Twenty-Five Things I Don't Buy Anymore

Over the years, I have simplified many things in our household. We work on having a minimal-ish home where we are content and not overwhelmed with things. We also try hard to eliminate waste, and while we are not at zero-waste, we practice a near-o-waste policy. There are definitely more than 25 items that I do not purchase anymore due to different reasons, but twenty-five seemed like a good number for today’s blog post. Maybe I’ll expand it to fifty or one hundred at some point! The following list of random items I don’t purchase anymore is either due to finding an alternative that works better or is more eco-friendly, it is cheaper not to purchase it, or I have zero use for the item(s).

Affiliate links are used in this post.

In the Bathroom

1 | Makeup

I have my selection of favorite nail polish shades, but other than that, makeup is on the non-purchase list. I stopped buying it years ago, opting for a better skincare routine, and have not looked back. 

Related Post: What Happened When I Quit Makeup

2 | Makeup Wipes

I don’t wear makeup anymore, so I wouldn’t need these anyway. A good facial cleanser, and argon oil (and maybe some reusable cotton rounds) are all one needs to remove makeup, though!

3 | Shaving Cream

Instead, I use the same soap I already use in the shower. I’ve not noticed any difference in the shave since I stopped buying shaving cream, and honestly, it saves me a step in the shower, saves me time, and saves me money (wow, that stuff got expensive when I looked last!). You can always make your own if you feel you can’t live without it. 

4 | Single-Use Feminine Hygiene Products

All for the menstrual cup and period panties! It feels amazing not to throw feminine hygiene in the trash. The only exception is postpartum when cups are not usable.

Related Post: I Switched to a Menstrual Cup. Here’s What Happened.

5 | Hand Soap

Seven years later, I still make my own! It’s so easy and saves on single-use plastic (and money!), not to mention we are better able to avoid fragrances and other harsh ingredients that are commonly found in cheap hand soap. 

In the Office

6 | Wall Calendars

Unnecessary, in my humble opinion. I choose to use a digital calendar (and planner!)

7 + 8 | Pens and Pencils

I have so many of these, especially from conferences and from my teaching days. I’m pretty sure I can go a very, very long time without buying another pen or pencil. So I won’t! I’ll also mention that I’ve transitioned quite a bit to digital planning, so I haven’t used pens and pencils in quite some time. My husband is relieved, I’m sure. 

9 | Physical Books (with a few exceptions)

If I want to read a new physical book, the library is right around the corner from me. Everything else is a digital ebook or audiobook! The only exceptions to purchasing books are books that will be reread or referenced. If we don’t reread it, we pass it on to someone we think will enjoy it. 

10 | Notebooks

Another thing I have an overabundance of from my teaching days. I don’t need to purchase a notebook for a long time, and I’ve honestly been making the switch to digital notebooks, so I don’t think more will be much needed!

In the Kitchen 

11 | Vegetable Broth

Once I started making vegetable broth from collected scraps. I have not looked back. Not only is the price tag worth it, but it also does not take much time to make it - especially when I’m using my Instant Pot. The flavor is richer, and even my husband can tell when the homemade stuff is used. 

12 | Bottled Water

We choose reusable water bottles. And we may have a slight obsession with them - especially glass water bottles (I love this one from Amazon!)! We do have non-glass water bottles that are more practical for activities like camping, hiking, and going to the beach, though.

13 | Sparkling Water

We decided to get a SodaStream (check it out on Amazon here) because I am obsessed with sparkling water. I was tired of all the plastic bottles involved in satisfying my craving, and the SodaStream has been a fantastic tool to have in our kitchen.

14 | Plastic Tupperware

Instead, I reuse glass jars or purchase glass containers. They’re heavy but so worth it, and I’ve had no problems freezing or storing them. It’s gotten to a point where I can tell just by the taste that something was stored in old Tupperware. If you can’t use glass, there are other alternatives, like tin containers, that are great (and light) for activities that aren’t glass-safe! You can always upcycle any current plastic Tupperware you own for all kinds of uses!

In the Closet

15 | Scarves

I used to have an obsession with scarves. Obsession. I had boxes of scarves when I went through them all, and it was becoming a problem! My husband even recently remarked that I constantly wore scarves when we first met and started dating over a decade ago. I finally downsized to a few favorites (and I’m talking, a maximum of three scarves) a few years ago, and I have not purchased a scarf since. It does help that it’s not overly cold in Maryland, but even so, I’ve realized that having just a few in a cold place will do the trick for me.

