Is It Normal to Get Rid of Things and Buying It Again?
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How far are you lot along your minimalism journey? No thing if you're just embarking along the path or accept been decluttering your home for months, at some bespeak y'all have probably stopped to wonder: are there any tips about what kinds of things to stop buying as a minimalist?
While my married man and I accept ever lived frugally , both separately and now together, we started our minimalist journeying around 5 years ago.
Flash forwards to 2022 and our financial minimalist family has accomplished And then MUCH together, from paying off $250,000 in debt to decluttering our entire home down to 8 suitcases and moving to live in Europe!
I can honestly say that minimalism has made my family unit much happier, my children calmer, and we have more than money to put towards activities and things we enjoy rather than spending it accumulating possessions.
At present I want to spread the peace, joy, and wealth of minimalist living to other families.
I watched so many YouTube videos about young, unmarried, childless people living minimally in vans, homes with no furniture, or traveling the world with one backpack — I got tired of non seeing a female minimalist I could chronicle to equally a mom !
If you have ever wondered, is minimalism with kids even possible , I am here to tell you lot, non but is it possible it is truly astonishing.
Want to see how a REAL minimalist family lives? Follow me on YouTube at present and peek into our lives as a frugal ex-pat minimalist family of iv! We are crazy, we are colorful, and nosotros would LOVE to connect with you!
How to terminate buying things and become a minimalist
Take you decluttered your home yet?
If you have already started decluttering you know that sense of relief, accomplishment, and joy it brings.
Looking effectually, seeing the drawers filled with beautifully folded clothing , the spaces opening up, and the pleasure of seeing but items that bring y'all happiness is truly rapturous.
You surely didn't spend all that time clearing your clutter only to reintroduce information technology back into your abode, right!?
Turns out decluttering is merely the first baby step towards minimalism; if y'all desire to be a minimalist, you lot demand to figure out how to stop buying stuff you don't need or want.
While being a minimalist takes conscious endeavour, it doesn't accept to exist deadly serious; these decisions are rarely black-and-white, immutable, or eternal.
Owning less is ameliorate than wanting more.
Joshua Becker
50 things I no longer purchase as a minimalist mom
Delight remember, the purpose of this list is not to shame you for buying these items – if you dearest makeup, by all means, please proceed to buy makeup!
Rather, this list is to help you think outside of the box and see if there might be whatsoever other areas in your life you missed simplifying and you would like to re-appraise and trim a bit more.
There are things that I no longer buy as a minimalist at all, there are things I don't buy anymore unless mine get worn out, and there are some things I stopped ownership completely to salvage coin or infinite.
A true minimalist focuses on surrounding themself with things that 1) bring value or two) serve a purpose in their life !
Set up TO Beginning LIVING MINIMALLY Simply YOU AREN'T SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?
Take the thirty-Day Minimalism Challenge! (Read more than about this challenge hither)
The grade you have selected does not be.
#i. Anything I can go for complimentary
The earth is overflowing with abundant free resources, from free piece of furniture to free money to complimentary clothing — you lot just demand to know where to look. Yous can shop for free appurtenances on Freecycle , look in the free classifieds on Craigslist, or bring together a free Facebook Market bandy group.
In the past, I have also done things similar cleaning out pickle jars to use as drinking glasses. Since they besides come with lids, they can serve double duty for canning meal planning.
You lot would be ASTONISHED at the epic stuff people toss on trash mean solar day.
In fact, you should expect up garbage pickup day for the richest areas in your neighborhood and you can cruise along and scoop up solid wood piece of furniture to decorate your apartment , vintage bicycles, all sorts of awesome stuff; I even turned an sometime sign I found in our community trash center into a stunning necklace organizing hanger!
#two. Total price items
If you can't find what you desire for free, y'all still tin can avoid paying full price. It literally pays to comparison shop and planning ahead tin can help you salvage big and cutting downwardly on purchasing-regret.
