Many people approach minimalism the wrong way.
They only think about decluttering, obsessing over getting rid of their stuff. And, of course, cutting down your possessions to the ones that matter most is important. But it doesn’t solve the root cause of clutter:
Amassing more stuff than you need.
Think about it — if you only focus on decluttering your life, you create an endless clutter loop, wasting tremendous amounts of time and energy. The solution?
A Better Approach to Minimalism
You need to build healthier consumption habits. It’s a simple calculation: Stuff equals input minus output. Limit the input, and you won’t have to worry about the output. Plus, the hidden benefits of mindful consumption are striking:
- You save money because you buy less stuff.
- You gain time by shopping less — and also working less because you need less money in your life.
- You gain mental clarity because you escape the treadmills of consumerism, marketing, anxiety about not having enough, and the irrational competition for having the highest number of shiny things.
So here are five habits to stop buying stuff you don’t need and live a simpler, happier life.
1. Remember Your Lifetime ROI
When you buy something, you don’t just pay with money — you also pay with a far more important resource: your lifetime.
What do I mean by that? Let’s say you buy a new video game for $50. At first, it seems that’s the only price you have to pay. But from a lifetime perspective, the calculation is different.
- You pay with the time you invested to earn those $50.
- You pay with the time you’ll spend playing that game.
- You pay with the time the game keeps you from more meaningful activities.
- You pay with your lack of attention.
- You pay with follow-up expenses —electricity, more video games, a new controller. Things like these, in turn, costs you more time.
I’m not making a case against video games. In fact, any other purchase saps your lifetime. Want to buy a coffee at Starbucks? You don’t just pay $5; that’s 15 minutes of your life right there. A brand new ultra-HD TV obliterates hundreds of hours. A new house? That’s an investment of several years. The question you have to ask yourself is this:
Am I willing to sacrifice my past and future lifetime for this purchase?
It sounds harsh. But think about it. If something doesn’t return your invested lifetime with long-lasting happiness, time, or purpose, it’s probably not worth buying.
Once you truly understand this notion, you’ll reduce impulsive and regretful purchases to the absolute minimum.
2. Beware Possessions Magnets
Possessions attract possessions.
The more stuff you buy, the more stuff you buy. The more clothes you have, the bigger your closet, and the more boxes you need. The bulkier your furniture, the bigger your house needs to be. And the bigger your house, the more space wants to be filled with meaningless stuff.
The industry knows this concept perfectly well. This is why you never just buy an iPhone. You also buy the implicit obligation to enter an ecosystem. You buy a case, earphones, chargers, cables, adapters, screen protectors, cloud services, etc. And maybe you also buy an iPad —
And boom!
There’s another possession magnet, attracting even more possessions. Before you know it, you’ve imprisoned yourself on a treadmill of consumption.
The solution is simple. But not easy. Be mindful before you purchase a consumption magnet. Define exactly what you need beforehand, and stick with that plan. Don’t let the industry lure you into buying more things than you need.
3. Check the Buyerarchy of Needs
Buying new items should always be your last resort. Unfortunately, modern marketing preaches it the other way around — and fuels the fire of consumption.
The antidote? Apply the “buyerarchy” of needs. It’s a practical guideline for sustainable, conscious consumption.
Here’s an example: Let’s assume you need a shirt. Many people would rush to buy a new one right away. A more efficient way, however, is to check the buyerarchy from bottom to top.
- Keep using the shirt you already have. Often, our need for consumption is triggered by society and marketing.
- What if it’s a festive occasion and you need to look sleek? Borrow one from your friends or family.
- If you need a more permanent solution, exchange shirts with others. (Swap parties are a wholesome way to socialize!)
- Still not happy? Thrift for shirts on eBay or second-hand stores.
- The final option is to make the shirt yourself — DIY projects are an amazing skill and pastime.
And only if all that doesn’t work — which is, let’s face it, rather unlikely — you can go into a store and buy that new shirt.
Two neat side effects of applying this method: You’ll save lots of money (=lifetime) and make a positive impact on the environment.
4. Use the NIOO Rule
For a long time, I procrastinated on getting rid of old tech.
Laptops, mobile phones, and consoles piled up in my drawers like the archived files of a law firm. One day, I finally found the courage to sell everything. The problem was that the devices were so outdated I barely found buyers and only earned a fraction of the original price.
Sound familiar? A simple solution is the NIOO (new-in-old-out) rule: Get rid of one old item for every new item you acquire.
It doesn’t seem like much, but this rule poses a much deeper question: If you can’t get rid of your old stuff, why do you need new stuff in the first place?
In retrospect, I probably didn’t need a new phone every time I bought one. It just felt appropriate. But ever since I flipped the switch inside my mind to get rid of old items as I buy new ones, something changed.
From: I really want this phone, and I’m going to buy it.
To: I really want this, but I don’t want to get rid of my old phone because it still gets the job done.
Consumption hates friction.
5. Say No to Free Stuff
I recently visited a surfing competition with many sponsors trying to promote their products. So it didn’t take long until a kind woman approached me and offered me a plastic pouch to protect my phone from the water.
Whoa, free stuff. Sure, I’ll take one!
When I got home, I realized my mistake. I wanted this, but I didn’t need it. The thing about free stuff is that it’s, well, free. And therefore, it’s unlikely that it provides long-lasting value to your life.
In our age of abundance, we’re drowning in free stuff — cheap pens, sunglasses, bags, keychains. And this goes beyond physical clutter. Too many free subscriptions and digital offers drain our time and energy.
I know it’s tempting. It takes extreme willpower to say no. But this is a skill we can cultivate. What helps me the most is taking a glimpse into the future. What will happen to this free item after today? Will I use it once a day? Once a week? Once a month? Or is it just another dust collector I’ll never touch again?
Usually, it’s the latter. Decline free stuff by default.
Constraints Are Liberating
These habits shouldn’t feel imprisoning— they should feel empowering.
So remember, it’s not about getting every single decision right. If things go sideways, cut yourself some slack. Being bombarded with tempting offers and declining them is a tough challenge. But it’s so worth it.
And don’t worry: It’ll get easier the more you internalize mindful consumption.
Many of my clothes are more than eight years old. And the longer I can keep them, the less tempted I become to buy new ones. Because purchasing new things, cluttering my life, accumulating stuff — all these things don’t contribute to my well-being.
Constraining the clutter in your life is liberating.
Being content with what you already have is pure bliss.