16 | Disposable lint roller

With a cuddly cat, lint rollers are necessary for us. Reusable lint rollers work great (like this one), are less flimsy, and don’t fill up landfills so quickly.

In the  Supply Closet

17 | Fabric Softener

Aside from the plastic containers that add up from buying it, fabric softener is not good for your clothes. I stick with a sustainable laundry detergent (please, not a homemade one) to keep our laundry clean.

18 | Dryer Sheets

These are essentially fabric softener sheets for the dryer. I have some, but they were gifted, and I’ve never used them! They are not compostable or recyclable, so they need to be disposed of. I’ve also researched and found that they contain potentially harmful chemicals and the fewer chemicals I can have on our bodies, the better. Instead, I use reusable dryer balls made of wool (like these ones). They work well, catch lint, and are compostable. I find that a set lasts me years!

19 + 20 | Disposable Swiffer Duster/Broom 

Instead, I have a washable duster (similar to this) that goes right into the wash when full and I use a normal broom and mop (this is my favorite mop, by the way). A microfiber cloth and cleaning solution also works fantastic for dust. 

21 | Disposable furnace filters

We have a washable furnace filter that we switch out every couple of months (here’s a similar one). It works great, and there are no more trips to the hardware store to buy new disposable ones. 

22 | Scent boosters for the laundry

Why add more chemicals when not necessary? I’m sensitive to perfumy smells, anyway, so this has never been a product for me.

23 + 24 | Plug-ins or Air Fresheners

Again, more unecessary chemicals.

In the Nursery

25 | Disposable cloth diaper liners

I never understood what the point of disposable liners was, though I understand why parents would want to use them! When I found out about reusable fleece liners (I use these), I was here for it. They work great for us!

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Are there things you don’t buy anymore? Let me know about it in the comments!

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Daily Habits for your Thirties (with Vegamour)

Now that my thirties are well underway, I’ve reevaluated my daily habits. It turns out that time goes by much quicker than one would think and how I am more than halfway to my sixties is a pretty insane thought. I have seen so many posts about habits to start in your twenties and thirties, so I thought I’d share some habits I’ve adopted in this decade as well. Number 3 is my current favorite, thanks to Vegamour.

There are affiliate links in this post

Skincare Routine

Having a skincare routine is important! I realized this soon after quitting makeup, and I haven’t looked back. I started taking my skincare routine seriously a few years back and was reminded when I was at another friend’s thirtieth how important it was. Someone was sharing advice for her to take into this decade and she mentioned having a good skincare routine! It doesn’t have to be a thirteen-step process, either. Just consistent, and with clean products to get the day off your face (this is my favorite system and you can get it on Amazon!).

Get Outside

Fresh air is good for the lungs and good for the soul. It’s amazing how a mood can change if I just get outside every day to take some deep breaths and enjoy the nature around me. It doesn’t have to be a long time or even involve a walk, either, though it can! I love my daily walks.

Haircare Routine

Hair is another thing to take care of. I always have to think about the Bible verse about how hair is a woman’s crown. I always feel better when my hair is taken care of, and not neglected and then thrown into a top knot. I can definitely tell my hair is aging with me, even if the greys are far and few in-between. I was also a little nervous about the infamous hair loss after giving birth.

The fine folks at Vegamour sent me their GRO serum and lash serum to try out and let’s just say I’ve found a new haircare staple. Both serums are fantastic. Vegamour is a vegan, cruelty-free, hormone-free, and clinically tested serum that claims to give you fuller-looking hair in 90-120 days. I’ll admit that even though I had been looking at their products for a while, I was rather skeptical. How could a serum combat thinning hair and reduce hair loss? After some research, I agreed to give it a try and after just a few months of daily use, I definitely notice a difference in thickness and growth (especially after that dreaded postpartum hair loss!). I don’t shed as much hair either, with no weird side effects. My hair definitely appears and feels much healthier too. Plus, the serum itself is not sticky or gross and smells fantastic. The lash and brow serum are equally as fantastic. I will continue using everything they sent!