If you similar shopping on Amazon, for example, you can sign up for price alerts on camelcamelcamel and get notifications on sales. Another mode to salvage is to find the best price for you want online, impress that page, and take information technology to multiple stores to meet who volition offering price matching.
This is especially helpful when making large purchases, like washer-dryer sets or larger appliances. Y'all tin even take that quote and use it to haggle at competitors; chose whichever shop offers the best deal.
MONEY-SAVING PRO-TIP: On the rare occasion you Do determine to buy something, earn cashback by shopping through the Rakuten cashback portal get $10 free just for signing up. Just remember non to go overboard.
#iii. Cable Television receiver
Nosotros canceled cable Television set years ago and never looked back! Instead, when we want to lookout man cartoons we tap into our complimentary videos included with Amazon Prime or lookout man on Netflix.
#4. Movie theater tickets
The last movie we saw in theaters was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which a quick search tells me was released in 2009, hahaha.
Going to the movies is extremely expensive, from the tickets to the nutrient! Since we are more of homebodies anyway, we adopt to stay home and watch movies on Netflix and eat our own healthier snacks instead of dropping tons of cash at the theater.
#five. Novelty or gag gifts
Gag gifts are so wasteful! Sure, you and the gift receiver might get a quick chuckle, but most gag gifts are tossed or forgotten quickly.
If you want to still have a playful gift commutation with friends, do something like a White Elephant party using only items found around your abode!
Grab Bag TIP: I know 1 mom who offered her kid'south outgrown toys at the end of his birthday party instead of grab numberless – such a cool minimalist gift idea!
#six. Anniversary, birthday, or Christmas gifts
My married man and I don't let birthdays or holidays designate the right fourth dimension to give a gift. When we think of something the other might similar or need, we just become ahead and get that.
Instance in point, my married man randomly got me a glass water bottle the other twenty-four hour period since I am horrible nigh drinking enough fluids. I was very happy to receive that thoughtful gift.
As far a gift-giving for kids, studies have shown that having fewer toys can really make children smarter and more artistic. My kids take been SO much happier since we decluttered 95% of our toys !
READ More than: 10 All-time Minimalist Toy Ideas to Raise Smarter and Happier Kids
#7. Birthday cards
While we are not a fully null-waste material family we do try to create as little waste as possible. Nosotros stopped buying birthday cards or vacation cards to reduce newspaper waste.
READ MORE: 7 Simple Tips to Eliminate Paper Clutter Once and for All Fourth dimension
#eight. Plastic containers (repast prep glass)
Instead of buying plastic containers for schoolhouse lunches and food prep, we invested in high-quality glass or metal meal prep containers that will last a long time.
Here are our two favorite meal prep containers:
- For cold lunches, we use these metallic bento box-style containers
- For hot lunches or anything that might leak we use these 3-compartment glass meal prep containers (similar the ones pictured below)
READ More than: 501 Epic Work Lunches That Are Anything But Boring!
#9. Pots and pans
Nosotros are currently living in a one-bedroom furnished rental while nosotros look for housing overseas and it came stocked with pots and pans. Once nosotros Exercise find a identify for ourselves, we will need to purchase a few more pots and pans – more on that in a scrap!
#x. Fancy dishes or fine china
Would you be shocked if I told you I accept been eating off the same plates for near 40 years?
It's truthful!
Although I decluttered our kitchen a few years back, i matter I did NOT go rid of were the plates that my mother (RIP) received equally a wedding gift. When they say Corelle plates are unbreakable, they really mean it!
I take to acknowledge I am non in love with the pattern (blue and pinkish flowers are not actually my style) just I am devastatingly in love with their sentimental meaning and quality. It means and then much to me that my children can swallow off the same plates I did as a child. Talk about a minimalist gift that tin can last for generations!
#xi. Paid phone games or apps
We focus on using gratuitous educational apps or easy apps that aid u.s.a. save or make money!
PRO-TIP: Instead of wasting time and money paying for apps, find apps that pay You. SurveyJunkie is acme-rated app that you can use y'all can earn from $2-$75 per survey.
