Things We Don’t Spend Money On Anymore

I remember when you could walk into McDonald’s with a few dollars and come out with a meal.

Today, that same kind of meal can easily cost more than $15.

Everything feels more expensive, and because of that, there are quite a few things my family and I have stopped spending money on. Not because we are trying to live an extremely frugal or deprived life, but because we’ve realized that some things simply aren’t worth the money to us anymore.

For me, frugal living isn’t about spending the least amount possible. It’s about spending money where it actually adds value to our lives and cutting back where it doesn’t.

Here are some of the things we no longer spend much money on.

Restaurants

When I was younger and dating, going to a restaurant a couple of times a month was pretty normal for me.

Now, my family of four probably goes to a restaurant around four times a year.

The cost has changed so much. Once you add tax and tips, a family meal can easily be over $100, and sometimes closer to $150.

Meanwhile, I can make a similar meal at home for around $2 to $3 per person.

I still enjoy going out for special occasions. But going to restaurants regularly just doesn't feel worth it to me anymore.

Instead, when I’m craving something, I’ll find a recipe on YouTube and make it myself. I get a meal, learn a new cooking skill, and save money at the same time.

I’ve learned so much of my cooking from YouTube, and it’s completely free.

Coffee Shops and Matcha

I love a cozy coffee shop as much as anyone, especially when I'm meeting friends.

But going out for a drink every day has become really expensive.

A matcha can be around $7 before tax and tip. By the time you add everything up, you can easily be spending around $9 on one drink, and that's before adding a croissant or scone.

At home, I can make a matcha latte for about $1 using the matcha powder I already have.

And honestly, I don't feel like I'm missing out.

We buy nice teas, matcha and hot chocolate, and we have a nice coffee machine at home. I can make myself something delicious every single day and it actually feels like a little luxury.

I'll still go to coffee shops with friends, but it's no longer an everyday expense.

Trendy Dinnerware

Social media can make you feel like you need to constantly update your home.

There are always new plates, new dinnerware collections, different shapes, colours and aesthetics.

But our dinnerware has been with us for years.

Some of it was even handed down to us, and some pieces are probably from the 1980s.

And I love them.

They're not perfectly coordinated or trendy, but they have personality. Some of my favourite pieces are old floral plates that have been passed down through the family.

Why would I replace something that still works?

I'll use these plates until they break.

There is actually something really charming about a home filled with things that have been loved and used for years.

New Cars

We aren't buying new cars either.

We've had the same car for 16 years, and it still works perfectly well.

We take good care of it, and it still looks great.

A new car starts depreciating as soon as you drive it away, so if you already have a reliable vehicle, keeping it for as long as possible can save a lot of money.

It's also one less perfectly usable car being replaced simply because something newer came along.

Monthly Subscriptions

We've also cut back on a lot of subscriptions.

One example is Amazon Prime.

We realized that if we're spending $35 or more, we can usually get free shipping anyway. So we don't really need to pay for Prime.

Not having the subscription also makes us think twice before buying something.

If something sits in our cart for a while, I'll often look at it later and think, Do I really need this?

Most of the time, we don't.

We also try to go to a store first rather than automatically buying something online.

Netflix

Netflix is another subscription we no longer have.

It kept getting more expensive, and eventually we realized that we had so much free entertainment available around us that we didn't really miss it.

We have libraries, free concerts, YouTube and so much educational content available for free.

There's no shortage of things to watch or learn.

We don't feel deprived. We just don't feel the need to pay for everything.

Expensive Software

As a content creator, there are endless programs and services you can subscribe to.

I used to use CapCut, but when it started charging, I switched to DaVinci Resolve.

I use the free version, and it works perfectly well for what I need.

I don't want to pay a monthly fee just to edit my videos when I already have a tool that does what I need for free.

Sometimes saving money is simply about finding another way to do something.

Going to the Movies

When I was younger, going to the movies was something we did much more often.

I remember $2 Tuesdays.

Those days are long gone.

For a family of four, going to the movies can cost around $60 before you even add popcorn and snacks.

So we don't go every week.

But we also haven't completely eliminated it.

We'll go about once a year to see a movie that we really want to experience together, especially a big blockbuster.

That makes it feel like a treat.

I actually think dramas are often better watched at home anyway. But there are certain movies that are just fun to see together on a big screen.

The difference is that it's an occasional experience instead of a regular expense.

Buying Clothes Just Because They're on Sale

When I was in my 20s, I used to buy clothes simply because they were on sale.

Now I see sales very differently.

Something being discounted doesn't automatically mean it's a good purchase.

A lot of sale items are trendy, and trends can disappear quickly.

I already have enough clothing to last me a very long time.

I barely even need to go thrift shopping because so much of my clothing comes from family members. My parents, in-laws and sister pass things along when they no longer fit or suit their style.

This shirt, for example, belonged to my mother-in-law, and this skirt belonged to my sister.

Instead of buying something new, I get to give something that already exists a second life.

And if I really do want something new, I'll check the thrift store first.

Buying Lots of Purses

I used to buy purses all the time.

They're an easy thing to buy because you don't have to worry about trying them on, and there are so many different shapes and styles.

But after living for more than 40 years, I've figured out what I actually use.

I tend to reach for the same few bags over and over again, especially ones that can be worn as a backpack.

They're practical, comfortable and easy to use.

So instead of constantly buying new purses, I'm going to use the ones I have until they completely give up on me.

Expensive Beauty Products

The beauty industry has a clever way of making us feel like we need more.

A 10-step skincare routine.

A different product for every little concern.

Something new to make us look younger, smoother or better.

But I've realized that I don't need all of that.

I make about 90% of the products I use on my face myself.

I've been making my own cosmetics since I was around 20, and I love knowing exactly what's going onto my skin.

For example, I can make a simple brow filler using cocoa powder and activated charcoal, both things I already have at home.

It takes about two minutes.

I've also put together a DIY ebook with 25 of my favourite cosmetic recipes that I've been perfecting over the years.

For me, making my own products isn't just about saving money. It's also about learning a skill and becoming less dependent on constantly buying something new.

Hair Salon Visits

I also don't go to the hair salon.

My hair is pretty easy to cut, so I cut it myself.

Snip, snip. Five minutes.

I did invest in a good pair of salon-quality scissors, but after that, my haircuts cost me practically nothing.

It's another example of something I realized I could simply do myself.

We're Not Trying to Spend Nothing

When you hear all of these things, it might sound like we don't spend money on anything.

That's not true.

We absolutely spend money.

We're just much more intentional about where it goes.

That's the biggest difference for me.

Frugality isn't about spending the least amount of money possible. It's about figuring out what actually matters to you and spending your money there.

If a restaurant meal brings you a lot of joy, go to the restaurant.

If you love your daily coffee shop ritual, enjoy it.

If a new outfit genuinely makes you happy and you'll wear it for years, buy it.

There's no prize for having the smallest budget.

For me, the goal is to cut out the things that don't bring much value so I have more room for the things that do.