There are a lot of different kinds of minimalists. For this post, we'll focus on the expense or frugal aspect of minimalism. This type of person uses minimalism to lower their expenses. Here are 13 categories where you can spend less to help you practice frugal minimalism and save money. Within each category, there are also suggestions about what you can do instead.
- Personal care items
- Haircuts and hair care products
- Dry cleaning and laundry services
- Car insurance and maintenance costs
- Cable, satellite, streaming TV, and other media subscriptions
- Recurring memberships to receive discounts
- Credit card interest rates and finance charges
- Keepsakes, holiday decorations, etc.
- Items you might use "someday"
- Mobile phone and other electronics upgrades
- Clothing, shoes, purses, and jewelry
- Vitamins and supplements
- Anything advertised on social media
1. Personal care items
I'm including in this category a lot of things that many people consider personal care, like cosmetics.
It's been so long since I owned any perfume. I had to do a search to see how much it costs. $15-25 seemed like an average for the lower-end brands, but you can spend less and certainly pay much more. Why would you want to pay anything, though? There are a lot of non-monetary reasons to not buy fragranced products.
For those of you who wear perfume, cologne, aftershave, scented lotion, or use scented laundry detergent, soap, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, etc., this may be difficult to acknowledge.
First of all, many people I've spoken to are not fans of scents. Many people of all genders find fragrances unnecessary and there seems to be a theme that those who wear them are unaware of how strong they seem to people around them. Kinda like how people who smoke stop being able to tell that they smell like cigarettes. Yep, I just compared wearing perfume to smoking.
Second, some people have allergic reactions to perfumes, especially synthetic fragrances. I personally get coughing, congestion, sneezing, and headaches from certain smells, including scented personal care products. I can handle some diluted essential oils in small amounts, but not most. Perfume is a common trigger for asthma and other allergic reactions that can cause respiratory distress.
Do you really want to wear scented products so badly that you're willing to hurt someone else to do so?
Third, are you willing to risk making a poor first impression on someone who doesn't like the scent you're wearing? What if it means that you don't get your dream job (or ideal employee), or lose out on a personal relationship with someone important? If someone is feeling sick when they meet you, they may have a hard time seeing past that to the person you are. As someone with a lot of allergies, my eyes tear up, I start sneezing and coughing and get a headache when I smell any fragrances. It's so distracting that I usually have to get away from whatever the smell is.
I just gave you a lot of reasons why wearing scents are a bad idea. If you don't like any of them, just think about how much fragrance costs and if you could use the money instead for groceries, paying off debt, or building an emergency fund.
Then there's nail polish. It smells horrible and is toxic. Plus nail polish remover. Sure there are better options now than traditional polish--less toxic, and more expensive. Add on weekly manicures and you're spending a whole lot of money.
Regarding skincare, I like to keep it simple and affordable. I use an all-in-one bar soap to wash my face and body, and I also use it for shaving. A $5 bar lasts me at least 2 months. That's way less than I was spending on body wash, shaving cream, and face wash for products that I wasn't really happy with. Plus as you'll see in the next sections, I use that $5 bar for other things, too.
I rarely use moisturizer; I try to hydrate from within by drinking lots of water instead. But when my skin does need a little boost, I prefer a few drops of hemp seed oil for my face or coconut oil for my body. Used in small amounts, these are much more affordable than most of the commercial moisturizing creams I see out there. Add to that a decent sunscreen with minimal ingredients and that rounds out my skincare collection.
As I mentioned before, I have allergies, so I do occasionally have to use some topical remedies when I have an allergic reaction. That happens a lot less since I eliminated many unnecessary things that I put in or on my body.
Removing make-up from my life has also helped my skin a lot. Even the natural products tend to leave me with red, itchy skin and puffy eyes. And make-up (the good stuff especially) is crazy expensive, so it's just not something I want in my budget.
2. Haircuts and hair care products
I just don't cut my hair very often. I cut it short, let it grow for several months, and then cut it again. In my experience, a decent haircut that works with your natural hair, along with some other tips to follow, means that I spend barely any money.