#12. Hair products
Exterior of shampoo, conditioner, and must-haves like ponytail holders and a brush, I don't purchase any hair products.
I also don't have whatever hot irons, curlers, or styles beyond the typical hairdryer; fifty-fifty that I try to apply as little as possible to keep my pilus good for you.
#13. Expensive haircuts or dye jobs
The last time I dyed my hair was when I was 18 years old in loftier school. The pretty blood-red I picked out turned into a ghastly purple, ha!
Once more, not trying to shame anyone nigh spending money on looking expert or taking care of their hair! I am definitely aware that certain races and hair types need more care than others.
While I am able to cut my hair once a year and my children'due south hair every 3-4 months myself, my Chinese husband's pilus is extremely hard to cut. Therefore, he goes to professionals every 4-6 weeks to keep himself looking sharp. 🙂
#14. Lotions and torso spray
I buy the plainest of the apparently Jane moisturizers on the block — Cetaphil — and it works great!
#15. Makeup
Most days I don't wear makeup, but when I practise I use a uncomplicated drugstore makeup, including a BB cream, mascara, and matte brown eyeshadow for my eyebrows. Makeup was never a potent involvement or skill of mine, so information technology's non something I bask investing fourth dimension, money, or space towards.
#16. Perfume
I prefer a natural odor and then I don't wear perfume. I do still, however, article of clothing deodorant!
#17. Expensive skincare products
On the rare occasion I take the time and inclination to treat myself to a spa day I am more probable to make my own sugar scrub or DIY a facial mask out of egg whites and lemon.
#18. Disposable razors
Instead of buying disposable razors over and over, I purchase a dainty quality razor and only switch the razor blades equally they wearable out.
#nineteen. Dryer sheets
My choice on this discipline was taken entirely out of my easily as most homes in Federal republic of germany do not have dryers!
If we practice eventually find a dwelling and it has a dryer, I would love to try those wool dryer balls, have you lot tried them?
#20. Nail intendance or nail polish
The simply nail care item nosotros own are smash clippers.
#21. Excessive craft or hobby supplies
Hey, I dear crafting equally much as the next girl, but later on having kids I constitute myself with too many craft supplies and not enough time! Now, I focus on ane project at a time and but purchase enough crafting supplies for that one project.
However, I do however proceed habitation DIY staples such every bit a hot mucilage gun, gum sticks, needle and thread, and other necessities on manus.
READ MORE: How to Brand a DIY Fox Tail Out of Yarn for Your Kids
#22. CDs
The manner the globe is nowadays you don't need to have physical CDs on paw to listen to music. Instead, we create YouTube playlists, stream our favorite songs on Spotify, or listen for gratis with Amazon Prime music.
#23. DVDs
Just similar CDs, DVDs have become mostly irrelevant. We utilize the Amazon Prime video included with our Prime membership (y'all can even download movies to watch offline while traveling, full lifesaver!) or Netflix when we desire to watch movies.
#24. Books
Instead of buying books for myself, I go to the library or download books on a Kindle.
I do make an exception for children'due south books.
MY RECOMMENDATION: The Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader, with twice as much storage and over 34,000 positive reviews on Amazon! Go and read the consummate specs here.
#25. Magazines
The last mag I bought was 10 years ago before our wedding; I was and so excited to see an AM/WF (Asian male/white female) couple on the cover of a wedding magazine, I HAD to scoop it upwards. Let'due south merely say that doesn't happen frequently, hahaha.
I nonetheless have that mag, simply I have never read another since; tons of magazines now offer digital versions instead of printed, or y'all could simply follow their social media or YouTube accounts to get your gear up.
#26. Souvenirs
We take pictures instead.
#27. Jewelry
I already have all the jewelry I could ever want or need and do not buy new necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, watches, etc. I wear my female parent'southward diamond wedding band alongside my wedding band.
#28. Fast fashion
The clothes in my wardrobe are extremely old — in fact, most of them are older than my children! Fifty-fifty when I was buying motherhood dresses vii+ years agone, I intentionally purchased dresses that could be worn after giving nativity.
