In the spirit of saving money, saving the planet, and dismantling capitalism, here are some things I no longer buy! It’s taken me several years to truly break up with overconsumption. It took moving into an RV for me to really clock my consumption habits, and I am glad those good habits have carried over into our new apartment.

So, here is my list. Leave your items down below and remember that it’s a journey. You won’t stop overconsuming overnight. But, if you want some advice, check out this video!

Keep in mind, this is not a list of demands. If you can’t do some of these, that’s okay. This is to serve as inspiration. Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.

Bathroom

No longer buy: disposable period products. Instead, I buy: Period Underwear
No longer buy: bottles of hand soap. Instead, I buy: foaming refill soap refills from Blueland
No longer buy: bottles of body soap. Instead, I buy: whatever bars of soap I can find locally
No longer buy: plastic loofahs. Instead, I buy compostable ones from Floofah
No longer buy: disposable razors. Instead, I use a Leaf Shave safety razor or an electric razor
No longer buy: shaving cream. I just don’t need any with the electric razor, but I like using a shave soap bar from Badger when I use my Leaf Shave
No longer buy: small trash bags. Instead, I just reuse plastic bags I find as litter, or I bring them into my home from the store
No longer buy: perfume. And, I don’t buy anything to replace it! Perfume gives me migraines and can be wasteful, so I just don’t buy it
No longer buy: disposable tissues. Instead, I use reusables from Boaty or homemade ones made from old t-shirts
No longer buy: disposable cotton rounds/makeup wipes. Instead, I use homemade ones made from old t-shirts and pillow cases
No longer buy: travel-sized items. I just refill the bottles I already have with product I have at home
No longer buy: dry shampoo. Instead, I make it myself from cornstarch and a little cocoa powder for color
No longer buy: flushable wipes. Instead I just use a bidet!

Kitchen

No longer buy: bags of sourdough. Instead, I just make it myself!
No longer buy: paper towels. Instead, I just use rags to clean up messes and reusable napkins when we have guests for dinner
No longer buy: plastic wrap. Instead, I use damp towels to cover bowls, containers to store leftovers, etc.
No longer buy: parchment paper. Instead, I use reusable silicone mats or my recent gift of some non-stick Caraway pans
No longer buy: spray oils. Thanks to the above items, I don’t really need cooking oils, but if I do, I just use coconut or vegetable oil and apply it by hand
No longer buy: disposable cutlery, plates, bowls, cups, etc. Yes, even for parties. Instead, I thrift a whole bunch of extras for cheap and everyone uses reusables for gatherings at my house
No longer buy: disposable zipper bags. I reuse ones I already have and also opt for reusable items like Stasher Bags and Stojo containers
No longer buy: jars. Instead, I reuse jars I bring into the home from salsa, pickles, pasta sauce, and things of that nature

No longer buy: veggie broth. I used to make it myself, but since I don’t use it all that often, I just use concentrated bouillon paste
No longer buy: single-purpose items. Things like a Ninja Creami, special avocado savers, and things like that are so gimmicky. I just find the way to meet those needs with things I already have in my home
No longer buy: boxed mixes. Instead, I make things like pancakes, brownies, cakes, biscuits, and other baked goods from scratch
No longer buy: plastic water bottles. I’ve been a reusable water bottle girlie since high school and I haven’t looked back!
No longer buy: pre-cut produce. I cut it myself! If you’re unable to, that’s fine. Do what you can!
No longer buy: canned soda and fancy drinks. Instead, I use my soda maker from a small European business and make all my own syrups!
No longer buy: vegan egg replacer for baking. Instead, I just use sourdough discard! It prevents food waste, reduces plastic, and saves SO much money
No longer buy: seasoning mixes. I have all the individual seasonings at home so I just make it all from scratch
No longer buy: any pickles. Instead, I make them myself. I prefer the taste this way and it’s a great skill to learn to reduce food waste and save money!

Laundry and Cleaning

No longer buy: dryer sheets. Instead, I just use nothing! When I remember to bring my dryer balls to the laundromat, yay! But I usually don’t remember. They are not necessary, and they’re made from non-recyclable plastic
No longer buy: laundry sheets. Instead, I’ve been using laundry powder from Meliora
No longer buy: fabric softener. Instead, I just use nothing! It started because I couldn’t use it on my Air Force uniforms, but I realized it’s an unnecessary waste of money and plastic
No longer buy: bleach. Instead, I’ve been using Meliora’s bleach alternative when I do need to brighten my clothes, but I also rarely wear white
No longer buy: single-use mop options. I don’t use Swiffers or other forms of disposable mops. I use our communal mop in our apartment building that has a reusable head on it
No longer buy: new bottles of cleaners. Instead, I refill the bottles I already have at home with a plethora of cleaners such as homemade vinegar cleaner, refills from Grove, refills from Meliora, and refills from Blueland.
No longer buy: disposable cleaning wipes/towels. Instead, I just use the spray cleaners and reuse cleaning rags

