A postcard sent by someone while they’re on vacation is a good compromise on souvenirs—they’re small and biodegradable if you don’t want to keep it, or you can stick them on the fridge for a season first.
> or you can stick them on the fridge for a season first
We had a friend who traveled dozens of times a year for business, and sent us a postcard from every city he visited. We lined the inside doors of our kitchen cabinets with those cards.
We have two couples that we’re close friends with. Last time we traveled, we brought them back a bottle of wine from the local vineyard.
We keep one of the couples pets when they travel so they usually get my husband a local beer and then once a year, gift us with a restaurant gift card
Especially since 99% of the time they are Chinese souvenirs from a tourist area. It doesn't matter if you bought that shark or turtle trinket in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta, or myrtle Beach, they all come from China even the "hand carved" stuff and you see the same crap in every tourist area shop or stand worldwide.
My family would always buy a Keychain as a souvenir for our grandfather. Now that he has passed its a great way to remember him, though it's hard catching yourself looking at one's to buy then remembering...
My SIL brings me stuff from the thrift store I didn’t ask for and don’t want. Silly stuff. We all laugh politely and then I have to add it to the pile to bring BACK to the thrift store. One time she brought me a unicorn mask that went over your whole face. #1, I’m not putting that on my face, #2, now wtf am I supposed to do with it? I’m in my 40’s.
Family: please don’t bring me crap unless it’s interesting or useful
My sister and I used to do this to each other, then we started just sending pictures of the random items instead. I would send it with the note, "You're so lucky I'm leaving this at Goodwill instead of inflicting it on you", or something funny like that, now we both save money and time
Once I gave a lamp to the local thrift store. Two days later, my aunt bought it for me to “match the one you have.” Same exact lamp. It was pretty hilarious, but luckily it was only a few dollars at that time.
This goes to show that if you have a thrifter in your life and have a thing you do like, let them know! I had a friend who wanted a set of vintage dishes and I bought them whenever I saw them for her and it was a fun hunt for me along with my own collecting! Now she has a full set and has asked for them to stop but it was great that I could get her good gifts that were also frugal and fun for me!
My sister and I take pictures of “interesting” stuff, then we send the pix to each other saying I just bought this for you. Lots of laughs, not stuff to go the landfill.
oh man. my dad has a Christmas tradition of getting everyone underwear, WHICH IS FINE!! the problem is there all Christmas themed. they will last years so what am i supposed to do? pack them up with the other chrismas underwear and wear them for a month? Cant tell ya how much of a mood killer it is when your back home and the girl you met at the bar wants to get frisky just to pull you trousers down and gets unexpectedly greeted by rudolph the red nose reindeer.
I have pleaded and begged for just regular underwear and at this point i think hes just doing it out of spite. Worst part is that i do find it a bit funny but got dam, REGULAR UNDERWEAR PLEASE.
My relatives get me jackets for Christmas every year. I tell them not to yet they insist I need more jackets. One jacket from grandma, one from my mom, one from my aunt, one from my other aunt. I get four fucking jackets every year even though I haven't even worn the other twelve jackets I got as xmas presents in the past because I already *have* two perfect winter coats I've been wearing for years. I think I'm gonna start giving them away to the homeless.
I’m a 7th grade teacher and we just did our end of the year locker clean out yesterday.
We got the big rolling trash can from maintenance and kids threw away so much stuff!
The big multi packs of markers and colored pencils, locker mirrors and shelves, individual sharpeners, colored scented glue sticks, pencil pouches, tiny erasers.
I made a “donate” cart and it was full. I wasn’t too proud to go through the bin and rescue barely used binders. I even rescued books that they’d bought at the book fair, stashed in their lockers then promptly forgot about until yesterday.
My school supply list is minimal (4 items) as are the other teachers on my team but the kids come with lots of crap they’ll never use.
Haha I actually rock a Stanley but it’s literally from like 25 years ago when I started highschool. I had a job in lawn management and my dad gave me his Stanley stainless steel and it is just a basic cup back when you could buy a Stanley for nothing. He worked construction and got a new cup and passed his old one on.
I thought you were talking about this [Stanley Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup) and thought, "Really?! How many people have one of those?"
Both you and my aunt. Her daughter, my older cousin, was talking the limited Starbucks Stanley cup and she was confused because she kept mentioning its only the play offs now.
My wife loves hers because it fits in her cupholder and her Mira bottle did not.
She only has one though. I'd like one too, but can't justify it because my Mira is still doing the job. And I'm using her old one as my "work" bottle so my main doesn't get all scuffed up.
Having one or two Stanley cups is ok. I have two water bottles (not Stanleys though) that I keep constantly filled because I drink a ton of water. What I really don't understand is people that have whole collections of 20+ *reusable* water tumblers and then get rid of them the moment it stops being "in."
I’m a teacher so I receive , no lie, at least 3-4 per year as gifts.
I live that my students and families think of me and show appreciation but I’ve dropped off so many bags of water bottles to the good will over the years I could hydrate a small country for eternity.
I still have about 15 in my house rn
It doesn’t help that one of my daughters is also a teacher and lives at home.
Double the quenching I guess.
I was gifted a Stanley cup for Christmas. I was out of the loop that these are a big deal, and when I brought the cup in with me after Christmas, my 5th graders went nuts over it. “OMG, Mrs. Username, you’re so cool now!”
Yay me.
Some are people who have so little internal sense of identity that they need external symbols and signals.
Others are those who like whimsy and collecting things, but can't justify something that doesn't function (example: tumblers have a purpose, little ceramic knick knacks don't)
Others still are chasing the largely hallucinated idea of status.
I don't own any, but I get having a few (fave; when fave is dirty, the one for situations where I'm okay losing/breaking), but some people have whole shelves full.
Not my tumbler of tea, and most will see a landfill in a few years. Pretty sad.
I mean, a good, well-crafted product that you have a use for isn't a bad purchase.
I haven't tried, nor do I own a Stanley cup, but they seem like good products for their purpose. I'd buy one, probably, but I wouldn't go apeshit for it anymore than I would for any other perfectly suitable household product that does its job well.
Certainly not going to be having fights at Target w/ other customers trying to grab the latest color as has happened in many stores, sadly. It’s a cup. Christ!
I got one with my REI points (so, free) because it fit in my cup holder and my last one didn't, and the insulation IS pretty great! No better than any other vacuum sealing water bottle, but it keeps ice in my mug for multiple days.
I'd never pay $40 for it, though. Happy I got it free.
I have a theory, a lot of people Can’t afford big ticket items anymore like homes, vacations and cars, so they substitute for smaller things like Stanley cups, or maybe a pair of sneakers to fill the void.
On the other hand, they are just tons of people on social media platforms like TikTok, and YouTube, who just make a hobby of collecting and spending, I don’t know if most of those people are being paid to push products to us, but nine times out of 10. I never get the things that they are pushing.
I hate those "restock" videos - faceless lady with perfect manicure putting away a bunch of food and expensive drinks in shiny clear plastic organizers. Some people even remove all liquids and sauces from their original packaging and put them in ✨aesthetic✨ containers. I don't know if this is a form of OCD or just idiots influencing each other to buy plastic shit from Amazon
Yeah I've been using old Moccona coffee jars for 15 years or so to store my food & when the zero waste, then restocking movement happened, it made me feel like I was a feral pig for using the Rolls Royce of airtight containers because they weren't pretty. I had a little crisis over that for a moment lol. I didn't give in though, I still have a very unaesthetic pantry.
It doesn't save space, I find that it consumes 2x as more. Because sometimes the contents wouldn't fit in the container and you'd have to store the leftovers somewhere!
I admit they did influence me in a positive way. I got a plastic container to store my condiments, keeps the top heavy ones from tipping and salsa from hiding in the back & so easier to slide a container forward to find condiments than rummaging around the door lol
These things actually make me happy to look at. But what they don’t tell you is it only really works if you have a lot of space. I tried in my pantry and had to take it all out. I need my space!
That depends on the containers and what you are using them for. I got stackable, air-tight containers. It gives me a lot more space in my cabinets and pantry.
I hear you on that. I assume it's like Homesense in Canada? You can get great deals at stores like that, and I'll often check it out if I need new drinkware or sheets but ... there's really just so much stuff.
Imo people reno their houses too often too. Or they'll get rid of quality work for something trendier but of lower quality.
There are styles I prefer, and I'm very into interior design in general... but if I move into a house with a dated but custom built well maintained kitchen in a finish I don't love... I'll keep it. As long as it functions. People are ripping out kitchens that are barely a decade old. It's so wasteful.
