George Kamel - 12 Things Frugal People Quit Buying in 2024

Episode Date: December 20, 2024

💵 Start your free budget today. Download the EveryDollar app!  Nothing says frugal like quitting smoking because of the cost, am I right? In this episode, I’m sharing 12 things frugal people have stopped buying and what you can do to avoid paying high prices.  Next Steps:  🎥 Watch my video 12 Rules for (a Frugal) Life.  Connect With Our Sponsors:  🔒 Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.  💸 Learn more about opening a high-yield savings account with Laurel Road.  📲 Get $5 off Tello's Unlimited Plan and enjoy great nationwide coverage for only $20 at  https://www.tello.com/George.    Explore More From Ramsey Network:  🎙️ The Ramsey Show  🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour  💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights  🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show  💡 The Rachel Cruze Show  💼 The Ken Coleman Show  📈 EntreLeadership    Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are there things you've stopped buying in order to save money? Well, someone asked a similar question in the frugal subreddit, and there were more responses than there are crypto bros at a CrossFit gym. In today's video, we'll look at 12 things frugal people said they are no longer buying, and we'll determine if they're a good way to save money, or a little too extreme, in a game I like to call, yes or pass. Could we have gone with a simple, yay or nay?

Sure, but this isn't the Kiwanis Club, okay? This is my YouTube channel. We don't have to follow Robert's Rules of Order here. Why do all people always have to ruin the fun? Anyway, before we call this meeting to order, I move that we grow this channel to a million subscribers. All in favor, like and subscribe. All opposed, keep it to yourself, Kewanis fans, but also like and subscribe. Okay, number one, on the list of things frugal people quit buying to save money is... Plastic Storage Containers.

Raysia Sunshine said, plastic food storage containers like Rubber Made, for the most part. I've gradually switched to mostly glass, which doesn't get stained or absorb odors. Replacement lids are available online for cheap, so I can thrift the bowls and buy lids for them. This one I'm going to go with a big fat, yes. And here's why. It's not for the environment, because that's going down with or without me. But I do get really frustrated when that plastic storage container is stained, and I do think there's some merit to the whole microplastics and everything.

And I think they just last longer. They feel sturdier. I feel like the food is better kept in glass versus plastic. And that's why this one gets a big hole. Yes. Thanks, Bob. Okay, next up, bottled water. No monk 8635 said, bottled water dot, dot, dot, dot.

Don't want to buy and throw away all that plastic. And pomegranate plane 9516 said, best investment, a reverse osmosis system with added minerals from lows. Install it yourself or with the help of a plumber. Best water ever and even better drinking it from my glass cups and glass straws. Okay, here's the deal. I am all for being more sustainable with our water usage. Personally, I have not let go fully of my plastic water bottle habit.

I know it's not great for me. But here's the deal. If you're suggesting that we should get reverse osmosis filtration systems, well, those can cost thousands of dollars versus spending $5 for a 32 pack of water that's going to last you all month long. So get this, here's the math on it. You spend $5 a month for plastic water times 12 months,

$60 a year. Okay, it would take you a good 80, 90, 100 years. to recoup on spending five grand on a reverse osmosis system. So for those reasons, this is not a frugal hack, but if you can swing it, I would call this bougie frugal if you want to get a water filtration system installed in your home. But in the meantime, you know, just use a Britta. That feels like a nice middle ground here.

It's not the same! So while plastic water bottles may not be the most frugal thing, since it's my show, my game, my rules, I'm gonna give plastic water bottles a... Yes. And then I'm gonna give this thousands of dollars for, of the filtration system may... Pass!

Moving on! Another thing some frugal people are not buying? Cigarettes. Stel 456 said, Cigarettes are wildly expensive. Never mind the many potential health concerns, I don't understand how people can afford to smoke. And Fahrenheit 9-8 said,

Cigarettes. We sat down with a calculator and figured out we were spending close to $10,000 each year giving ourselves cancer. We quit smoking on the spot. Hey, that's one way to go cold turkey. basic mathematics. I mean, they were each spending five grand a year, adding up to 10 grand. Let me just do the math on that for you. Five grand a year. That's 416 a month, which is

almost 14 bucks a day. I don't know how many packs that is. I don't know what a pack of Siggy's cost these days, but I imagine they're doing a few packs a day. Cigarettes? This is an absolute pass. Get it out of here. Don't need it. Cut it out. Get out of here. Next up, we've got concert tickets. Nicky JTJR said concert tickets. They have just gotten so insane, it's not worth it. Personally, this is personal, I get it. Some people really value the live music experience. They are willing to pay for it. But I'm going to say the last several shows that I've been to, especially the bigger shows that cost a pretty penny. Simply not worth it for those reasons. It's wildly expensive. And every time I go to see the, it's like, oh, it's a $68 ticket. Great. Oh, with fees, it's $120. I need two tickets.

