Living a Simpler Life as a Minimalist Family: Things We Don’t Need (Or Buy)

Living a minimalist lifestyle has taught me that I don’t need a lot of material possessions to lead a happy and fulfilling life. By being more conscious of the things we own and consume, we can simplify our lives and focus on what truly matters.

In this blog post, I’ll share some of the things that we no longer need or buy as a minimalist family. From kitchen and wardrobe items to bathroom essentials and beyond.

General Home

• Home décor that serves no practical purpose: we use plants to brighten our space (and freshen our air)
• Books or magazines (physical item): we enjoy reading in our home and getting a new book, but we usually borrow physical books from the library first. If we really want our own copy, we will purchase the e-book version instead.
• Excess furniture that takes up unnecessary space: consider how many side tables you really need before purchasing?
• Decorative pillows or throws: before embracing minimalism and simpler living, I used to have decorative pillows and throws. Every night, I would get annoyed when I had to remove them all to get into bed. Similarly, every morning I would get annoyed when I had to place them all back on the bed perfectly. Although they looked pretty, they were a waste of time, money, and energy
• Non-functional knick-knacks or collectibles: we don’t keep any figurines or trinkets in our home (my husband calls them dust collectors)

Kitchen

• Single-use kitchen gadgets: such as avocado slicers or egg separators, do not provide enough utility in the kitchen to justify the space required to store them
• Storage containers: we reuse food jars and containers that we already have
• Excess kitchen appliances: we only keep the ones we use regularly
• Multiple sets of dishes or glassware: In our household, there are 3 people, and we keep 6 of each item (glass, plate, bowl, etc.) in case we have guests over for dinner.
• Paper towels or napkins: reusable ones work just as well
• Single-use plastic products like straws or utensils
• Non-stick cookware with harmful chemicals: we use stainless steel or cast iron
• Pre-packaged or processed foods: we make my own meals from scratch
• Fast food or takeout: we cook most of my meals at home

Bathroom

• Single-use cotton pads or swabs: we use reusable ones
• Beauty products with harsh chemicals or excessive packaging
• Luxury brand toiletries and cosmetics: for me, I have found that it is the consistency of use of a product, rather than the price of the product, that has had the most impact on my skin.
• Excessive amounts of toiletries or personal care items
• Disposable razors: I use a safety razor much cheaper and better for the environment.
• Non-essential bathroom gadgets: we make sure that any bathroom gadgets we own gets used at least once a month, or else we declutter it
• Hair accessories: I have chosen a few ways to wear my hair and rotate through them. Any unused accessories are decluttered

Laundry and Cleaning

• Disposable cleaning wipes: reusable cloths last a lot longer and do a better job at cleaning
• Cleaning products with harsh chemicals: great natural alternatives are vinegar and bicarbonate of soda (also much cheaper and more versatile)
• Excessive sets of towels: we have 2 bath towels per person (so we can wash one and use one)
• Excessive sets of bedsheets: we have 2 sets of linen per bed (so we can wash one and use one)

Wardrobe

• A large wardrobe: we each have created a capsule wardrobe with a few versatile pieces
• Brand new clothes: we buy mostly second-hand or only when necessary
• Trendy clothing that will go out of style quickly
• Cheap shoes: we invest in high quality, long-lasting shoes
• Expensive jewellery or accessories
• Clothing with excessive branding or logos: this is personal preference but I just don’t really like the look
• Clothing that doesn’t fit well or isn’t comfortable
• Clothing that doesn’t align with my personal style

Kids

• Toys that have limited play value or that will be outgrown quickly
• Large toys
• Noisy toys
• Excessive amounts of clothing or shoes
• Non-essential baby gear
• Nappies

Seasonal

• Seasonal clothing or accessories: these will only be worn a few times so we do not buy items like these
• Seasonal decorations: we have a single box for seasonal decorations. If the box is already full, we need to make space for any new decorations we may want to add. Therefore, we regularly declutter the box to ensure that we only keep what we truly enjoy and use.

Out and About

• Single-use plastic products: like straws or utensils
• Disposable water bottles: we use refillable bottles
• Souvenirs: we used to collect items from every holiday we went on, but we stopped doing that immediately after adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Photos are enough for us, but we do allow ourselves to buy something that is already on our list as a need for ourselves or our home. For example, we needed a new chopping board and knew that we were going to Budapest soon, so we waited and bought one at a market there. We love this idea because we have nice memories every time we use the chopping board, but it also serves a very practical purpose in our home.

Other

• TV channels or streaming services that are rarely watched
• Non-essential electronics: we do not own a stereo, DVD player, or game console because we would not use them in our home.
• Physical photos: instead digital photos are organised in the cloud, this way we can always get access to them from our phones. To make sure we enjoy them, we have a slide show from time to time
• Music/CDs/DVDs: there is no need for these in our home as we stream or download all music, shows and films, and no longer own anything to play these on.
• Expensive vacations: I prefer budget-friendly travel and local experiences. My family and I love to travel, particularly abroad. We would rather take a holiday every year on a budget than indulge in luxury every five years. With this mindset and a few noodle nights dining in our hotel room, we have been able to travel to many parts of the world and enjoy unique experiences.
• Expensive cars: I bike, walk, or use public transportation.
• Large home: our home may be smaller than most, but it suits our needs and means we don’t feel obligated to fill empty space.

Extra

• Random/impulse buys: before we buy anything, it first has to go on a wish list. Only after looking at all the items on the wish list can a decision be made about what is the priority at that time
• Credit card spending: we do use credit cards, but we only purchase items that we have the money to pay for. This is a great way to earn rewards if managed properly.
• Items on sale: unless it is a planned purchase and already on the wish list
• Automatically upgrading any items: especially electronics unless the item is no longer working
• Brand names (just because they are brand names): when I was younger, I bought some shoes because they were popular and looked great. However, even after trying to “break them in” for a long time, I couldn’t stop getting blisters and having sore feet. Eventually, I gave up and sold them. Since then, I’ve made a promise to myself (and especially to my feet) to avoid buying something just because of the brand name.

These are some of the things we don’t need or buy for our home. Living a simpler and more minimalist lifestyle has allowed us to focus on experiences and relationships, rather than buying more things. It’s freeing to let go of the constant urge to buy and consume and instead appreciate what we already have.

After years of decluttering our home and lives, we have found a balance of things that works for us. When considering bringing something new into our home, we do so seriously. Our general rule is that everything in our home has a designated space. If things start to spread beyond that space, we declutter. Having fewer possessions means there’s less to keep track of, clean, and maintain, saving us time, money, and effort.

We don’t need many material possessions to lead a happy and fulfilling life. By being more conscious of what we own and consume, we can simplify our lives and focus on what truly matters.

What are some items that you no longer need or buy? Let me know in the comments 🤍