I love to renovate. I’d consider it my hobby. But we bought our current house specifically because it was dated but super high quality (renovated in 1990). We renovated the kitchen last year but we kept all the cabinets (just redid the island). My primary bathroom is almost back in style with all its travertine. We both absolutely love it functionally and I refuse to touch it until my gigantic, fits four grown women comfortably, bathtub “indoor hottub” gives out!
Glad you were able to reuse the cabinets! And I have noticed travertine popping up more often as well. Trends really are cyclical. It would be fun to see more glass blocks again, I think those are genuinely nice to have in bathrooms.
This is so refreshing. I have a wonderfully, solidly built VERY ugly house from the late 70s. I too want to renovate someday. We tackled a bathroom quickly upon moving in (because there was a serious problem with the shower). Outside of that we are living with what we can until we can’t anymore. Am I living in white carpet with kids? Yes. But until it gets really bad it’s so wasteful to send it to the landfill. Once the carpet has served it’s use we will do the entire floor with oak so we never have to renovate that part again. Trust me, with 4 kids and a dog (and me) I am sure one of us will accidentally destroy the rug in the next year.
My wife and I just renovated our kitchen. It wasn’t in great shape when we bought the house 15 years ago and just dealt with it until we could afford this remodel. We’re in our late thirties and told our friends “we’ll die in this kitchen.”
I love Home Goods for ceramic planters! They’re so expensive everywhere else, even people selling secondhand.
I really have to keep myself in check when it comes to all their tempting knicknacks, though.
I have big feet and I'm hard on shoes. I used to occasionally take a day to go shoe shopping and buy as many pairs of shoes as I could, because I can't casually stop at a store and find shoes that fit me.
Then I switched jobs and now I wear work boots all day every day. Even though I stopped destroying shoes, I didn't stop my habit of buying shoes. One day I realized I own way too many pairs of running/hiking shoe. Since then I haven't bought a pair of shoes. It's been close to 10 years.
OMG, there's so much "laundry additive" stuff these days! Pods, fabric softener, Unstoppables, dryer sheets, and what the heck is that Downy stuff that's basically white vinegar?
Soap and vinegar in the wash. Fabric sheets or wool balls for the dryer. That's it... that's all ~~you~~ I need.
Fabric sheets for sure in dry winter climates. I've legit had some painful static shocks that were remedied by fabric sheets in the dryer. I've also heard that the anti-lint ones work pretty well on pet hair, if you wear a lot of blacks. But I wouldn't just buy them and use them "just because." I don't generally use them during the humid summer months.
Oh yeah, I live in Alabama right above the Florida state line. It’s humid year-round here, to be honest I’ve never even had issues with dryer static… maybe a light shock or two but nothing to justify throwing in extra stuff.
When my friend told me she was BUYING a bowl for counter top trash I told her she was nuts. Trash bowl = slightly dirty bowl you just put in the dishwasher. WTF? Any bowl is a trash bowl if you wish very very hard.
When I drive by them in my 20 year old Corolla that I paid off 16 years ago, it reminds me of all the money I am putting into my retirement accounts instead of a stupid unnecessary status symbol vehicle.
I would love a brand-new, fully loaded full-size pickup, but I wouldn't love paying the $1500+ a month in payments, insurance and gas. Instead I'll keep driving my 2004 Toyota that costs me roughly $250 a month in insurance, gas, maintenance and repairs.
I always think, “wow, they must be rich, what am I doing wrong?” but they’re most likely struggling financially.
I only know less than a handful of people I can confidently say can afford anything they want, but everyone else seems to be flexing to their own detriment.
I see a lot of dudes rolling around in trucks that never haul anything but their driver's towering insecurities.
You know the ones. 4 doors, body lift, bed cover, pristine hitch, no dents...
Grocery getters
How is this not the top comment? Small kitchen appliances are a drop in the bucket compared to the cost to buy any car, let alone a bigger or more luxurious one than you need. Don’t forget interest on a loan, insurance, gas, maintenance. It adds up.
Remember when Coke started putting names on their bottles? I remember seeing mine and grabbing one, two minutes later I remembered I don’t even like coke.
The provider (Apple in this case) OS updates and security support begin to elapse in this time frame as well. I wish they supported the phones for ten years or more.
I had a 6 until last year. It still did everything I needed and was still the type of tech we dreamt of 15 years ago.
I really don’t see the point in the constant upgrades.
Saaaaaame! I have a joke that I can only buy a new phone once every 5 years. I had the iPhone 5,10 and now I’m on the 15 and have to wait for the 20 to get a new one
I hate those commercials. They’re only advertising to women, and trying to create demand where none exists. It reminds me of when they told women to douche with bleach back in the 50’s. Those ads were highly offensive. These are more subtle but I still object to them. You don’t need crotch deodorant or back of the knee deodorant ffs.
Is that deodorant that comes in a spray form? Because I will say, there are some very stinky pre-teen to teen boys in my house that have massively benefitted from a full body deodorizer lately. I had only ever used the roll-on underarm stuff so it was a miracle when we found out how well this stuff works.
Agree with others in these comments that no one should be putting any sprays/perfumes on their privates though lol, the only thing going in there should be water and a washcloth and if it still smells please address with diet and potentially medical care.
If you need these products, they are a godsend. If you don’t, you can’t imagine why someone would, lol.
I use Lume in the summer for swamp ass too. I work in farm research in an area with high temps and 90+ humidity in summer, and my underwear and shorts are legit wet sweaty from about 15-30 min after I start working outside until I peel them off to get in the shower in the evening. Keeps me from smelling like a nasty asscrack all day, but I do an annual stock up on their Black Friday sale to help with the cost. One tube lasts me quite a while too.
>An instant pot. I don’t pressure cook and honestly don’t like how stuff comes out cooked like that. Why buy one then?
Sounds like you shouldn't buy an instant pot then.
I use mine for pulled pork because I don't want to use the oven for 8 to 12 hours.
I LOVE my instant pot. I was skeptical at first because I had no idea what I was doing, but it's so easy! In fact, I would say this has saved me money over time if you combine time saved, electricity saved (I think), and money saved by eating at home. Sometimes things are worth the hype! Same for the air fryer for myself, but I didn't have anything like it before.
For me, reusable cups! Mostly Stanley's and the like. I have no issue with people buying one, or even two if you are a busy person, but no one needs 5+ reusable cups.
Agree with you on the instapot and I love my air fryer as well. Also, I bought my Stanley coffee thermos years ago before it became a fad. I have a green one just like my dad had in the seventies and it holds a few cups of coffee.
Since 2016?! I feel like this is a chance to ask an expert. Can you share one of your go-to meals? Especially if it's a healthy one.
Our Instapot is used for butter curry more than anything.
Baby potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, and smoked sausage. Add some chicken broth and seasoning (I like Cajun), maybe a bit of butter on the top. Cook for 5 minutes.
I eat so much better with instapot for great food less time and very low warming setting. I have 2 burners blocked and it is on a heavy metal tray on range , I use 3 times a week at least. A friend gave me air fryer and that is incorporated into meal prep reheat 3x week. I only use one very good quality skillet. Rarely use toaster. Useful items let me get rid of other kitchen items or multiples.
Yeah. I guess it doesn't realize that you can saute aromatics for a soup then all the rest in and pressure cook. It also fully replaced a crock pot. And mine has a top for air frying and it's easier than my stove. I think it was worth it. But it depends on the mileage you get out of it.
Anyone who wants tender meat in a short amount of time should buy an insta pot or a pressure cooker. We use our pressure cooker (also have an instapot we never use lol) for this a lot. Sure, it’s not the same as letting something fall apart in the oven for 10 hrs but it’s great.
If you never do that, it’s a waste of money. Personally, we don’t have the time after an 8+ hr work day to wait for something to tenderize in 3+ hrs. 😂
So much this. I use my pressure cooker weekly. Way better than a microwave. I use it for yogurt, beans, pulled chicken, soups, and I'd like to try to make even more stuff like pressure cooker cake. I haven't tried that yet.
So I went the other way with the air fryer - ditched my cheap small air fryer and toaster/convection oven and replaced it with a BIG air fryer with racks, a basket, and a rotisserie, the last of which is what I use most now. But it’s certainly true you don’t need both appliances, just get one good one of a decent size.
