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A lot of great business ventures are based on a simple creed - ‘Create a Need and Fill It’ and it works every time. Throw in a little marketing and some slick packaging and consumers will beat a path to your door. Try this experiment - take a leisurely walk around your supermarket and don’t buy a single thing. Just make random mental notes of all the products you have no use for. Most likely, you wouldn’t even consider buying most of the products on display. Pay close attention to the spice rack. Unless you’re a gourmet chef, you probably won’t recognize half the names. Just pronouncing some spice names can be an ordeal. So many spices - so little time.

If you have another afternoon to idle away, spend it at your local discount pharmacy. Look at the choice of hair care products. How do people manage to arrive at a decision on the perfect shampoo and conditioner? A full disclosure is warranted - I use Johnson’s Baby Shampoo because I figure if it can’t harm the kids than it can’t possibly damage my bald spot. I never use conditioners because I’m not sure exactly what they do and, frankly, I’m concerned they might have a detrimental effect on the size of my bald spot.

Which brings me to the point I’m trying to make; there are so many products out there that frugal consumers can do without. Here’s my list of 12 Things I can do without. I hope your list is even longer.

Editor's Note: I implore anyone that is age 12 or older to ignore Frugal Nomad's advice on #9. It's a small price to pay for your fellow man.