Here Are the First 9 Items You Should Cut When Money Gets Tight
If you’re feeling like money is tight, you’re (unfortunately) not the only one.
Around 24% of U.S. consumers live paycheck to paycheck, according to Bank of America. This means there’s effectively no money left for anything non-essential. So, what can you do to lighten the financial load a little? For starters, you can cut these nine items from any foreseeable trips to the grocery store.
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1. Confectionery Goods
In 2025 alone, Americans spent $55 billion on confectionery goods, per the National Confectioners Association. This includes things like chocolate and candy, as well as gum and mints.
While you might feel like these are must-haves, you might want to cut them from your spending. A three-pack of Extra Polar Ice chewing gum (35 total sticks) goes for nearly $13 at Walmart. That doesn't need to add up — it's outrageous from the jump, especially if every shopping trip includes a few of these purchases.
2. Pet Treats (And Toys)
Wanting to spend money on your pets makes total sense. You love them, after all. But people spent a whopping $158 billion on their pets last year, as per the American Pet Products Association. Across 71 million pet-owning households, that’s about $2,324 annually.
If money is tight, think twice before adding more pet treats, accessories or toys to your basket. A four-pack of Delectables squeeze-up treats for cats is only $2.58 at Walmart, which a budget can justify. But if you add a SmartyKat cat scratcher for almost $15, you’re suddenly looking at almost $20 extra spent on your shopping trip.
Of course, you can stock up if your pets are running low on treats or toys. But check first to see if you’ve already got any stashed away in a drawer or pantry somewhere.
3. Packaged Snacks
A bag of chips often costs $6 and up. While they’re nice to have on hand, they don’t last, which means you may need to buy them week after week. Sometimes, they end up going stale before you get to them, which is wasted cash.
Other pre-packaged snacks you might want to cut include:
Dried fruit: Even Target’s Good & Gather brand isn’t cheap when it comes to this snack. Six ounces of dried sweetened mangos costs $5.79.
Nuts: A 6-ounce pack of pistachios costs $8.89 at Target. Other nuts, like almonds and peanuts aren’t cheap either.
4. Soft Drinks (Or Fruit Drinks)
It’s tempting to keep your fridge stocked with soda and fruit juice, but you might want to cut down when money is tight. A 12-pack of Coca-Cola costs $8.89 at Target, while a bottle of Simply Orange orange juice goes for $5.59. Not only can these add significantly to your grocery bill, but they’re not exactly healthy to drink.
5. Prepared Meals
Many grocery stores have a deli section with ready-to-eat meals. These are convenient, and often more affordable than going out to a restaurant. But they’re still an oft unnecessary splurge.
Take sushi as an example. At places like Albertsons and Publix, a sushi roll can easily go for $12 or more. That might be enough for a single meal, but you could have instead used that money on less expensive ingredients for several meals.
6. Paper Towels and Napkins
Paper towels and napkins are nice to have, but they’re highly disposable, which means you have to keep buying them. When six rolls of paper towels costs $5.29 at Target, you’re probably better off switching to clean rags or dish cloths for cleaning up messes. A six-pack of reusable dish cloths costs about $6.00 at Target.
7. Specialty Seasonings
Seasonings are costly, though they tend to last a long time. But specialty spices or herbs that you only use once or twice might not be worth the money. For example, a 1.12-ounce bottle of pumpkin pie spice costs $5.42 at Walmart.
If you’re trying to cut costs, skip the recipes requiring one-time use spice blends. Instead, swap out the specialty ingredient with something similar that you've already got in the cupboard.
8. Small Garbage Bags
You probably need garbage bags for your kitchen trash can. But if you’ve also been buying bags for your smaller bins, like the ones in the bathroom, it might be wise to hit pause on those. Even an affordable brand, like these 4-gallon bags from Dealworthy for $3, can add several dollars to your grocery bill.
Instead, use leftover grocery bags. They’re convenient and, even better, you’re likely already bringing them home with you.
9. Facial Tissue
Having facial tissue is handy, but at $6.29 for four boxes of Kleenex, it might not be worth the price when money is tight. If you need tissue, like when someone in the house has allergies or a cold, consider a cheaper alternative. Or see if you can get by with a generic brand or even a clean roll of toilet paper. Even if it’s only for a little while, it could save you money.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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