100 THINGS I WONT BUY IN 2023 | FRUGAL LIVING TIPS WITH FRUGAL FIT MOM 

Someone actually said Your kids must be so unhappy?!? I imagine your kids are happy, content and very well grounded. 😄

Really don’t understand how anybody can say your kids are unhappy because they don’t get cheap baked goods. Hello they get homemade baked goods 1 million times better. Always love your videos❤

Our local radio station recently did a poll on their Facebook page of how many times people use a towel before washing it again. Most people said they use it once and then it goes in the hamper and they get another. They also had strong opinions that it was disgusting for you to reuse your towel without washing. I thought that was insane. You hang it up to dry between uses, you are the only one using it. How is it gross?

We recently bought bottled water. It was practically a necessity given the unclear information from a train derailment here in Ohio. It has been devastating to our people, environment, livestock, and crops. I think I will probably always keep a gallon of water in case of emergencies from here on out.

I was with you until the coffee. That one I’ll hang on to for the good of my family. 😂😂

Throw pillows are good for short people. Don't get rid of them all. As a shorter person most lounges or couches are uncomfortable for me as they are too wide, so a throw pillow behind my back is so much easier

I am so happy I have found this frugal community. I have been rejected before from “a group of friends” because I was different (not enough makeup, no new purses, same shoes 👟, same cloth, going out with them but not having a lot of food, or just a juice). Hang out with people that love you and respect you no matter what. And yes, frugality is there, for everyone, but not everyone is ready for this lifestyle 😅

As a Mom I feel like I’m always being judged but quite frankly have never given a rip!! Thank you Christine for all the good content, as a Mom I appreciate your ideas, your recipes (I make crusty bread every week) and you help me not only with your ideas but your humor!! Thank you and don’t listen to the critics…they don’t get it anyway!!😉😉💕😊🙏

The only thing I noticed is you said "100 things you don't buy to save money", which would suggest stuff you don't buy or use...but instead the video showed things you have stocked up and still use, but you just may not NEED to purchase for awhile due to stocking up. I enjoy your videos, they are very helpful, I have just found that lately they seem to be misleading with your ideas and the title.

😁I so loved hearing that there are others like us who don't go out to eat, no soda, no alcohol, video games(we do have tablets/minecraft, learning games), etc.!! Our kids are happy too! My boys are outside/dirty all the time!♥️

Lamps and ambient light really create a calm and homey atmosphere. It can truly make a difference in how the room feels. We rarely ever use the overhead “warehouse “ lights ( that’s what I call them 😄) in our house.

I’m pregnant with my first child and the ideas & values you instill in your kids is an inspiration for me!!! Know that for every harsh thing someone says about your family or parenting, there are a lot more of us so impressed and inspired by you!! I’m obsessed with my apple & pineapple slicers and my garlic press, but I totally agree with everything else!😂

I use white vinegar for fabric softener! Works great!

I quit buying dryer sheets and switched to dryer balls - and love them. They help eliminate static and for that, they work. 😁 I have 4 of them and I do find them randomly in the house and eventually all 4 make it back to the laundry room. Eventually. 😜 New subscriber and I love your channel. ❤️

Anyone that actually watches your channel sees how happy the kids are, sees how many things you all do as a family! If I was able to do all the things you guys can do I would be taking my kids all the time! I would love to take my kids to do things that keep us active and I think it's great that your family does so many things together and you all have a blast doing them!

I love the wool dryer balls. They help dry the clothes faster, and if you add a couple drops of essential oils to them, they make your laundry smell great. Use in place of dryer sheets. The dryer sheets leave a coating not only on your clothes (esp. making towels inefficient because they stop absorbing water) but they can be a fire hazard.

Sue here: we all can buy less, use and reuse what we already have, and learn to be content!!! You are so wise. Those that live that way enjoy real long lasting happiness, for sure. ( I do love my paper towels and cute pillows though 🤸🏡.) 🧡

Yep yep and yep! The only things I disagreed with were throw pillows (I have a total of 3 because I suck at decorating so they are my decor 😂), house plants because I like growing plants, and the extra sheets because I have a tiny little English house with no dryer so you NEED at least one spare set while the washed sheets are air drying.

