Minimalism is something I have become very interested in over the past few years. And with the wildly popular book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and the accompanying KonMari method, minimalist living is definitely having its moment. I recommend a minimalist lifestyle because it’s highly rewarding and helps you find true happiness.
So what is minimalism all about?
There are many definitions of what minimalism is. A minimalist lifestyle means different things to different people. But I view minimalism as getting rid of the things that don't matter in your life, eliminating the clutter, and focusing on only having things that truly bring you joy.
To me, minimalist living is about elimination and curating your life, your home, and your wardrobe into what you truly want it to be.
How a minimalist lifestyle can improve your finances
A minimalist lifestyle can have a huge positive impact on your finances. Practicing it can help you get out of debt, save money and build wealth.
Having a minimalistic approach can help you accomplish your financial goals faster and improve your attitude as you go through the process of building wealth. Let's talk through exactly how a minimalist lifestyle can improve your finances below.
1. Clarity around your core values
Minimalist living is all about letting go of what doesn't matter in your life and focusing on what does. The things that matter to you will typically revolve around your core values. Once you identify those, they can help you with the process of elimination (living on less) and taking on a more minimalistic approach to your life.
For instance, say you love to travel. But instead, you find yourself spending mindless hours in the mall buying things you don't need. Instead, begin putting those spare funds into a travel account toward the experiences that will truly make you happy.
On the other hand, maybe giving back and helping others is one of the things that truly make you happy. But your closet is bursting at the seams with clothes you've never worn and don't really like. You can give back by donating those clothes to people who actually need or want them.
A minimalist lifestyle can help you learn what your core values are. If you haven't already, take a stab at identifying your core values by asking yourself these questions. What are the things and experiences that truly matter to you? When you look at how you spend your money today, does your spending align with those money values?
2. A minimalist lifestyle helps you spend less
When you apply a minimalist lifestyle to your finances, it can cause you to spend less money. Many of you might beg to differ with me here because buying less does not necessarily mean spending less. But hear me out.
A lot of times, people buy things because they're cheap and seem like a great bargain. However, this can lead to buying too much, or things we don't need in the first place. Instead of focusing on their core values (the things that truly matter), it then becomes a focus on the next sale and the next bargain.
As a result, you can actually end up spending more money instead of less. And, you're more likely to buy things that are not aligned with your core values and don't bring you much satisfaction in the long run. So in many instances, buying less means spending less, which in turn means more money in your pocket to pay off debt, save and invest.
3. Pay off your debt faster
In line with the previous point, buying less as part of minimalism means having more money to put toward things that matter to you. Things like getting out of debt!
The more money you put against your debt, the quicker you can exit the debt cycle and start putting more of your money toward your financial and life goals. It's a win-win approach: buy less, have more, pay off debt, and build wealth.
4. Live below your means with a minimalist lifestyle
A minimalist lifestyle can help you to live below your means. It helps to prevent you from impulse shopping and teaches you to appreciate experiences rather than focusing on materialistic things. Again this will teach you to figure out your needs versus wants, which will curb your spending and can help you save more money.
Minimalist living requires you to take a step back and review your financial situation. Some people decide to do things such as downsize their living space for a more affordable home. Downsizing helps rid clutter as well and can prevent the temptation of accumulating more stuff because you won't have the room for it. Downsizing is also a great way to embrace minimalist finances.
If you are living beyond your means a minimalist lifestyle can help you make the changes you need to acquire better money habits.
5. Peace of mind and contentment
Peace of mind and being content are a byproduct of a minimalist lifestyle. The reduction of clutter and mindless spending can actually eliminate stress. And because you are only spending money on the things that truly bring you joy, you will have a great sense of happiness and contentment.
You don't have to worry about storing or maintaining, or even paying for things you don't even really want in the first place. This in turn helps tackle feeling a lack of contentment.
A minimalist lifestyle can save you money
Deciding to practice minimalism can be a major shift, and it's a process. Adapting to a minimalist lifestyle takes time. Even after several years, I continue to work on minimalism in my life. However, this approach to life is very fulfilling and totally worth it, in my opinion.
Minimalist living helps you set intentions with your finances. It teaches you to be appreciative of the little things too. Take steps towards minimalism and see how it quickly improves your finances with our 30 day minimalism challenge!
Also, be sure to check out our top books on minimalism as well!