Minimalism is often associated with living a frugal lifestyle. After all, you have less to spend money on when you own fewer things. But minimalism can also help you save money in other ways.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to save up for a big purchase, like a new car or a down payment on a house. If you adopt a more minimalist lifestyle, you may be able to reduce your expenses enough to speed up your savings. Or, if you’re already debt-free, minimalism can help you stay that way by freeing up extra cash each month that you would otherwise spend on unnecessary things.
Minimalism is such a huge deal for millennials. They practically have an obsession with it. It’s in their design choices, lifestyle choices, and even how they eat! But there are a lot of benefits to living a minimalistic lifestyle, and you should certainly consider some of these things.
The origins of minimalism
Minimalism can be traced back to the post-World War II era. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a lot of focus on economic growth. This led to mass production and consumption, which resulted in people accumulating more stuff than they needed.
In response, a group of artists known as the minimalists began creating art that was stripped down to its essentials. They believed that they could make a more pure form of art by doing this.
Minimalism soon spread beyond the world of art, and people began applying it to other areas of their lives. Today, minimalism is often associated with living a frugal lifestyle. After all, you have less to spend money on when you own fewer things.
The benefits of minimalism
One of the benefits of minimalism has already been stated earlier. It’s cheap! When you live a minimalist lifestyle, you naturally spend less money because you don’t have the same expenses as someone who lives a more materialistic lifestyle.
But there are other benefits of minimalism as well. For example, minimalism can help simplify your life and make it easier to manage. There’s less to keep track of when you have fewer things and less to clean. This can give you more time to focus on the truly important things to you.
Minimalism can also help you reduce stress and anxiety. There’s less to worry about losing or damaging when you have fewer possessions. And when your life is simplified, it’s easier to find peace of mind. So how do you live a minimalistic lifestyle?
The six essentials of a minimalistic life
There are six essentials of a minimalistic lifestyle. First, you need a soft reset through decluttering.
Decluttering
Decluttering is getting rid of anything in your life that doesn’t bring you joy or serve a purpose. This includes things like clothes you never wear, books you haven’t read in years, and knick-knacks that are just taking up space.
Learn to Live With Less
The second essential is to live with less. Once you’ve decluttered your life, it’s time to start living with fewer possessions. This doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you own. But it does mean being more intentional about the things you bring into your life.
For example, instead of buying something new every time you need it, try borrowing or renting it from someone else. Or, if you do need to buy something, see if you can find it used.
Save Money
The third essential is to save money. When you live a minimalistic lifestyle, you naturally spend less money. But it’s still important to have a savings plan so that you can reach your financial goals.
One way to do this is to set up a budget and make sure you’re automatically transferring a fixed percentage of your income into savings. Another way to save money is to make a list of things you want to buy and then wait 30 days before making any purchases. This will help you avoid impulse buys.
Restore and Upcycle
When living a minimalistic life, you have to concentrate on the things you have. This means restoring and upcycling things whenever you can.
For example, instead of buying new clothes, see if you can repair the clothes you already have. Or, if you’re redecorating your home, try to find ways to reuse what you already have instead of buying new things.
This includes your home. If a certain part of your home gets a bit damaged, you don’t build or purchase a new one. You hire restoration services to help you out. It’s much cheaper and preserves the ideal of your home.
Get Rid of Your Debt
If you have debt, it’s important to create a plan to pay it off as quickly as possible. One way to do this is to make a list of all your debts and then focus on paying off the one with the highest interest rate first.
Another way to get rid of debt is to transfer your balance to a credit card with a lower interest rate. This can help you save money on interest and get out of debt faster.
Live a Meaningful Life
The final essential of a minimalistic lifestyle is to live a meaningful life. This means living a life that is authentic and true to yourself. It’s about finding what brings you joy and fulfillment and then making it a priority in your life.
The Right Life
A minimalistic lifestyle is not right for everyone. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your possessions and your life feels out of control, it may be worth considering. Start by decluttering your life and see where that leads you. A fresh new start might be something you need.