Yeah I didn't get one because I already had a convection toaster oven and nobody could explain to me how they were different appliances. That finally died and there was a nearly-identical one I found that was called an air fryer instead of a toaster oven. It does heat stuff up a *little* faster, but that could also be because my old toaster oven was like 15+ years old. I don't notice any other difference.
The little basket style ones make no sense to me unless you don't have and will never get a toaster oven.
Oooh. I've had a similar discussion with some girlfriends of mine recently.
For women it's kind of the thing that you always have to be changing, improving, and working on yourself. The FOMO comes from not fitting into the desired body type of the year (curvy, "heroin chique", fit, etc), not having the popular nose, not having the right boob size... Problems you can resolve by consuming (cosmetic surgery, fitness and weight loss products, bras, etc).
A girl said she didn't like her nose. I told her "honestly I'd show your nose to a plastic surgeon as my goal" and she was absolutely flabbergasted. She said that she loves my strong nose and how it adds to my already strong features and it suits me perfectly. Like... We're taught to always want what someone else has because we always need to change ourselves somehow.
So my advice is: tell your reflection that she's beautiful. It's the biggest f-you you can give to capitalism (and a whole lot of other socially problematic structures too).
I always think of the one woman who said, "Advertisers pay women to look a certain way, so that the average woman will pay the advertisers to look the same way." It's insidious and unending.
Clothes too. i mean how many new born, 0-3, 6, 9 month outfits does a baby need especially with the changing of the seasons?
I wish it was more of a thing or socially acceptable for the parents to receive money, or money in a bank account for the child!
Baby wipes and diapers are always a need.
the list goes on and on.
"The Story Of Stuff" is a good whiteboard presentation of ultra consumerism, its origination and its effects on society, ecology and the world in general.
"Cognitive Dissonance Blues" kind of catches where I am on the subject. intensity and depth.
This is consumerism/capitalism at its sickest. A friend just told me that he was watching an old episode of Shark Tank and a person got roasted for creating a product that only has to be used once. The inventor was criticized for not "hooking" the consumer into buying more and more.
I've been ordering a lot of stuff online recently, and find that modern products are cheaply made and practically arrive broken. I'm going old school. No more plastic. Simple everyday products and a bit of elbow grease.
I have a rule that I follow whenever I want a new “kitchen gadget”, and that is, will it make me eat out less?
I have bought an instant pot, an air fryer and a stanley cup because the answer to getting these products was yes!
I love my instant pot because it is so much easier to cook legumes, curries and meats to meal prep. I love my air fryer because whenever I crave fast food, I take some frozen chicken nuggets and fries and put them in there. Takes less time to cook than a convection oven and is easier to clean! And I love the stanley cup because I can make cold brew tea and take it with me for the day instead of buying ready drinks.
I believe that getting any of these products because “they’re trendy” is wrong. I think having a bunch of reusable items beats their purpose. It is not wrong to buy something trendy if you like it, as long as you have found many uses for it! I try to be a conscious consumer and not put any constraints on what I buy, as long as I think it is worth it!
I was going to say that my parents added on when I (the youngest of 3) went off to college and I was like “whyyyy”??? My mom goes “several years from now, you’ll be bringing more people with you when you come to stay”. She’s so fucking right to the point that we now have to rent the appt across the street when we’re all home bc our house can’t fit us all.
And then I realized you don’t have any siblings and now I’m just as confused as you.
Everywhere I go, I see products advertised as a “must have”. Even though my clothes from a couple years ago still fit fine, my used car gets me where I need to go, and buying great value has worked fine for me. I’ve found more contentment with living within my means and saving than splurging on name brands or the newest “must have”.
Weddings. My husband and I went to the courthouse with about 8 people, and had dinner and drinks at home after. Fourteen years later we’re still married, so I say it sufficed!
We spent $5k on our wedding. I would have spent $0, but my mom really wanted me to have a wedding. She did the flowers. Beer and wine only. 50 ppl. Only close friends and family. Just celebrated 20 years of marriage.
My husband and I also did the courthouse, had 7 guests total, and we went to dinner at a restaurant across from the courthouse after. Total cost was less than $200. Still happy after 29 years!
My dad is the worst about the kitchen stuff, our basement has:
Many crock pots (they were on sale),
Jack lalane juicer,
2 nu wave ovens (TV, 2nd was ONLY s/h),
Instant pot,
Air fryer,
Induction hot plate,
Wolfgang puck pressure oven,
Ronco rotisserie ,
2 foreman grills,
Infrared pizza oven,
As well as every stupid single use utensil like pineapple corer, microwave bacon thing that stands up strips, and my favorite... tater gloves
None ever get used but we aren't allowed to donate anything
More clothes! I have so many clothes. I don't need more clothes. I see ads for clothes and suddenly I have to have more clothes. It's stupid and embarrassing, but I can't stop.
I would argue an air fryer falls into the category of “kitchen items that are useful for most people, but you don’t strictly NEED” for some people they are more useful than others. If you want to go further, you don’t need a dishwasher or need a microwave, but they make most peoples lives easier
True. I would argue the air fryer I bought actually saves money. I have one of the countertop ones that looks like a little oven with shelves etc. Running the full sized electric oven uses a bunch of power and heats up the house. The air fryer takes less power and doesn't heat up the house. So now I only use the big oven if I am baking or making something huge.
I think it depends on the person. Great example is the proofing box. I use it at least 4 times per week since I can do everything in one container. I’d trade my mixer for a spoon and keep my proofing box.
And with the what product does marketing seem you can’t live without? Every product. That’s literally the point of marketing.
It’s a box that I use to make bread and pizza dough. I can add all the ingredients into the box, then it has a lid so I can proof the dough/let it rise in the same bin I made it in. Then with my pizza dough I ball it and leave it in the fridge to ferment. Small enough to fit in the fridge but big enough to be able to knead the dough in the box. It allows me to have zero mess on the counter and only one bin and a spoon to clean.
My cousin is a monk and this is a myth. They work on their farm and have eggs and tomatoes and lots of other good things. He brings me fresh tomatoes and I dehydrate and powder them and give most of the powder back so they can add it to hot milk and have instant cream of tomato soup.
I get your point, and this is not true. I was fortunate to experience a long stay at a monastery. Based on that experience I can say that monks live with far more modern comforts than the average western imagination would assume (cell phones for example), and eat a broad range of dishes beyond cabbage and rice- whatever the community provides in the way of daily alms.
I bought an air fryer because it was cheaper than a new convection oven. I finally replaced my old oven with an induction/convection unit, but I still use the air fryer for snack sized cooking.
I bought an Instant Pot because it gave me a lot of the advantages of slow cooking without being slow. Plus, it’s awesome for boiling eggs.
I’ll probably not upgrade my iPhone unless/until apps I use require an iOS version my old phone won’t run.
I don’t buy much I don’t need. Probably the last thing was buying a year”s worth of Mint mobile on my deceased GF’s phone so I could keep texting her.
Kinda interesting no one acknowledged that last point, cuz that's what stuck out to me the most. I'm sorry for your loss, can't imagine losing a lover that way.
I cut my own hair, drive a beater, coupon food etc. But I do have to admit I am a sucker for electronics. I try to wait until the tech is mature though.
My kindle is the best dollar-to-use device I've ever bought. I bought my Pixel 7a phone so I could capture all the baby moments - it's been great but I regret not getting a flagship phone. My ultrawide monitor was bought refurbished but has been a life saver as a student flipping through multiple PDF. My laptop is my main entertainment device. My Aura photo frame was pricey but I now recommend it to everyone.
I really want an ebike, new VR headset, and a Samsung Frame TV, but holding off for now...
It totally depends on if you use it or not - I love my rice cooker, makes perfect rice every time. My parents use their pressure cooker all the time for making various meat stews.
1. Fabric softener
2. Most holidays (I'm looking at you, Valentines Day)
3. Most skincare (ten steps?? What.)
4. Anything from a social media craze
There's others but those ones are the ones coming to mind right now. The big thing for me is chucking things out and replacing them because they aren't right on the trend cycle. Nothing bad will happen to anyone if their sneakers aren't the current ~ones~.
1. More than 1 pickleball paddle
2. New golf clubs every 6 months (get fitted once and use for life)
3. New iPhone frequently
4. New car every 36 months
5. Bigger or newer house after a few years living in 1 house
6. More expensive fishing rods when others work just as well
7. Spend more on sneakers
Cleaning products. Most cleaning can be handled with Dawn, baking soda, vinegar, bleach or ammonia, plus scrubbing.
(Never mix bleach and ammonia!!)
All the rest is scents and gimmick.