Okay, then I need to pay for the parking, and then I'm going to pay $7 for a water bottle while I'm there. Oh, and you want to buy the poster? That's $90. Oh, you want the hoodie? That's $400. No, thank you. Stop it.

And I get it. I think artists should be paid well for the work they do, and it takes a lot of money to tour around the world. But sorry, Taylor. Not going to spend $3,500 to see you live when I can just wait and see it on Disney Plus without annoying Taylor Swift fans for free. Not that they're all annoying, it's just that they're all annoying.

You know what I mean? It's like I came to hear Taylor sing, not hear you belt out the three-part harmony, which is beautiful, by the way. Great work, but I didn't pay to see you. I didn't pay to hear you. I didn't pay to smell you while we're at it. That was a step too far. So if you weren't sure by now, do I think concert tickets are wildly overpriced and too expensive in today's economy? Yes, Queen.

Next on our list, paper towels. You knew we were coming for you. We came for TP first. And they said, they'll never come for us. We're not in the cat. Oh, we're here for you, PT. Purpleish, fluffy... What's going on, Reddit?

What's going on out here with these usernames? Purpleish fluffy clouds said, I stopped buying paper towels probably over 10 years ago. I bought a huge bunch of washcloths and bar rags from Amazon and started using those. I did start buying an occasional role once in a while now because there are certain gross things that I think paper towels are best suited for,

in my opinion. Pet cleanups. Barf and poops. Barf and poops never said those two words together like that. Barf and poops messes specifically, as well as cleaning toilets. Who's using paper towels to clean toilets? I guess the outside? I'm hoping just like the rim. We're not going in.

Cleaning off the tank, cleaning off the rim, maybe the perimeter. We're not going in. Oh, God, what is happening? But having done without them for so long, a roll will last me a couple of months, so I don't feel bad about it. And apparently pets are a big thing keeping frugal people from cutting out paper towels altogether, because Glittering Wynn-967 said, I do have a roll of paper towels for really big cat messes. What do you mean? What do you mean the messes are really, like, are the messes big or are the cats really big?

You said really big cat messes. I don't know what's going on with you guys out there. You're on my prayer list. I'm going to say that much. Nah, I'm not praying for that. But yes, as a person who has two French bulldogs and a really messy baby, I personally use a lot of paper towels. We do have some reusable ones that we do use, but here's my hack, and this is what I personally do.

Don't take this as financial advice. I will wash my hands. I will use a selective size paper towel. I will dry my hand, then I will use that paper towel to wipe something down to get it a little clean. So that kind of keeps my house cleaner while drying my hands with a fresh paper towel instead of a rag that I don't know what was used for before I showed up. Maybe a big mess from a doggy. So for those reasons, I'm going to keep buying my paper towels in bulk from Costco. Maybe getting bounty when they're on sale, getting a little crazy.

But this one is a big fat pass for me. Maybe a yes for thee, but it's a pass for me. This is a difference of opinion. Another thing some frugal people are not buying, soda at restaurants. Roger 27 said, when I go to a restaurant, which is a lot less than it used to be, I order water. I will not entertain $4.50 for a soda. And Countess of Coco said, I carry sugar-free water flavor packets with me. I order water at restaurants and use some of that for flavor.

Paying for lousy carbonated soda is a thing of the past. Well, look at you guys, really sticking it to the man. I personally, unless I'm going to get like a craft cocktail, or something really interesting, or I'm forced to buy a drink because I'm at like a comedy club, and even then I'm just going to do a club soda or a bottle of water to keep it cheap.