I use the same soap bar to wash my hair that I mentioned in the personal care section. No more bottles of shampoo for me, and it works so much better for my hair and scalp. Even the expensive "natural" shampoo in liquid form would make me so itchy for some reason and would just sit on my hair no matter how much I washed it out.
I don't use a blow-dryer, curling iron, straightener, dyes, or any hair styling products, so my hair is generally healthy and doesn't dry out or need any special conditioners, masks, or other restorative products.
I shower at night and don't brush or comb my hair until the next morning when it's dry. I brush it once in the morning and that's about it, with maybe a touch of water to style it. My hair is short so it dries before bedtime. If I needed it to dry faster, I would probably wrap a towel around my hair or pat it dry.
I do admit that I'm lucky to have cooperative hair (unless I want to curl it). I recognize that others have different needs for their hair and skin. But I'm betting that there are still a lot of things most people buy that just aren't needed and are costing a lot of money.
I also think that the more products and tools you use on your hair, the more attention it needs. If you want to cut down, I suggest trying to live without one product at a time and see how it goes.
3. Dry cleaning and laundry services
I just don't buy clothes that are labeled dry-clean only. When we moved, I donated my last piece of clothing that was dry-cleaning (that I would put into the washing machine on delicate). I also wear my clothes twice (unless they're visibly dirty or I've gotten sweaty) before washing, which helps so much with the cost of laundry.
As far as cleaning clothes, I use a simple eco-friendly detergent. I'm trying out laundry strips right now. If I think things are looking dingy, I use some washing soda or baking soda and vinegar. I also my bar soap as a pre-wash stain stick, and it works great. I think with all of the things I use it for, that bar of soap probably costs me a cent or two per use.
I don't use dryer sheets, dryer balls, or anything else. I wash everything in cold water unless it's really dirty, like cleaning rags.
I no longer separate clothes by color, or whether they're considered "delicates" or not. If I have more than one load, I may sort them to distribute the weight. But that's about it. I used to do all that extra stuff, and I have seen absolutely no decline in the condition of my clothing or how clean they get. I'm just saving myself time and money, not to mention water and electricity.
4. Car insurance and maintenance costs
Car insurance is a necessary evil if you have a car in the U.S. The insurance companies can just raise your rates, no matter how good of a driver you are, because other people in your area make claims (or the company just decides they want more money). I don't hesitate to update my insurance company anytime my mileage goes down and ask them to lower my premium, especially as my car gets older. If they raise my rates, I check around for better prices.
I also shop around for maintenance and try to find coupons. I'm not one to DIY car repairs; I'd rather pay someone else to do it. But one thing I do make sure of is to get maintenance done on time and get problems looked at right away. Taking care of your car in a timely fashion is a great way to save money in the long run. Additionally, I own a cheap, older car that doesn't cost much to insure or maintain.
Where we live isn't conducive to using public transport. There isn't much within walking distance and biking isn't for me. But I do try to map out any errands and follow a route that will conserve fuel. Google maps have an option that shows the most eco-friendly route now in their app.
I rarely use apps like Uber or Lyft. It's just exponentially expensive and I found that especially lately, the drivers get lost and show up late. These services are an absolute last resort for me and usually only if I find myself unexpectedly stuck somewhere and there is no other clear option.
5. Cable, satellite, streaming TV, and other media subscriptions
First of all, if you still pay for cable or satellite TV...why?? It seems like these companies trick you with an introductory price (which is not that great) and then after you've been with them for a while they raise it higher and higher.
The same thing with streaming subscriptions. It seems like a good deal unless you have more than one, and the prices go up every year or two.
My parents didn't have cable or paid streaming in our house growing up, so I'm used to watching free stuff on the internet. YouTube is great because it's free and there's so much variety. You can even watch movies on there for free if you're willing to watch commercials. I try not to spend a bunch of time watching TV, but I do enjoy it in affordable ways.