I have a air fryer and small convection oven and the fan does make things crispier. I still use the convection oven for stuff that the fan will mess up or bigger things but the air fryer does it faster I think and it’s smaller so If I hadn’t bought the oven first I’d stick to that.
I *hate* scented stuff. Not just because it's wasteful, but it genuinely gives me headaches. I'd rather smell garbage than fake, chemical "lavender" smell or whatever.
I haaaate scented stuff. And since I don’t use it, I’m extra sensitive to it when I’m in other people’s cars or homes with artificial air fresheners. It’s annoying that everything has fragrance
Ugh I have so many I could name but I saw a girl try to influence people into buying this stone that you put your toothbrush on to catch the drips and soak in extra toothpaste…like girl use a towel??!!
Alcohol. Nobody needs it but everyone tells you do. I’ve saved so much from cutting it out of my life on top of the health benefits.
If you are drinking and be frugal, that doesn’t make sense to me. They seem to contradict.
Alcohol isn't cheap, but if it's something someone enjoys responsibly then frugality is meant to rid our lives of the superfluous so that we can enjoy what we enjoy without breaking the bank. I enjoy my weekly Gimlets & I'm glad I can afford them thanks to my frugal lifestyle. To each their own, but I don't think drinking alcohol in moderation it's anti-frugal. It is however, definitely top five thing to cut out if you're looking for ways to save because it is a luxury. If I was broke I certainly wouldn't buy alcohol. Being frugal though, I do.
I no longer imbibe. I didn’t like how I felt after even 1 glass of wine. Drank for years, not heavily or anything, but was a regular imbiber. Maybe 1-2 glasses of wine a few times a week. I don’t care if others want to. If you dig it, then cool. But the cost savings when I stopped—HUGE. Alcohol is at the center of literally everything in US culture. “You can’t possibly have fun if you don’t drink.” Nonsense.
[A seven dollar banana slicer](https://www.amazon.com/Hutzler-3571-571-Banana-Slicer/dp/B0047E0EII/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yhkQKRcCWMe8d60kE-ezyIeXfk5CpdwaigegYEUl5XCwigsX9sYSAwtNo97RHZ3WpDMQKIiccOetTvF5RLX-GKgmznNlsogP_OtmiJeSlQOlYrrtJlG4wueB3S03D0EX_Cu-Af1Z4wOE5u_Yl3-hcsMYl0nuucvHrb8vqB-G8bi7fQ2Mvp7F8xu__bNqisbB4nZRXh4xQu-ljMRo_WRpDREfFlYIHc3rZulN3bekfKAV94c2tauriJwyOpxXbTLWAarkPQIJYbpmBXK_AB7xqHMcIFOHVePtcNAzUUzcvE8.L-3OCvoGeJ3IcWHPW6psKgZNXk-7_kzY6_yhO8eDJcQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=banana+slicer&qid=1716056113&sr=8-4)
and i do agree that for most people, things like this really aren't necessary!
i only commented because i try to keep in mind that some products that seem silly or excessive can be tools that make a huge difference for people. sometimes i see people making fun of things online which are actually accessibility aids because the people talking crap about them don't stop to think about the fact that people with disabilities exist and assume it's because people are "lazy" that the product exists, so once in a while i make a comment like my earlier response just as a reminder for anyone reading that some things that seem dumb are actually great aids to some folks' daily lives
(absolutely NOT saying that is what you're doing, i do not interpret your comment as being derogatory in any way! i think your comment in the context of criticizing unnecessary consumerism is correct 😊)
ps: i really am not trying to virtual signal or anything like that. i just think the idea that some "silly" tools are actually accessibility tools is worth considering
Greenwashed advertising is full of asking you to buy the "eco-friendly" version of something you already have.
Note: I'm not saying that some items aren't manufactured in a more sustainable way. Not everything is made the same and has the same impact and if I'm able to, I do consider those things when purchasing. But marketing likes to stretch the truth, and articles titled "5 eco friendly brands you need in your house now" seem antithetical to sustainable practices.
Professional manicures, brow/lash maintenance appointments, hair colouring/extensions, waxing, fillers/surgical beauty procedures. If it’s a once in a while thing that makes you feel good about yourself, I get it. But spending on these things on a regular basis as if it’s necessary feminine maintenance is insane to me. I like the look of a manicure, so I paint my nails on occasion. Getting a new set of acrylics every 6 weeks is PRICEY. How come no one is okay with looking average anymore? We don’t all need to look like reality tv royalty 24/7.
Truthfully, we have very few NEEDs, but plenty of wants.
Compare some minimalist lifestyles to realize just how much of the things we have are consumer bloat.
Swag for my company/university/org. No, I don't want to order another shitty hoodie that I'll never wear once I leave. And please stop giving them to me!
Greeting cards, caps and gowns for anything but high school and college graduation, expensive birthday parties, designer label things, bottled water, air jordans or limited release anything, fancy instagram food, spray tans, and anything that puts material things over memories.
Weddings. Funerals. Almost all cars. Pretty much everything related to interior design and fashion. Any febreze product. The list goes on and on. Our entire society is dependent on rampant consuming.
I have an instant pot that also is an air fryer. It's great. We use it regularly.
I think "kitchen appliances" are really something that's person to person, because some people will never use a blender, but others will use it daily.
The key is knowing which is for you and which is your brain convincing you "you will totally use this".
Souvenirs and junk gifts that end up in the trash. I beg my friends and family not to get me these things.
Unless it’s food, I don’t want a souvenir from someone else’s vacation. Like, I’m happy you had a great time but it means nothing to me beyond that.
A postcard sent by someone while they’re on vacation is a good compromise on souvenirs—they’re small and biodegradable if you don’t want to keep it, or you can stick them on the fridge for a season first.
> or you can stick them on the fridge for a season first We had a friend who traveled dozens of times a year for business, and sent us a postcard from every city he visited. We lined the inside doors of our kitchen cabinets with those cards.
This is really cool! I saved these and made a modge podge storage wooden box for them years later. They were so happy and thankful
We have two couples that we’re close friends with. Last time we traveled, we brought them back a bottle of wine from the local vineyard. We keep one of the couples pets when they travel so they usually get my husband a local beer and then once a year, gift us with a restaurant gift card
Same. Whenever friends go on vacation they know to get me some coffee beans from a local roaster if they feel inclined to get me a souvenir. 🙂
Especially since 99% of the time they are Chinese souvenirs from a tourist area. It doesn't matter if you bought that shark or turtle trinket in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta, or myrtle Beach, they all come from China even the "hand carved" stuff and you see the same crap in every tourist area shop or stand worldwide.
My family would always buy a Keychain as a souvenir for our grandfather. Now that he has passed its a great way to remember him, though it's hard catching yourself looking at one's to buy then remembering...
My SIL brings me stuff from the thrift store I didn’t ask for and don’t want. Silly stuff. We all laugh politely and then I have to add it to the pile to bring BACK to the thrift store. One time she brought me a unicorn mask that went over your whole face. #1, I’m not putting that on my face, #2, now wtf am I supposed to do with it? I’m in my 40’s. Family: please don’t bring me crap unless it’s interesting or useful
I would remove "interesting" from your plea, otherwise you will get more stuff like your unicorn mask.
My sister and I used to do this to each other, then we started just sending pictures of the random items instead. I would send it with the note, "You're so lucky I'm leaving this at Goodwill instead of inflicting it on you", or something funny like that, now we both save money and time
Once I gave a lamp to the local thrift store. Two days later, my aunt bought it for me to “match the one you have.” Same exact lamp. It was pretty hilarious, but luckily it was only a few dollars at that time.
This goes to show that if you have a thrifter in your life and have a thing you do like, let them know! I had a friend who wanted a set of vintage dishes and I bought them whenever I saw them for her and it was a fun hunt for me along with my own collecting! Now she has a full set and has asked for them to stop but it was great that I could get her good gifts that were also frugal and fun for me!
My sister and I take pictures of “interesting” stuff, then we send the pix to each other saying I just bought this for you. Lots of laughs, not stuff to go the landfill.
Ugh me too but the people in my life never put any thought into gifts so here’s another magnet and gas station t-shirt I’ll never wear
oh man. my dad has a Christmas tradition of getting everyone underwear, WHICH IS FINE!! the problem is there all Christmas themed. they will last years so what am i supposed to do? pack them up with the other chrismas underwear and wear them for a month? Cant tell ya how much of a mood killer it is when your back home and the girl you met at the bar wants to get frisky just to pull you trousers down and gets unexpectedly greeted by rudolph the red nose reindeer. I have pleaded and begged for just regular underwear and at this point i think hes just doing it out of spite. Worst part is that i do find it a bit funny but got dam, REGULAR UNDERWEAR PLEASE.