I think this is one of the biggest rip-offs in human history. That's a little bit dramatic. It's costing the restaurant, I don't know, 10 cents for the level of carbonation and syrup they're using in their sodas. So I'm not going to have a bajillion dollar markup, and here's the stat on this.

Business Insider reported the markup for soda at restaurants is 1,150%. And that was like 10 years ago, so it's only gotten worse. So is soda overrated at restaurants? I'm going to give this one a big old... Yes. Yes. Next up, salon services.

LED said, I dye my own hair. $9 a month versus $120 a month. It adds up. I'm just going to say, and I'm not trying to be mean. We can tell that you did it yourself, Cherise. And the people that do this, they tend to go a little aggressive with the color. Like they're never doing it like a, you know, it's not like a baliage. It's not like I went a little bit lighter brown.

They are going full on like powder puff girls purple. Like it is aggressive. So do I think it's worth doing some things yourself if you're capable? Yes. Do I think sometimes it can go awry and then you need to go to a salon to get it fixed? Absolutely. And as I don't know if you can tell, I don't do this myself. I don't have a floby at home that I'm just going to town with.

This takes a real professional to perfect. And for those reasons, I pay good money for my haircuts, and I understand that it can get out of control, especially for the females out there with all the things you can do to your hair these days. The technologies come a long way. It can get exorbitant and very expensive. So I would try to limit it, get simple cuts, try to maintain a look that isn't expensive, and you'll have a better life. So is it worth the DIY salon? I'm going to have to give this one a... Sorry, Cherise.

No hard feelings. How very deeply you have disappointed me. All right, this next one, I have a feeling is going to be pretty controversial. But before we get to it, I want to tell you how you can keep your personal info away from spammers, scammers and creepy stalkers. And that's by using DeleteMe, one of the sponsors of today's video. Delete Me finds and removes your info from hundreds of data broker sites that make money by selling your personal info. Gross. And Delete Me does the hard work for you, and they send you a report showing you exactly where they found and removed your data and how much time they've saved you.

So help protect yourself from risks of online scams and data breaches with our friends at DeleteMe. And right now, you can get 20% off their plans by going to join DeleteMe.com slash George or click the link in the description. And before we get back to how people are saving money, let's talk about where you're saving your money. If you're stashing cash for a used car, a down payment on a house, an overpriced ticket to see Travis Kelsey's girlfriend, your money should be working for you. And for that, I recommend a high-yield savings account like the one offered by Laurel Road,

one of the sponsors of today's video. Right now, your account balance will earn top-tier APY. Plus, there's no minimum balance required to open an account, your deposits are FDIC insured, and there's no hidden fees. You can learn more by going to laurel road.com slash George or click the link in the description. Okay, this next one might stir up some drama in the comments, but one thing some frugal people are not buying,

real Christmas trees. Not my words. Reddit, go after them, they can handle it. Merritt Neath said, they became ridiculously expensive here, so I bought a nice artificial one on sale after Christmas a few years ago and never look back. Here's a fact for you, according to the American Christmas Tree Association, which I would love

to be a member of if they're accepting new members, 77% of Americans displaying a Christmas tree this year say they will go with a fake one. I have tried the real tree lifestyle, and I found that it's just not for me. Well, then apparently you hate fun. It's not for me. The thing dies. You've got to then, like, get it recycled. The needles are falling everywhere.

The dogs are munching on it. It's just a little bit too much work for me. like to reduce reuse recycle. So for the folks out there who have given up the real tree lifestyle and went for the artificial, I'm with you. I'm going to give this one a. Yes. And it's not just real trees people are giving up. Some people aren't buying seasonal decor altogether. Chompy 283 said, for me, I am no longer buying seasonal things. The mums are out and I think they are pretty and had value to my porch. Turns out that I am really not good at caring for flowers and they usually expire in short order. They go on to talk about pumpkins and how they stop buying those two because

they got expensive. And this one I am totally with you on. While if that's your thing, you want to go all out decorating, like, I don't want you to lose your school spirit. I think that's a beautiful, wonderful thing that brings people joy. But do you need to go crazy and rob a hobby lobby and spend hundreds of dollars a year on this? Absolutely not. Get a few classic items that you can reuse year to year, go easy, go simple, go tasteful, and keep the budget tight. So I'm gonna, I'm with them on this one. I'm gonna cut the seasonal decor and give this one a big old. Yes. Yes. Now we move from seasonal to seasoning. Hit Point Gamer said, I buy individual spices and then mix them for dishes. I'm cooking. No sense in paying two bucks for a packet of taco seasoning when I can put something