Of course, it’s important to implement a lot more like stress relief and nutrition to maximize hair health, but Vegamour is definitely a great natural supplement to try! I can recommend Vegamour. They also have tons of great information on their website about healthy habits that affect hair (as well as amazing before and after pictures from other satisfied customers!).

Exercise

Even just 15 minutes of loving movement (what I’m calling exercise in this season of life) a day is something. Carving out time to consistently move your body is so important - especially if you’re living that stationary desk job life like I do most days. I always feel great after a workout - even if I don’t feel like getting one in. My favorite thing to do if I’m short on time is sneaking in a quick Pilates routine, which leaves me feeling strong and flexible. (Try my favorite membership for $20 off!)

Drink Water

I’ll pair this with “and drink less sugary drinks,” which is probably harder for me than increasing water intake. Growing up, I heard the narrative that water is gross, so I never gravitated toward drinking it. Turns out that water isn’t gross at all, and is actually super necessary for our bodies! And sugar is terrible for us. I recently also found out that our brains are made up of 73% water and that dehydration has been linked to depression and anxiety. So. Drink up!

Morning and Evening Routines

These are nothing new for me, but it turns out that morning and evening routines are fluid and change depending on what season of life you’re in. For me, that looks like adding in starting a load of laundry every morning in this season and factoring in an infant’s nighttime routine into my own evening routine. It also means that I need to learn to be more flexible when things need to change and require adapting. Change is hard for me, and routines are required for my sanity, but without them in place, they can’t help when I need them.

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What are some of the routines or habits you adapt? I’d love to hear about them!

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More Sustainable Practices We Use and Some I'd Like to Implement

In this post a while back, I talked about some of our favorite low-waste practices. I’ve kept trying to add more sustainable habits into our everyday lives, especially now that there are three of us (well, four, including our firstborn cat!). None of these practices are going to singlehandedly save the planet, but our small steps add up. We want to make sure we are doing what we can to be better stewards of the Earth God has given us. 

Cloth Diapering

I plan to talk more about our cloth diapering journey, but honestly, this has been a great practice for our family. There are billions of disposable diapers taking up space in landfills and while it may seem that our contribution of approximately 1500+ diapers a year doesn’t help, I think if we all take steps we can make great strides of progress. And if you are concerned about the water and electricity usage when cloth diapering, doing it full-time, we only added 2 loads a week to our usual load and since our washers are very efficient you could compare it to the times a potty-trained person would flush the toilet! The math has been done.

We used the Esembly brand system, if you are interested (try it for 15% off by using this referral link)

Making Food

Trying to avoid foods that come in a lot of packaging really makes us make a lot of our own food. Honestly, though, foods that don’t come with nutrition labels are the best, so we know we are getting the nutrients we need this way too! 

One of my favorite sustainable food practices is saving my veggie scraps and making vegetable broth. It’s sooooo easy, tastes better than the store-bought stuff, and does not take much extra time at all. 

Cooking our own food comes with the necessity to plan properly, of course, so that there are no good excuses to eat out. 

Shopping Less

We shop as little as possible. Groceries and otherwise. This requires planning ahead so we aren’t running to the grocery store, but it’s worth it. Freezing things helps a lot with this, as does keeping stock of everything we have. It’s better for the earth, but saves our wallet as well! (Pssst: purchasing food you normally buy when it’s on sale and then shopping your pantry when you meal plan is a great money-saving strategy)

Related: Eating Cleaner on a Budget

Reusable Dinnerware 

We love camping, beach days, and picnics and we love that we’ve ditched disposable dinnerware and can keep enjoying these things sustainably. The Alps to my Maple got me the cutest picnic basket when we got married with, yes, ceramic and glass dishes, and we love busting that out. Otherwise, we have sets of washable dishes that we use when doing outdoor activities. With some planning ahead, it really is worth it!

Also, I started carrying around this great reusable utensil set with me! If we ever get takeout, or we need to eat out, it’s easy to opt out of the single-use plastic and to whip these babies out!

Period Underwear

I’ve talked about using a menstrual cup in full detail here, but period underwear is also a fan favorite! With the cup, it replaces pantyliners, and without, they are great alternatives to pads. I prefer the Thinx brand (you can get them on Amazon too!) but there are many out there. Bonus, they also have come out with really high-waisted ones too that were fantastic postpartum.