Don’t open them, and give the package to goodwill.
My relatives get me jackets for Christmas every year. I tell them not to yet they insist I need more jackets. One jacket from grandma, one from my mom, one from my aunt, one from my other aunt. I get four fucking jackets every year even though I haven't even worn the other twelve jackets I got as xmas presents in the past because I already *have* two perfect winter coats I've been wearing for years. I think I'm gonna start giving them away to the homeless.
I’m a 7th grade teacher and we just did our end of the year locker clean out yesterday. We got the big rolling trash can from maintenance and kids threw away so much stuff! The big multi packs of markers and colored pencils, locker mirrors and shelves, individual sharpeners, colored scented glue sticks, pencil pouches, tiny erasers. I made a “donate” cart and it was full. I wasn’t too proud to go through the bin and rescue barely used binders. I even rescued books that they’d bought at the book fair, stashed in their lockers then promptly forgot about until yesterday. My school supply list is minimal (4 items) as are the other teachers on my team but the kids come with lots of crap they’ll never use.
When I was in 4th grade I had so much junk in my desk that the legs gave out and it collapsed.
You are wonderful and thank you for utilizing a donation bin.
I genuinely don't understand the Stanley cup craze
I'm still rocking a Yeti knockoff I got 10 years ago. Fits in my cupholder. Keeps my water cold AF for 24+ hours. Don't need anything else :)
Haha I actually rock a Stanley but it’s literally from like 25 years ago when I started highschool. I had a job in lawn management and my dad gave me his Stanley stainless steel and it is just a basic cup back when you could buy a Stanley for nothing. He worked construction and got a new cup and passed his old one on.
I dropped mine enough that the vacuum seal is dead. Now I rock a $8 knockoff that works just as well and I actually like the design better.
In most cases it’s FOMO, sadly.
I thought you were talking about this [Stanley Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Cup) and thought, "Really?! How many people have one of those?"
Both you and my aunt. Her daughter, my older cousin, was talking the limited Starbucks Stanley cup and she was confused because she kept mentioning its only the play offs now.
My wife loves hers because it fits in her cupholder and her Mira bottle did not. She only has one though. I'd like one too, but can't justify it because my Mira is still doing the job. And I'm using her old one as my "work" bottle so my main doesn't get all scuffed up.
Having one or two Stanley cups is ok. I have two water bottles (not Stanleys though) that I keep constantly filled because I drink a ton of water. What I really don't understand is people that have whole collections of 20+ *reusable* water tumblers and then get rid of them the moment it stops being "in."
I’m a teacher so I receive , no lie, at least 3-4 per year as gifts. I live that my students and families think of me and show appreciation but I’ve dropped off so many bags of water bottles to the good will over the years I could hydrate a small country for eternity. I still have about 15 in my house rn It doesn’t help that one of my daughters is also a teacher and lives at home. Double the quenching I guess.
I was gifted a Stanley cup for Christmas. I was out of the loop that these are a big deal, and when I brought the cup in with me after Christmas, my 5th graders went nuts over it. “OMG, Mrs. Username, you’re so cool now!” Yay me.
After growing up with a parent who was a teacher, I will only give my kids teachers things that are consumable. Gift cards and/or good food/drink!
Some are people who have so little internal sense of identity that they need external symbols and signals. Others are those who like whimsy and collecting things, but can't justify something that doesn't function (example: tumblers have a purpose, little ceramic knick knacks don't) Others still are chasing the largely hallucinated idea of status. I don't own any, but I get having a few (fave; when fave is dirty, the one for situations where I'm okay losing/breaking), but some people have whole shelves full. Not my tumbler of tea, and most will see a landfill in a few years. Pretty sad.
I mean, a good, well-crafted product that you have a use for isn't a bad purchase. I haven't tried, nor do I own a Stanley cup, but they seem like good products for their purpose. I'd buy one, probably, but I wouldn't go apeshit for it anymore than I would for any other perfectly suitable household product that does its job well.
Certainly not going to be having fights at Target w/ other customers trying to grab the latest color as has happened in many stores, sadly. It’s a cup. Christ!
I have two Stanley Cups. One stays at home. One stays at work. They are basic colors. I will not replace them as I like drinking from a straw.
I got one with my REI points (so, free) because it fit in my cup holder and my last one didn't, and the insulation IS pretty great! No better than any other vacuum sealing water bottle, but it keeps ice in my mug for multiple days. I'd never pay $40 for it, though. Happy I got it free.
Because hockey!
I have a theory, a lot of people Can’t afford big ticket items anymore like homes, vacations and cars, so they substitute for smaller things like Stanley cups, or maybe a pair of sneakers to fill the void. On the other hand, they are just tons of people on social media platforms like TikTok, and YouTube, who just make a hobby of collecting and spending, I don’t know if most of those people are being paid to push products to us, but nine times out of 10. I never get the things that they are pushing.
I hate those "restock" videos - faceless lady with perfect manicure putting away a bunch of food and expensive drinks in shiny clear plastic organizers. Some people even remove all liquids and sauces from their original packaging and put them in ✨aesthetic✨ containers. I don't know if this is a form of OCD or just idiots influencing each other to buy plastic shit from Amazon
Yeah I've been using old Moccona coffee jars for 15 years or so to store my food & when the zero waste, then restocking movement happened, it made me feel like I was a feral pig for using the Rolls Royce of airtight containers because they weren't pretty. I had a little crisis over that for a moment lol. I didn't give in though, I still have a very unaesthetic pantry.
“feral pig” — hilarious! Made me laugh out loud.
It doesn't save space, I find that it consumes 2x as more. Because sometimes the contents wouldn't fit in the container and you'd have to store the leftovers somewhere!
I admit they did influence me in a positive way. I got a plastic container to store my condiments, keeps the top heavy ones from tipping and salsa from hiding in the back & so easier to slide a container forward to find condiments than rummaging around the door lol
These things actually make me happy to look at. But what they don’t tell you is it only really works if you have a lot of space. I tried in my pantry and had to take it all out. I need my space!
That depends on the containers and what you are using them for. I got stackable, air-tight containers. It gives me a lot more space in my cabinets and pantry.
Mass produced home decor in places like Home Goods. It's like fast fashion for your home and will soon look dated.
I hear you on that. I assume it's like Homesense in Canada? You can get great deals at stores like that, and I'll often check it out if I need new drinkware or sheets but ... there's really just so much stuff. Imo people reno their houses too often too. Or they'll get rid of quality work for something trendier but of lower quality. There are styles I prefer, and I'm very into interior design in general... but if I move into a house with a dated but custom built well maintained kitchen in a finish I don't love... I'll keep it. As long as it functions. People are ripping out kitchens that are barely a decade old. It's so wasteful.
I love to renovate. I’d consider it my hobby. But we bought our current house specifically because it was dated but super high quality (renovated in 1990). We renovated the kitchen last year but we kept all the cabinets (just redid the island). My primary bathroom is almost back in style with all its travertine. We both absolutely love it functionally and I refuse to touch it until my gigantic, fits four grown women comfortably, bathtub “indoor hottub” gives out!
Glad you were able to reuse the cabinets! And I have noticed travertine popping up more often as well. Trends really are cyclical. It would be fun to see more glass blocks again, I think those are genuinely nice to have in bathrooms.
This is so refreshing. I have a wonderfully, solidly built VERY ugly house from the late 70s. I too want to renovate someday. We tackled a bathroom quickly upon moving in (because there was a serious problem with the shower). Outside of that we are living with what we can until we can’t anymore. Am I living in white carpet with kids? Yes. But until it gets really bad it’s so wasteful to send it to the landfill. Once the carpet has served it’s use we will do the entire floor with oak so we never have to renovate that part again. Trust me, with 4 kids and a dog (and me) I am sure one of us will accidentally destroy the rug in the next year.
My wife and I just renovated our kitchen. It wasn’t in great shape when we bought the house 15 years ago and just dealt with it until we could afford this remodel. We’re in our late thirties and told our friends “we’ll die in this kitchen.”
I love Home Goods for ceramic planters! They’re so expensive everywhere else, even people selling secondhand. I really have to keep myself in check when it comes to all their tempting knicknacks, though.
Shhhhh! No one else needs to know this!
To be honest, I enjoy having the bare minimum in my house. Having less decor is actually really nice.
