When most people think about improving their finances, they think the answer is simple: save more money.
But honestly? That’s only part of the picture.
What actually worked for me was much more realistic. I focused on spending below my means, then using the extra money for things that could grow over time. Saving helps, yes—but it has a ceiling. What really changes the game is keeping your lifestyle comfortable while cutting out spending that doesn’t add much value, then redirecting that money into investing, learning new skills, and creating options for the future.
Saving gets you started.
Investing the difference is what moves the needle.
And the best part? None of this had to feel like deprivation. When you stop buying the right things, you can end up with more money each month without feeling like your life got smaller or less fun.
Here are the nine categories that made the biggest difference for me.
The 9 Things I Stopped Buying
- Books (always in print)
- A brand-new car
- Souvenirs from every trip
- Constant tech upgrades
- Stuff bought just because it’s on sale
- Investments I didn’t understand
- Fast fashion
- High-maintenance beauty services
- Unnecessary holiday presents (the “pre-nup” rule)
1) Buying Every Book in Hard Copy
Let me be clear: reading is still very much on my worth it list. Books are one of the few purchases that can genuinely raise your skills, your thinking, and even your earning power over time. Clothes wear out. Gadgets get outdated. Knowledge sticks with you.
What changed wasn’t reading—it was how I bought books.
Instead of automatically buying every book in physical form, I made a simple rule: only my all-time favourites earn a spot on my bookshelf. Everything else? Digital or borrowed.
A simple rule for what stays on the shelf
If I’ll reread it or reference it again and again, I buy the physical copy. If not, it doesn’t need to live in my home forever.
Cheaper ways to keep reading
- Kindle for books I’ll likely read once
- Libby app to borrow free e-books from the library
This way, reading stays a priority—but the constant spending doesn’t.
2) A Brand-New Car
A brand-new car can feel like a major life milestone. And emotionally, I get it. But financially? The numbers are brutal.
- The moment you drive it off the lot, it loses about 10% of its value
- By year three, many new cars have lost around 60%
That doesn’t mean no one should ever buy a new car. It just means the feeling of “new” comes with a real cost—especially if you’re still building your financial foundation.
The question I ask now
Is paying extra for “new” today worth delaying bigger goals tomorrow?
If the choice is between spending more on a depreciating asset now, or using that money to build something that could eventually pay for the car, the decision suddenly looks very different.
Waiting isn’t missing out. Sometimes, it’s just being strategic.
3) Souvenirs From Every Trip
Travel? Absolutely worth it.
Souvenirs? Not so much.
The memories, the experiences, the photos—that’s what lasts. The random trinkets usually end up collecting dust and taking over storage space. And if you live in a small home or flat, that clutter adds up fast.
I live in a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen the size of a shoebox. Shot glasses and fridge magnets from every city were not helping.
What I do instead
I write.
I’ve kept an online travel journal (almost like a private vlog) after every holiday since 2016. When I read back through it, I remember so much more than any souvenir could ever capture—the feelings, the moments, the tiny details.
Objects fade. Memories written down bring you right back.
4) Paying for Upgrades I Don’t Actually Need
Tech moves fast. Faster than our real need to replace what we already have.
The first time you buy something new, the jump in happiness is big. But each upgrade after that gives you less and less of a boost.
The Apple Watch lesson
Going from no Apple Watch to having one? Huge improvement.
Upgrading to the newer version a year later? A few hundred pounds for maybe a 5% happiness increase.
That didn’t add up anymore.
The new upgrade question
Before upgrading now, I ask:
Is this really worth £100–£1,000 more—or would that money bring more joy as an experience, an investment, or something else entirely?
5) Buying Things Just Because They’re on Sale
Sales are sneaky. They feel like saving, even when they’re not.
There’s a big difference between:
- Buying something you already planned to buy, but cheaper
- Buying something you never needed, just because it’s discounted
If a jacket you already wanted drops from £200 to £140, you saved £60.
But if you buy it only because it’s “40% off,” you still spent £140 you weren’t planning to.
