How do you stop the holiday hype from breaking your bank?

Think of that one store during the holidays that you can’t leave without buying something. Their ads are on point. Everything is festive. The sales people are bubbly and helpful and always ready to hand you a bag to hold the things you didn’t even intend on purchasing.

For me, that store was Bath & Body Works because it was my go-to holiday gifting store.

Growing up, we would drive to the outlets or the mall after Thanksgiving dinner and a nap. We would leave with bags on bags piled up in the trunk and each one of us—my cousins, aunts, mom and I—would each have at least one Bath & Body Works bag. My intention was always to buy an assortment of fragrant hand sanitizers for stocking stuffers, but I’d leave with hand soap, lotions, room sprays and car fragrances.

No Buy Black Fridays

Ever since I worked a single Black Friday, I’ve stopped shopping immediately after Thanksgiving. I might indulge in one or two Cyber Monday sales, but they’re always intentional buys I’ve been eyeing for months.

Boycotting Black Fridays didn’t necessarily lead me to stop shopping at Bath & Body Works, but it did help curb impulse spending fueled by holiday sales.

Things I Don’t Buy Anymore and What I Buy Instead:

I’ve since given up trying to force my eczema-prone skin to like scented lotions and soaps. I also don’t buy air sprays or car fragrances anymore.

Instead, I make my own scented air fresheners and hand soap. Aside from the initial sticker price of buying essential oils, making your own air sprays and hand soaps is cheaper. It also feels good knowing exactly what goes into something you’re spraying into the air or putting on your skin.

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Plus, I feel like Kiki’s mom mixing potions in Kiki’s Delivery Service each time I make a new spray or refill my hand soap.

I typically eyeball my concoctions, but here’s the base recipes for my creations.

DIY Air Freshener Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3/4 Parts Distilled or Filtered Water (I prefer distilled.)

• 1/4 Parts Alcohol or Witch Hazel (You can also use vodka. I like using this brand of witch hazel when I’m making sprays because it contains a little bit of grain alcohol.)

• *Essential Oils (For a 4oz bottle, I use approximately 5-10 drops.)

Directions:

• Add the ingredients, cap the spray bottle, and shake!

DIY Hand Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3/4 Parts Distilled or Boiled Water (I prefer distilled, but if you’re using boiled water let it cool first.)

• 1/4 Part Castile Soap (I like using Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap because it has a variety of uses.)

• Optional: *Essential Oils (For a 16oz dispenser, I use about 20 drops or less.)

Directions:

• Add the water first to avoid creating bubbles.

• Next, add the soap.

• Adding essential oils is optional because they can cause irritation, especially if you’re allergic or have really sensitive skin. Although I have eczema, adding a small amount of essential oils does not irritate my skin.

• Finally, give the bottle a gentle swirl to mix the ingredients together.

*Disclaimer: Essential oils can be toxic to humans and pets if not diluted properly. Always start with less and if you have concerns about using essential oils, talk to your doctor.

DIY Cleaning Spray Recipe

Playing with essential oils also encouraged me to stop buying most commercial cleaning supplies. Instead of keeping a variety of cleaning products from Windex to Scrubbing Bubbles, I mainly use two things: baking soda and a vinegar spray.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 Parts Distilled or Boiled Water

• 1/3 Parts White Vinegar

• Essential Oils (For a 16oz spray bottle, I use about 20-25 drops. These spray bottles also come in amber, but I picked up some gently used amber bottles when a local store closed its storefront. Luckily, I had some extra trigger sprays that fit perfectly.)

• For a stronger cleaner: use equal parts water and vinegar

• For a more diluted cleaner: use 3/4 parts water and 1/4 part of white vinegar

Directions:

• Add the ingredients together, shake well, and spray!

Great for:

• Windows, Mirrors, and Most Surfaces (avoid marble, granite, or wood surfaces)

• Bathrooms + Kitchens

  • Drains: Pour baking soda first, then pour in white vinegar to unclog and deodorize drains.

  • Sinks, Showers, and Tubs: Sprinkle baking soda. Spray the baking soda with the vinegar cleaning spray. Add more baking soda and vinegar spray to create a thicker paste if needed. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Wipe away hard water stains and soap scum build-up with a sponge or microfiber towel. Rinse with water and wipe dry.

Castile Soap Alternative:

• If you don’t like the vinegar smell, substitute castile soap for vinegar. The ratio of water to soap is closer to 3/4 parts water and 1/4 part castile soap.

• Caution: Don’t mix castile soap and vinegar! You’ll want to use either vinegar OR castile soap to create a cleaning spray, not both.

Essential Oil Blends

Another reason why I don’t buy fragranced soaps or sprays anymore: essential oils are more versatile! It’s fun to create different blends. If you’re not into experimenting, here’s some of my favorite e.o. blends.

Benefits of Doing-It-Yourself

Swapping out heavily scented home and body products for simpler mixtures I can make myself has stopped me from going overboard with holiday impulse buys, reduced my waste, and made me happier.

I feel good emptying each bottle that I don’t have to throw away or recycle. I also feel more grounded and present whenever I make a new hand soap blend or spray mixture because I’m engaging my senses as I try not to spill anything. Lastly, making my own home and body products has also helped me manage my mental health.

A spritz of lavender spray might calm my nerves, reminding me to breathe a little more deeply while I go about my day. If I’m anxious because my space is cluttered and messy, but I’m also too exhausted to tackle any major cleaning, making a cleaning spray takes little effort and helps build momentum.

It’s all about starting small and building momentum when you want to make big changes in your life—from your budget to your health.

Q: What do you want to stop buying?

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Supplies Used

• Essential Oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit

  • 3-Pack Variety: Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus

  • 5-Pack Variety: Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Orange

• Witch Hazel

• Unscented Castile Soap

• White Vinegar

• 4oz Spray Bottle

• 16oz Dispenser Bottle

• 16oz Spray Bottle

• Trigger Spray

This post goes well with:

Live Well with 5 Sustainable and Simple Swaps