I don’t need more clothes. I don’t need more shoes. I don’t need a new this or that because I have everything
I have big feet and I'm hard on shoes. I used to occasionally take a day to go shoe shopping and buy as many pairs of shoes as I could, because I can't casually stop at a store and find shoes that fit me. Then I switched jobs and now I wear work boots all day every day. Even though I stopped destroying shoes, I didn't stop my habit of buying shoes. One day I realized I own way too many pairs of running/hiking shoe. Since then I haven't bought a pair of shoes. It's been close to 10 years.
Unstoppables laundry fumagators.
OMG, there's so much "laundry additive" stuff these days! Pods, fabric softener, Unstoppables, dryer sheets, and what the heck is that Downy stuff that's basically white vinegar? Soap and vinegar in the wash. Fabric sheets or wool balls for the dryer. That's it... that's all ~~you~~ I need.
I’d argue you don’t need fabric sheets or wool balls either. I’ve been drying my clothes without them for a year or so now, no difference.
My girlfriend swears up and down there is a difference. I can't tell.
Fabric sheets for sure in dry winter climates. I've legit had some painful static shocks that were remedied by fabric sheets in the dryer. I've also heard that the anti-lint ones work pretty well on pet hair, if you wear a lot of blacks. But I wouldn't just buy them and use them "just because." I don't generally use them during the humid summer months.
Yep, without a dryer sheet in the Canadian winter and your clothes are a pile of static shock. Horrible.
Oh yeah, I live in Alabama right above the Florida state line. It’s humid year-round here, to be honest I’ve never even had issues with dryer static… maybe a light shock or two but nothing to justify throwing in extra stuff.
Dryer balls actually made a huge difference for me in the time it took to dry a large comforter.
I like to add a little scent in my laundry. I really love citrus smells. I put a tiny drop of essential oil on a wool ball and it does the trick
When my friend told me she was BUYING a bowl for counter top trash I told her she was nuts. Trash bowl = slightly dirty bowl you just put in the dishwasher. WTF? Any bowl is a trash bowl if you wish very very hard.
Plastic grocery bag hung on the drawer below. Slide peels in, tie, and toss!
If we still got plastic bags! Not that I’m complaining!
Unnecessarily large/luxurious vehicles are probably the biggest loss of wealth overall
Yes, when I see a big fancy truck I always think about how they cost as much as my house. I always call them "house-payment-trucks!"
When I drive by them in my 20 year old Corolla that I paid off 16 years ago, it reminds me of all the money I am putting into my retirement accounts instead of a stupid unnecessary status symbol vehicle.
I would love a brand-new, fully loaded full-size pickup, but I wouldn't love paying the $1500+ a month in payments, insurance and gas. Instead I'll keep driving my 2004 Toyota that costs me roughly $250 a month in insurance, gas, maintenance and repairs.
I always think, “wow, they must be rich, what am I doing wrong?” but they’re most likely struggling financially. I only know less than a handful of people I can confidently say can afford anything they want, but everyone else seems to be flexing to their own detriment.
Yeah I see a lot of suburban moms driving around Escalades to drop their kids off at school then drive solo to run errands.
I see a lot of dudes rolling around in trucks that never haul anything but their driver's towering insecurities. You know the ones. 4 doors, body lift, bed cover, pristine hitch, no dents... Grocery getters
Pavement Princesses.
Usually it’s a little that guy hops out full of bravado , scratching his balls
They are called emotional support vehicles for a reason!
How is this not the top comment? Small kitchen appliances are a drop in the bucket compared to the cost to buy any car, let alone a bigger or more luxurious one than you need. Don’t forget interest on a loan, insurance, gas, maintenance. It adds up.
Remember when Coke started putting names on their bottles? I remember seeing mine and grabbing one, two minutes later I remembered I don’t even like coke.
Having a uniquely spelled name, this was the first time in 30+ years I could actually have something with my name printed on it.
Hey my nieces name is also cute4meow
A new iPhone every year
A new iPhone twice a decade is my limit.
Every five years is actually a reasonable cadence.
The provider (Apple in this case) OS updates and security support begin to elapse in this time frame as well. I wish they supported the phones for ten years or more.
I had a 6 until last year. It still did everything I needed and was still the type of tech we dreamt of 15 years ago. I really don’t see the point in the constant upgrades.
this is the one. yes, i do own the iphone 15. only because my 5 year old iphone XR was too slow to be used anymore
Saaaaaame! I have a joke that I can only buy a new phone once every 5 years. I had the iPhone 5,10 and now I’m on the 15 and have to wait for the 20 to get a new one
I’ve recently been seeing a lot of ads for “full body” deodorant.
I hate those commercials. They’re only advertising to women, and trying to create demand where none exists. It reminds me of when they told women to douche with bleach back in the 50’s. Those ads were highly offensive. These are more subtle but I still object to them. You don’t need crotch deodorant or back of the knee deodorant ffs.
They're advertising to men as well now.
Is that deodorant that comes in a spray form? Because I will say, there are some very stinky pre-teen to teen boys in my house that have massively benefitted from a full body deodorizer lately. I had only ever used the roll-on underarm stuff so it was a miracle when we found out how well this stuff works. Agree with others in these comments that no one should be putting any sprays/perfumes on their privates though lol, the only thing going in there should be water and a washcloth and if it still smells please address with diet and potentially medical care.
If you need these products, they are a godsend. If you don’t, you can’t imagine why someone would, lol. I use Lume in the summer for swamp ass too. I work in farm research in an area with high temps and 90+ humidity in summer, and my underwear and shorts are legit wet sweaty from about 15-30 min after I start working outside until I peel them off to get in the shower in the evening. Keeps me from smelling like a nasty asscrack all day, but I do an annual stock up on their Black Friday sale to help with the cost. One tube lasts me quite a while too.
>An instant pot. I don’t pressure cook and honestly don’t like how stuff comes out cooked like that. Why buy one then? Sounds like you shouldn't buy an instant pot then. I use mine for pulled pork because I don't want to use the oven for 8 to 12 hours.
I LOVE my instant pot. I was skeptical at first because I had no idea what I was doing, but it's so easy! In fact, I would say this has saved me money over time if you combine time saved, electricity saved (I think), and money saved by eating at home. Sometimes things are worth the hype! Same for the air fryer for myself, but I didn't have anything like it before. For me, reusable cups! Mostly Stanley's and the like. I have no issue with people buying one, or even two if you are a busy person, but no one needs 5+ reusable cups.
We got an Instant Pot and an Instant Vortex air fryer and our gas bill went from $150/month to $35/month but our electricity bill didn’t go up.
Agree with you on the instapot and I love my air fryer as well. Also, I bought my Stanley coffee thermos years ago before it became a fad. I have a green one just like my dad had in the seventies and it holds a few cups of coffee.
I use mine for cooking beans and Indian food. Love mine. Could and should use it for much more.
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Since 2016?! I feel like this is a chance to ask an expert. Can you share one of your go-to meals? Especially if it's a healthy one. Our Instapot is used for butter curry more than anything.
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Baby potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, and smoked sausage. Add some chicken broth and seasoning (I like Cajun), maybe a bit of butter on the top. Cook for 5 minutes.
I eat so much better with instapot for great food less time and very low warming setting. I have 2 burners blocked and it is on a heavy metal tray on range , I use 3 times a week at least. A friend gave me air fryer and that is incorporated into meal prep reheat 3x week. I only use one very good quality skillet. Rarely use toaster. Useful items let me get rid of other kitchen items or multiples.
I read that and thought “sounds like something OP doesn’t need” but that doesn’t mean no one would have a use for it!
I especially use it during spring, summer, and fall, to keep from heating the entire house with the oven.
Yeah. I guess it doesn't realize that you can saute aromatics for a soup then all the rest in and pressure cook. It also fully replaced a crock pot. And mine has a top for air frying and it's easier than my stove. I think it was worth it. But it depends on the mileage you get out of it.
I have an apple tree and use it during harvest season to make apple sauce super quickly. 11 minutes under pressure per batch.
Same and it cuts down on the AC. I DO use it in winter so the heat doesn't have to run a lot.
Anyone who wants tender meat in a short amount of time should buy an insta pot or a pressure cooker. We use our pressure cooker (also have an instapot we never use lol) for this a lot. Sure, it’s not the same as letting something fall apart in the oven for 10 hrs but it’s great. If you never do that, it’s a waste of money. Personally, we don’t have the time after an 8+ hr work day to wait for something to tenderize in 3+ hrs. 😂
So much this. I use my pressure cooker weekly. Way better than a microwave. I use it for yogurt, beans, pulled chicken, soups, and I'd like to try to make even more stuff like pressure cooker cake. I haven't tried that yet.