I find it annoying that the networks out there put all these commercials on live TV and then also charge to be part of a cable package that still usually has the commercials in it. And then there are the streaming subscriptions which also sometimes have commercials you have to sit through even though you paid to have access to the shows and movies. I'm sure I'm "missing out" on lots of the newest shows and movies when they first come out because I'm not willing to pay up to see them. But there is so much more to the world that I'd rather spend my time and money on than paying to stare at a screen.
The same goes for paying to listen to music, read books, listen to audiobooks, read websites, or get access to news. I understand very well that some of these services give you exclusive content and help support the creators/writers/artists who use them by paying them for their craft. But it's such a small, small amount.
I just looked it up, and Rolling Stone said back in 2018 that U.S. musicians make an average of 1/10 of the total revenues from the music industry. Most music streaming services reported that even the biggest artists make "between $0.006 and $0.0084" per stream. That's right, not even a single penny for every time the highest-ranked songs are played.
Meanwhile, Scribe media says that self-published authors typically make either a 35% or 70% royalty on Amazon per book sold. Sounds great, right? Let's look at this more closely.
Firstly, a self-published author doesn't get any advance or a guaranteed return on their time and efforts. They are working for free. Then they have to choose whether to pay (out of their own pockets) for things like editors, cover design, marketing, etc. I believe if you publish exclusively on Amazon, then you don't necessarily need an ISBN, but it's probably a good idea to get one to help safeguard your work.
Still, that 70% royalty may sound like a good deal. It could start to really add up, right? But that's assuming you can sell any books, let alone enough to make living off of it.
The estimate is that just in the U.S., Amazon has approximately 50 million books for sale, with 1.2 million new books being published every year. Authors also have to price their books competitively, which means an unknown person can't write their first novel and expect anyone to pay big money for it. I checked around, and most sites recommended an average price of $2.99 for a book. That's $2.09 in royalties. Let's break down actual money with some arbitrary numbers.
I'm going to randomly decide it took 1000 hours to write, edit, and format this particular book and design a cover for it. We'll skip things like promotion and paying for help getting the book ready. The author wants to make (pre-tax) minimum wage of $7.25 per hour in book sales, which is $7,250 for 1000 hours of work. With the book priced at $2.99 and 70% royalties, the author would have to sell 3,469 books to break even for their time.
I don't want to discourage anyone from becoming a writer--I love writing myself. But realistically, it's more likely that a new writer will not end up with any money in their pockets if they publish through most places like Amazon.
If you really want to support your favorite creator, find a way to get money into their hands directly. Find out if they sell anything on their own website, have a Patreon account, or some other way for you to donate money to them. Because when you buy their work through a media service, most of your money goes to the service, not the artist.
There are also so many free or cheap alternatives out there. Public libraries have free options for many types of media, not just printed books. Lots of library services are also online these days. A lot of libraries now even allow you to sign up online. Once you get a library card, you may never have to set foot in the library again and still have access to all they have to offer. Try checking out your local options as well as online. One good source is archive.org.
Free books, websites, and instructional videos are great resources for learning how to do things yourself instead of paying extra money for someone else to do, make, or fix.
6. Recurring memberships to receive discounts
I can name so many companies that try to convince us that charging money for the privilege of buying from them will actually save us money. There are members-only stores like Costco and Sam's Club. Online services like Amazon and Thrive Market. Recurring subscriptions for special interest "boxes" like pet supplies, art supplies, kids' activities, beauty supplies, beverages, meal services, cleaning products fitness stuff, "curated" clothing...if you can think of it, someone has probably come up with a way to create a membership for it.
There's a lot of laziness on the part of the consumer by signing up for these programs where many decisions are made for you. And the companies that run these services are counting on continued laziness. First, they tell you what to consume and how often to consume it. You're at the mercy of their timetables and what they have available, and you feel like you have to accept what they give you because you paid for the membership.
With the curated delivery subscriptions, there may initially be a bit of thrill in having a surprise each time you open a new box. But you will likely end up with a bunch of stuff you don't like and don't need.
