Used to Consume more. What did you buy/consume but now no longer do.

HappySad

Some like to shop , buy & own more & more. Some don't want to own much & most are a bit inbetween. What general items that most people buy that you do not. OR what items did you used to buy-consume but no longer.



I'll start

Used to buy lots of books. But now always borrow from library.
Used to buy perfume. (chemicals on body) Now don't wear any. Shower is good enough.
Used to air freshers but no longer (less chemicals in the air)- open the window now.
Don't buy DVDs/CDs just borrow from library.
Swop clothes with friends/family

Ken68

Same as you Happy, use the library for books and desperately trying to give up perfume :-)).
It's down to habit. If you are a busy person probably easier to shop once a week, grab whats available then back to work. Then repeat week in week out.
When you retire then there is time to think ,time to look for alternatives, time to shop around.
Packed up DRIVING, biggest single saver in a long time, so more to spend on other things.
Lots of things we take for granted were not available to our parents/grandparents/ancestors yet they managed.
Running a fridge/freezer for example, or is that going too far. !!!

HugoSP

Not that I have given up alltogether but I have cut down on drinking.

Since I lost weight, and after having the mother of all colds a couple of years ago, I have found that my tolerence levels have taken a nosedive.

3 pints of bitter is now about my comfortable limit, whereas I could drink 5 and hot have an issue before.

MoneyGypsy

Hi,

used to buy 2-3 lattes/mochas a day - now buy maybe once a week. Saves lots of money and no using the disposable cups that the takeaways come in!!

:beer: :beer: :beer:

lightisfading

Brilliant idea, I've just been writing a list of things I want to improve, but sometimes it's nice to pat yourself on the back!

I've given up on my previous addiction, Coca Cola (bad nasty corporation)
Given up meat - working on switching to Organic milk n eggs (for animal welfare purposes)
Never used makeup (next to never perfume).
Switched to minimal 'bath' products ie dont buy overpriced animal-tested shampoo for its claims of miracles :rolleyes:
Switched from loads of nasty cleaning products to some general purpose and loo cleaning ecover.
Don't buy CDs or DVDs, books are from the library or charity shops.

HappySad

lightisfading wrote: »

Brilliant idea, I've just been writing a list of things I want to improve, but sometimes it's nice to pat yourself on the back!

I've given up on my previous addiction, Coca Cola (bad nasty corporation)
Given up meat - working on switching to Organic milk n eggs (for animal welfare purposes)
Never used makeup (next to never perfume).
Switched to minimal 'bath' products ie dont buy overpriced animal-tested shampoo for its claims of miracles :rolleyes:
Switched from loads of nasty cleaning products to some general purpose and loo cleaning ecover.
Don't buy CDs or DVDs, books are from the library or charity shops.

Your doing really well. You have done lots that have really improved your life and health. I usually don't wear make up but if I do I use one from the healthshop.. I think its organic.

shelley_crow

I've given up being a mug and paying over the odds for things (buy books in charity shops, not from waterstones)

I've given up £20 moisturiser for cocoa butter which does a better job and is less chemically

I've given up chocolate and cake to lose weight but i will be baking my own for the rest of the family.

I refuse to buy more clothes than i need, i have a few pairs of trousers plenty of tops and some shoes. I won't buy any more until the other ones literally fall apart or get too big.

I do wear makeup (nature wasn't kind to me) but i only replace what i have used, no more being frivolous.

i won't shop at tesco because i think they rip us off. Instead of spending £70 per week for 2 adults and a child, i go to Aldi, the farm shop and the butchers. I get much more for my money and it's better quality.

We've given up takeaways. If we can't make it then we don't eat it.

I've been using freecycle, given things away and receiving things i need. It's a great resource although people tend to be rude by where i live.

Great thread!

HugoSP

I was terrible for picking up cheap tools in markets and diy stores.

I do occasionally pick up tools now because of my business but they tend to be bought much less often and because I need them. TBH I got fed up with cheap tools that let me down and falling over stuff that I've spent good money on. Now the money stays in my bank account.

Dustykitten

We got a sodastream from freecycle so nolonger buy fizzy water.

We have swopped to a milkman so whilst not cutting down on milk don't have any plastic bottles anymore.

We now only get a newspaper on a Saturday not everyday.

We break the dishwasher tablet in half so a box lasts twice as long.

There is so much more I hope to do but have made a start and have stuck to all of the above for a year.

nzmegs

Milk in bottles not plastic
Bus not car
Walk whenever possible
buy books, toys and clothes in charity shops
remove makeup with baby oil
moisturise with E45
use makeup samples rather than full sizes (they will give you little pots in dept stores)
air dry rather than drier
also my mum said boiling hot water is better than any cleaner in the world, which is actually factual, it kills the germs and does not harm the planet! Add some lemon juice and vinegar too.

I also have completely given up plastic bags. i sew my own fabric ones which are funky and cool (made from old material remnants which i get really cheap!)

I like the soda stream idea but how "friendly " are the gas bottles are they refillable?

Penelope_Penguin

Clothes - in 2007 only bought one new dress (for a smart wedding). All the rest second hand from charity shops, and a bit of eBay and Freecycle.

Music - pop bought as downloads, classical (needed to practice for choir) second hand, mainly from Amazon.

Books - paperbacks from Green Metropolis; hardbacks second hand (mainly Amazon) and from the library.

NZmegs - your bags sound lovely. Any chance of pattern and photos? I reuse carriers as much as I can, and gave Onya bags to everyone for Christmas.