5 Things I Stopped Buying to Get Rich Quicker

How Simple Choices Shifted My Financial Future Forever

For years, I believed that the path to wealth was paved with larger paycheques and endless hustle. While hard work remains important, I slowly discovered that how I spent my money mattered just as much as how much I earned. After all, earning more does not help if every penny is spent. Real wealth, I learned, is not just about accumulation but about discipline, intention, and simplicity. Here are five things I consciously stopped buying, and the impact that decision had on my journey towards financial freedom.

1. Trendy Clothing and Fast Fashion

In my twenties, I regularly spent money on the latest styles, replacing clothes often just to keep up with fashion cycles. Every weekend outing or Instagram scroll seemed to suggest I needed something new. I did not realise how much this habit drained my bank account until I calculated the annual cost of clothes I hardly wore.

Once I stopped chasing trends, I began investing in timeless, good-quality clothing that lasted. I developed a smaller but more versatile wardrobe and, more importantly, a mindset shift. This decision not only helped me save money but also reduced decision fatigue and waste. I no longer felt the pressure to look like everyone else. I started to look like myself.

2. Daily Takeaway Coffees and Convenience Meals

It started innocently. A coffee here, a quick lunch there. Before long, I was spending more than a sizeable amount each week just on things I could easily make at home. While these purchases felt small and harmless, they accumulated fast.

I made a conscious decision to invest in a good coffee maker and plan my meals. Mornings became more intentional. Preparing meals became a calming routine rather than a rushed afterthought. The savings added up, and surprisingly, I enjoyed the process more than I expected. My health improved, and so did my wallet.

3. Latest Tech Upgrades

I used to upgrade my phone, tablet, and laptop almost every time a new version came out. Advertisements made it seem like the newer model would solve all problems. In truth, the differences were often minimal.

When I stopped upgrading for the sake of it, I learned to appreciate the value of using items to their full lifespan. I only replaced technology when it truly no longer served its purpose. This choice freed up hundreds, even thousands, over the years. It also freed me from the false belief that newer always meant better.

4. Subscription Overload

From video streaming to app memberships, online courses, and music platforms, I had subscribed to more services than I could use in a month. Some were just trial periods I had forgotten to cancel, while others I rarely used. I realised I was paying for convenience I no longer found convenient.

One afternoon, I made a list of every active subscription and ruthlessly evaluated their value. I cancelled most of them. The ones I kept genuinely added value to my life. This small but significant shift helped me feel more in control of my spending. Every deduction from my account now feels purposeful, not passive.

5. Gifts to Impress Others

Growing up, I associated gift-giving with love, and in many ways, I still do. But somewhere along the way, I started buying gifts to impress rather than express. Lavish birthdays, expensive holiday presents, and impulse shopping to match others’ expectations quietly sabotaged my budget.

I made a shift to more meaningful, often handmade or thoughtful gifts. I focused on the sentiment rather than the size or price tag. Surprisingly, the people who mattered appreciated the change. Relationships deepened, not because I spent more, but because I became more intentional.

What I Gained in the Process

Making these changes was not always easy. There were moments of doubt and even some fear of missing out. However, the clarity I gained was priceless. I now track my spending carefully, invest wisely, and live with greater peace.

More than the monetary gains, I found joy in simplicity. I learned to separate wants from needs and redefined what success and wealth meant for me. Today, I am closer to financial independence not because I make millions, but because I learned to manage the thousands well.

If you are striving to grow your wealth, remember that it often begins with subtraction. What you choose not to buy may shape your future more than what you do.

Sometimes, getting rich quicker is not about making more money. It is about making fewer, smarter choices.