Things to Stop Buying: 14 Easy DIY Swaps That Save Real Money Before Christmas

Things to Stop Buying lists are popping up everywhere this fall, and it is easy to see why. Prices keep climbing, Christmas is only weeks away, and most of us would rather spend on people than on paper towels. A reader roundup on MSN, 27 things people have stopped buying in 2026 because life is way too expensive, pulled in more than 140 comments from people sharing their own money hacks. We loved the idea but wanted the how-to part. So here are 14 things to stop buying, each with an easy DIY swap, a rough yearly savings, a short supply list and simple steps. Which ones are you already doing..

Dryer Sheets Top the List of Things to Stop Buying

Dryer sheets seem cheap, but a family doing five loads a week can go through a few hundred a year, which adds up to around $30 to $40. Wool dryer balls last for years and do the very same job, without the waxy coating. You can buy them, but making them from a skein of 100% wool yarn is easy and kind of fun. Wind the yarn into tight balls, tie them inside old pantyhose and run them through a hot wash so the wool felts together. Want a light scent? Add two drops of essential oil to the balls before each load. Ready to give your laundry a little upgrade..

You will need: A skein of 100% wool yarn (not superwash), old pantyhose, scissors, essential oil (optional).

How to make it: 1. Wind yarn into tight tennis ball sized balls. 2. Knot them inside pantyhose, then wash and dry hot twice. 3. Cut them free and use four to six per load.

Swap Paper Towels for Washable Unpaper Towels

A roll of paper towels disappears fast, especially in a busy kitchen. Many families spend $100 or more a year on them without thinking about it. Unpaper towels are just squares of soft fabric that you use, wash and use again. Old flannel shirts, worn cotton bath towels and thrifted pillowcases all work well. Cut them into 10 inch squares with pinking shears so the edges will not fray, and you do not even need a sewing machine. Roll a stack on your old paper towel holder or keep them folded in a pretty basket by the sink. Will you still keep one roll around for greasy messes? That is totally fine.

You will need: Old flannel shirts or cotton towels, pinking shears, a ruler, a basket or paper towel holder.

How to make it: 1. Wash the fabric and cut 10 inch squares with pinking shears. 2. Stack two layers for thicker towels. 3. Roll them on a holder or fold them into a basket.

A Vinegar Citrus Cleaner Instead of All Purpose Spray

All purpose spray costs $4 to $6 a bottle, and most homes go through about a dozen a year. A vinegar citrus cleaner costs pennies. Save your orange and lemon peels in a big glass jar, cover them with white vinegar and let it sit in a cupboard for two weeks. The peels take away most of the sharp vinegar smell and leave a fresh, bright scent. Strain the liquid, mix it half and half with water and pour it into a spray bottle. Just skip it on granite, marble and other natural stone, since vinegar can dull them. Do you have a bag of clementine peels from snack time? Start your jar today.

You will need: A large glass jar with a lid, white vinegar, orange or lemon peels, a strainer, water, a glass spray bottle.

How to make it: 1. Pack the jar with peels and cover them with vinegar. 2. Let it sit for two weeks, shaking now and then. 3. Strain, mix half and half with water and bottle it.

Kraft Paper and Fabric Wraps Beat Store Bought Gift Wrap

Store bought gift wrap is pretty for about five seconds, and then it ends up in the trash. A family can easily spend $50 or more on paper, bags and tissue each December. A big roll of brown kraft paper costs less than one fancy roll and wraps dozens of gifts. Dress it up with simple stamps cut from a potato or a wine cork and a little red or green craft paint. For something extra special, try a Japanese style cloth wrap with a thrifted scarf or a pretty tea towel. Tie it all off with plain twine and a sprig of rosemary. Who on your list would love a gift wrapped in a vintage scarf?

You will need: A roll of brown kraft paper, a potato or wine cork, craft paint, thrifted scarves or tea towels, twine, tape.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the gift in kraft paper. 2. Carve a star into half a potato, dip it in paint and stamp. 3. For cloth wraps, set the box on a scarf and knot opposite corners.