The well-nigh of import thing to remember when habiliment shopping is to know thyself.
If you don't similar wearing dresses, don't buy dresses. If y'all don't feel confident and comfortable in tank tops, then don't buy tank tops. I have definitely purchased clothes I didn't feel happy in because magazines or friends told me I need to "expand" or "diversify" my wardrobe or look.
Guess what?
Those clothes sat unloved for years until I finally got smart, decluttered my closet, and sold them off – some of them even still had tags!
Your comfort and happiness should exist priority #1! Now I practice most of my shopping at the thrift shop .
TIP: Meet if y'all have any of these 75 loftier-price items laying effectually your house.
#29. Special occasion outfits
I don't buy fancy outfits for special occasions like weddings or holidays – the only exception being if I was chosen to be a bridesmaid, in which case, of course, I would cater to the helpmate!
Afterward the event, I would but sell my bridesmaid dress online, just similar I did my own wedding dress.
#30. Purses
I take a canvas handbag that I accept owned since high school, the "nice" Marc Jabob'due south handbag my hubby got me 10 years ago, and a super awesome diaper pocketbook (8 years former) that has since been converted into a photographic camera bag for my blog!
Proof that if you take intendance of things they can last a LONG time!
READ More: How to Clean Your JuJuBe BFF Diaper Purse So it Looks Brand Spanking New
If y'all are in demand of a diaper pocketbook, I HIGHLY recommend the JuJuBe BFF diaper bag. It's lasted 8 years, toured 5 countries with u.s., and is super piece of cake to clean – this is the colour I would choose now.
#31. Shoes
I wear my shoes until they are totally worn out, and so I plow them into home decor (DIY leather boot upcycle coming shortly!)
#32. Bottled water
Disposable water bottles are one of the biggest scams on the planet. Buy a nice reusable water bottle to stay hydrated; if you lot are worried about the quality of your water, Brita makes really great pitchers with built-in water filters .
#33. Cheap hangers
Okay, this is a weird one, merely I love my clothes and I desire them to feel loved in return.
When I shared my minimalist closet decluttering video I gushed about my absolute FAVORITE hangers, which are the neutral-colored non-sideslip velvet hangers seen here . I can talk near these velvet hangers like an extreme couponer that can talk virtually the price of hot dogs!
#34. Takeaway java
Takeaway coffee can be a nice experience, but you can save money and waste material past creating a do-it-yourself domicile coffee station.
Making morning java together is a time-honored minimalist family tradition! My boys dearest to help me push button the buttons on the coffee grinders and makers; so much FUN to be had at 6 am, amirite?
#35. Make proper noun foods
Grocery stores use all kinds of tricks to get you to spend more money, such as putting the most expensive name-brand foods at middle level.
Drop information technology down low, touch on your toes, and expect to the right – that's where the savings are to be institute!
#36. Fast food
Once upon a time, in that location was a girl and she loved Taco Bell.
Sadly, she constitute that Taco Bell didn't love her dorsum and they had to part ways. Now she is much happier, healthier, wealthier, and her skin is MUCH improve.
#37. Frozen and microwave dinners
Not simply are frozen and microwave dinners expensive, but they tend to be higher in sodium and other preservatives.
Learning to repast prep at domicile has saved us so much money and nosotros feel healthier – with smart planning and a little kitchen know-how, yous tin consume fantastic dinners for $i – $v per serving !
#38. Pre-sliced veggies and fruit
Salvage greenbacks and plastic/paper waste past clicking your own fruit and veggies at home.
#39. Soda
Nosotros don't need the extra sugar or plastic. We drink water, tea, coffee, and sometimes watered-downwardly fruit juices if nosotros feel fancy.
#40. A automobile
This is a hot-button issue in my household.
We sold off both our cars when nosotros moved to Europe. My husband currently has a company car, only I would like u.s. to be a machine-free family. We walk or take public transportation almost everywhere, so I feel having a machine really doesn't make much sense.