I agree with almost everything you do but I do stock up on water. It's a staple and most important for living. The government can flip a switch and turn your water off or maybe your water gets contaminated. Store water always

It's weird to me how everyone thinks not eating out is weird 😂 Every video I see about how to save money says to eat out less, and I'm like THAT TIP WONT HELP ME THANKS

I can’t even imagine people actually say your kids must be sad… that’s ridiculous…at least your kids aren’t parked in front of a TV or video game for hours on end rotting their brains. GOOD FOR YOU! Great tips too, I need to implement some 😊

Amen to the homemade lunchables, not eating out, and no alcohol. Our young daughter loves homemade lunchables and they are definitely more cost effective! We don't drink alcohol at all, but the price is nuts when I hear it discussed... As for eating out, meal planning weekly has saved our life for not wanting to eat out, especially when we usually plan simple, easy to swap meals if we have a day we don't feel like cooking what is planned!

A lot of the things works for your family, while it won't work for other families. You guys mountain bike, hike. Unfortunately some families can't do that with their kids. I personally like to do some home decor. Makes me feel good, especially when I'm/we're home most of the time. I give you credit, that most of your suggestions were good!

If I give a gift when someone gets married or has a baby, I usually just give money. They know what they need and where they want to shop at. Recently, I was invited to a baby shower for a friend that is pregnant with twins. I found out what brand diapers that she uses on her current youngest child and the average size her babies wore when they were born. I am glad that I asked because all of her babies were large babies. She admitted to me "They will not be able to wear newborn." I did buy her store brand baby wipes that my family has used so that she can try them out and they are cheaper.

The dryer balls fluff and help clothes to dry quicker by knocking up against clothes. I love them !!

Thank you for pointing out the girl deodorant!! I use men’s old spice wilderness- it’s lavender scented and it works all day!! No matter what activity I am doing!!

My kids ADORE stuffed animals, its the only thing i cant declutter and what they still always want. I slept with mine until 13 years old and i loved them, they gave me a sense of security! :)

Holiday themed stuff right after the holiday for 75% off is actually a way to save money ;) I stay away from decorations but holiday cake mix, pancake mix, etc for .50c are great to have on hand in my opinion!

“ On the contrary, you succeeded.” Highest praise for sure!!!!!! I get the look/exclamations when people talk/suggest a restaurant and I say I’ve never been there. I’d rather cook and eat at home.

Haha my husband and I are in mid-late thirties and we got new shoes at Christmas… we both were like wow we are old as we were both commenting on how supportive our shoes felt. 😂

Our son grew up similar to your kids. No cell phone, no computer, no fast food due to the following....no cell service, no internet, no restaurants/fast food joints for 30 miles. I will admit the cell phone and computer issue is a thing of the past...I somehow raised a techie. Restaurants/fast food is something he continues to this day to not truly enjoy or spend much money on. He cooks for one. He is an excellent cook as he cooks for us occasionally when we visit. We also got the ????? while raising him, but we have no regrets. You are rocking it. I too, like everyone else on this site, have learned additional things which are now going to be implemented in our now empty nest.

Extra sets of sheets are fantastic when there are sick kids. I've learned that no matter how tired I am, I put the dirty sheets in the washer when a kid is sick enough to change the sheets. Then when they are sick again you do another load and stick the first load in the drier. Thankfully we didn't run out of sheets before some where dry.

We never bought our son any game consoles. He thought himself how to write computer code while in high school and has a great job today as a result. On the subject of foils and parchment, in 2018 we bought a very large box of film wrap. And I still have it today! Crazy!

Every family has their own hobbies that they spend money on. For ours, it's electronics, and people may think our kids are not cared for because of that, but it's really just whatever works for your own family. I'm an author, so most of my time is spent indoors on a laptop, but I still have happy and healthy kids with a great relationship with me. Do what's best for you, and don't let haters make you feel bad for it. Your family is awesome and is the complete opposite to ours in pretty much every way. Yet I still think you're awesome.