With things like Amazon, they offer free shipping for Prime members. But is it really free? Or are the prices just higher to cover the cost of shipping on Prime-eligible items? These days, you're not likely to get anything faster through Prime shipping, either. All deliveries everywhere are slow due to global staffing and supply chain shortages. Amazon also has "Subscribe & Save" where you supposedly get a discount on items by signing up for recurring shipments. But you should still carefully review each shipment before it goes out because the prices can change anytime. I heard about one guy who was spending $10/month on gum through Amazon and didn't realize that the price of his gum had been jacked up to $100!
Thrive Market is big among foodie influencers these days, and they all swear that you can get better deals through Thrive than you can locally. But they only sell a bunch of packaged goods that nobody really needs to create bougie recipes that are not necessary for optimal nutrition. There might be some interesting stuff on there, but I would consider it more discretionary spending items that would be rare treats than a place to get essentials. So after you buy your subscription and the food that you don't need, are you ahead or behind in your budget? Not to mention how classist it is to suggest that people can afford to pay extra money for a subscription just to access their "affordable" food prices. I know they say they give away a free membership to certain groups of people, but. Their business model doesn't make sense unless they're making money, just like any other business. I don't know what they actually charge because they don't show you the prices unless you're a member, so I can't compare. But I can't see how paying for a subscription, buying these packaged foods plus the cost of shipping (whether "free" or extra cost) is going to be cheaper than purchasing the simple, unprocessed foods that I typically buy at the grocery store.
And then there's Costco. I've been there (as a guest) a few times, and it feels like torture. The prices seem quite high to me, usually for much larger quantities than I could possibly use in a reasonable amount of time. They also sell stuff that I would never buy from a big box store, like jewelry, furniture, and clothing. It's nearly impossible to determine the origins of these items and how sustainable or ethically made they are. Then after being in that loud, crowded place on their hard concrete floors for hours just to get the largest bag of rice known to exist, you stand in line forever and get sticker shock at the register from all the "bargains" that accidentally made it into your cart. Don't forget to wait in line for an hour at their fuel stations to save $0.05 on gas, either. What a treat! 😉
I could rant on and on about all of these services and find fault in every one of them. The bottom line is that I don't pay for any of their subscriptions or memberships. Take a look at how much you pay for these each month or year and see if they are really cost-effective. If they aren't, but you can't find products elsewhere, consider ways to buy without a membership (you can use Amazon without Prime) or share the cost of a membership (just don't get caught if it isn't allowed!). Also actively compare options locally, whether second-hand or new. Lastly, check out the cost of buying online from these membership websites versus buying a product online directly from the product manufacturer.
When it comes to food, check out our post about eco-minimalist grocery shopping on a budget.
7. Credit card interest rates and finance charges
Of all the ways to get a loan, getting one through a credit card company is probably one of the worst, right up there with payday loans. Because guess what? Using a credit card is taking out a loan. The bank that owns the card is paying the charges on your behalf, and then you pay them back when you pay the bill that the bank sends to you.
If you pay the balance on time, then you avoid the high-interest rates (usually 20-30% or more). But if you're even a single day late or a single penny short of paying off the whole bill, then you get hit with late fees. Banks also tend to increase your interest rates over time. You may start out with a "low introductory rate" which then goes up if you miss or are late on a payment.
Some banks also charge an annual fee to even be a cardholder--regardless of whether you actually use the card or not. They also like to play this game where if you don't use the card enough or too much (and only they truly know how much they think those numbers are), then they lower your credit limit or might even shut down your account. All of these situations can negatively affect your credit score.