Why sales work so well
It’s not just maths—it’s psychology. And you’re up against billion-pound companies designed to push those buttons perfectly.
A sale doesn’t make something a good purchase. It just makes it cheaper than yesterday.
6) Investing in Things I Didn’t Understand
This one isn’t about shopping—it’s about where your money goes.
Too many people invest without truly understanding what they’re investing in. Even if you work with a financial advisor, you should still know the basics.
Ask yourself:
- What is this investment actually doing?
- Do I agree with it ethically?
- Is this something I want to be connected to long-term?
No one will ever care about your money as much as you do. And that alone makes understanding it worth the effort.
7) Fast Fashion
Fast fashion is easy. It’s cheap, trendy, and tempting. But the real cost shows up later—when the item fades, shrinks, fits weird, or stops feeling wearable after a few washes.
I went six months without buying a single item of clothing. And when I looked at my wardrobe, something stood out: none of my old fast fashion pieces were still there. They’d been worn a handful of times and then discarded.
What replaced it
Fewer pieces. Better quality. Clothes that fit well, feel good, and last longer—even if the upfront price is higher.
There’s also a mental bonus. Fewer clothes mean fewer decisions. Less “what should I wear?” stress. Even filming content became easier with a simple rotation of tops.
8) Anything High-Maintenance
This isn’t really about beauty—it’s about hidden costs.
Things like:
- Nails
- Eyelashes
- Hair dye
Cost money and time. And when you’re sitting in a chair, you’re not working, creating, or doing anything else productive.
The time-value filter
I don’t apply “time equals money” to everything. Time with friends, family, or on dates is priceless.
But for things that feel like a poor trade—where the time and money don’t feel worth it—I step back and reassess.
9) Unnecessary Holiday Presents (The “Pre-Nup” Rule)
This one sounds funny, but it’s serious.
A “pre-nup” here means agreeing not to exchange unnecessary gifts—especially at Christmas. Gift spending can quietly become a habit, and habits get expensive fast.
People end up buying out of obligation, receiving things they don’t need, and repeating the cycle every year.
The numbers are eye-opening
- Average UK adult: £548
- Average American: $990
This isn’t about being joyless. It’s about breaking spending habits that exist purely to keep up appearances.
The Spending Mindset Behind All 9 Changes
The rule is simple: spending is fine when it brings real value and real joy. The problem is spending driven by habit, ego, or pressure.
One of the most helpful tools is thinking in trade-offs.
That extra £5,000 on a nicer car might not feel huge today. But invested, learned from, or compounded over time? It can change your future options dramatically.
Helpful Resources Mentioned
Final Thoughts
Making more money each month doesn’t always mean earning more. Sometimes it starts with stopping the purchases that quietly drain your cash without adding much to your life.
When you cut spending driven by habit and ego, you create space for choices that compound over time. The goal isn’t to be cheap—it’s to protect your financial freedom while still enjoying your life.
Which one of these nine would make the biggest difference for you right now?
FAQs
How can I reduce unnecessary spending without feeling deprived?
You can reduce unnecessary spending by focusing on cutting out value-draining expenses and redirecting that money into investments, learning, or creating future options, all while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle to avoid feeling deprived.
What is a practical way to limit my book purchases?
A practical way is to buy only your all-time favorite books in physical form and opt for cheaper options like e-books or library borrowings for the rest, thus prioritizing books that you’ll reread or reference frequently.
Why should I reconsider buying a new car immediately?
New cars lose about 10% of their value as soon as you drive off the lot and up to 60% over three years, so delaying the purchase and saving that money can help you build a stronger financial foundation.
How can I make travel memories last without accumulating clutter?
Writing an online travel journal or capturing photos and feelings in a digital format preserves your memories more effectively than souvenirs, which tend to collect dust and take up space.
What is the main benefit of avoiding fast fashion?
Avoiding fast fashion leads to longer-lasting, better-fitting clothes and reduces decision stress, while also saving money in the long run by investing in quality pieces that do not need frequent replacement.