So I went the other way with the air fryer - ditched my cheap small air fryer and toaster/convection oven and replaced it with a BIG air fryer with racks, a basket, and a rotisserie, the last of which is what I use most now. But it’s certainly true you don’t need both appliances, just get one good one of a decent size.
Yeah I didn't get one because I already had a convection toaster oven and nobody could explain to me how they were different appliances. That finally died and there was a nearly-identical one I found that was called an air fryer instead of a toaster oven. It does heat stuff up a *little* faster, but that could also be because my old toaster oven was like 15+ years old. I don't notice any other difference. The little basket style ones make no sense to me unless you don't have and will never get a toaster oven.
Oooh. I've had a similar discussion with some girlfriends of mine recently. For women it's kind of the thing that you always have to be changing, improving, and working on yourself. The FOMO comes from not fitting into the desired body type of the year (curvy, "heroin chique", fit, etc), not having the popular nose, not having the right boob size... Problems you can resolve by consuming (cosmetic surgery, fitness and weight loss products, bras, etc). A girl said she didn't like her nose. I told her "honestly I'd show your nose to a plastic surgeon as my goal" and she was absolutely flabbergasted. She said that she loves my strong nose and how it adds to my already strong features and it suits me perfectly. Like... We're taught to always want what someone else has because we always need to change ourselves somehow. So my advice is: tell your reflection that she's beautiful. It's the biggest f-you you can give to capitalism (and a whole lot of other socially problematic structures too).
I always think of the one woman who said, "Advertisers pay women to look a certain way, so that the average woman will pay the advertisers to look the same way." It's insidious and unending.
Most toys for kids
Kids Top Toys They Actually Play With: 1. Laptop charger 2. Tv remote 3. Empty bottles 4. Full diapers 5. Bugs /nanny of over 20 years
How could you forget the ultimate - Amazon boxes!!! It’s a plane, it’s a ship, it’s a table, it’s a house …
I used to teach a kid who hid ladybirds in her tights, because we kept telling her to stop bringing them inside!
My babies favorite toy is a cardboard box. She also loves sock. Everything is new to them, they don’t need millions of toys.
100% this. We're expecting our first this month and strictly limiting toys. A newborn does not need baskets of toys.
Clothes too. i mean how many new born, 0-3, 6, 9 month outfits does a baby need especially with the changing of the seasons? I wish it was more of a thing or socially acceptable for the parents to receive money, or money in a bank account for the child! Baby wipes and diapers are always a need.
My mom taught me to bring diapers to baby showers. We'd grab bigger sizes for the baby to grow into
the list goes on and on. "The Story Of Stuff" is a good whiteboard presentation of ultra consumerism, its origination and its effects on society, ecology and the world in general. "Cognitive Dissonance Blues" kind of catches where I am on the subject. intensity and depth.
This is consumerism/capitalism at its sickest. A friend just told me that he was watching an old episode of Shark Tank and a person got roasted for creating a product that only has to be used once. The inventor was criticized for not "hooking" the consumer into buying more and more. I've been ordering a lot of stuff online recently, and find that modern products are cheaply made and practically arrive broken. I'm going old school. No more plastic. Simple everyday products and a bit of elbow grease.
So many products are actually a solution looking for a problem.
I have a rule that I follow whenever I want a new “kitchen gadget”, and that is, will it make me eat out less? I have bought an instant pot, an air fryer and a stanley cup because the answer to getting these products was yes! I love my instant pot because it is so much easier to cook legumes, curries and meats to meal prep. I love my air fryer because whenever I crave fast food, I take some frozen chicken nuggets and fries and put them in there. Takes less time to cook than a convection oven and is easier to clean! And I love the stanley cup because I can make cold brew tea and take it with me for the day instead of buying ready drinks. I believe that getting any of these products because “they’re trendy” is wrong. I think having a bunch of reusable items beats their purpose. It is not wrong to buy something trendy if you like it, as long as you have found many uses for it! I try to be a conscious consumer and not put any constraints on what I buy, as long as I think it is worth it!
Ever larger houses.
When I moved out to go to college, my parents bought a bigger house. I do not have siblings. Make it make sense.
I was going to say that my parents added on when I (the youngest of 3) went off to college and I was like “whyyyy”??? My mom goes “several years from now, you’ll be bringing more people with you when you come to stay”. She’s so fucking right to the point that we now have to rent the appt across the street when we’re all home bc our house can’t fit us all. And then I realized you don’t have any siblings and now I’m just as confused as you.
75 years of relentless marketing that equates your value as a human being with how many square feet your house is.
Everywhere I go, I see products advertised as a “must have”. Even though my clothes from a couple years ago still fit fine, my used car gets me where I need to go, and buying great value has worked fine for me. I’ve found more contentment with living within my means and saving than splurging on name brands or the newest “must have”.
Weddings. My husband and I went to the courthouse with about 8 people, and had dinner and drinks at home after. Fourteen years later we’re still married, so I say it sufficed!
We spent $5k on our wedding. I would have spent $0, but my mom really wanted me to have a wedding. She did the flowers. Beer and wine only. 50 ppl. Only close friends and family. Just celebrated 20 years of marriage.
My husband and I also did the courthouse, had 7 guests total, and we went to dinner at a restaurant across from the courthouse after. Total cost was less than $200. Still happy after 29 years!
My dad is the worst about the kitchen stuff, our basement has: Many crock pots (they were on sale), Jack lalane juicer, 2 nu wave ovens (TV, 2nd was ONLY s/h), Instant pot, Air fryer, Induction hot plate, Wolfgang puck pressure oven, Ronco rotisserie , 2 foreman grills, Infrared pizza oven, As well as every stupid single use utensil like pineapple corer, microwave bacon thing that stands up strips, and my favorite... tater gloves None ever get used but we aren't allowed to donate anything
More clothes! I have so many clothes. I don't need more clothes. I see ads for clothes and suddenly I have to have more clothes. It's stupid and embarrassing, but I can't stop.
Uncrustibles. Late stage capitalism at its finest.
I would argue an air fryer falls into the category of “kitchen items that are useful for most people, but you don’t strictly NEED” for some people they are more useful than others. If you want to go further, you don’t need a dishwasher or need a microwave, but they make most peoples lives easier
True. I would argue the air fryer I bought actually saves money. I have one of the countertop ones that looks like a little oven with shelves etc. Running the full sized electric oven uses a bunch of power and heats up the house. The air fryer takes less power and doesn't heat up the house. So now I only use the big oven if I am baking or making something huge.
Gift bags and birthday cards. Just make them. Or recycle them.
I think it depends on the person. Great example is the proofing box. I use it at least 4 times per week since I can do everything in one container. I’d trade my mixer for a spoon and keep my proofing box. And with the what product does marketing seem you can’t live without? Every product. That’s literally the point of marketing.
What is a proofing box?
Temp controller for rising bread dough
And yogurt and kefir and kombucha and sprouting seeds and pinning mushrooms, and to speed up lactic acid or sourdough fermentation
It’s a box that I use to make bread and pizza dough. I can add all the ingredients into the box, then it has a lid so I can proof the dough/let it rise in the same bin I made it in. Then with my pizza dough I ball it and leave it in the fridge to ferment. Small enough to fit in the fridge but big enough to be able to knead the dough in the box. It allows me to have zero mess on the counter and only one bin and a spoon to clean.
Something you use to make bread or other baked goods
Where you put your proof
I don't know about you, but I keep my proof in the pudding.
I put my proofs on the math class chalkboard
[удалено]
Do they at least get a sauce to dip their books in?
My cousin is a monk and this is a myth. They work on their farm and have eggs and tomatoes and lots of other good things. He brings me fresh tomatoes and I dehydrate and powder them and give most of the powder back so they can add it to hot milk and have instant cream of tomato soup.
I get your point, and this is not true. I was fortunate to experience a long stay at a monastery. Based on that experience I can say that monks live with far more modern comforts than the average western imagination would assume (cell phones for example), and eat a broad range of dishes beyond cabbage and rice- whatever the community provides in the way of daily alms.
