The home decorating business is a billion dollar industry, and for good reason. Nothing makes a house feel like a home quite like photos, artwork, and end tables. Before you know it, you’re buying more odds and ends from your Pinterest board so your home can look like it’s from an episode on HGTV.
A Dave Ramsey quote may sum up a lot of consumerism today: “We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.”
In response to this, the minimalist lifestyle is catching steam. From tiny houses to capsule wardrobes, it seems as though these self-proclaimed minimalists have tapped into something good. They’ve readjusted their mindset to appreciate the things they have and purge the things that don’t bring joy.
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle can also help you emotionally and financially. Let’s look at some ways how:
Organizing is great, staying organized is better.
It’s good to take time to organize the clutter in your life, but if you’re doing this on a reoccurring basis you might need to just start clearing it out instead of cleaning it up. Especially those things you trip over or move to the side again and again. How about the things you pay to keep in storage? Could you part with items and downgrade your storage needs? Or even eliminate that extra expense all together?
Stop wasting money on items that don’t serve any purpose.
Saving money is not always the ultimate goal of minimalism, but it is a nice side effect. How many times do you find yourself shopping and buying something you never wear, eat or use? Think about how much money you’ve wasted on unnecessary junk in your life. Once you rid yourself of those purchases, you have more money to spend on items and experiences that actually bring light into your life.
Be wary of sales and clearance items.
Yes, everyone loves a good bargain, but make sure it’s something you really need. A good way to go about it is to make a set list when shopping, and only look in the sale section for those items. It’ll help you stop purchasing items you “might one day use.” By only purchasing what you need, you free yourself of unnecessary card swiping.
Lower stress in your home environment.
Is most of your cleaning simply hiding messes in drawers? Are there drawers bursting with potholders, pens and other odds and ends? Has this clutter ever led to a misplace bill or forgotten payment? Definitely a top cause of financial stress in households. Purging items you don’t need helps you save space for the important things, and it really can relieve stress and brighten your mood.
Don’t feel defined by what you own.
In the end, it doesn’t matter if your coworkers or friends are impressed by the car you drive. You can’t pay your bills with someone’s opinion. Real contentment doesn’t come from what you own, just like the saying says, “money doesn’t buy happiness.” Adopting a minimalist lifestyle doesn’t have to mean making big changes in your life. But it does mean committing to ridding your life—and finances—of clutter. The best way to start is by checking and analyzing your monthly purchases. If everything you’ve purchased has somehow enhanced your life, great! If not, that’s a great place to start.
Happy minimizing!