Office/School

No longer buy: new folders, notebooks, etc. Instead, I hit up the thrift store! There are so many school supplies there, I don’t need to buy brand new ones
No longer buy: pens. I have a huge collection from over the years that I’m working through and will refill with new ink cartridges when they run out
No longer buy: rubber bands. To organize things, I reuse old hair ties and rubber bands I get from buying produce
No longer buy: new books. Whether it’s a book I’m reading for fun or a textbook for school, I always look secondhand or digitally first. As a last resort, I will buy it new from an indie bookstore
No longer buy: boxes. For moving, shipping, or organizing, I reuse what I get in the mail
No longer buy: organization tubs, bins, etc. I used to LOVE buying these, but now I have accumulated enough that I can reuse in different areas around the house. If I do NEED some, I look secondhand!
No longer buy: planners. Instead, I buy nothing! I learned I am not a planner person, so I quit buying them no matter how tempted I am. I’ve been loving my digital calendar on Notion!
No longer buy: impulsive craft items. Anyone remember my craft closet from Japan? That was a lot of stuff. I have since learned to use what I have first, and if I’m buying something new, namely yarn, I make sure I have a plan for it before purchasing
No longer buy: tech upgrades. Instead, I wait until my tech breaks fully, recycle it, and buy what I need secondhand. Here are my tips for buying tech secondhand
No longer buy: notebooks. I have so many that I have thrifted and found in storage, that I’m working through this stash first

Clothing/Accessories

No longer buy: new clothing. I prefer thrifted!
No longer buy: single-use items. Things like costumes, fancy dresses, and other things designed to be worn for just one occasion, I avoid. I make costumes from my existing wardrobe and for formal wear, I always make sure it it something I can wear more than once
No longer buy: hyper-personalized items. Instead, I just don’t buy anything!
No longer buy: multiple phone cases. Yes, in high school, I had a few! Not a ton, but more than I needed. Now, it’s my one, stained, busted, Pela case
No longer buy: multiple sunglasses. I low-key used to be a sunglasses addict. I had so many cheap ones that I didn’t care what I did with them. Now, I have one pair of prescription glasses that I take care of!

Misc

No longer buy: pet toys. Pets aren’t picky! My cat loves to play with a string made from a cut-up t-shirt, and Denahi loves his existing stash. Neither of them needs anything else, so this is what we work with
No longer buy: big box store items. I hate megacorporations for more than one reason. They’re pollutive, they price gouge, they often use AI to make art, and they don’t care about us or the planet. I would rather give my money to a small artist if I need new art or decor for the home
No longer buy: impulse purchases. It’s easier said than done. I can’t say I do this 100% of the time, but I like to think I’m in the 95-98% range. Even thrifting, I have found it easy to talk myself out of impulses. You can learn more about my tips in this video.
No longer buy: trending items. Whether it’s the latest viral lip balm or water bottle, or some trending shoe, I simply could not care less. I have become content with my own style and vibe, and don’t feel the need to buy these things to be cool

No longer buy: air fresheners. Similar to perfumes, they give me migraines and are wasteful, so I just don’t buy anything. I prefer opening the windows to freshen up my home

No longer buy: disposable gift items. From gift bags to tissue paper and bows, I don’t buy any of this. I reuse what people gift me, or reuse things like packing paper. I’ve also been known to gift things in reusable bags!
No longer buy: cards. You never know who will just throw them away and they’re expensive. Instead, I opt for a handwritten, heartfelt note that can always be customized with pens, paints, and whatever craft items you have at home
No longer buy: candles. Instead, I refill candle jars with my Everly refill kits. Just like with perfume and air freshener, many candles give me migraines. But, these are naturally scented and come in handy in emergencies
No longer buy: blankets. I used to be a big-time blanket-buyer in high school, but now I just use what I have and what I have it quite a lot!
No longer buy: disposable batteries. I love rechargeable batteries to save money and reduce harmful e-waste.

Habits that help

Now, this is all easier said than done. It takes practice to learn to quit shopping as a hobby and break that addiction. So, here are some ways that I personally avoid overconsumption:

Hanging at the mall
Window shopping
Subscribing to emails
Browsing online shops
Canceled my entire Amazon account
Unfollowing unsustainable brands
Finding other hobbies besides shopping
Having fewer items makes me cherish them more

Want more tips? Watch this video next and download my free guide to breaking up with consumerism here.

Cheers to saving money, reducing waste, and avoiding giving terrible companies our money. These companies are hindering climate and social progress. Let’s vote with our dollar!

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma

Items I No Longer Buy to Save Money, Save the Planet, and Take Down Capitalism