16 Ways to Save Money with a Minimalist Mindset (2024)

I’ve stopped buying many things since becoming a minimalist.

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

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

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

For me, I chose to live with less and stopped buying things that I don’t need or 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 lets me focus on what is important to me and it has changed 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. Eating healthy through meal planning. DIYing our household cleaning supplies to avoid the hidden toxins from store-bought cleaning products. I saved thousands a year by not spending money on something which is not good for my health and the environment.

Who doesn’t want to save more money? There are things minimalists typically would never buy. Today, I’m sharing 16 things I don’t buy anymore 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 totally different from someone else.

The key is to find what works best for you so that you can live more intentionally with less stress and more joy.

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 totally healthy and cost-effective.

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 the plastic one.

Tips for becoming a minimalist:

Minimalism for Beginners

How to Have Less Stuff

4// Convenience Food

I don’t purchase processed food. Most of them especially frozen meals have excess sugar, fat, and sodium.

In order to simplify my diet, I chose to eat real food. Eating real food in its original form makes us know exactly what it is we are eating.

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 pops, she kept getting thirsty. I’m not too fond of those additives, artificial color or flavor, and added sugar.

I know there are some all-natural pops in the market. But I found out that homemade ice pops are so easy and have so much fun with our kid. And most important, 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 if you make your dressing at home for your healthy diet.

I stopped buying salad dressings a few years already. Using 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 using balsamic or other vinegar, dijon, and spices.

Mindful spending:

10 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore

9// Body Wash

I don’t purchase a body wash. It’s just a personal preference for using bar soap instead of body wash. It’s just 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’ve already owned and could use right away. Owning less stuff usually means less cleaning and less organizing.

11/ Conventional All-Purpose Cleaner

I’ve stopped buying any all-purpose cleaner for a few years. Just because it’s so easy to make, and costs pennies.

Adding a teaspoon of dish soap and water to a spray bottle, shake well, and it’s ready to use. Add 10 drops of essential oils if you like. This homemade cleaning solution can actually remove any grease and dirt effectively on most surfaces.

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 on the surface and let sit for 15 minutes, wipe with a sponge, rinse and wipe dry, done! It removes all soap scum and grime.

13// Dishwasher Tablets

I don’t buy dishwasher tablets. I haven’t used my dishwasher for a long time… maybe 3 years already. Keep in mind that we have a minimalist kitchen. We cook simple meals. We adopt a “clean as you go” habit in the kitchen.

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

14// Magazine Subscriptions

I love reading magazines, especially about home decor and interior design. I used to subscribe to the monthly magazines and was so excited to get them from my mailbox. I usually flipped through it once when I received it. Then, I put it away and think I would read it later. But the truth is all the magazines got piled up and I never touched them again.

I canceled all the subscriptions last year and I was so happy that I did it. My local library has tons of digital magazines that I can borrow. I no longer need to buy magazine 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.