the single best thing i've done is to make myself mull over purchases for long periods of time. time does tell whether i really needed it or not in the long run.

I dig this a lot. My own personal rule (I see myself as more of an "essentialist" than a "minimalist") is if I'm not gonna use, move, think about something (or I haven't used, moved, or thought about it) in 30-45 days...and it's not special use or seasonal (e.g. - a winter coat), I either won't buy it or am game to get rid of it.

I'be been a minimalist for a few years now. Mainly because I'm a broke ass artist. lmao

another thing i do to save money and keep things simple is to take good care of my things so they last longer! my ipad is 5 years old now and it still works fine! the only issue is that i can’t update it anymore, so my web browser can’t update itself which means some web pages are broken, but then i can just use my computer (which is almost just as old)! my phone (same model as yours actually) is 2 years old and still going strong too :) tip to make your iphone or ipad last longer: don’t update them!! they don’t actually need to be updated!!! the newer updates (which are made for newer devices, NOT yours) will eventually end up killing your device. all my devices noticeably start dying after major updates. don’t update past your main OS version (eg. if you have iOS 15, you can update to iOS 15.9 but NO higher)

Thank you for blogging about minimalist living. I naturally fell into this lifestyle after moving around a lot. I too ride my single speed everywhere or take the bus. I do live in a smaller town so Amazon is necessary to getting only the things I want but that takes discipline. I don't do logos. I have my 'uniform' clothing and I am not temped by envy (the main selling point) I do have an older phone and I am good with that. (They ain't making any money off me!)

The main thing I had to delete was ebay because I always find an excuse to try to buy something I think I want but in the end I should just be thankful for what I have. If I do need something then I would just go to my local stores especially for my fixed gear bike. If for some reason if I can't find a certain part locally I usually order from the shop and have it delivered to them. They call me and I would just pick it up from them. I'm also working on Eliminating as much stuff and only keep what I value. The only time I shop online is if I can find a certain thing at the local shops.

I stopped paying for hair-cuts probably about 15 years ago, doing it myself I saves time and money. I also gave up on eating meat about 11 years ago.

As a KZfaqr I’ve also adopted minimalist living. I personally love sites like Libby and Kanopy for free books and movies with my library card. Libraries rule. I need to learn how to shave with a safety razor!

can you do a sample of what you eat In a day/week? I'm looking to streamline my diet and would love to see your approach!

Dude where do you live? I was stuck in the suburbs in southern US for most of my life and not having a car was like a death sentence, especially as a young woman. I really want to move to a quieter, safer, more walkable area in Europe maybe. I'd be a lot happier without (needing) a car. To answer your question at the end: I also stopped buying razors and have been using a stainless steel safety razor for about 8-9 years. I stopped eating out entirely as well. I won't even go to restaurants on special occasions. Not only is it a waste of money imo, I cannot trust the quality. God knows what kind of crap makes its way into restaurant food. Plus I love cooking and with meal prep, I never have to worry about eating out due to being short on time.

great points! funny you shot the part about giving up your car in a car.. :)

So in who's car were you sitting? Do you just use car share or rent when you need a car or you just don't need a car?

I've been a minimalist for a long time now sort of via my parents being cheap shoppers. If I had to list anything I've cut out it's new clothes every yr. Replacing my childhood wardrobe at 18 became a part of my life to better resemble my peers (being frumpy can alienate you from certain levels of social class acceptance, sad but true). A great thrift shop that only accepts most "current" brands and styles opened in my town about 7yrs ago and I save about 60% on all my jeans and pay relatively nothing for shirts compared to msrp pricing. In any case, I refuse to buy new clothes from companies that'd sell me an indentured sweat shop servant if they could.

I tend to make purchases based on quality items instead of getting a cheap item that will most likely end up being thrown out. I'll pay a lot for an item if I know it's going to be great, durable, last long, and hold its value. Doing this means I tend to spend a lot of time doing research on my purchases before I make them, and in turn, about half the time, I talk myself out of making that purchase. If I do follow through, it's after I spent a long time going over my decision and it's not an impulse buy.

+1 for Conti Gatorskins. Have you tried Specialized armadillos? I feel they are a bit more forgiving.

Netflix, so much more time and money without one. Just get rid of it.

Ive actually completely stopped buying anything that isnt food related. I have been cooking more & more! If its not for eating im not buying it. I want to see how long i can last. Hahaha

Haven't spent money on alcohol in over a year and have had way more money to buy nicer upgrades for my bike 😊

Less is more sometimes. some poor countries have they happiest people

Some people say less is more, this is bullshit... obviously more, is more.

Please forget the pick for your bass….