13 Things You Should Stop Buying

“The things you own, end up owning you.” – Tyler Durden

Never a hoarder but a collector of sentiments. Having too much ‘stuff’ around the home can eat up most of your time organising and decluttering.

BUT you can actually prevent too much clutter entering your home or your workspace if you just know how to limit yourself from buying unnecessary items.

Here Are The top Things You Should Stop Buying today:

Aluminium Foil & Packaging

These are the most versatile tools for any kitchen – however are you aware of the harmful toxicity level of these items to us humans and the environment? Many people are still using these for grilling, wrapping, cooking, preserving….. Don’t forget the aluminium packages of fizzy drinks and beer cans!

If you want to lessen your waste consumption and be environment-friendly at the same time, try using ceramic/ glass containers or reusable food wrappers instead.

Who doesn’t want a good bowl of hot soup on a lazy and rainy day? Everyone is tempted to buy something that doesn’t take up too much time cooking. But having a passion for decluttering, organising and self-care as a minimalist, instant food that has a huge waste consumption is a big no-no. Instead of buying this kind of product go waste-free by creating your own healthy bowl of ramen noodles/ soup – there are a huge amount of yummy recipes out there that are quick, easy and cheap to make!

Plastic Bottled Water

Hydrating is important. Without a carry around reusable water bottle you will always leave yourself with a choice of buying disposable bottled water. DON’T DO IT!

CDs & DVDs

Collection sets won’t be a thing anymore if you really want to pursue a minimalist lifestyle. Why not try enjoying your collection of music through one specific gadget or app? You can listen to music and even watch your favourite TV programs anytime and anywhere.

Toilet Tissues

There are a lot of alternatives to use instead of paper tissue! One option is using a Bidet. (Link: What is a Bidet?)

Plastic Bin Bags

What? It helps me with me gathering all my clutter!! I hear you my lovely, but let’s think about the reason people want to line their bin with a plastic bag. It’s to contain the wet stuff and make it easier to clean the bin, right? Some of the wet stuff could be, food waste, tampons and pads and disposable nappies. Why not compost your food waste and use reuseable sanitary and baby products? There are amazing products out there. This then means you don’t need a bag in your bin anymore!

Moth Balls

You can prevent clothes moths by simply dry cleaning and sealing your clothes in a moist-free storage container or unit.

Books & Newspapers

I know that satisfying emotion looking at the shelves where your favourite characters and stories lie. But let’s be real here, books, magazines and newspapers aren’t necessities. You can live without it. It’s hard to let things go, but, let’s not forget the fact that you can create your own library of hundred books when you go digital.

Notebooks

Journals, plans, lists, to dos, projects…..come on, these are like our best friends. Agree? Sometimes we tend to hoard too many notebooks and pieces of paper and store them for much longer than we need. Then when you’re about to declutter, it becomes too hard for you to throw it away because it became sentimental. Then wash, rinse and repeat until you have a library of notebooks!

Excess & Duplicates

Do you have extra boxes of plates and dining utensils that haven’t been used for a couple of years already? Only buy things that you are going to use within the max of 3 months. If you let excess and duplicates eat up storage around your home it will be harder for you to use your most important items.

Too Many Seasonal Outfits

Why stop buying seasonal outfits? It’s simple – because you have enough already!  Remember you only use your seasonal items for up to 3-4 months. BUT if you can’t handle the urge of buying a new outfit then make sure that you throw away one that you already have and just replace it.

Accessories

A watch, a pair of earrings, a necklace and a bracelet. You don’t really need to have a collection of every jewellery brand! Choose great quality and less is more.

Toys

Kids don’t really care what they play with, as long as they’re enjoying themselves – even if it means that you need to clean over and over again…and again. Based on research, those kids that have fewer toys tend to be more creative than those who have many. Convinced?

Let no advertisement entice you to buy unnecessary products.
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May you always remember this quote:

                                          “Minimalism is asking WHY before you buy.” – Francine Jay 

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