Regular credit card use can help your credit score, so long as you're only using a small percentage of your total credit. I do use credit cards, but only in these circumstances:
- For something that I have the cash for in my bank account right that minute
- I prefer to use them for online purchases and things like a rental car, airline, or hotel reservations because they have better fraud protection than using my debit card, including generating an electronic card number that only works for that website and allowing me to put a lock on the number without shutting down the card altogether
- One of my cards gives extra cashback rewards for utilities charged to the card, so I have those on auto-pay (though I still check the balances each month)
- Any cashback rewards the cards give me always go directly toward paying the balance
Additionally, I have a little trick I use to keep the balances extra low. Whenever I get a card statement, I first go through it and make sure the charges are correct. Then I take the balance due and divide it by 4 (and round up if needed). I auto-schedule payments to go out each week from my bank account so that a little of the balance is paid down each week. It's easier to manage my budget that way, and it keeps less of a balance showing on the card (and my credit) because I'm not waiting till the due date to pay off a big chunk all at once.
I've used this method for years and it works great for my smaller income. Along with not having any debt, it allows me to have a very healthy credit score.
8. Keepsakes, holiday decorations, collectibles, etc.
Where some people see items of sentimental value, I just see clutter. I groan at things that have to be dusted or moved around and possibly damaged. I see money down the drain for items that take up space and will probably fall apart too quickly.
I spent a lot of my life surrounded by people who love these things. I've had coworkers comment on when I was going to "personalize" my desk (never) and other people mention that my apartment looked "staged" because I didn't have knick-knacks everywhere.
I think all the typical commercial holidays are ways to take our money and ruin the planet. I question the reasoning behind giving people presents to commemorate the anniversary of the day they were born every year, and I've begged and pleaded with family and friends to not spend their money on me. Presence, not presents, I tell them. Some get it, some don't, and leave me figuring out what to do with the things they think I want or need.
If it isn't functional, consumable, or a supply that leads to a product of my own creativity, then an item rarely calls to me to possess it. I just don't get attached to stuff. I think decluttering is fun, and I play a game with myself to see how little I can buy.
I won't say that I don't ever feel twinges when I let go of some things or get the urge to buy something I really don't need. But I ignore it and get over it. And you will, too. For more help, check out How To Get Rid Of Your Stuff (And Why It's So Hard).
9. Items you might use "someday"
Have you ever gone to a store, seen something (maybe it's on sale), and thought, "I might need that someday?" And then you buy it. It sits for months or years, collecting dust, being shuffled around. Maybe you don't even try it out. And then one day, you go to use it, and it doesn't work, doesn't fit, or is past its expiration date.
That's money wasted. I have yet to ever succumb to that urge and end up needing the thing I thought I needed. In our recent move, I purged a lot of "someday" items. For the remainder, I have a deadline of 6 months to use them or they're going away, too.
For shopping trips, I have multiple lists. Other than food staples, every item goes on a purchase pause list. I wait for a week or more and then check back.
If it still feels like I need it, then it goes to the "buy" list. I try to find it free or used first, and it takes as long as it takes. Sometimes, things fall off that list because I decide after looking for a long time that I just don't need it or it isn't worth the price I have to pay.
Other things stay on the pause list for weeks, months, or longer until I'm sure I want them (or don't). I don't feel like there's any urgency to get anything usually. I try hard to stick to my lists and not deviate. Not using credit cards helps with that, because I know I only keep so much money in my checking account and my debit card will take that cash right out.
10. Mobile phone and other electronics upgrades
I've mentioned before how bad electronics production is for the planet, and how bad the e-waste problem is. Electronics manufacturers perpetuate the problem with planned obsolescence and marketing schemes that encourage us to upgrade our devices. They make it nearly impossible (or not cost-effective) to repair older phones, laptops, or computers, and build them so the operating system and software updates only go on for a limited time. Then hundreds or thousands of dollars (and only a year or 2) later, you have a brick on your hands and have to pay up again.
My answer is to keep and repair my devices for as long as possible. My phone is several years old and I've already had it fixed once. When it goes, I will probably go with a refurbished phone as they have yet to come out with genuinely repairable phones in the U.S.
My laptop is also several years old and I just got the notification that they will stop providing updates and supports this summer. So I am about to start investigating whether it's more cost-effective to pay someone local to upgrade it or find a used replacement.
