How I learned to want LESS | Minimalism & Saving Money

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There's an important part of minimalism, that maybe we don't talk about enough: mindset. After about 10 years of minimalist living, the 'not buying things I don't need' part of it has become easier and easier for me. And I think it's because I've learned to want less. So in today's video, I share with you how this happened, and how to live with less consumption (and save money in the process).

Lots of love,
🌼 Vera

VIDEO CHAPTERS
Minimalism and wanting less 0:00
Decrease exposure 1:53
Declutter 3:26
Delayed gratification 6:00
Shopping for image 7:51
Things that are not things 9:07
Sponsored break 9:58
The beauty of 'less' 11:18
The 'why' of more 12:30

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[SimpleHappyZen]

(This link is an affiliate link. This means that I earn a small commission when you use it to sign up.)

[becky]

"I can admire without having to aquire" is a phrase I've heard around the minimalist community. I remind myself of this phrase when I'm in a store and come across an impulse buy or when I see something on social media that an influencer has that suddenly I feel like I need too. Sometimes it helps to reign me in, sometimes it doesn't, lol. Thanks for this video Vera!

[geoffphillips]

I have observed for over 55 years - 18 years as a realtor & multiple house owner for 43 years to 2013, that people appear happier & more content living in a smaller than average Australian house on a smaller plot of land. This phenomenon applies whether as an owner or renter.
A smaller mortgage, smaller rent, lower maintenance & council costs, lower heating/cooling costs, lower yard maintenance, more money for family schooling, holidays, stocks etc. Security is improved of course.
I had a big house with the Pacific ocean as my neighbour at 46 years, but that did not increase my happiness, but rather lowered it over years somehow.
I’m mid 70s now & not having any mortgages is a liberating relief. I sleep much more soundly with a reliable car of 12 years old. What was financially important at 45 years seems such folly today. Life is better.

[juliab]

As my faith has increased, my wants have less of a pull. It's easy to fill that desire for physical things when my heart forgets it's already filled with Jesus. Temptations are real for sure. Much joy to you!!

[barefootvibes]

One thing that I told my wife was that if she finds something she really wants in the store, pick it up and carry it around the store with you while you finish shopping. During this process you think about whether or not you really want/need it.
More often than not, she puts the item back.
Additionally, when on vacation I tell my family to look for things they think they would really want, remember where it's at, and leave the store/shop without buying it.
If they decide they really want it after a few more days of vacation, we'll go back for it.
This has lessoned the financial burden of vacations as most of the things they think they want is just an impulse buy.
Disclaimer: We have lost out on a few things that we truly wanted, but we don't accrue the chaff.
I'm a minimalist, and my wife is not. It can be challenging at times, but I think I have influenced her to be less materialistic, and she has influenced me to appreciate the little things more. In a way, I'd say we balance each other nicely.

[namaste]

I agree with everything you told.

In the past I bought plenty of books for a lot of money, but in this year I enrolled in the library, and donated some books for them too.
In my 20s I was a shopping queen but now I own just about 50 items in my gardrobe.
I sold them or just gave them for poorest people here in my town.
And I quit from social media of course.😃
So much happier now.🥰

[letsmakeamesstoday]

I think its easier to be a minimalist as we age, for me anyway. I just don’t want any more stuff for so many reasons! Xo

[lynby]

You explained the real beauty of minimalism perfectly.

[georgeandrews]

I use a variant of the 30-day list. If I want something that isn't an absolute survival purchase, it goes on my 30-day list. If it is above $50 it goes into my 60-day list and above $100 goes into the 90-day list. You'd be surprised at how many things gets dropped off the list. In addition it gives you time to figure a way to do it so you don't need the item or find something cheaper or free to take care of it. When shopping I only buy what's on my list. If I see something else I like, it gets added to the next trip's list ( most of these get dropped by the time I make the new list as well).

[dominikakowalczyk]

I have practiced minimalism for 5 years. To want less and to need less has been a process to me. It has changed my life completely 😃

[jajajajaja]

I never really enjoyed clothes shopping since my preference has always been a simple timeless clean basic style that never changes.
But I still had too many clothes in my closet that I did not wear. I started to narrow in even more on a simple clean look choosing the 2 colours that suit me best, combined with black blue and white. Then I threw away the clothes that I had not been wearing for years and added a few basics in the right colours. Now my closet is half of it originally already humble dimensions. When I open it I see all the coordinated colours. There is all I need to be presentable in the office (without that obligation I would own soooo much less) and there is nothing that I do not use. Now I NEVER go clothes shopping. I am set for a good number of years that really makes me feel happy, relaxed and rich. :-)

[Shria]

I wanted fewer trinket boxes, but I just can't let them go. Instead, I want them to be in fewer places. I love them, and they are beautiful, so I'm going to create a nice display area for them. I only have five of them, so they will look nice on the mantle of my fireplace. I also made a deal with myself that I won't get any more of them because no more than five will fit comfortably on the mantle.

[pinkroses]

I've found that 'things that are not things' bit to be true. Once you find peace and tranquility in other things like faith or nature or your neat space the dopamine hits acquiring things just don't feel the same.

[christined]

No ONE explains minimalism as you do Vera…. Your so right not buying things has gotten so easy, I also just don’t want alot of stuff, and I practice always one in and one out xo
Less Is Best ❤

[Darkangel]

Your name means 'true' in my language. And it really does! It is beautiful to follow your videos, simple and kind. I especially liked this one, thank you.

The only thing about you that makes me anxious is knowing that you are talking with a cup of tea in your hand and hoping for you that it doesn't spill!!! We love you!

[Goodness]

You are a wise young woman. I’m an older woman and if I had this mindset early on my life would have much much more pleasant! Thank you for sharing this. Anyone reading this should take notes and follow this. Even the shower suggestion. When you get old your skin can’t take it but DO hit those important things at the sink for sure. 😊

[chrisl]

I don't go to stores and 'just browse' because I used to leave wanting things and eventually buying something unrelated I saw in the store (it was a subconscious influence). Now I don't shop unless I absolutely have nothing already that can be used in place of the thing I need.

[williamclark]

I noticed that when I decluttered, unliked and deleted all of my interests on FB I stopped seeing so many ads. I even unsubscribed from most business emails and notifications because some will bombard you with emails up to three times a day. If you do put something in the cart they will hound you trying to force you to purchase it. You get constant reminders: almost gone, you left this in your cart, the sale is almost over. Etsy even tried this method of manipulation with your digital art file - Others also have this in their cart. I found myself thinking, "Really? Are you going to run out of a digital art file if I don't buy this right now?" LOL Also, I shop from a wishlist. Some of the items have been on it for a few years. I really try to wait and get them when I actually need them and to make certain that I will get use out of it.

[antiquesrestoration]

Like you, I have really appreciated living with less "stuff." It has changed my life for the better significantly. I find that I don't want for things and have saved a lot of money. I still do go out shopping, but I have to really justify to myself anything I'm buying. When I shop with that mindset, I don't spend frivolously and what I do end up buying is very rarely a mistake. My home is so much easier to manage with less "stuff."

[bessieoriotis]

Some of us never really got over tripping or falling over things no matter how old we got, I have found that I tended too have too much stuff or furniture. Now I have what I like and need and keep working on it has made my life nicer. Being a minimalist has given me more space, more peace and less accidents. 😅