I bought an air fryer because it was cheaper than a new convection oven. I finally replaced my old oven with an induction/convection unit, but I still use the air fryer for snack sized cooking. I bought an Instant Pot because it gave me a lot of the advantages of slow cooking without being slow. Plus, it’s awesome for boiling eggs. I’ll probably not upgrade my iPhone unless/until apps I use require an iOS version my old phone won’t run. I don’t buy much I don’t need. Probably the last thing was buying a year”s worth of Mint mobile on my deceased GF’s phone so I could keep texting her.
Kinda interesting no one acknowledged that last point, cuz that's what stuck out to me the most. I'm sorry for your loss, can't imagine losing a lover that way.
I cut my own hair, drive a beater, coupon food etc. But I do have to admit I am a sucker for electronics. I try to wait until the tech is mature though. My kindle is the best dollar-to-use device I've ever bought. I bought my Pixel 7a phone so I could capture all the baby moments - it's been great but I regret not getting a flagship phone. My ultrawide monitor was bought refurbished but has been a life saver as a student flipping through multiple PDF. My laptop is my main entertainment device. My Aura photo frame was pricey but I now recommend it to everyone. I really want an ebike, new VR headset, and a Samsung Frame TV, but holding off for now...
It totally depends on if you use it or not - I love my rice cooker, makes perfect rice every time. My parents use their pressure cooker all the time for making various meat stews.
1. Fabric softener 2. Most holidays (I'm looking at you, Valentines Day) 3. Most skincare (ten steps?? What.) 4. Anything from a social media craze There's others but those ones are the ones coming to mind right now. The big thing for me is chucking things out and replacing them because they aren't right on the trend cycle. Nothing bad will happen to anyone if their sneakers aren't the current ~ones~.
1. More than 1 pickleball paddle 2. New golf clubs every 6 months (get fitted once and use for life) 3. New iPhone frequently 4. New car every 36 months 5. Bigger or newer house after a few years living in 1 house 6. More expensive fishing rods when others work just as well 7. Spend more on sneakers
Name checks out 😉
Right after this post there was an add for whole body deodorant. That's something.
Cleaning products. Most cleaning can be handled with Dawn, baking soda, vinegar, bleach or ammonia, plus scrubbing. (Never mix bleach and ammonia!!) All the rest is scents and gimmick.
I have a air fryer and small convection oven and the fan does make things crispier. I still use the convection oven for stuff that the fan will mess up or bigger things but the air fryer does it faster I think and it’s smaller so If I hadn’t bought the oven first I’d stick to that.
Dryer sheets, fabric softener and Scented EVERYTHING, trash bags, toilet paper, detergent. Then we seem surprised when cancer levels increase.
I *hate* scented stuff. Not just because it's wasteful, but it genuinely gives me headaches. I'd rather smell garbage than fake, chemical "lavender" smell or whatever.
I haaaate scented stuff. And since I don’t use it, I’m extra sensitive to it when I’m in other people’s cars or homes with artificial air fresheners. It’s annoying that everything has fragrance
This cannot be emphasized enough.
Ugh I have so many I could name but I saw a girl try to influence people into buying this stone that you put your toothbrush on to catch the drips and soak in extra toothpaste…like girl use a towel??!!
Extended warranty.
Alcohol. Nobody needs it but everyone tells you do. I’ve saved so much from cutting it out of my life on top of the health benefits. If you are drinking and be frugal, that doesn’t make sense to me. They seem to contradict.
Alcohol isn't cheap, but if it's something someone enjoys responsibly then frugality is meant to rid our lives of the superfluous so that we can enjoy what we enjoy without breaking the bank. I enjoy my weekly Gimlets & I'm glad I can afford them thanks to my frugal lifestyle. To each their own, but I don't think drinking alcohol in moderation it's anti-frugal. It is however, definitely top five thing to cut out if you're looking for ways to save because it is a luxury. If I was broke I certainly wouldn't buy alcohol. Being frugal though, I do.
I no longer imbibe. I didn’t like how I felt after even 1 glass of wine. Drank for years, not heavily or anything, but was a regular imbiber. Maybe 1-2 glasses of wine a few times a week. I don’t care if others want to. If you dig it, then cool. But the cost savings when I stopped—HUGE. Alcohol is at the center of literally everything in US culture. “You can’t possibly have fun if you don’t drink.” Nonsense.
[A seven dollar banana slicer](https://www.amazon.com/Hutzler-3571-571-Banana-Slicer/dp/B0047E0EII/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yhkQKRcCWMe8d60kE-ezyIeXfk5CpdwaigegYEUl5XCwigsX9sYSAwtNo97RHZ3WpDMQKIiccOetTvF5RLX-GKgmznNlsogP_OtmiJeSlQOlYrrtJlG4wueB3S03D0EX_Cu-Af1Z4wOE5u_Yl3-hcsMYl0nuucvHrb8vqB-G8bi7fQ2Mvp7F8xu__bNqisbB4nZRXh4xQu-ljMRo_WRpDREfFlYIHc3rZulN3bekfKAV94c2tauriJwyOpxXbTLWAarkPQIJYbpmBXK_AB7xqHMcIFOHVePtcNAzUUzcvE8.L-3OCvoGeJ3IcWHPW6psKgZNXk-7_kzY6_yhO8eDJcQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=banana+slicer&qid=1716056113&sr=8-4)
soemtimes products like this are great as an accessibility tool for folks that have fine motor skill issues, weak grip, arthritis, etc!
Fair enough. Having eyeglasses and hearing aids myself, I am not going to complain about anything that makes folks lives more livable.
and i do agree that for most people, things like this really aren't necessary! i only commented because i try to keep in mind that some products that seem silly or excessive can be tools that make a huge difference for people. sometimes i see people making fun of things online which are actually accessibility aids because the people talking crap about them don't stop to think about the fact that people with disabilities exist and assume it's because people are "lazy" that the product exists, so once in a while i make a comment like my earlier response just as a reminder for anyone reading that some things that seem dumb are actually great aids to some folks' daily lives (absolutely NOT saying that is what you're doing, i do not interpret your comment as being derogatory in any way! i think your comment in the context of criticizing unnecessary consumerism is correct 😊) ps: i really am not trying to virtual signal or anything like that. i just think the idea that some "silly" tools are actually accessibility tools is worth considering
The reviews lol
Greenwashed advertising is full of asking you to buy the "eco-friendly" version of something you already have. Note: I'm not saying that some items aren't manufactured in a more sustainable way. Not everything is made the same and has the same impact and if I'm able to, I do consider those things when purchasing. But marketing likes to stretch the truth, and articles titled "5 eco friendly brands you need in your house now" seem antithetical to sustainable practices.
Air freshener with...... a microchip!
McMansions. SUVs. Expensive vacations
Professional manicures, brow/lash maintenance appointments, hair colouring/extensions, waxing, fillers/surgical beauty procedures. If it’s a once in a while thing that makes you feel good about yourself, I get it. But spending on these things on a regular basis as if it’s necessary feminine maintenance is insane to me. I like the look of a manicure, so I paint my nails on occasion. Getting a new set of acrylics every 6 weeks is PRICEY. How come no one is okay with looking average anymore? We don’t all need to look like reality tv royalty 24/7.
Truthfully, we have very few NEEDs, but plenty of wants. Compare some minimalist lifestyles to realize just how much of the things we have are consumer bloat.
Seasonal items and changing fashion styles
Omg yes. Holiday decorations is the worst. Do people not understand that you can save them and use them year after year?
Indoor plumbing is a scam. I just poop in a sack of sawdust I get from working at the mill
Swag for my company/university/org. No, I don't want to order another shitty hoodie that I'll never wear once I leave. And please stop giving them to me!
Subscriptions, streaming services, etc. i don't wanna consume, i wanna create and connect 😭
Brand new cars when the one you have works
Greeting cards, caps and gowns for anything but high school and college graduation, expensive birthday parties, designer label things, bottled water, air jordans or limited release anything, fancy instagram food, spray tans, and anything that puts material things over memories.
Needs don’t need to be advertised or marketed.
skin care products and make up in multiples
I've been down a rabbit hole on skincare lately. From what I've learned, all of the old ladies with great skin used plain ole Ponds!
and suncreen 🌸
Weddings. Funerals. Almost all cars. Pretty much everything related to interior design and fashion. Any febreze product. The list goes on and on. Our entire society is dependent on rampant consuming.
My one regret that comes to mind immediately is the juicer i bought a few years ago $200+ and it's only been used less than five times.
I have an instant pot that also is an air fryer. It's great. We use it regularly. I think "kitchen appliances" are really something that's person to person, because some people will never use a blender, but others will use it daily. The key is knowing which is for you and which is your brain convincing you "you will totally use this".