Inside: Learn common things minimalists don’t buy or own to simplify their lives and homes.
In today’s world, the temptation to buy stuff is everywhere.
If you’re trying to embrace a minimalist lifestyle, it’s important to resist the perceived need those advertisements create.
Instead, prioritize owning the essentials and knowing how to say “no” to the rest.
But how do you know what to indulge in and what to avoid?
While every minimalist has a slightly different vision of what’s truly essential and what isn’t, there are a few common things that most minimalists don’t own.
If you want to live a simpler, more minimalist lifestyle, here are a few guidelines to consider following.

What are some things minimalists don’t buy?
Even though I don’t consider myself a minimalist, I share many of the same values. Minimalism is all about simplicity and the idea that less is more.
By focusing on the things that truly matter and bring joy, and getting rid of the rest, we can live a less cluttered and more fulfilling life.
So, what are minimalists not buying to keep their lives and homes simpler? Here are 13 of them.
1. Minimalists don’t buy knick-knacks and needless decorations.
Some people find joy in decorating every square inch of their space with tchotchkes, knick-knacks, and other bits of home decor.
But minimalists? They would rather avoid the clutter that tends to accumulate when you take a “more is more” approach to home decor.
Instead of covering every shelf and surface with stuff, minimalists take a more thoughtful approach. They may opt for a single vase of fresh flowers instead of an assortment of picture frames and figurines.
And instead of collecting endless seasonal decorations to spice up your space and celebrate every holiday and shift in the weather, they choose to keep things simple, with versatile decor that’ll bring them joy all year long.
By resisting the temptation to excessively decorate, minimalists create a space that embraces calm and tranquility.
An added bonus? It’s much easier to keep things clean and dust-free.
2. Minimalists try to avoid buying fast fashion.
Over the years, fast fashion has become the go-to way to dress for many people.
And in some ways, it’s easy to see why. It’s affordable. It’s accessible. And it makes it relatively easy to keep up with the latest ever-changing trends.
It’s also an easy way to wind up with an overwhelmingly large wardrobe – and contribute needlessly to waste as that fast fashion rips, tears, and falls apart quickly.
Instead, minimalists extend their ‘less is more’ philosophy to their wardrobes and declutter what they no longer wear. They keep well-made, timeless pieces that offer versatility.
Minimalists are selective when buying new pieces. Those looking to save money and increase sustainability often shop at second-hand stores for clothing.
Minimalists opt for quality over quantity.
3. Minimalists often don’t own physical media.
Many of us grew up in homes filled with physical movies, music, and books. Depending on when you were born, you had stacks of VHS tapes or DVDs.
Records, tapes, or CDs were the only way you could listen to your favorite songs without hoping you’d get lucky and catch them on the radio. And your bookshelves were probably full of books that you’d only read once, collecting dust ever since.
Now? All of that media can be saved and accessed digitally. We no longer need entire pieces of furniture dedicated to storing those CDs and DVDs.
Streaming services allow us to watch our favorite movies and shows and listen to our favorite songs with the touch of a button, and e-readers eliminate the need to keep stacks upon stacks of books around our homes.
And while some people still insist on buying physical media, it’s one thing that minimalists often categorically skip to have less stuff in their homes.
4. Minimalists don’t typically buy single-purpose kitchen gadgets.
There’s a kitchen gadget out there for virtually everything.
Avocado slicers. Apple corers. Garlic presses. The list goes on. For every task and item you can find in your kitchen, someone’s created something specialized that helps you prepare it.
But none of those things are really necessary. You can slice an avocado, core an apple, and mince your garlic with a single, multi-purpose tool – a good kitchen knife. So why buy all of those other things?
Instead of filling their cabinets and drawers with unnecessary kitchen gadgets, minimalists stick to the basics: versatile appliances, sturdy pots and pans, must-have utensils, and just enough dishes.
A minimalist kitchen that’s stocked with the essentials and well-organized makes cooking easier and more enjoyable.