I am so with you on using up the cleaning products! So I actually went and looked all through my house to find out how many cleaning products I have. It was CRAZY, I was like "I have enough to clean this house for at least a year maybe more." That is nuts! I wish so much I could use powder regular Tide, it smells great and cleans great but I am allergic to it. So I use Purex or Simply Tide. The formula is different in Simply Tide, and while it does not smell as nice, it is still is a great product. All this to say, I am with you on this front girl!

I had to laugh at the extra towels and sheets. We just remodeled our bathrooms and I emptied the linen closet and donated a TON of extra sheets and towels! I was shocked at how many extras we had-total eye opener! You aren’t the only one who got hooked on Mrs. Meyer, I cancelled Grove about a year ago and am still using the products!

grandma here, learned with my children that toys are a wate of money, so now with my grand children who spends weekends with me sometimes, we have "projects, we paint, do gardening and now with the ones that want to learn we do cooking . i do not buy toys for them, i'll buy clothing ie socks underwear pj etc , they love coming to grandma's house cause they have fun and they learn. i also do not have video games nor do i have cable. i do buy books tho, thanks Christine

I was laughing at the "your house is clinical" What? Have they actually watched your videos? Seen your personality? Your kids? Stuff doesn't make a home, your family does. Keep up the amazing work, love your channel!

Yeah, I said the same thing about books until I went to my local charity shop (it's like a thrift shop here, in uk) and I ended up with 25 of them 😱

I am SO with you on pretty much ALL this stuff!!! My hubby doesn't have a clue as to how much money I DON'T spend!!! 🤣

We go through lots of tissues in my house but use cloth napkins. Been using cloth napkins for at least 15 years. Game changer. Always stay stocked up on TP when on sale. I hate buying full price.

I do dig the wool dryer balls. They punch my towels to get them fluffy without increasing fire risk in the dryer. But I am stuck doing the laundry in my house so they don't disappear. Had the same set for 10 years that I bought for 5 bucks at bed bath and beyond

I feel ya. I coupon and am stocked on so many things. I am trying to get through my expired and long frozen food right now. I overestimate how much I can eat. 🤪

Do not toss the wool dryer balls, retrieve from your dog (I also have to do this😉), they shorten the drying time in your dryer and just store them inside the dryer.

I always say I'm not going to buy more blankets, but then I find a super soft one that hasn't been through the wash and dry yet. I end up caving and bringing it home. I'm such a sucker for soft blankets, and the not soft blankets get relegated to car blankets and floor blankets 🤣

The wool balls work for me. I found in the winter dry months you need connect safetypins to them to help with static electricity. I used at least 6 balls. Eventually, they do need to be replaced.

That oatmeal turns easily into oat flour. Lots of good baking recipes with that!

Neither Gerber nor Globe will do a life insurance if you have an organ transplant. My granddaughter got a new heart at 13 days old. She is now 11 years old & still nobody will do a life insurance policy on her. The wool balls shorten the dry time and helps to eliminate static electricity.

Ok a few points: -felt like the stockpile items is borderline cheating! Lol -I agree with most everything but occasional chips or to-go coffee is fun. -Also, you’d be proud of me! I buy 1 or 2 full size mascaras on sale for Black Friday at Ulta and that’s basically the only makeup I buy all year. -And also thank you because I’ve been seriously considering buying an Amazon swimsuit and I look then close it because I know I need to try it on first. Been burned by an Amazon dress as well. Only 1 clothing purchase from Amazon has ever worked out for me. 🤦🏻‍♀️ -baskets don’t make you organized but keep the floor tidy from all my kids’ crap.

On board with 90% of this and the thinking behind it (your results may vary), but the one thing that made me go, “Huh?” is the silicone wedding rings. My wedding and engagement rings have huge significance to me, they’re only coming off before they cremate my cold, dead body, and I’m definitely not buying another (which is the topic of the video, right?). (Oh, and coffee? That stays.) Bottom line, people do frugality in a variety of ways, but the principles remain the same. Rock on, FFM!

Fresh spinach can go right in the freezer. Then you can use it for cooking or adding to smoothies.