Christmas Cards Belong on Your Things to Stop Buying List

A box of nice Christmas cards can run $20 to $30, and photo cards cost even more. Homemade cards feel more personal and cost a fraction of that. Buy a pack of blank folded card stock and a basic watercolor set, then turn on some Christmas music. Simple shapes look best. Paint a loose green tree, a red ornament or a wreath made of little dots, and add a short, warm message inside. Set up an assembly line at the kitchen table and you can finish 30 cards in one afternoon. Cards are one of the sweetest things to stop buying, because people often keep the handmade ones for years.

You will need: Blank folded card stock and envelopes, a watercolor set, a small brush, rubber stamps and ink (optional), a pen.

How to make it: 1. Paint or stamp one simple holiday shape on the front of each card. 2. Let them dry flat for about an hour. 3. Write a short note inside, address the envelopes and mail them early.

Washable Mop Covers Instead of Disposable Refills

Disposable mop pads are handy, but they cost about $10 for a small box and you toss one every time you clean. If you mop once a week, that is around $75 a year. Washable covers do the same job, grab dust just as well and go straight into the laundry. The easiest version of all is an old fuzzy sock. Slip it over the mop head, and the stretchy cuff holds it in place. For a neater fit, cut a microfiber cloth to size and sew a strip of elastic around the edge like a fitted sheet. Have a drawer full of lonely socks? This is their moment.

You will need: Old fuzzy socks or microfiber cloths, scissors, elastic, a needle and thread or a sewing machine.

How to make it: 1. Cut microfiber 2 inches larger than the mop head on every side. 2. Sew elastic around the edge. 3. Stretch it over the mop and wash after each use.

Fabric Softener Is One of the Easiest Things to Stop Buying

Fabric softener is one of the easiest things to stop buying, because the swap is already in your pantry. Plain white vinegar softens towels, helps rinse out leftover detergent and costs far less. Many busy households save $40 to $60 a year with this one small change. Pour about half a cup into the softener cup of your washer, and the machine adds it during the rinse. Do not worry, your clothes will not smell like salad once they are dry. Many people find their towels get fluffier, since softener can leave a waxy coating that makes them less absorbent. Will you try it on your next load of towels?

You will need: White vinegar, a glass dispenser bottle or pretty jar, a measuring cup, a label (optional).

How to make it: 1. Pour white vinegar into a glass bottle for your laundry room. 2. Add half a cup to the softener cup before each load. 3. Never mix vinegar with bleach in the same load.

Recover Old Throw Pillows Instead of Buying New Ones

New throw pillows can cost $30 to $60 each, and it is tempting to buy a fresh set every season. But the pillow forms you already own are usually just fine. All they need is a new cover. An envelope cover is the easiest kind to sew, with no zipper and no buttons. Thrifted tablecloths, wool skirts and old sweaters all make cozy covers for winter. A chunky sweater is extra fun, since you can use the bottom ribbing as a ready made edge. Swap in plaid or red for Christmas, then store the covers flat in a bin until next year. Which sweater in your closet has seen better days?

You will need: Thrifted fabric or old sweaters, your existing pillow forms, a measuring tape, scissors, a sewing machine or fabric glue.

How to make it: 1. Cut one front piece and two back pieces that overlap by 4 inches. 2. Hem the back edges, stack right sides together and sew around. 3. Turn it out and slide the pillow in.

Fancy Planters Make the Things to Stop Buying List Too

Designer planters and stone look vases can cost $40 or more, and they are easy to copy. Fancy planters are one of the smartest things to stop buying, since thrift stores are full of plain terracotta pots and glass vases for a dollar or two. The trick is a little baking soda mixed into chalk paint. Paint two coats, let them dry, then sand the edges lightly so a little of the clay peeks through. Finish with a coat of Mod Podge Outdoor if they will hold real plants. Fill them with rosemary, paperwhites or a small evergreen for the holidays. Would anyone guess they came from the thrift store?

You will need: Thrifted terracotta pots or glass vases, chalk paint, baking soda, a chip brush, fine sandpaper, Mod Podge Outdoor (optional).

How to make it: 1. Stir about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into half a cup of chalk paint. 2. Dab on two coats with a chip brush and let them dry. 3. Sand the rims lightly and seal with Mod Podge Outdoor if needed.

