On my journey through minimalism and having enough, I’ve examined what items bring me the best value for money and what adds to my life. This process has been changed and refined over time and is deeply personal to each and every one of us.
I’ve recently been thinking about how my purchases have changed and so, here are 5 things that I no longer buy.
- Fresh flowers
I love flowers and I did use to “treat myself” to fresh flowers when I started working full time. They were lovely and gave my room a little something something but fresh flowers can be expensive. These days, I’m looking after my indoor plants and sprouted avocado seeds.
2. Back up items
I use to buy 2 or 3 back up items of skin care products, make up or socks. Skin care products I would end up using but for make up, I just had too many that I wouldn’t get around to using for a long time. By the time I got around to using it, there were more advanced products available on the market or I decided that I wanted to keep using the product that I was initially using and not wanting to try something new. Back in the day when I first started my corporate job, I bought a stash of stockings as they always seem to get holes in them quickly. Since then, I had also changed my style so I didn’t need stockings anymore. But here I am with 3 pairs as back up.
Now, I will only buy 1 back up item and will only get it if my current one is about to run out.
3. Magazines
These were such a treat and I use to look through them multiple times to ensure I read up every single letter on those pages. Nowadays, many of the articles can be found online as well as email newsletters and style guides. I now only have 1 magazine that I like (shoutout to Monocole Magazine) which I might get from time to time but not regularly. The magazine is quite large so it keeps me occupied for a very long time.
4. Books
I use to dream of having a massive library in my future unaffordable house. One with multiple shelves, comfortable chairs and ladders. But considering how many books I read more than once, I’ve come to realise that this Beauty and the Beast dream was just a fairytale for me. Books can be expensive and for a buy and read once, I’ve come to realise that the actual library is a better resource. I still do buy the occasional book if it’s something that I really really want to read and cannot get it at the local library or 2nd hand but it has been such a big mind shift change for me.
5. Nail Polish
I use to love the look of nail polish in muted pinks or dark reds but as I am lazy fussed when it starts chipping, I’ve found keeping up my nail polish too bothersome. The nail polish would chip off a day after application and I didn’t want to spend more time redo-ing them, looking for nail polish colours or products so I have stopped all together.
What are some of the things in life that you have stopped purchasing?
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