My husband considers himself a "car guy" and would beloved to accept a squeamish machine — for him, a nice car is something that adds value to his life.
I know I MYSELF don't want a car, but not sure what we volition do when the visitor car contract expires — stay tuned!
#41. Candles or air fresheners
Candles are one of the kickoff things I decluttered long ago and I never looked back.
#42. Notebooks & planners
Don't get me incorrect, I Dearest planning! As a minimalist though, I accept plant myself gradually moving towards digital planners as a fashion to stay productive and program my mean solar day.
Creating a to-practice list is an essential function of my day, merely now instead of writing down a to-do list, I use the gratis Google Keep app on my phone! Yous can fifty-fifty colour-code the diverse checklists to keep runway of things.
#43. Knickknacks & collectibles
I spent too much time getting rid of sometime knickknacks to ever want to buy any more. The items that we kept later on our massive decluttering session are the most beautiful and meaningful to me; I don't need more than.
#44. Candy
We try not to eat much processed but at present that we live close to grandparents it seems every time they drop by they bring gummies or chocolates. We never run out, so we never take to buy.
#45. Toys
As I said higher up, we are extremely minimalistic when it comes to toys. My children selection out one toy per altogether or holiday and that is all they receive – and they are SUPER grateful and happy!
However, we practise however buy items on a ground of need, such every bit the scooters we recently purchased to help with our 1.5-hour daily commute in Deutschland (nosotros take several buses and trains and still practise a lot of walking!)
Nosotros like to focus on activities that use items we already take around the habitation to get artistic AND cutting downwards on clutter!
READ MORE: How to Make a DIY Air Fort Out of Stuff You lot Already Own
#46. Lip balm
I don't buy lip balm anymore, instead, I use a huge jar of Aquaphor that I carry with me constantly. Not to be gross or TMI mom, simply it completely cured my monthly cold sore outbreaks years ago, and I have used Aquaphor on my lips religiously always since.
#47. Majority food items
As a minimalist and especially as a minimalist living in Europe we don't feel the need to buy bulk.
Not only are German refrigerators one-half the size of their American counterparts, but they likewise go to the store several times each calendar week. Nosotros have iii-4 grocery stores within a few minutes' walk in any management, quite different in the U.s.a. where y'all might have to drive xv-30 minutes to go store for nutrient.
We have institute that we spend nigh 40% less money on groceries each week and enjoy the walkability. Instead of ownership huge amounts in bulk, I either comport reusable grocery bags and do a small-scale shopping haul or I accept my rolling cart for larger purchases.
#48. Belatedly fees on bills
Ugh, bills have a mode of creeping up on you, don't they? From tardily fees on Gratuitous library cards to utility bills and rent, companies dear to accuse late fees and they are Not cheap.
When I started tracking our spending and actually started rocking our budget , I fabricated sure to keep track of our bills and due dates so that I would never miss a payment.
Yous tin write them down in a budget tracking printable ( this one is FREE !) or yous tin can just prepare an warning for in your phone's calendar! Whatever works to assist you lot stay on tiptop of your bills.
#49. Expensive telephone plans
I use a $25 pre-paid phone plan and my husband has a phone through his company – cheap!
#50. Lottery tickets
Lottery tickers a little slice of hope. Most people don't call up twice about dropping a dollar or two on a lottery ticket, especially when the prize pot gets outrageously huge.
However, your money is frequently better off when it's placed in a high-yield savings business relationship, invested in the stock market, or put towards a money-making side hustle.
READ More:
- 10 Hottest Side Hustles of 2020: You Tin Make $1,000 – $5,000 a Month
- 21 Creative Ways to Make an Extra $100 a Day in Your Spare Fourth dimension
WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO: l THINGS I STOPPED BUYING!
Whew, that was a big list of stuff to finish ownership!
If you fabricated information technology all the fashion downwards to the stop, kudos to y'all!
I wish you lot all the best and much success as you lot embark upon your journey to living more minimally.
Source: https://atozenlife.com/things-to-stop-buying-minimalism/
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