Clip a Free Christmas Wreath From the Yard

A fresh wreath at a garden center can easily cost $40 to $80. Meanwhile, many of us have free greenery growing right outside the door. Pine, cedar, holly, boxwood, magnolia and even ivy all make lovely wreaths. Grab a pair of pruners and take small cuttings from the back of each shrub, where it will not show. A simple wire wreath frame costs a few dollars and you can use it for years. Wrap small bundles of greens onto the frame with floral wire, overlapping each bundle so the wire stays hidden. Add pinecones or a plaid bow, and you are done. What is growing in your yard right now?

You will need: A wire wreath frame, green floral wire, pruners, yard clippings like pine, cedar, holly or magnolia, pinecones, a bow.

How to make it: 1. Cut greens into 6 to 8 inch pieces and bundle them. 2. Wire each bundle to the frame, overlapping as you go. 3. Add pinecones and a bow.

Beeswax Food Wraps Replace Plastic Zipper Bags

Plastic zipper bags and plastic wrap cost more than most of us realize, often $50 or more a year. Beeswax food wraps are a pretty, reusable swap. They are just cotton squares coated in a thin layer of wax, so they cling around a bowl or a block of cheese when you press them with warm hands. You can make a whole set with a household iron, with no open flame needed. Lay a fabric square on parchment paper, sprinkle it with beeswax pellets, cover it with more parchment and press until the wax melts in. Wash them in cool water with a little soap. A stack tied with twine also makes a sweet hostess gift.

You will need: 100% cotton fabric, beeswax pellets, parchment paper, an iron, pinking shears, a clothes hanger.

How to make it: 1. Cut fabric squares with pinking shears. 2. Sprinkle wax on each square between parchment and press with a medium iron until melted. 3. Peel it off and hang it to set.

Gift Tags and Bows Are Easy Things to Stop Buying

Gift tags and bows are easy things to stop buying, because you already have everything you need. Last year’s Christmas cards are perfect for tags, and so are old birthday cards. Cut out the prettiest parts with scissors or a tag punch, punch a hole and add a loop of twine. For bows, save ribbon scraps from past gifts or cut strips of kraft paper. You can even brush a strip of old sheet music with Mod Podge and fold it into a paper bow. A family can save $15 to $25 a year here. Do you have a box of old cards tucked away in a closet or drawer? Now they have a job.

You will need: Old holiday cards, scissors or a tag punch, a hole punch, twine, ribbon scraps, kraft paper, Mod Podge.

How to make it: 1. Cut tags from old cards and punch a hole. 2. Thread twine through each one. 3. For bows, loop paper strips into petals and glue them in a circle.

A Two Ingredient Laundry Stain Spray

Stain removers can cost $6 to $10 a bottle, and many homes use several a year. This simple two ingredient mix handles most food and grass stains for much less. Stir one part blue dish soap into two parts hydrogen peroxide and pour it into a dark spray bottle, since light breaks peroxide down fast. Spray the stain, rub it gently with an old toothbrush and let it sit for about 15 minutes before washing. For tough spots, sprinkle on a little baking soda first. Peroxide can lighten some colors, so test it on a hidden seam before using it on dark clothes. Ready to rescue that favorite holiday sweater?

You will need: Hydrogen peroxide, blue dish soap, baking soda, a dark or opaque spray bottle, an old toothbrush, a label.

How to make it: 1. Mix one part dish soap with two parts hydrogen peroxide in the dark bottle. 2. Spray the stain, scrub gently and wait 15 minutes. 3. Wash as usual and check that the stain is gone before drying.

End the Things to Stop Buying List With a Dried Orange Garland

Let’s end the things to stop buying list with a fun one: holiday decor you have to rebuy every year. Dried orange garlands look like something from a fancy farm store, but you can make one for the price of a bag of oranges. Slice the oranges about a quarter inch thick, pat them dry and bake them low and slow for a few hours. They come out glowing and see through, like little stained glass windows. String them on twine with cinnamon sticks and a few wooden beads. Wrapped in tissue and stored in a dry box, they last for several seasons. Which spot in your home would you decorate first?

You will need: 4 to 6 navel oranges, a sharp knife, paper towels, baking sheets, parchment paper, twine, cinnamon sticks, a large needle.

How to make it: 1. Slice oranges a quarter inch thick and press them dry with paper towels. 2. Bake on parchment at 200 degrees for 3 to 4 hours, flipping every hour. 3. Thread the slices and cinnamon sticks onto twine and hang.