Stop Buying These 10 Things: Easy DIY Alternatives That Save You Money. 💰✨

In a world of endless convenience, it’s easy to autopilot your way through stores, filling your cart with products that chip away at your budget. But what if you could slash your shopping bill without sacrificing your lifestyle? The secret lies in looking at common household items not as finished products, but as simple recipes.

By making a few things yourself, you not only save a significant amount of money, but you also gain control over the ingredients, reduce your plastic waste, and unlock the satisfaction of self-sufficiency. Ready to become a household hacker? Here are 10 things you should stop buying today, along with their incredibly easy DIY alternatives.

1. All-Purpose Cleaner 🧼

Why Stop Buying? Brand-name cleaners are over 90% water, sold in single-use plastic bottles, and packed with harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water in a reusable spray bottle. For a fresh scent and added grease-cutting power, add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil (like lemon or tea tree).
• The Savings: A bottle of brand-name cleaner: ~$4. This DIY version: pennies per bottle.

2. Spice Blends & Seasoning Packets 🌶️

Why Stop Buying? Taco seasoning, Italian herb mix, and curry powders have a huge markup for what is essentially just dried herbs and spices you can mix yourself.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe (Taco Seasoning): Mix 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp each of cumin and paprika, 1 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano, and ½ tsp of black pepper.
• The Savings: A packet of taco seasoning: ~$1.50. The homemade version: about $0.30, and you can make it salt-free!

3. Fabric Softener 👕

Why Stop Buying? Commercial fabric softeners coat your clothes in a chemical film that can reduce towel absorbency and irritate skin.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. It naturally softens clothes, eliminates static, and breaks down residual detergent without the chemical smell.
• The Savings: A bottle of fabric softener: ~$5. A gallon of vinegar for the same purpose: ~$3.

4. Single-Serve Coffee Pods ☕

Why Stop Buying? They are astronomically expensive per cup and create a massive amount of non-recyclable plastic waste.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Buy your favorite coffee beans in bulk and use a reusable coffee pod. If you don’t have a pod machine, a simple French press or pour-over cone makes a superior cup of coffee for a fraction of the cost.
• The Savings: A single pod: ~$0.60. A homemade cup from a bag of beans: ~$0.25.

Read also: Meal Prep on a $50 Weekly Budget

5. Vegetable Broth 🥕

Why Stop Buying? Cartons of vegetable broth are cheap, but making your own is practically free and tastes infinitely better.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Save your vegetable scraps! Onion skins, carrot peels, celery ends, mushroom stems, and herb stalks. Keep them in a bag in the freezer. When it’s full, simmer the scraps in a large pot of water for an hour. Strain, and you have delicious, zero-waste broth.
• The Savings: A carton of broth: ~$3. Your homemade version: Free!

6. Body Scrubs 🧴

Why Stop Buying? Fancy sugar and salt scrubs are incredibly cheap to make but sold for a premium price.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Mix ½ cup of coconut oil (or olive oil) with 1 cup of sugar (white or brown) and a few drops of essential oil. That’s it!
• The Savings: A small jar of branded scrub: ~$15. This DIY version: ~$2.

7. Salad Dressing 🥗

Why Stop Buying? Bottled dressings are loaded with preservatives, sugar, and low-quality oils.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe (Basic Vinaigrette): Shake 3 parts olive oil, 1 part vinegar (balsamic, red wine, etc.), a spoonful of mustard (as an emulsifier), and a pinch of salt and pepper in a jar.
• The Savings: A bottle of dressing: ~$4. The homemade version: ~$1 and tastes fresher.

8. Microwave Popcorn 🍿

Why Stop Buying? It’s expensive, often contains questionable chemicals (like PFOA), and comes in single-use bags.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Put ¼ cup of popcorn kernels in a plain brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top over twice to close. Microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until the popping slows. Pour into a bowl and season with salt and melted butter or nutritional yeast.
• The Savings: A box of microwave popcorn: ~$0.50 per bag. This DIY version: ~$0.15 per bag.

9. Wood Polish 🪑

Why Stop Buying? Why buy a separate chemical product when you likely have a perfect wood polish in your kitchen?
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice in a jar. Apply a small amount to a soft cloth and wipe onto wood surfaces for a beautiful, natural shine.
• The Savings: A bottle of wood polish: ~$5. The homemade version: pennies.

10. Drain Cleaner 🚰

Why Stop Buying? Chemical drain cleaners are corrosive, dangerous to have around kids/pets, and bad for your pipes and the environment.
The Easy DIY Alternative:

• Recipe: Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain and let it fizz for 10-15 minutes. Then, flush with a pot of boiling hot water.
• The Savings: A bottle of chemical drain cleaner: ~$8. The baking soda & vinegar method: ~$1.

The Bottom Line: You Are More Capable Than You Think

Shifting from a consumer to a creator in your own home is one of the most empowering and financially smart habits you can build. You don’t need to be a master chef or a chemist—you just need a few staple ingredients and the willingness to try.

Start with one or two of these swaps this week. Notice the money piling up in your bank account and the pride that comes with a simpler, smarter way of living. Your wallet—and the planet—will thank you.