😂 I, too, remember being subscribed to Netflix when they mailed the dvds to you one or three at a time! I was a teenager at home and I remember thinking that was the coolest thing. I was married and with a baby when it moved to streaming, and it's now 2023 and streaming all my music and shows still blows my mind! Honestly, I kinda wish it wasn't that way. I want the days back where you had to have the storage space on an mp3 to hold all your music, or a good Walkmen portable CD player and a good supply of batteries. Those were the days.

I’m short so I like throw pillows behind my back so I don’t feel uncomfortable on the couch.

We also have two super chewers. My kid is in 4H and one of the community services projects was making cat and dog toys for our local shelter out of old tee shirts. She brought two home for the fur babies and they loved them. Now we just make a couple every now and then.

Loved this. I'm very frugal myself. Like many things, Some folks (like you) are even more frugal than me. 😅 My kids also had homemade lunches, no cell phones, no soda, barely any fast food, and many other things on the list. I also hit WalMart & Walgreens after Christmas & other holidays. This year I didn't because I had plenty of stock so I didn't go. Most nights we had homemade meals. Even now, living with my grandson, I have a well stocked pantry and rarely have to grocery shop with that and my full freezer of things purchased on sale or clearance. I don't think your kids are deprived. They have the security of a loving, healthy, active family. The lack of video games & cable tv is not harmful to them. You are modeling healthy behavior. It was such a pleasure watching this video.

Thank you for the warning on Walmart bikes! My sister bought a cheap mountain bike there and when she was riding off trail the handlebars came off. She broke both wrists and had to have surgery. No $ savings is worth all that.

That’s how we are with paper towels and napkins. We just use kitchen towels and rags. Great way to save money!

Dryer sheets coat your towels and make them less absorbent. The woolen dryer balls can help dry clothes faster and help soften towels.

I have been using mens razors for 25 years, ditch the shaving cream and buy cheap hair conditioner from the dollar tree, works perfect and moisturizes your skin!😉💕

Great to see someone else who doesn’t buy all of these items either. ❤

Love this video. Agree with so much EXCEPT i have 2 sets of sheets per bed. So easy to remove the sheets for laundering and then immeditately make up the bed with fresh linens. This was a gamec hanger for me! More than once night would come and OOPS! sheets still in the washer and not in the dryer.

I agree with you on some many things Christine and I am an empty nester in my 60’s! Worth buying - good shoes; life insurance; anything of quality (i.e. sheets; towels; furniture). I do buy expensive coffee to make at home, but won’t pay for cups of coffee at a cafe. Things I don’t buy - perfume; dryer sheets; Door Dash or Uber Eats; food in packages; seasonal decor. However, I do not stock up on items like you do because I simply do not have the storage space to store stuff. I just buy as I need things and, since we’re Costco members, we only certain items like toilet paper and paper towels there.

I with you about 98%! I just turned 65 and I gave up make up and hair coloring! I love being all natural!

Agree with much of your list! But, because I live in a hurricane zone, I do keep a large stash of paper plates, plastic ware, disposable cups, paper napkins in case we lose power in a hurricane. And a large stash of garbage bags. Oh, and water.

Can't believe folks are already complaining. The frugality here is in stocking up when things are on sale. As she states in the vid, you're saving in the long run, really, which you would know if you know how to budget. How y'all living frugally but not budgeting correctly? Couldn't be me!! Lol. Christine's tip on shopping those Christmas clearance sales is GOLD. You can stock up on A LOT of household and personal care products after Christmas. It's about being strategic and intentional. For example, in my area many grocery stores have turkeys marked down even more after Christmas. The smart folks will buy as many turkeys as they can budget for then proceed to preserve the turkey in as many ways possible. They can freeze, freeze dry, make broth, etc. You can pretty much do everything with turkey you can do with chicken. You can fill up your pantry, freezer and fridge on these post-holiday clearance sales. Yet another great video, Christine!!

