Lately, I’ve been interested in living with less. My goal has been to simplify my life as much as possible. This all started with a little spring decluttering that left me feeling so good! I liked having fewer things around. It created a stress-free environment. 

Then, I recently read “The Year of Less” by Caitlin Flanders.  Caitlin documents her journey to save more through an aggressive shopping ban. I was inspired by her ability to only purchase necessities and to toss the majority of her belongings. 

This approach to simplifying appeals to me. I’ve always been someone who likes things neat and organized but this minimalist approach goes further. It’s cutting out things that we don’t truly need and putting an end to the endless cycle of consumerism. That is an art to be learned.

As a mom of two, I’m amazed by how much stuff we accumulate without even trying. We don’t buy our kids many new toys aside from birthdays and holidays. There are some things we don’t have control over like family and friends spoiling them with extra gifts. Of course, those are very sweet gestures, but you can see how over time, those things can pile up. 

Now that I’ve decided to live with less, I’ve taken a few steps toward integrating a minimalist mindset into my everyday life. It has been a game-changer so far. I have done a lot but there is so much more to do. 

For the record, I’m not trying to live an extreme minimalist lifestyle. I believe balance is key to everything. With that being said, I do think taking a minimal approach forces you to be more intentional. That’s something I can get on board with.

Here are the first steps I took toward living with less. 

Tips For Living With Less

1. Be intentional with spending 

The more intentional we are with our spending, the less cluttered we are. Today it’s so easy to make a purchase. All you need to do is pick up your phone and open Amazon, or double-click your smartphone to purchase something using Apple Pay.

Before I buy anything material, I ask myself, “Do I need this?” Is this something I’m going to use regularly? If the answer is no, then I don’t purchase. By asking myself this simple question, it forces me to be more intentional with my spending. 

2. Invest in fewer higher quality items 

Do you ever buy things that you don’t love and then never end up using them? I’m that person who will rotate the same favorite things that I have while ignoring all the other stuff. I’ve stopped buying stuff I don’t love anymore even if it is cheap. I’d rather invest in higher quality items that will like and get more use out of. This approach has saved me money as well as unwanted clutter in my home. 

3. Always be decluttering

I’ve made decluttering part of my everyday routine. This includes clothes, books, and toys. I toss anything not salvageable and donate as much as I can. 

Clothes 

I’m trying to be more strategic with my purchases. When I was decluttering, I found a skirt that I loved but hadn’t worn because I didn’t have a shirt to go with it. I allowed myself to purchase a shirt to complete the outfit. I ended up wearing it to a recent baby shower and didn’t have to spend a lot of money. It was an intentional purchase that helped me to optimize what I already had. 

Books 

Our house is honestly overrun with books. They are everywhere. Coffee tables, bookshelves, piled randomly in our offices — everywhere. When I moved from New York to New Jersey, the majority of our boxes were books. We had 6 boxes of books that we paid to move across state lines. Many of which we are never going to read again. 

There are books that I reread often and I keep them on my nightstand so I can find them. These are impactful personal development or business books. I also have a few books signed by the authors I admire and will keep those. The rest I’ve started to give away.

Whenever we have visitors who like to read, I offer a few of my favorites to see if they’d like any. Then last week, I was driving around town and saw a book donation bin at the local fire station! I decided I would start rounding them up for donation to hopefully give them a new life. I don’t think I will ever stop buying books but maybe start waiting until I finish the current read before I purchase a new one.

Toys 

We haven’t bought many new toys since I’ve taken this “living with less” minimalist approach to life. We went from buying new things regularly to asking ourselves, “Do we need this?” The answer is always no. Instead, we’ve been tossing a lot and using what we have. 

4. Go digital 

Another way to declutter is by going digital. I stopped taking receipts for most items. I’ve been opting for digital statements instead of paper. I’ve been putting any junk mail I receive directly into recycling instead of letting it sit around my house for a week. This minimalist mindset has helped to keep my house organized. I still love a physical book but maybe I will go digital here in the future.

The Benefits of Living With Less

I’m learning there are many benefits to minimalism and living with less. 

It saves money

One of the best benefits of living with less is the ability to save money. When we take this intentional approach to life, we naturally spend less. That extra money can be invested for our future or saved for a rainy day. 

You gain valuable time

I was surprised by how much time you save when you take a minimalist approach to life. Everything becomes easier and more efficient. When your closet isn’t overstuffed with clothes, getting dressed becomes quicker. When we stop ordering stuff online, there are fewer returns to make and boxes to break down. Most importantly, there is less to clean up daily without constant clutter.

It creates feelings of peace

Living with less can make you feel more at peace. Your surroundings are clean and organized. Things are easier to find. This clean environment declutters your home and your mind.

Minimalism Tips for Beginners

As someone new to minimalism, I found these tips to be helpful:

Unsubscribe from retailer emails 

Unsubscribing from retailer emails has two benefits. 1. It declutters your inbox. 2. It eliminates the temptation to buy things you don’t need from retailer promotions. 

Start small 

Pick something small but meaningful to declutter first. That way you don’t get overwhelmed but can still get the ball rolling and experience the joys of living with less. 

Question your purchases

Get in the habit of asking yourself, do I need this? By being intentional, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary purchases. 

Final Thoughts on Living With Less

Living with less and has opened my eyes to a better way of life. I’ve felt calmer and more at peace with more organized spaces. Decluttering has helped me to rediscover what I already have including books I never read or clothing that I’ve barely worn. It also allows me to take inventory of what I need.

Spending less has left me feeling lighter and happier. Not needing anything has been very liberating. I’m looking forward to how this minimalistic approach will change my life long term.