Living a minimalist lifestyle: Benefits and tips

Are you dreaming of fewer belongings, tidier spaces and more mental clarity? Check out this guide to living a minimalist lifestyle.

What you’ll learn:

• A minimalist lifestyle involves keeping things that add value to your life and getting rid of the rest.

• Proponents of minimalism report potential benefits to financial and mental well-being.

• Steps to living a minimalist lifestyle include decluttering, evaluating needs versus wants, shopping sustainably and building a capsule wardrobe.

• Minimalism can look different from person to person based on their priorities.

Minimalism uses the adage less is more. It focuses on reducing clutter to make room for more purpose behind the things you own and activities you spend time on. Practicing minimalism doesn’t mean giving up everything. It just means keeping only the belongings and activities that add value to your life.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to minimalism. Living a minimalist lifestyle might vary in terms of what you use, buy and toss out.

“Minimalism is a way of life that emphasizes simplicity and the elimination of excess,” says Jasmine Cheng, founder of health and wellness blog The Gentle Album. “Everything you use is intentional and meaningful in some way.”

A minimalist lifestyle can help reduce spending, stress and mess. Here are three potential benefits of minimalism:

Minimalists try to buy and use things intentionally, which might help save money and decrease financial stress. “Minimalism can help you financially because you’ll be less tempted to buy things you don’t need,” Cheng explains.

Here are a few more specific ways that living with less could help your wallet:

• Reducing spending: By getting clearer on which things you truly need and which you don’t, it might be possible to cut expenses and even break free from living paycheck to paycheck.

• Avoiding unnecessary buying: Mindful purchases could reduce impulse buying or making unplanned purchases outside your budget.

• Spending less than you earn: Living within or below your means goes hand in hand with the minimalist idea of having only what you need.

• Saving money: Several tips to jump-start savings may come naturally with a minimalist lifestyle. These might include using the 30-day rule for nonessential purchases, rethinking transportation methods and sticking to a shopping list.

• Paying off debt: Simpler finances may help you get out of debt. And minimizing debt can open up more opportunities to spend time and money the way you choose.

There may be a link between minimalism and mental health. According to research, people with uncluttered homes enjoy benefits like lower stress and better moods, as well as less procrastination.

The theory is that fewer belongings and less mental distraction free up time to focus on what matters. 

“A less cluttered space can help you focus and relax more,” Cheng says. “It helps you be more grateful for the things already in your life.”

Minimalism can be aesthetically pleasing and create an orderly environment. Justin Hossle, minimalist craftsman and owner of Relic Modern, explains how minimalism goes beyond a clear mind and savings account. 

“When I first decluttered my home, I felt more organized,” Hossle says.

He abides by a simple mantra: “A place for everything and everything in its place.”

Wondering how to become a minimalist? Here are several simple tips for adopting a minimalist lifestyle:

There are several ways to go about decluttering. The key idea is to ask yourself if something adds joy or value to your life. If not, then let it go. Podcasters The Minimalists suggest a 30-day minimalism game in which participants choose one item to get rid of on the first day, two items on the second day and so on for 30 days. Items could be sold, donated or tossed—as long as they’re no longer taking up space in the home.

Hossle suggests another rule of thumb for decluttering: “If you haven’t used it or thought of it in six months, it should be donated to a thrift store.”

A tidy living space can also be easy on the eyes. Cheng says her living room has only a couch, two pillows, a television, a coffee table, a plant, a lamp and a few small pieces of meaningful decor. “It always looks clean, not cluttered,” she says.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) explains there are “basic things people must have to survive.” And these things differ from “upgrades and other things that would be nice to have but aren’t necessary for living, income or protecting what you have.”

Creating a budget can show you how much money you’re spending and on what each month. Depending on what you discover, you might want to cut out some unnecessary expenses, like a new clothing item every month or takeout for lunch every day. You might even end up with money left over for savings and other financial goals.

Hossle gives a few tips on how to build a minimalist budget: “Look at your expenses in a spreadsheet and categorize them as needs versus wants. Then determine which of the wants actually bring you joy and contribute to your life in a positive way. Try to cut out the rest.”

Recurring charges are a type of expense that tends to fly under the radar. Managing subscriptions to things like streaming services, magazines and meal plans may help cut costs and declutter the home. Minimalists might find it simpler to watch shows on just one platform (or none at all) and buy only what’s needed from the grocery store.

When making buying decisions, Hossle recommends choosing quality over quantity. That might mean opting for one high-quality or reusable item over a dozen cheap items that could wear down or break. It could save you money in the long run and help avoid the trap of planned obsolescence.

“I’ve gone through so many tools for my furniture business that were cheap, not as functional as they should be or just not made to last,” Hossle says. “Now I purchase higher-end tools—they work well and I need fewer tools to perform the tasks.”

It’s also possible to purchase sustainable clothing, groceries, home goods, kitchenware and beauty products. Cheng says that with a little research and creativity, you can end up with products that are “actually useful to you.”

A capsule wardrobe holds a limited number of pieces of clothing that can be mixed and matched. Minimalists might consider it a way to own less clothing and take up less space. But Cheng suggests that “you first have to identify your own personal style.”

Cheng has around 35 pieces of clothing she’s able to wear over and over again. If she adds a new piece to her capsule wardrobe, she might donate another piece to stay organized.

“I recommend picking out around 30 to 40 pieces of clothing including tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear and shoes,” she says. “Try to add items that easily match with most other items in your wardrobe to make a lot of outfit combinations.”

While the goal of minimalism is generally to have fewer things, adding a few apps could help simplify your life. They might help you with:

• Scheduling and to-do lists: Cheng recommends “clearing your schedule for only the most important activities.” Cut down on a cluttered calendar and free up headspace with a scheduling or to-do-list app.

• Mindfulness: Many mindfulness apps are free and offer guided meditations.

• Screen time: If you’d like to spend less time checking social media or email, there are screen time apps to monitor and limit scrolling. You might even end up with more free time to clean out that closet.

While minimalism can be a way to reclaim your time and money, the practice may differ from person to person. Focusing on what matters most in your life might help you decide what things stay and what can go.

“There’s no one way to practice minimalism, so do it at your own pace,” Cheng says. “Minimalism is a journey, so just take small steps.”

Living a minimalist lifestyle could help you declutter your home, your mind and even your to-do list. Things like budgeting and building a capsule wardrobe might even help you save money in the long run. 

And if you’re looking for more ways to spend less and save more, check out these habits for financial freedom.