Plastic-Free Shaving

Get rid of those disposable razors and choose a plastic-free version. I haven’t found my favorite completely plastic-free shaver yet, but I love the Venus Deluxe (purchase on Amazon here). It has a heavy metal handle that seriously feels indestructible and works great. 

Some things I would like to incorporate

I’m far from being a zero-waste person, but I’m taking steps to get there. I just want to be transparent and maybe some of you can offer some advice in the following areas I would like to start doing! Some things I would like to start doing:

Get rid of paper towels

It’s going to be hard to convince everyone in my household to go for this one, but we already use reusable paper towel cloths (you know, those Swedish dish cloths). It’s just a matter of replacing them all in a way that makes sense for us!

Cut back on toilet paper

Postpartum, I realized how easy it would be to use a bidet (the TUSHY looks good), and honestly, I used that peri bottle much longer than needed (TMI?). It would really cut back on TP to go full-on bidet. 

Compost

Because we don’t have much of a garden, composting was not very practical for us. We do have a compost bin that gets picked up, it’s really just a matter of finding our flow and creating habits that work.

Sustainable Fashion

Fast fashion is so convenient for those of us in the western world. Even though I’ve started to, I would like to choose more sustainable pieces in the future! 

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What are some sustainable practices in your life? In what areas would you like to improve?

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A Simple and Joyful Holiday Season

I always look forward to the holidays. The special meals and the special family time are the things that really stick out in my mind the most when I think about the holiday seasons way back when. I always knew that if I ever had my own family, that this cooler time of the year (for us in North America, anyway) would be a time I would want to make special and meaningful for them as well. I looked forward to the day I could start my own holiday traditions. 

Even though I’ve always found the holidays to be quite commercialized, over the years, with the rise of the internet and social media, it seems to me that a lot of times, these special seasons of the year have to potential to become a competition about who can have to the most swoon-worthy table spread and can gift the best items. It is so easy to be caught up with making things so Pinterest-worthy, that outdoing everyone else becomes our focus, rather than focusing on those around us. It somehow doesn’t help that stores roll out holiday things in July these days.

Of course, this year is looking much different than years past, but I want to challenge you today to question your motives and to cultivate a simple intentional holiday season with me this year. If I learned anything during this last crazy year in a pandemic, it’s that family is so important. That, and I want a holiday season that I can fully enjoy, rather than stress through. You in?

Keep things Simple

As I said, there is nothing wrong with trying to make the holidays special and beautiful. But what are your reasons for it? Dig deep and ask yourself the potentially tough questions. If you were to step back from the elaborate holiday decor and dishes, would that lift a burden off your shoulders? If your answer is yes, then maybe it’s time to reevaluate your approach to the holiday season. If you know you throw away a ton of food after your dinners, why not cut back on portion sizes or the number of dishes to simplify things? Could you go with simpler decor that still looks festive? Does your gift wrapping need to be so extra? You know yourself best. Try cutting back on the excess and see that going the simple route is not so bad after all. This year provides a wonderful excuse to try it out!

Be Present

As I mentioned earlier, family has always been the most important part of the holidays for me. When I think back on past celebrations, I rarely think about the details about the decor and I barely remember the specific gifts. I think about who was there and what we did together. Spending time together might be as simple as listening to stories, playing a game, or preparing a meal together. In past years I have tried putting devices away to get some real quality face time in, but that looks different this year for sure. Be present for your loved ones, whether together virtually or in person.

Gift with Intention

Gifts are a large part of this time of year, but how many times have you caught yourself buying something for someone just because you felt obligated to get them a gift? I know I have. Gifting with intention goes beyond deciding what to purchase for someone. It may even require you to get to know someone on a deeper level throughout the year! Try to avoid buying just to buy and ask yourself these questions: Why did I choose this particular gift? Will my recipient value this gift? How can I make this a meaningful experience? Not only will you be less likely to find your gift in the donation pile a few months out, but both you and the recipient will also feel better about your gift!

Related: An Aspiring Minimalist’s Guide to Gifts

Start Meaningful Traditions - And Eliminate Some If Needed

Traditions are a fantastic way to make the holidays intentional - they are also a great way to stress us out. Traditions don’t have to be elaborate and they shouldn’t cause us stress. If you don’t care for heading out early for Black Friday sales or if DIY Advent Calendars are making you dread the season, rest assured that there is no rule that says you need to do them! Traditions can be as simple as spending an evening together reading or making cookies together. Maybe you always take a family photo or break out the craft supplies and create ornaments together - possibly even while wearing matching pajamas. Traditions are important as well as meaningful, but make sure they bring you and your family joy!

