The art of simple living: 9 things minimalists refuse to buy (that everyone else wastes money on)

Remember that feeling when you walk into someone's home and it just feels... peaceful?

A few years ago, I visited a friend who'd recently embraced minimalism, and the difference was striking. No piles of unopened Amazon boxes, no cluttered countertops, no rooms full of stuff collecting dust. Just space, light, and this incredible sense of calm.

That visit sparked something in me. I started questioning all the things I thought I "needed" and realized how much money I was throwing away on stuff that added zero value to my life.

After years of experimenting with simpler living, I've discovered that minimalists aren't just randomly rejecting possessions. They're strategically avoiding specific purchases that most of us mindlessly make, freeing up both money and mental space for what actually matters.

Here are nine things minimalists refuse to buy that everyone else wastes money on.

1) Single-use kitchen gadgets

How many avocado slicers, banana slicers, and egg separators are gathering dust in your kitchen drawers right now?

I used to be that person with the garlic press, the apple corer, and about fifteen other gadgets I used maybe twice a year. Each one seemed like such a good idea at the time. "This will make cooking so much easier!" I'd tell myself, handing over another $20.

But here's what minimalists know: a good knife can do 90% of what these gadgets promise. That space in your kitchen drawer? Way more valuable than a strawberry huller you'll forget exists.

The money saved from skipping these impulse buys adds up fast. Plus, fewer gadgets means less cleaning, less clutter, and ironically, more enjoyment in the kitchen.

2) Trendy clothes you'll wear once

Fast fashion is designed to make us feel like we're constantly behind, always needing that next piece to stay relevant.

I get it. I used to buy into this cycle too, especially in my twenties when I thought having the latest trends somehow made me more interesting. Spoiler alert: it didn't.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I explore how our attachments to external things often mask deeper insecurities. Nowhere is this more obvious than with fashion.

Minimalists build capsule wardrobes instead. They invest in quality basics that mix and match, creating dozens of outfits from maybe 30 total pieces. No more standing in front of a stuffed closet claiming you have nothing to wear.

3) Decorative items without purpose

Walk through any home goods store and you'll see them: decorative bowls, artificial plants, random sculptures, and those word signs that tell you to "Live, Laugh, Love."

These items promise to make our homes feel more complete, more styled, more Instagram-worthy. But minimalists see them for what they really are: expensive dust collectors.

Instead of buying decoration for decoration's sake, minimalists choose items that serve dual purposes. A beautiful wooden cutting board that doubles as serving ware. A plant that actually cleans the air. Art that genuinely moves them, not just fills wall space.

Your space becomes more intentional, more personal, and surprisingly, more beautiful when every item has earned its place.

4) Extended warranties

"Would you like to protect your purchase with our extended warranty?"

This question used to stress me out. What if my laptop breaks right after the manufacturer's warranty expires? What if I need that protection?

But here's what the data shows: extended warranties are profit centers for retailers because most people never use them. The odds are heavily stacked in the company's favor.

Minimalists take that warranty money and put it in an emergency fund instead. If something breaks, they have the cash to fix or replace it. If nothing breaks (which is usually the case), they keep the money.

5) Subscription boxes

Beauty boxes, snack boxes, clothing boxes, book boxes, dog toy boxes... there's literally a subscription for everything now.

The appeal is obvious. Who doesn't love surprises? But minimalists recognize these for what they are: companies deciding what you need instead of you deciding for yourself.

Most subscription box items end up unused, gifted, or trashed. That $30 monthly makeup box becomes $360 a year of products you didn't choose and probably don't need.

Cancel the subscriptions. Buy exactly what you want, when you want it. Your bathroom cabinet will thank you.

6) Multiple streaming services

Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Paramount+... at what point did we start paying more for streaming than we ever did for cable?

I'll admit, I fell into this trap hard. Each service seemed essential. "But this one has that show I want to watch!" Before I knew it, I was dropping over $100 a month on entertainment I barely had time to watch.

This connects to something I discuss in Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego: the paradox of choice. More options don't make us happier; they often make us more anxious and dissatisfied.

Minimalists pick one or two services and rotate them based on what they actually want to watch. Or better yet, they rediscover the library's free DVD collection and spend more time reading or being active.

7) Brand new cars

That new car smell? It's the scent of depreciation. The second you drive off the lot, your car loses thousands in value.

Minimalists buy reliable used cars, usually 2-3 years old, letting someone else absorb that initial depreciation hit. They focus on reliability and fuel efficiency over status symbols and the latest features.

The money saved by avoiding car payments goes toward experiences, investments, or simply buying more freedom through financial security. Plus, there's something liberating about driving a car you're not worried about getting dinged in a parking lot.

8) Organizational products before decluttering

This one's counterintuitive, but stay with me.

Most of us buy bins, baskets, and drawer organizers thinking they'll solve our clutter problem. We spend hundreds at The Container Store believing that if we just organize better, everything will be fine.

But minimalists know the truth: you can't organize your way out of having too much stuff.

They declutter first, then organize what remains. Usually, they find they don't need any special products at all. When you own less, everything has a natural place.

9) Cheap furniture you'll replace

That $200 particle board dresser from a big box store seems like such a deal compared to the $800 solid wood alternative.

But here's what happens: that cheap dresser starts falling apart in two years. The drawers stick, the veneer peels, and suddenly you're furniture shopping again. Over a decade, you've bought three cheap dressers instead of one quality piece.

Minimalists save up for quality furniture that lasts decades. They buy less but buy better. Their homes might have fewer pieces, but each one is chosen intentionally and built to last.

Final words

Living simply isn't about deprivation or judgment. It's about being intentional with your resources so you can focus on what genuinely enriches your life.

Every purchase is a trade-off. That money could go toward experiences, relationships, learning, or simply buying yourself more time and freedom. Minimalists just make that trade-off more consciously than most.

You don't have to go full minimalist to benefit from these insights. Start by questioning just one category of purchases. Ask yourself: is this adding value to my life, or is it just adding to my credit card statement?

The art of simple living isn't about having less for the sake of less. It's about having exactly what you need to live the life you actually want, not the one advertisers tell you to want.

And that extra space in your home and your budget? That's where the real living happens.