them a fortune annually compared to those who go out every morning.
Brand Name Grocery Items
Why bother with the brand name if there’s a cheaper generic right next to it? Some people would argue that generic groceries differ in taste or quality. And while that could be true, it isn’t always the case for everyone. Don’t hesitate to try out the generics next time you go shopping and see how much you save.
Paper Towels
Paper towels are phenomenal tools for wiping up spills or using them as napkins. That said, reusable, washable cloths are significantly more cost-effective and work just as well for everything you’d use paper towels for.
Gym Memberships
We’d never argue against working out, which is vital for physical and mental health. Investing in your health is a frugal endeavor itself. But considering how easy it is to get a full workout at home, gym memberships are in no way a must, and frugal people wouldn’t dare sign one of those costly contracts.
Cable TV
Most people would agree that cable TV is becoming less and less of a necessity with a plethora of streaming platforms. Frugal people, however, have known about this being a racket for quite some time and would never spend money on a cable TV package, then or now.
The Newest Tech
If there’s anything that we’re constantly told we “need,” it’s the latest and greatest gadget. If your current phone, laptop, or anything is still working, then there’s no real need to upgrade until it’s not.
Media Subscriptions
Cable TV isn’t worth it, but neither is a host of streaming services you’ll never use. Frugal people know better than to keep a bunch of ongoing subscriptions up, and many don’t bother with them at all.
Work Lunches
Imagine spending $15 every time you go out to eat at work. Sure, it’s convenient. But when you add up that cost, it’s astronomically high compared to packing your lunch every morning.
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