"This Actually Isn't A Necessity": Millions Of People Watched A Mom Explain How Not Buying This Super Common Household Product Has Saved Her Family Thousands

Everything is SO DANG EXPENSIVE right now, and eggs are just the tip of the iceberg.

But as expensive as groceries and household necessities may be, they're just that — necessities. So buy them we must.

That may not always be true, though, according to mom and digital creator Janiece Okpobiri (aka Nigermany). After all, people got by just fine before all the disposable items we use every day were invented (think packaged cereal, shampoo, toilet paper...the list goes on).

While you're probably not chomping at the bit to replace your shampoo with a DIY alternative, Janiece shared a frankly mind-blowing swap she's made for her household: paper towels.

In February, Janiece shared in a TikTok video that she hasn't bought paper towels "in about five years." She continued, "When I learned that paper towels were just invented at the early 1900s, somewhere around there, I was like, 'Oh, no, this actually isn't a necessity.'"

janieceokpobiri / TikTok / Via tiktok.com

Janiece told BuzzFeed in an interview that "after the 2020 pandemic, our family made a big decision: being debt-free would be our top priority. I was determined and got creative about cutting expenses. Then came my 'aha' moment: I realized so many disposable items I bought were like hidden subscriptions, draining our budget month after month! That realization led me to explore sustainable and cost-effective alternatives — and it changed everything. I dove into self-reliance, zero waste, and off-grid living, and I haven't looked back!"

She explains in the video that she had to "do a little research" to figure out what people did before the invention and popularization of the paper towel. As you might imagine, it's simple, reusable, and sustainable: the mighty rag.

"My husband, who's from Nigeria, didn't think twice when I suggested swapping paper towels for real towels," Janiece told BuzzFeed. "For me, though, it felt revolutionary! The biggest challenge was making sure we had enough towels for our growing family of five. Once we sorted that, it was easy. We just toss the towels into regular laundry — no extra chores!" She made a follow-up video demonstrating her setup for clean and dirty rags in her kitchen.

Janiece says that "this isn't just about money," though. "For me, it's like, I don't want my life to be set up in a way that I have to go to a grocery store and pay a corporation for something that I could spend a fraction of the same dollar on and never have to spend any more money on that disposable good."

"Now, I can’t imagine going back to paper towels. Beyond the savings, it’s become part of our family values," Janiece said. "I know it might seem like a big change, but trust me — it's simpler than you think! Keep a stack of fresh towels in the kitchen, and you'll naturally reach for them instead."

Money is the name of the game, though, so Janiece lays out the potential cost savings from her switch.

"Let's take Bounty, an 8-pack. That lasts my family about thirty days. So once a month, it's $30. If I live another 50 years, I'm going to end up spending $18,000 just on paper towels," she says in the video.

"Whereas, if I take something like the cloths I get — they're like these cotton terrycloths — if I do a 60-pack of that, that's $35," Janiece says, figuring the 60-pack will last her family five years. "I end up spending $350 over the course of my lifetime."

Commenter @miyakostormes wrote, "Costco sells 50 terry cloth towels for $20 I use them for everything, if I have to throw them away for whatever reason I don't feel bad. we keep 1 roll of PT for really gross stuff. we save so much $$."

"So, for me, it's like $350 or $18,000... on paper towels," Janiece says. "To me, it's like a no-brainer." The video has racked up 1.6 million views and thousands of comments.

Janiece told BuzzFeed that ditching paper towels is only one low-cost, low-waste swap of many available to families. She explained how she's switched from tampons to reusable menstrual products, uses beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap, and started using a bidet "to cut down on toilet paper" (although she's said she's definitely not going the reusable route for that).

"Here's my secret: Take a look at your trash can. Not literally — it’s more of a mental exercise. Think about what you're throwing away and planning to buy again. Chances are, there’s a reusable alternative. A few generations ago, they managed just fine without all the single-use stuff we rely on today," Janiece said. "These changes add up, and they’ve made my life easier AND more sustainable. The initial investment is so worth it, and it feels amazing to know I'm making choices that are better for my wallet and my way of life."

People in the comments were just as shocked as I was. How does my two seconds to rip off a paper towel, wipe up a mess, and toss it add up to 18 THOUSAND dollars?! As this person said, "the comparison of $350 to $18,000 literally made me laugh in shock. capitalism is so evil bruh."

Some folks couldn't bear the idea of parting with their paper towels...

...but plenty were on board.

A few people even offered some very ~sneaky~ alternatives.

Of course, there are instances where it makes more sense to use something that you can toss in the trash can and forget about.

But overall, the switch doesn't seem all that difficult. I mean, our grandmas were doing something before paper towels.

"Generations before us lived so differently. Sure, we've made so much progress (thank goodness for modern conveniences!), but there's a quiet wisdom in their simpler way of life that we can carry with us today," Janiece told BuzzFeed.

And in these wild times we're living in, every penny (and tree) really does count.

You can learn more about Janiece's sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle — and the ways she's saving money with it — on her TikTok and website.

What do you think? Are you making the switch as we speak or taking your paper towels to the grave? Let me know in the comments.