5. Minimalists don’t own many duplicate items.
Sure, you can have more than one of something… but there’s a fine line between ‘just enough’ and ‘way too much.’
Some people like to keep lots of extras on hand – an endless pile of extra towels and dishcloths, six different sheet sets, a box filled with duplicate cords and cables just in case you ever happen to need them someday.
A stack of ten plates in the cupboard, more pairs of jeans than you could wear in a month, four different lotions in the bathroom…the list goes on.
But why?
Instead of owning all that stuff, minimalists would prefer to focus on owning fewer, higher quality items – a couple of good bed sheets, enough towels to get through the week, quality dishware, and clothes.
While they could overfill closets and cupboards with extra stuff simply because the space exists, they choose not to because they know they don’t need to.
6. Minimalists don’t buy lots of cleaning supplies.
There’s a product out there that swears it’s designed to clean everything – your stovetop, your kitchen sink, your hardwood floors, your mirrors, your toilets.
But you don’t really need all of that.
Instead of splurging on endless sprays, wipes, and solutions, many minimalists know that you can stick to minimal versatile products and great cleaning tools to tackle every area in your home.
Once you find what works for you, there is no need to continue trying out the new trendy cleaning products.
Minimalists focus on their favorites and don’t constantly feel the need to change things up.
7. Minimalists don’t purchase souvenirs on every vacation.
Minimalists tend to prioritize experiences and traveling to new places rather than acquiring more stuff.
One thing minimalists choose not to do when they go on vacation? Bring home souvenirs.
Minimalist travel focuses on packing light and being present in the moment. Taking pictures is a great way to remember places you have been and people you spent time with.
But souvenirs? They can end up becoming clutter and are unnecessary baggage.
While taking something home once in a while may be nice, they focus on consumables rather than items that would sit out collecting dust.
8. Minimalists don’t make impulse purchases.
Another thing that minimalists do their best to avoid? They don’t get sucked into impulse purchasing.
Minimalists learn how not to get lured into buying something just because it’s on sale.
They’re intentional with shopping and are careful about what items they choose to bring into their home.
This saves them from experiencing buyer’s remorse often and helps keep clutter at bay while saving money in the process.
Minimalists put practices in place to help them avoid impulse purchases such as waiting for a predetermined amount of time before deciding whether or not to buy something.
9. Minimalists don’t buy typical gifts.
Minimalists have learned how to be intentional with their purchases and are careful not to add clutter to their homes.
In doing so, they’re also aware when buying gifts that they don’t want to contribute to the clutter in anyone else’s home either.
Because of that, minimalists tend to give clutter-free gifts. They focus on consumable items or experiences that they think the recipient would enjoy.
Minimalists tend to want to receive these types of gifts as well or may even opt not to exchange gifts during the holidays.
Does that mean they won’t buy you a different gift if that’s what you’ve told them you really want? No, but left to their own devices people do tend to give the types of gifts that they’d enjoy receiving.
10. Minimalists don’t go overboard with skincare and beauty products.
We live in a social media culture where influencers are constantly trying to sell the latest and greatest skincare and beauty products.
Minimalists avoid getting sucked in to continually buying the newest things out there.
Instead, they choose to focus on the products that work for them. While they may try a new product here or there, they tend to focus on clean ingredients and stick to their favorites.
They also don’t continually store products that they tried and didn’t like. Instead, they opt to give them away or throw them in the trash (depending on the product).
This keeps their bathroom from getting cluttered making it easier to find what they need to get ready in the morning.
11. Minimalists limit one-time use & disposable items.
Another thing minimalists try to significantly limit is one-time use and disposable items. Some of the items in this category include paper towels, napkins, plastic wrap, single-use water bottles, paper plates, and plasticware.
Many minimalists are more eco-conscious and would rather use more sustainable alternatives.
Thankfully, there are a lot of great reusable options available, thereby reducing waste while also decreasing the amount of things that need to be stored in the home.
