Minimalism & Frugality: How You Can Save More By Having Less

Minimalism has grown in popularity due to the rise of figures like The Minimalists and Marie Kondo.

The idea behind minimalism is to simplify your life with less. However, minimalism doesn’t just apply to physical things; it can relate to many areas of your life, from relationships to finances.

Minimalism and frugality go hand in hand, but beyond saving money from not being a consumer, it can help you simplify your finances as well.

What is Minimalism?

Every person who is a minimalist defines minimalism differently.

For example, some people believe having less than a certain number of physical items makes you a minimalist, while others believe you should only wear a certain color shirt forever.

These are all aspects of minimalism that minimalists tend to follow – having very few items and having a specific wardrobe – but they are not the core of minimalism.

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Minimalism is the idea that you can free yourself from physical things and truly enjoy the things in life that make you happy.

Being a consumer can bring a lot of fear and unhappiness in your life. You may not realize this, but once you start looking around yourself and questioning why you have these certain items or always want to buy certain things, you may realize it’s a coping mechanism and not making you happy.

Minimalism allows you to focus on what really matters – your family and friends, your hobbies, and your passions.

You can focus on what you want by eliminating the things you don’t need. For example, you don’t have to clean constantly because your place is easier to clean.

You won’t fill your time shopping and instead can fill it with going on a walk with your partner.

Minimalism and Frugality

Minimalism and frugality go hand in hand. It’s hard to spend a lot of money when you aren’t purchasing a lot of things.

Most minimalists do not choose this lifestyle for financial reasons, but there are a lot of financial benefits to being a minimalist. If you’ve struggled with frugality in a non-minimalist lifestyle, you may find that being frugal comes easier when you are also practicing minimalism.

When you’re starting your minimalist journey, you are probably going to go through all the things in your home you don’t use.

You can sell these items or donate most of them, and that can help you gain some extra income. Once you’ve pared down your things, minimalism and frugality hit a new level because you have what you need, and that is all you need.

You’re no longer spending money on material things, but you may spend money on experiences or certain items that you know you want.

It’s impossible not to spend money, but you’ll spend less being a minimalist.

It’s less tempting to buy the latest clothes or extra cups because they’re new and cute. You have the clothes and cups you like, and that’s it.

The impulse that you need more things dims because you have exactly what you need. You buy the things you want and don’t buy the things you don’t want. It will reduce your spending and allow you to spend your time doing something else that you want to do.

It will also likely mean you spend more time thinking about what you’re buying, which is always helpful when it comes to saving money. If you decide you only need one set of coffee cups, you’ll probably think carefully about what criteria you want to follow to make the best choice.

Minimalism and Simplifying Your Finances

Minimalism can go beyond decluttering and being frugal.

The idea of minimalism should be applied to all areas of your life, from your daily schedule to your finances. Simplifying every aspect of your life will remove unnecessary stress and distraction, which allows you to do more or what you like.

For example, learn how to apply minimalism to your finances instead of having a complex process for your finances.

Finding a simple way to budget and a simple way to manage your payments will reduce the stress and worry you have over finances. Many minimalists also fall under the debt-free community.

Just like having physical items that weigh you down, debt can financially weigh you down from living the life you want. You have to work a certain job to be able to afford your lifestyle and pay your bills.

If you were debt free and minimalist, you could easily pick up and move anywhere in the world. You have fewer things to move, and you don’t have to worry as much about the financial implications.