Hey Christine!! I’m here for it !!! 2023 🎉

I’m a child of a boomers who washed anything that can be used again. This was not a bad thing because I do the same as well as my husband. It makes it easier when both people grew up similarly. We don’t eat out very often and also order water. We always have a back stock of toiletries and buy multi pack when it goes on sale. I used to clean houses and donated all the products I didn’t need or like. I’m down to 3 products - the glass cleaner, mixture of Dawn/water/vinegar, and Ajax. We quit using paper towels because they are so expensive and most things can be wiped up with a rag. We have garage ones for the gross stuff. I’m not a shopper or do extras for myself. I like spending my money on quality items and vacations. We try to fix things instead of throwing it out unless it’s electrical or plumbing, we call a professional. If you take care of your stuff, it lasts a lot longer.

You guys do so much together!!! Your family trips with all the healthy out door activity is inspirational... Also movie nite and game nite. Good for you!!!

So many things on your list is on my list too! And now I have a few more ideas to add to it. I love your watching your videos.

Great video. Such a good reminder to use what we already have. We ditched paper towels 15+ years ago . Coffee is my vice but only buy it when I'm given gift cards.

Wow!!! I stayed to the end of your video. I'm not quit sure what to think about this video but what I do know is.......I enjoy watching all of your videos, love seeing your kids and your husband in them, and love that you don't edit out kids in the background and comments made by hubby or kids etc.😉 Your kids do seem happy and with that I feel your doing a good job with them!!!!👍 Keep up the great job!!

Love this. Especially about that baskets/bins won't get you organized; decluttering will. I just started trying to do more organizing and your videos are so helpful for that! Also, just checked out the Luda bottles...they are awesome and I'm having a hard time deciding which one I want more. You should have one that says "measure that with your heart."

Please never stop putting in all the funny clips!! I just find myself LAUGHING OUT LOUD! This is of course second to your wonderful content :)

Gave up fabric softener and swapped for white vinegar now clothes feel/look much better & softer, washing machine is cleaner too. Wool dryer balls work for us so we stopped buying dryer sheets. Saving quite a bit of money on just those 2 items alone and not missing them.

I double knot old socks and give to the dog. He loves them!

I had a friend that could not tell the difference between a USED CAR... and a JUNKER. I helped her get a decent car and had a good mechanic go over it really well. She was Amazed.

I love how efficient and tidy your home is…and how you’ve made rules and procedures that work for your family! I’m developing similar ones for ours :) we do like video games but nothing violent. I like the “dumb phone until 16” rule. Doordash is only for immediately postpartum and serious sickness times haha

It's always interesting to see what people stock up on, what they don't typically use, and why. I just realized we're now down to our last five rolls of TP!! 😮

Just found some clearance deals at the store for dinner! At least 4 meals for two for $22 ❤. Ty for your guidance and enthusiasm

We must be related !! 😁 We cook/bake everything, everyday. We taught the kids to operate the lawn mower, weed eater and they know what a rake and hoe are. We talk to them about budgets, how to pay bills and save money. I also have no decorations or throw pillows and am currently re-upholstering the dining room chairs. Love your videos, you're so funny 😁

Good to see someone who shops like me. I do have 2 pairs of sheets for each bed though, one for summer and the Berkshire minky sheets for winter (10/10 recommend, especially for a cold climate)

OMG, I keep my whole series of Friends DVDs on my shelf too 🥰 (even after decluttering all streamable stuff).

Always appreciate your videos, Christine! I can relate to most of your list of don't/won't, but there are a few you mentioned I hadn't considered. Thanks for the list!

I love your videos because you help people not spend when everything is focused on spending now a days. You’re the bomb

Yes on the shoes. My mood sucks and I tend to be nasty to people when my feet hurt. Also, I'm so much happier now that I don't buy food I don't like

Need more moms like you out there!!!

Ma'am......you totally LOST me at not buying books anymore! I could never! LOL!!! Throw pillows are soooo pretty!!! Yes, they go on the floor; but when the house gets organized at night it looks so nice when the kids are gone to bed.......until they wake up the next morning! 😂🤣🤣😂🤣 Garlic press is such a time saver!!!! You have to rinse away the left over garlic on it before it sits there and dry up and harden onto the device. LOL!!!