Opting for fewer one-time use and disposable items not only keeps more trash out of landfills, but it’s also a great way to save more money.
12. Minimalists don’t buy more storage containers.
Since minimalists focus on thoroughly decluttering before organizing, they don’t feel the need to buy many storage containers for all of their things.
They work with what they have first and if a specialty storage container is warranted, they will purchase but it’s with planning and intention.
While it’s easy to get pulled into buying pretty containers rather than getting rid of more stuff, minimalists know that doesn’t solve the real issue.
Minimalists prefer to have fewer items to manage and therefore don’t feel the need for more storage containers, which can end up contributing to clutter.
13. Minimalists don’t rent storage units.
This may be the most obvious of the things minimalists don’t tend to purchase or own, but it would be a very rare situation for a minimalist to rent a storage unit.
When you’re intentional with the number of belongings you own and ensure that you don’t have too much stuff, the idea of renting an offsite storage unit is not likely to cross your mind.
Not only are they inconvenient, but they can be quite expensive and are typically unnecessary.
There may be a rare circumstance where it makes sense for a short period of time, but you likely won’t find many (if any) minimalists renting a storage unit.
Things I stopped buying
Decluttering was quite a learning experience for me. Through it, I learned how to be more selective with what I purchase.
I stopped buying these 15 things after simplifying our home as they were creating clutter.
This year I decided not to purchase these 27 things either because we already had enough or we simply didn’t need them.
Your lists will likely look a bit different from mine, which is completely fine.
The most important thing is to be mindful of what you buy. It will save you money and prevent clutter from accumulating in your home.
What would you add to this list of things minimalists don’t buy? Leave a comment and let me know!
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I really liked the column, I am retired, and downsizing to a simpler life.The column gave me some pointers as I started Spring Cleaning yesterday-as the weather is finally warm.Thanks.
Fantastic articles do you have a magazine?
I’m glad you’re enjoying the posts! I do not have a magazine…just the website :).
I am definitely a minimalist!
I enjoy being a maximalist. I don’t understand the literal Keeping Up With The Kardashians routine. Who wants to live in a big empty room that has one white chair in the middle of it? What about art? What about color? What about personality? What about warmth? What about coziness? Why not have a little fun and live a little? Why not collect things that make you happy? Get a bunch of magazines. Make a bunch of scrapbooks. Be creative. Enjoy yourself. Life is for living, not for being under the control of some trendy fascist routine. Upcycle flea market finds. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There’s nothing wrong with having shelves full of books, earring collection displayed in a quirky way. This minimalist thing is for zombie robots.
Minimalism doesn’t always look like an all white barren home. That’s more the minimalist aesthetic rather than living a minimalist lifestyle, which is really just about focusing on the things you love and use and letting go of the things you don’t. Minimalists can still like and enjoy art, hobbies, color, etc. And I think they’d also agree about enjoying life. That is why most minimalists choose the lifestyle – so that they can focus more of the time and energy on the things they enjoy such as relationships, travel, etc.
i enjoyed reading your opposing view to minimalist promoting article. Personally, I lie somewhere in the middle of a minimalist and a maximalist. In my neatly arranged clothing closets, I am a maximalist. Around, the rest of my home I am a mini-maximalist, meaning I have neatly arranged wall decor and a modest amount of treasures surrounding me that make my heart aglow! Whatever works for each person as an inspired individual!❤️🌻😊
I think this comment is a very reductionist view of what “minimalism” aims to achieve and unfortunately I think it’s been conflated with exaggerated minimalism. Minimalism isn’t about never buying things and living with four white walls and nothing else. It’s about intentional buying, buying what you need and what you know you will use well, also about using and loving our items rather than treating them as disposables, there’s a focus on environmentally conscious choices. So you can still have scrap books and art and all that that you enjoy, because a home needs to reflect you, but it’s about being intentional with what we buy. Not doing Sephora or Temu hauls or 100 items just becuse the internet told you etc. I hope that cleared up some misconceptions.
