We are pretty minimal from what we used to be a few years ago when I 'had to have' all different kinds of perfume, hair products, face items, etc. However, I learned I don't need all that and I'm quite content with just the basics. Our necessities budget is separate from our grocery budget. Meaning, when I spend $120 a month on groceries that is JUST food, not necessity items.
So what counts as a necessity for our family? Here is our list and we only buy as needed:
- Toilet paper
- Deodorant
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Soap - for shower use and to make my liquid hand soap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Breath mints
- Trash bags
- Aluminium foil, plastic wrap, ziploc bags
- Lysol
- Face lotion
- Contact solution
- Hair gel
- Body spray
- Dishwasher gel - sometimes I make my own
- Baking soda
- Dish detergent - I use Ajax
- Vinegar, tea tree oil for my homemade all-purpose cleaner
- Borax, washing soda and Fels Naptha for my homemade laundry soap
- Q-tips
- Cotton balls
- Dryer sheets
- Fabric softener
- First Aid items
- Sunscreen
- Razors
I keep a price list of my necessities so I know what price they average. Most of the items above are not purchased monthly, but rather bi-yearly or yearly. We used to buy paper towels all the time but you really could do without and we like using hand towels for drying our hands. I also don't use perfume because I love fruit smelling body sprays and evidently the bees love it too because they won't leave me alone haha. ;-)
For my hair, I'm pretty minimal now - shampoo, conditioner, coconut oil and a comb! I don't need anything else, except if I curl my hair I will use my heat-protectant spray but I haven't done that in a long time.