Felted wool balls can help save energy by absorbing moisture from the wet clothes in the dryer. Wool is a fiber that can absorb 20-30% of its weight in water without feeling wet so it will help absorb the moisture in your clothes. This characteristic is why classic fisherman wool sweaters help keep fishermen warm even in a very wet environment. The action of the wool balls in the dryer helps fluff clothes and minimize wrinkles. People who are interested in trying wool balls should look for brands that have no added fragrances or anti-static chemicals as those are not necessary. Most of the info online says that they will last at least 1000 washes, assuming they are not stolen by family pets or kids who want to learn to juggle. I only recently bought wool dryer balls because our 36-year-old dryer needed some help getting the clothes dry in one cycle, so I don't know if they will really ever wear out. After I already bought the dryer balls, we realized it had been a really really long time since we cleaned out the duct from the back of the dryer to the outside. Once we did that, the dryer started working much better, so I probably didn't really need the dryer balls after all. (PS: Cleaning out that duct is really important for fire safety and is too easily overlooked.) I am a new subscriber to your channel, having enjoyed your recent videos with The Minimal Mom. I appreciate and relate to your frugal outlook. My husband and I grew up learning to be frugal by necessity, and it is a life skill that has benefited our family through 40+ years of job ups and downs. Although we can be a little less cautious now, it is really a mindset that is part of us and we are happy with our lifestyle. Looking forward to more of your content!

I'm so happy to hear you do the Walmart after Christmas sales for personal care items & stock up a year's worth. I also suggest Bath & Body they have 75% day after Christmas sales. I have gifts for myself & others of lotion, body wash and spray.

Love this video!!!, you pointed out a lot of items I can give up. I'm with u on the sheets and towels. I found Benebones for my daughters dog who is a chewer. She loves and they last

A couple of days ago, I took a friend out for lunch. She was reluctant to order what she wanted, I told her to go ahead, I have no problem spending money I just HATE wasting money. I realized that summed up my current attitude to money in one sentence. A pleasurable experience with someone I like is money well spent. Spending money on interest to buy something I could save for is wasting money. Paying full price for a bottle of barbecue sauce each month is wasteful when instead I could buy a year’s worth when I see it for less than 50% of the normal cost. To put things in perspective I am retired, and have been since age 60. I retired with no debt and feel I can buy whatever I want, the trick as a financially wise friend says, “is not to want too much”. I have never felt deprived living frugally.

I hear you with fast food. For travel, sometimes it's better to hit up a grocery store. Prepared food offerings are insane these days. You can walk out of there with a hot meal and a cold beverage for less.

Thank you for giving a shout out to libraries! So many libraries have digital content that you can check out without leaving home. Also, many libraries have items that can be borrowed that would surprise you. The library I work for has several cake pans, ukuleles, Circut and a Circut Joy, a telescope, pottery wheels, a spinning wheel just to name a few. Almost forgot, some of our local museums partnered with us for guest passes to be checked out. I encourage you to go check-out your local libraries if you haven't been in awhile.

I can get on board with most things you listed with the exceptions of a few houseplants (I love the color and it brightens up our space), eating out once weekly on date night, end tables with lamps (we use for drinks, extra lighting, and blanket storage), and a back-up set of sheets (I have old cats and you never know when they'll get sick on our bed at night 😆).

For the Libby problem, you can have several cards/libraries on the app, so if you know someone in a different city they can share 💁🏻‍♀️ Also some bigger libraries allow you to do an annually "subscription" which is still usually cheaper than Audible

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MY ALL TIME FAVORITE VIDEO OF YOURS!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! GO MAMA!

I think I laughed this entire video! The things you don’t like you went in on them lol. You make good points and it’s worth implementing some of your ideas.

I purchased an inexpensive non-resident library card from a small community that is plugged into a statewide library system that is served by Libby. Lots more audiobooks available to me now! Very cost-effective alternative to Audible.

I have small table lamps everywhere, they make a house cozy and I love reading on my sofa.

Well, I agree with a lot of what you're saying here, but not others. What I am so happy with is all the stock up I did last year and all the things I haven't had to buy this year. As I've seen increases on things like oatmeal (which I use a lot of in granola making) and tomatoes, I tell my husband it's like making a huge dividend return on my investment to use the ones on my shelf. Now, the important thing is to use them!!!