Great article and true
I stopped buying liquid shower and bath soap. Instead I use bar soap, like Dove or Dial. Bar soap works well and when it’s gone, there no plastic bottle to get rid of.
Love this article. I’ve definitely discovered that in keeping my home organised I’m minimalist, but I’m a cosy minimalist, I love the colours of the folklore palette and I love being surrounded by colour.
I love having one beautiful expressive dish on the coffee table, I’ve currated what we have carefully, using lots of negative space to enhance what we do display. I enjoy having a cosy light throw slung over the armchair to wrap up in whilst watching the fire. We eliminated media from our living room and anything plastic on display anywhere for an always peaceful space even when its a little disheveled
Thank you very much for a wonderful topic.. I recently retired from the service and want my house to be simple and will start decluttering, will give things that is not necessary..
I can get behind all of these except the no physical media. And I guess the reason why is because a lot of it is sentimental, i.e. home videos and photos, to me anyway. I know it can be destroyed but I also have concern that someday the ability to play the videos or look at the photos digitally may not be an option and at that point having those memories to look back on may be vital for our emotional well-being. Of course, to watch the videos you’d still need electricity and a working machine and/or TV to watch it on. But in the case of digital there may come a day we no longer have internet etc. idk. At least hard copies of photos would hopefully still be at our fingertips. I guess what I’m saying and for myself is I have those things stored both physically and digitally so that hopefully no matter the situation I can still look back on the good ole days!
I enjoyed the script 😌. I became and would love living minimalistic!!
I enjoyed the article and am encouraged to get rid of some things. I already don’t buy any decorative items because every room is already furnished with things I love. More items displayed would make my living areas too busy. I don’t want to change out items as then have to store the ones in current use. So I am minimalist except clothes. BUT shopping isn’t much fun any more . . . 🙂
I still love books.
Not piles and piles but books are more than just physical media.
Most of my books are on kindle or PDF but i keep a bookshelf full of classic literature, hard back or collectors paperbacks Not commercial pulp fiction, non fiction books on history and economics and philosophy.
It makes me smile and happy to see those great books so that meets the declutter rules at least. I prefer a book shelf to wall art, vases or designer wallpaper.
Well, I own a garlic press, a vegetable peeler, and 1200 books. Those alone kick me out of the minimalist camp. I fall in line with much of the rest, although I must say that I think minimalists border on being philistines. Adopting a philosophy where literature or original art are things that unnecessarily take up space in one’s home is a philosophy to be pitied.
I own a couple pieces of antique furniture, but for the most part my taste is simple, a mix of modern and early century. No neutral colors. Give me shocking red and gold. Neutrals are for my classic wardrobe, not my leather sofa.
As for media, I’m tasked with ridding myself of DVDs of British detective series that can all be streamed. Reluctantly I’ll let them go. Maybe. I also own all of Joni Mitchell and Sting’s catalogue on CDs, which I take to my grave.
Is there a label for someone like me?
I feel that minimalists must be fairly affluent. The idea that you can dispose of older media like CDs, DVDs, music, books because you can stream them all when you want them is just profligate. All streaming costs money. Things you own don’t, and even if you have a financial disaster, you still have the media you love. Get rid if you want to; over the past 10 years I’ve gone down from 1300 cookbooks to just under 250, and there’s more to go. But replacing those I’m keeping could easily cost me thousands, and I’d lose the notes I make when I’ve tried a recipe. I have lots of other books as well, and having them round me gives me a glow of contentment. As Julianna says, we are all different.
Some minimalists may be, but others are more frugal. You can still stream music without subscriptions (I use the free version of pandora so we do have commercials). We also listen to radio stations both online and in our car. Another option is to upload cd’s to a music player (so you can listen to your music various ways without carrying around cd’s ;)). I do understand keeping physical media if you still love and use it. I just also know there are many who hang onto them even when they no longer have players that can play them ;).