together for pennies. And look who's back. Purpleish, fluffy cloud said, I buy all my spices in bulk now and just refill my spice jars. It's so much cheaper that way. While I agree, it can be cheaper to make your own spice blends at home. I don't think that spice blends and taco seasoning packets is what is busting the budget. Okay, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Walmart, even buying spice blends in bulk from, you know, Costco or Sam's Club. It's not a deal breaker for me. So I don't feel like this is the place that you really need to go frugal.

So personally, for me and my family, I'm going to give this one a pass. It's just not for me. But let me say, don't settle for bland food. There is no need to practice the ruthless elimination of curry. Where my John Mark Comer fans at? The Venn diagram of my audience and John Mark Comer fans, slim. He's a man of the cloth. Okay, next on the list, dog toys and dog treats.

Funk It In said, My dog doesn't care what the toy looks like. He just cares that it squeaks. He has a bin full of toys, but if an ear falls off or a seam rips open, I repair the toy with heavy-duty thread. I also recycle the squeakers inside of toys beyond repair. the squeaker is usually a plastic nubby ball

the size of a tennis ball. I'll use a t-shirt, a sock, or some other piece of recycled clothing, and sew the cloth around the ball. Boom, new toy. He loves them because my scent is on them. All right. I think that's sweet,

but also, what's going on, man? Doing okay? How do you know he loves them because your scent is on? And what do you mean your scent? Are you like rubbing this on your chest before you give it to him? Be like, hey, bud, it smells like me, huh?

I don't know. Maybe my dogs aren't the type to want to smell my scent. scent. That's the same dog that wants to eat poop off the street, my guy. I wouldn't be like super complimented that he loves your scent. You love me too? This guy

particularly is overboard, but I'm with him that I think dog toys, dog treats are a total waste of money. My dogs will play with just about anything. Of course, they have plenty of toys at home, but we don't buy more unless the ones they have are completely destroyed. For this one, I'm agreeing. I'm going to

give this one a big old... Yes. Next up, we've got Dord Jay Deck said, never again. I used to do it a lot when I had no car. I could have bought a car with the amount I spent on DoorDash over a few years in the pandemic. I have friends who have cars and still DoorDash food, incredible laziness. This one is personal to me. This one I strongly agree with.

I don't DoorDash food unless it's a borderline emergency. Like there is no way I can leave the house. I'm incapacitated and we're stuck at home and we must have the food dashed. because if you've actually seen the prices that they charge, it's generally well above the actual menu price if you had just gone to the restaurant, on top of the fees and the tips, and you should tip well if you're door dashing.

And one of the worst parts of these food delivery apps is the hidden fees. In 2022, online food delivery in the U.S. carried an average hidden cost of $12.80 per order, and it was made up of service fees, delivery fees, and of course tips. So do I think DoorDash and Uber Eats is a scam unless totally necessary or unless you're driving and making money? Yes, queen. So all in all, the Redditors came through with some solid tips for saving money.

Some are a little extreme, but plenty of these are totally worth trying. Because let's be real, things are expensive right now. And even if you don't want to be the guy who cuts your own hair, there are some things you can do to minimize the pain of high prices. For one, you can be a smart consumer. You can save money by just doing some research to find the best deals or alternatives. On top of that, make sure you're living on less than you make and sticking to a monthly zero-based budget. I know it sounds basic, but this is how you're doing. you get ahead with money. This is how you create financial margin. And if you're really struggling

financially, you probably need to do more than just stop buying seasonal decor. If you have a car payment, a student loan payment, a credit card payment, getting rid of those things is probably going to help you a lot more than ditching the doggy treats. So get that debt out of your life ASAP so you can start giving, saving, and spending money on what's important to you, even if it is a doctor poop or squeaky toy for your cockapoo. And let me know in the comments if there's something you've stopped buying in order to save money and bonus points if you share a cheaper alternative. And if you want to be extra frugalicious, check out this video to see 12 rules for a frugal life, or click the link in the description below. Thanks for watching.

We'll see you next time.