16 Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money (2024)

I’ve stopped buying many things since becoming a minimalist, and in this post, I’ll share 16 ways minimalism can save you money.

Minimalism promotes living intentionally and eliminating excess from our lives so we can spend our time, money and energy on what matters most.

I felt more content and less stressed once I began living a more minimal lifestyle.

Minimalism looks different for everyone and there are many ways to be a minimalist.

For me, I have chosen to live with less and stopped buying things that I don’t need or that do not serve me a purpose.

Owning less stuff means less cleaning and organizing. I’m so pleased that I don’t have to spend time dealing with tons of clutter at my home anymore.

With a minimalist mindset, it helps me get to know what brings value into my life. It allows me to focus on what is important to me and change the way I spend my time and money.

Minimalism is all about living intentionally and getting rid of excess by removing the unnecessary stuff that does not align with our goals and values, so we can make room for space and freedom.

Everyone has different goals, needs and values when it comes to minimalism. It’s all about being intentional with your possessions, time, and energy. Focusing on what matters to you and letting go of the rest.

I love simplicity. we eat healthily through meal planning and make our homemade cleaners at home to avoid the hidden toxins found in store-bought cleaning products.

By prioritizing what matters to us, we’ve saved thousands of dollars each year by not spending money on something that might not benefit our health and the environment.

Who doesn’t want to save more money? There are things that minimalists typically would never buy and here are the 16 things I don’t buy or own as a minimalist.

Keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you. Your values and priorities are different from mine. That means your minimalist lifestyle can be entirely different from someone else’s.

16 Things I Stopped Buying as a Minimalist

1// Store-bought Makeup Remover

Aiming to live simply and be eco-friendly, I was looking for alternatives to store-bought makeup remover. Now, I don’t buy conventional makeup remover anymore. I use coconut oil instead.

Some conventional makeup removers can be harsh on your skin. Before you spend money on buying a name-brand makeup remover, wipes, or lotions, why not try using coconut oil?

I love my organic coconut oil. The best thing is it’s all-natural and inexpensive. It also helps me to soften my skin.

2// Store-bought Deodorant

I stopped buying store-bought deodorant. I was looking for something better for my health.

Homemade deodorant is so easy to make, and you only need 3 ingredients: coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils. Try this homemade deodorant recipe.

Do something good for your breast health by spending less than 5 minutes to DIY your own deodorant. It’s a totally healthy and cost-effective alternative.

3// Bottled Water

We only keep one pack of disposable bottled water at home for emergencies. On normal days, we have this water filter pitcher at home for our daily use.

When we go outside, we use our own reusable water bottles. I always prefer a glass bottle over a plastic one.

Tips for becoming a minimalist:

Minimalism for Beginners

How to Have Less Stuff

4// Convenience Food

I avoid purchasing processed food because many of them, especially frozen meals have excess sugar, fat, and sodium. I choose to eat real food instead.

5// Pre-cut Fruits

I don’t buy pre-cut fruits. Store-bought pre-cut fruits are simple and easy, but never my option. They always come in plastic packaging which is not environmentally friendly. And obviously, they are more expensive.

My family loves eating fresh fruits. I always like to use glass food storage containers to keep our fruits and veggies fresh for longer.

6// Store-bought Chicken Stock/ Bone Broth

I make my own stock and broth. It’s very easy to make without tons of work and it’s much healthier. Put bones, celery, onion, carrots, and fresh herbs all together in cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 to 4 hours. Then, a large pot of nutrient homemade chicken stock that is full of flavor is ready to use.

If you can’t use them up all during the week, freeze them for future use. I love to add the stock to the stir-fry or use it to cook Asian noodles. It adds so much flavor.

7// Store-bought Fruit Popsicles

I stopped buying fruit popsicles. My daughter likes eating ice pops but every time she ate the store-bought ones, she kept getting thirsty. I’m not too fond of the additives, artificial color or flavor, and added sugar in them.

I know there are some all-natural pops available in the market. But I found out that making homemade ice pops is so easy and fun with our kid. Most importantly, they are much healthier!

8// Salad Dressings

According to the Harvard Health Letter, “Bottled dressings are often rich sources of saturated fat, calories, sodium, and added sugar.” It’s much better to make your dressing at home for a healthier diet.

I stopped buying salad dressings a few years ago. Using just a few ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper can bring out the flavor. You may also like to experiment with balsamic or other types of vinegar, dijon mustard, and various spices.

Mindful spending:

10 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore

9// Body Wash

I don’t buy body wash. It’s just a personal preference to use bar soap instead. It’s much cheaper and has less packaging. We have individual bar soaps for everyone in our family.

10// Shaving Cream

I found out that bar soap and conditioner both work well. It’s always good to save some money when you don’t have to buy something that you already own and can use right away. Owning fewer things usually means less cleaning and less organizing.

11/ Conventional All-Purpose Cleaner

I’ve stopped buying all-purpose cleaners for a few years now because it’s so easy and inexpensive to make.

Simply add a teaspoon of dish soap and water to a spray bottle, shake well, and it’s ready to use. If you like, you can also add a few drops of pure essential oils for fragrance and antibacterial properties. This homemade cleaning solution can effectively remove grease and dirt from most surfaces. For safety, keep in mind to check with your doctor if you’re pregnant before using essential oils, or if you have small kids or pets around.

12// Conventional Bathtub Cleaner

My homemade bathtub cleaner is simple and effective. Each spray bottle combines one part dish soap and one part vinegar, and mix well.

Spray the solution onto the surface and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe with a sponge, rinse, and wipe dry. It removes all soap scum and grime.

13// Dishwasher Tablets

I don’t buy dishwasher tablets. I haven’t used my dishwasher in a long time… maybe 3 years already. I’d like to mention that we maintain a minimalist kitchen and we cook simple meals. Additionally, we’ve adopted a “clean as you go” habit in the kitchen.

Hand-washing dishes is quick and easy for us as we have fewer dirty dishes to clean after each meal.

14// Magazine Subscriptions

I love reading magazines, especially those about home decor and interior design. I used to subscribe to the monthly magazines and was thrilled to receive them in my mailbox. I would usually flip through them once, intending to read them later. However, the truth is, that all the magazines got piled up and I never touched them again.

Last year, I decided to cancel all my subscriptions, and I couldn’t be happier about it. My local library offers plenty of digital magazines for borrowing. I no longer feel the need to purchase subscriptions.

15// Full Price Clothing

I only shop for clothes that are on sale. I don’t spend money on full-price clothing for myself and my family.

I check the price online first and see if there’s any coupon code before going to the retail shops or online shopping.

16// Haircut

I have been cutting my daughter’s hair for many years but not mine until last year. I’m so happy that I tried and did it. I’ve never looked back. It really saves me a lot of time and money.