11. Clothing, shoes, purses, and jewelry
I really don't buy new clothes at all. My first choice is a thrift store unless it's for socks or underwear (these 2 items are often handmade by me or I buy them from a small sustainable business). I only buy clothes when I'm replacing other things that are worn out. I try to stick to second-hand cotton fabrics.
I hate buying new shoes, but it's a fact of life that you can't wear the same shoes forever and expect to not be in pain. I am currently researching how to find decent shoes that are sustainable and can be re-soled, repaired, or recycled as needed. Most of them are not cheap. However, the way I save on shoes is to buy fewer pairs overall and use insoles to keep my feet comfortable for longer.
As far as purses and jewelry--I don't really have an interest in buying/collecting either of these categories. I have a few things that I've owned for years and I'm content with not getting any more. My current purse is starting to fall apart and I'm thinking that I will crochet a new one for myself out of my thrifted/second-hand yarn and fabric when the time comes.
12. Vitamins and supplements
I like to think that I choose relatively well-informed people to spend my time listening to, whether it's a video or blog. However, I still find it cringe-worthy each time someone is sponsored by a vitamin company and talks about how they try to eat healthily but they feel better taking their daily multivitamin because it helps "fill in the gaps."
There are many reasons why vitamin supplementation is a bad idea. First, they aren't well-regulated, at least in the U.S. You don't know for sure what you're getting and if it's contaminated with things you don't know about. Vitamins in pill forms also aren't well-absorbed by the body. That's why the doses of each element are much higher than the RDA. However, if you do happen to absorb as much as they're giving you, you can risk an overdose.
Plus, they just don't help. A Johns Hopkins article I read quoted 3 different studies showing that taking vitamins didn't reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, mental decline, repeat heart attacks, surgeries, or death.
They only recommended folic acid for [biological] women with child-bearing potential to prevent neural tube defects in babies. Other than that, they don't recommend taking vitamins or supplements as long as you have a healthy diet.
But even if you don't have a healthy diet, it doesn't seem to "fill in the gaps" as the vitamin companies would have you believe. Johns Hopkins says that money would be better spent on healthy foods.
There are also lots of "superfood" supplements, meal replacement powders, functional foods, and more that are constantly popping up. All of these are either pills or processed foods, and you're likely to run into the same problems with them that would with vitamins and minerals in pill form:
- They are poorly regulated by the government
- Your body is less likely to absorb them properly than it would absorb food in its natural form
- Any supplements that contain more than the RDA for a certain component could cause side effects or an overdose
In addition, some ingredients are poorly studied and make claims that may or may not be true. Lastly, taking anything in concentrated doses may interact with medications or health conditions. Just because you buy something without a prescription doesn't mean it won't act like medicine in your body! And not all medicine is needed or beneficial. This tip is not just about saving money, it's about saving your health.
13. Anything advertised on social media
I don't use social media anymore unless you count YouTube. As mentioned before, I watch a variety of channels and some of them do endorse various products. No matter how much I enjoy their channel or like what they have to say, that doesn't change how I feel about the video sponsors.
Before I hopped off of the rest of the social platforms, I saw an alarming rise in brand-new companies advertising through various channels. Some with the help of influencers, others with catchy gimmicks. All Facebook and Instagram cared about were whether they paid their advertising bill. Meanwhile, they hawked their unproven products with unsubstantiated claims, often taking people's money and never even delivering. Then they disappeared off the internet with their profits or maybe started up a different scam.
These guys are tricky. They find ways to look like real companies, and it takes a lot of research to find the truth. I'm all for supporting small businesses, but I'd rather not be a financial guinea pig. Nor do I need just about anything that is for sale on social. Do yourself a favor and just avoid the risk.
Instead, don't get anything. If you didn't think you needed or wanted it until you saw an ad for it, then you don't need it. Find other ways to use your time than internet shopping. Some suggestions are learning how to cook healthy, budget-friendly foods, enjoying the beauty of nature however you can, reading, spending time with loved ones, or taking a nap!
If you have money-saving tips, please share them in the comments so we can all help each other save money!
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