10 Things I Don’t Spend Money on Anymore

1. Going to the Movies - Tickets and food are items that that add up really fast. I haven’t been to a movie theater since 2008, and I don’t miss it at all. I see all the movies I want at home just a short while later. One benefit from the pandemic has been seeing new movies on my streaming apps.

2. High End Brand Names: I mean, who needs a $450 Gucci belt? They are going to go out of style, if they are not already out, and you’re out 500 bucks.

3. Starbucks or Peet’s - I haven’t paid for my own cup of coffee since 2003. I get plenty of gift cards for coffee from my students, so if I don’t have a gift card, I don’t get a coffee. It is not the end of the world, and I find more joy in saving the money than in drinking the coffee.

4. Sale Items - This only works when an item you have been eyeing goes on sale. Just don’t buy anything on sale that you would never have bought at full price.

5. Souvenirs - Such a waste of money, and they take up space in your home and nobody wants them as presents. Just take a picture instead to remember the trip.

6. Books - Now, I am a serious reader, about 100 books per year according to Goodreads, but don’t give your money to Amazon! Libby is a great library app for free Kindles and audible books. Now I only buy books that are not on the library app, but I always request that the library buy the books I want and most of the time, they do.

7. Nails - I paint my own nails. It is not that hard and plain nails look better than chipped nails. Don’t worry about it and stop wasting your money.

8. Cable - Don’t miss cable at all. I, instead, pay for other streaming services and YouTube premium. So worth it!

9. Holiday Gifts - The more people you can cut off your holiday list, the better. People do not need more items. It is better to show your appreciation in other ways like by going out to dinner or spending time with loved ones.

10. Aspirational Clothing or Trends - Don’t buy clothes that don’t fit you because you think that someday you will fit in to them. And trends are exhausting to keep up with and are just stroking your own ego trying to impress others. Impress yourself with how much wealth you have accumulated by not spending on these unnecessary expenditures.

Basically spend your money on items that bring joy. Don’t spend money based out of habit or on ego.