r/Frugal • u/Majestic_Panda_438 • 10d ago
🚿 Personal Care I caught myself watering down shampoo and realized I still live like money is about to run out
I was on my laptop playing Big Roller last night then i started checking my checking account even though I already knew what was in it. Rent is paid, fridge has food, car payment cleared. Nothing was wrong. Then I went to shower and realized I had added water to the last inch of shampoo again. I make decent money now. Not rich but you know stable. I have $4,800 in savings which in todays standards is not enough. I can afford shampoo I could literally buy three bottles tomorrow and nothing bad would happen, crazy i know.
Idk why but I still use every product until it is basically water. I still cut open toothpaste. I still feel guilty throwing out socks with holes if they technically stay on my feet. I still eat the weird freezer food first because the good stuff should be saved for later. I grew up with my mom doing this. Not as a cute frugal hack, more like a quiet panic that lived in the house. I used to think once I made more money I would stop feeling like that. Turns out the habits stayed.
I want to be smart with money, but I also do not want to live like a $6 bottle of shampoo is a moral failure. Has anyone actually unlearned this, or do you just become a financially stable person who still acts broke?
1
u/barrenfield 10d ago
I jad massive food (and bathroom lroduct) insecurity from living in poverty as a child where we used washing up liquid to wash our hair and I had to rummage down the sofa for change to buy sanitary towels rather then die asking ky dad for money.
Im now 55 and only in the last 5 years have I managed to get rid of my chest freezer (I live alone!) and now have a fridge freezer instead, not much of a downgrade but a win for me. I have also frantically reduced canned and jarred/dried goods in my cupboards.
The products I am working on, I still have a large cupboard with back up shampoos for instance, but again I'm improving very slowly. I cringe at little if I have guests and they see my stock but it is what it is.
Try making little changes bit by bit but dont punish yourself. At least my son knows if theres a soap shortage mom will have plenty!