Allow Yourself to Say No

Do not feel obligated to say yes to every gift exchange, cookie swap, and holiday zoom party of the season. Do not feel obligated to host every festivity either! Of course, refuse tactfully in order to not hurt any feelings - or offer an alternative if appropriate to do so. 

Incorporate Service

The holiday season is the perfect time to remember those who are less fortunate than you. Why not incorporate some community service into your traditions? Take some treats to those who have to work on the holidays, volunteer at a soup kitchen, put together a care package for shut-ins, invite over students who weren’t able to make it home, center your gift-giving around charity - the possibilities are endless.

Cultivate Gratefulness

Being thankful for what you have is a sure way to enjoy your holidays more. When we reflect on what we do have rather than what we don’t, it puts a more positive perspective on life and the holidays. Teach your little ones gratefulness early on so that it becomes second nature - and if you’re not as young anymore, that’s okay too! The more you practice, the easier and more natural it becomes!

Make Christ the Center

This may seem cliché, and you’ve heard it dozens of times, but making Christ the center of everything is the key to true joy. The same is true during the holidays. When Christ is the center of our lives, old baggage and scars from family hurt seem trivial, we are more willing to give, and we are less likely to allow comparison to be the thief of our joy. We are content when Christ is sincerely the center of our lives, and we will truly see others the way He does - as someone to love unconditionally even more than our own lives and comforts. Doesn’t that sound like the best foundation for a truly meaningful holiday season and life?

Minimally Decorating for Different Seasons

Decorating as a minimalist - or an aspiring minimalist - has been a really interesting challenge to take on over the last few years. For one, I love, love, love seasonal decor! I love buying it, I love making it myself...I even enjoy just looking at all of it in the store (without making a purchase). There’s just something about it that makes me so happy. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe not. For another, I like to switch things up and add new pieces so that there is something new to admire...I foresee it potentially becoming a problem in the future, but not really.

After some practice, and loving the results of having truly minimal, but meaningful decor (and after experiencing the strange satisfaction I get from only having 2 small, organized totes for all of our seasonal decor), I’ve decided to share some of my favorite tips. 

Choose Pieces Carefully

I love having pieces that mean something to us personally. For you, it could be a piece of art that a friend painted or a vase you bought on your honeymoon. It could also just be something that really spoke to you when you laid your eyes upon it. Choose just a few pieces with a story behind them to display. With such depth behind them, you won’t need to have it stand next to anything else, plus they make great conversation starters.

Less is More 

Give your pieces space to breathe. It’s really okay to have some empty space. I find it rather soothing, personally, to have my eyes drawn to small subtle details rather than being overwhelmed by shelves full of decor. Resist the urge to fill an entire shelf - harder to dust that way anyway!

To make it easier, opt for larger items rather than a bunch of smaller ones for the same reason that less is more. It feels less cluttered, and again, the eye is drawn to the large details.

Consider Natural Items

I really enjoy bringing the outdoors inside for a few reasons. Having real plants, vegetables, and other natural elements like pinecones or woods makes me feel calm and welcomed in a space. Natural items are unique, easy to acquire, inexpensive (or even free sometimes!), and you can put them back outside when you’re finished to let them continue their natural course. 

Think About Other Senses

For me, decor is really a minor part of making my home ready for the holiday season. I love the smell of fresh sweet loaves baking in the oven, burning woodsy scented candles (or diffusing woodsy oils!), having the fireplace on, and listening to my holiday playlists (not just Christmas!) are highlights that make my home feel ready for the season. 

Start “Stuff”-less Traditions

Baking and decorating cookies with my family, game and movie nights, singing together, were all highlights of the holiday months growing up (and are still my favorite!). Sure, we also loved decorating with Bing Crosby singing in the background, but it was the feeling that contributed to the holidays too. 

Choose Pieces that Cross Seasons

When I look for decor and textiles, I look for pieces that can cross seasons and holidays. White linens and plates, for example, can be paired with various objects and patterns to fit most any season you may want to decorate for. Vases can be filled with different seasonal foliage. I will admit, however, that I have three different wreaths for the door.

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Are you a minimal decorator? What are some of your tips?

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