10 MINIMALIST HACKS TO LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE

3. One in, one out

Another minimalist hack is that, if you buy a new item, you need to declutter another one from your house.

For instance, if you want to buy a new t-shirt, you should get rid of an old t-shirt that you already own.

That way, you are making sure that you are not over-accumulating things.

This tip will help you create a clutter-free home!

It is also a great way to know that you are not adding duplicates to your belongings.

And it makes you think thoroughly about your new purchase.

If you know to need to let go of something else, maybe you will realize that you like what you already have better.

You will maybe realize the new item is not worth spending money on.

Some people even implement a “one in, two out” rule.

The best thing is to do whatever will help you the most.

Minimalism should be something practical that adds value to your life, not the opposite.

Read more: 14 life-changing minimalist rules to live by

4. Digitize and go paperless

Nowadays, we have the chance to be able to scan almost anything.

It means you don’t need to save all these papers and documents.

There are some administrative documents that we should keep.

However, if we just scanned and recycled other papers, we would get a lot of space back in our drawers and cupboards!

You can also scan photographs, bills, mail, magazine pages, and recipes you like in your recipe books.

For your electricity, water, Internet, or phone bills, ask companies if they can send them by email instead of a paper format (it saves trees!).

When you buy something new, ask for an email invoice.

That’s a great way to embrace digital minimalism in your life!

I also suggest that you choose online streaming services instead of buying physical DVDs and CDs.

Reading with an e-reader will also save you a ton of space instead of hoarding voluminous books in your apartment.

Read more: How to declutter paperwork at home in 8 easy steps

5. Find different functions for things  

6. Wait before making a purchase  

Make it a rule for yourself to wait for at least three days before you purchase a new item.

And in the meantime, ask yourself these questions to think everything through.

This is one of the best ways to stop impulse buying!

Of course, this does not apply to food and other consumables that you need to live.

Stores have great marketing strategies to make you spend money.

They want you to buy more and more so that they can make more money.

If you wait several days before purchasing anything and you still want the item, then you will know that you truly want it.

This way, you will avoid making impulse purchases, which will be better for your wallet and the planet.

Read more: How to do a no-spend month? 9 helpful tips for a successful no-buy challenge

7. Multipurpose cleaning products

You don’t need a specialized cleaning item for each room and each surface of your home.

Cleaning supplies can add up in our cupboards, and they take up a lot of space.

If you want to minimize your space, you could just have one or two multipurpose cleaners that you can use everywhere.

There are a lot of DIY recipes online, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

I personally only need white vinegar and baking soda to clean my entire home.

I don’t need anything else, and they work great!

You can also check my DIY recipe to make your own natural laundry detergent.

I only use natural cleaning ingredients, so I know they are safe for my health and that they are harmless to the environment.

I even think that they work better than conventional chemical cleaners.

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8. Avoid buying things that require you to buy something else

Some companies make sure that when you purchase an item, you have to buy an additional one.

If you don’t, you won’t be able to use the first one.

For instance, the newest version of the iPhone requires to have special headphones.

So, people need to buy both if they want to be able to listen to music.

This concept also applies if you intend to buy a piece of clothing.

You may realize you also need a pair of shoes to go with the outfit because you don’t have anything else matching in your closet.

Try to avoid these traps, it’ll help you want less and live more minimally!

9. Use quality reusable items

This one is maybe one of the less obvious minimalist hacks, but I think we should all implement it.

By having one good quality reusable item, you won’t need to buy the disposable versions again.

It saves you money and is so much better for the environment.

Also, having a reusable item will save you time because you won’t have to go back to the store to buy that thing again.

For instance, if you have a reusable straw, you won’t need to buy a pack of 100 straws again.

And your home will look a lot less cluttered.

It may cost a bit more at first, but in the long run, it will be worth the initial investment. 

10. Limit your range of clothing

Build a minimalist wardrobe to limit your range of clothing.