THE JOURNEY TO MINIMALISM AND LESS WASTE
Reading time: 7 min 25 sec
I’ve been a minimalist for as long as I remember, so I’m pretty good at not buying things already. However, with the price of everything rising to a sickening level the last few years, I’ve been trying to see how many more things I can reduce, or stop buying altogether to save money.
I thought I’d share with you some of the things I’ve been saving money on by not buying them anymore and things I’ve swapped for thriftier options!
1. Regular conditioner
This was actually an accidental realization of mine!
As someone with long hair, I always had a horrible habit of using WAY too much conditioner every time I’d wash my hair! It didn’t matter how little I tried to use, I always found that my hair just wouldn’t be soft enough or tangle- free if I didn’t use an ungodly amount. And that my friend, is a habit that can become costly and inconvenient when you’re constantly running out.
I only realized the magic fix to this when my travel shampoo bottles kept leaking into my luggage. This drove me to try leave-in conditioner in spray form – life-changing!
I’m still stunned at how long each bottle lasts, probably 6 months honestly because you can spray it only on the areas that are drier and really need it.
2. Books
I know, this one pains me to say. As someone who loves to read, I really do prefer having physical books in my hand versus a phone or e-reader. But after having moved countless times and putting things in storage, I found myself donating the majority of my books on multiple occasions!
My exceptions to this are books like how-to guides, workbooks, colouring books or anything else that I may find myself reading over and over again. Otherwise, I’ve just been downloading all my books through the Kobo app which is not only cheaper but reduces clutter like nothing else!
3. Coffee pods
This is another one that’s going to hurt a few people’s feelings. If you’re any sort of coffee aficionado, you might have to skip this one!
Although I do love coffee, I’m not really picky about it at all. I basically like anything coffee-flavoured, even if it’s not the highest quality. I’ve kept my Keurig for special occasions or guests but I no longer buy the pods for daily use. Me and my wallet are just as happy drinking no-name instant coffee! (don’t come for me)
4. The latest makeup
Let’s be honest, once we find a look we like that suits us, we wear it every day. At least I do anyways!
I can’t even count the number of times I’ve impulse bought new products to try out – only to get them home and realize I already have the exact same colour or that I like the one I already had better. Now, I find that I’m only trying out new products when my trusty go-to’s get discontinued, but even then I’m not buying high-end brands.
5. Haircuts
This one is probably going to be a bit easier for the girls, or guys who keep their hair longer. I’ve been cutting my own hair for many years now and honestly, I have yet to have anyone notice or comment on it. I’ve actually gotten good enough at it that I’ve even received quite a few compliments on my new do’s!
For men’s hair, or shorter hair in general it’s going to be a bit harder to hide any mistakes and you only have so much length left to play with if you have to fix anything. The cheapest you can get a haircut in my area is $20 but a lot of times these cheaper places employ stylists who are just starting out so it can be a bit hit or miss whether you’ll get the best or worst cut ever.
6. Accessories
I’m talking about buying hats, scarves, belts or purses in every colour to match every outfit or even for special occasions.
Realistically, most of us reach for the same item day in and day out just because it’s our favourite. I’ve stopped buying these types of accessories and will typically stick to buying them in black because black matches almost everything and never goes out of style!
7. Product bottles
If I can buy refill packs of something versus buying the full bottle or container again then I will do that!
Of course, there are certain items and brands that you don’t want to swap out in order to use refills, but for things like liquid hand soap, body wash, dish soap and baking goods (think spices, nuts, candy etc); buying them in refill packs or in bulk from places such as the Bulk Barn is a great way to save money – and reduce waste while you’re at it!
8. Plastic grocery bags
I think most of us have already made the switch from plastic grocery bags to re-useable ones seeing as they’re on their way to becoming extinct!
Now, I don’t think buying these 5¢ plastic bags will make you go broke by any means but every little bit adds up when you’re trying to cut your budget, reduce waste and build better habits! I now have a collection of cute re-useable bags that are honestly so much bigger, better and stronger – especially for those heavy items that you don’t want to drop in the parking lot.
9. Glass cleaner
This is another funny thing we buy for absolutely no reason…
I’m not sure who told us we need this specific blue liquid for our mirrors and glass to be clean, but we absolutely do not!
A few other, cheaper options include:
- Just water
- Water + vinegar
- Water + vinegar + rubbing alcohol
- Water + dish soap
10. Subscriptions
Monthly subscriptions are one of the sneakiest money stealers out there! I bet most of us don’t even remember what active subscriptions we have and it’s really costing us a pretty penny!
I got rid of all my subscriptions except for a few I feel are truly worth it, or can be written off (yes, some subscriptions count as work expenses!)
Currently, the only subscriptions I have are YouTube Premium, Canva and my website subscription. In total it costs me $50.04 a month, $37.09 of which counts towards expenses. Not bad!
11. Fabric softener
This is another item that really makes no sense to spend money on. Sure, they smell pretty, but you’re essentially paying money for something that causes your clothing to wear out quicker. Sounds like a lose-lose to me!
Instead of using fabric softener, I hang dry as much of my clothing as I can (especially items that I don’t want to chance shrinking). If I have to dry items, I throw a dry towel in the dryer with them and voila – they dry quicker and softer! Just make sure it’s not a new towel or you’ll end up with fuzzies galore!
12. Physical magazines
These magazines know exactly what they’re doing with the titles they choose to put on their covers!
Although sometimes it can be hard to not pick up a magazine when it has a super juicy story on the cover, we need to remember that most of these magazines are one-read and throw-away items. This isn’t exactly budget-friendly when most magazines are at least $5!
Luckily, many of the magazines that can be bought in stores, can also be found for FREE online! Yes, completely free. So don’t let that airport store (you know the one) trick you into spending your life savings on these babies!
13. Coffee shops
Okay, I’m coming for coffee for a second time! But hear me out, if you like coffee THAT much, you really ought to learn to perfect it yourself. Latte art and all!
Even if you’re trying to replicate the fanciest of drinks at Starbucks, it will still cost you much less to buy all the ingredients than to hit up the drive-through every morning!
I no longer go out to get coffee and instead keep a stash of coffee, sweeteners and syrups on hand to make whatever I have a craving for that morning. The only time I make an exception is if I’m travelling and have nowhere to make the coffee, or if I’m meeting up with a friend!
14. Food delivery apps
These apps were definitely a godsend during the pandemic and I was guilty of over-using them myself. However, I broke the habit and you must too!
I understand there are some situations where delivery really is necessary; maybe you don’t have a car, you work from home, are sick or stuck in a hotel. In these cases, you’re forgiven. But if you’re still using these apps when you have a working car in your driveway or are 1km from the restaurant then I’m talking to you! Stop it!
Restaurants already mark up food prices in the apps compared to their own website and in-store. But the delivery fees can also be so astronomical that you end up spending more on fees than actual food. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth!
15. Perfume
I, like many others, used to be a self-professed scent collector. If it had a pretty bottle, I needed it; If it was on sale, I needed it; If it smelled half decent, I NEEDED IT.
A few years ago though, I decided to stop spending on perfume. A couple of factors that helped me in that choice were that 1) All my perfume was spoiling before I even had the luxury of using it up. 2) The world started moving towards scent-free.
Now I just have my go-to $20 perfume that I wear every day. It’s not overwhelming because it’s so light and fruity that it actually passes as a body spray. It gets me lots of compliments – and did I mention it’s only $20? So, if you need an easy way to save $50-$100, this is it!
16. Anything trendy
No, seriously. If it’s trendy it’s likely fast fashion and it’s going to go out of style tomorrow. Then it’s going to end up in the back of your closet or in the donation bin. Then you’re going to re-buy it in a few years when it becomes trendy again.
I learned a long time ago that I, myself – am not trendy. So why even try to keep up with the times or styles we’re seeing everywhere. If they’re meant to be, they’ll come full circle right?
If I see something trendy that is also something I need, and is cheap? Then yes, I’ll allow myself to buy it. Otherwise, I just keep my wardrobe as minimal and versatile as possible, because fact is – jeans will always be cool. Same with converse shoes and the colour black. So, let’s stick to timeless pieces and start impressing others with our savings account instead of our taste in clothing.
These are a few of the things I’ve stopped buying to save money. What are some things you’ve stopped spending money on?