Simple living isn’t always synonymous with frugal living, but there are many ways in which these two lifestyles overlap. Both ask us to prioritize what we spend our time, effort, and money on based on what things bring true meaning to our lives. Overconsumption, materialism, and chasing status symbols are antithetical to the tenets of both simple living and frugal living. Simplifying your life in some ways can lead to monetary savings. Mostly, this means taking the time to evaluate what we are spending money on so we can decide whether we should spend our money on those things.
You could downsize your possessions enough to move to a smaller home, but that’s a huge project. I don’t discourage it, but I certainly wouldn’t call it easy, so it doesn’t fit into this list. You could also trade in your car for a less expensive model, or switch from a two-car to a one-car household, but again, that takes a lot of planning and a major change.
This list is all about small changes that can have a significant impact over time, especially if you make them into lifestyle habits. They have the added benefit of simplifying your life too.
Shopping
1. Try a No Buy season or year.
Stop the flow of stuff into your home by trying a No Buy challenge for a few months or a full year. Challenge yourself to not buy anything—other than perishables like food, skincare, hair care, medications—for the entire spring season, or even for an entire year. You’ll reevaluate the relationship you have with the stuff you already own. You’ll either discover that you don’t need some items or find new appreciation for things you’ve overlooked.
As an example, a few years ago I discovered that I easily spent $600-$1000 on books in one year. I challenged myself to only obtain books from the library. (There was an exception for gifts I received and book needs when traveling.) I discovered that my local library had nearly all the books I wanted to read anyway. So I saved all that money, not just that one year, but every year since. Plus, I’ve let go of books I don’t love enough to re-read and my bookshelves now have room to breathe.
Last year, I decided not to buy any clothes all year. Staying away from clothing stores and online shops has completely dampened my desire to buy clothes. Occasionally, I see something in a YouTube video that I want, but I’ll just make a note of it and move on. If I still want it at the end of the year, I’ll look into it.
A No Buy year, whether you choose to cut out everything or just 1-2 categories of items, can reset your shopping habits and create distance between the marketing thrown at your on a daily basis and your own wants. (You can read more about doing a No Buy here.)
2. Use up your self-care products before buying new ones.
Challenge yourself to use up your self-care products before buying equivalent products. Use all the moisturizer you have before you buy another moisturizer. Use up your skincare products, make-up, sunscreen, haircare products, dental care products, etc. (Do check expiration dates, however, as these types of products do expire. Take the opportunity to note what products have expired because you never used them, and don’t buy the same product in the future.)
Better yet, as you finish each product, ask yourself if you really need it. I have body oil and facial mist that I bought on a whim, and even though I’m trying to use them up, I know I never needed the products to begin with, and I won’t be replacing them when they’re spent.
You’ll end up buying and owning fewer products as you hone in on the ones you truly love. It’s easy to be tempted by the stylish or adorable packaging of a skin care product, or by an influencer talking about how amazing a hair care product has been. Then you end up buying something that doesn’t work for your skin or your hair. Once you whittle down the products you own to just the ones that work for you, you’ll know what to buy again when you run out. You’ll simplify your maintenance routines, cut out the excess, and save time and money.
3. Cancel Amazon Prime.
This doesn’t apply to everyone, but too many people unintentionally spend vast amounts of money on Amazon simply because it’s so easy. The ease of online shopping—and this doesn’t only apply to Amazon—leads us to spend more money than we intend to. Those $30 products every week don’t seem like much… Until a year has gone by and you’ve spent $1500 on stuff you probably didn’t need in the first place.
Plus you’ll end up with fewer unneeded items in your home. If you’ve ever tried a home declutter (like this 30 Day Decluttering Challenge), you’ll know just how much excess most of us have in our homes. A lot of that comes from unintentional shopping, that last-minute addition to our shopping cart or that sale item we’re afraid of missing out on. Make it harder for yourself to buy stuff, and you’ll buy less stuff!
4. Wait 48 hours before purchasing.
We all find ourselves browsing online sometimes, seeing something we love and thinking we must have it. Instead of buying it right away, save the link or leave it in your shopping cart, and wait 48 hours. When you come back to it, you might still want it, but more likely, you’ll realize you don’t. You’ll remember you have something similar, you don’t have as many uses for it as you initially thought, or it doesn’t look quite so good at second glance.
Just like with the suggestion above, putting obstacles between seeing an item and buying the item will inevitably lead to fewer purchases, less clutter in your home, and less hassle in eventually getting rid of the excess. The more stuff you have, the more time you spend dealing with it: buying it, finding a place for it, cleaning it, fixing it, and eventually getting rid of it. Simplifying your possessions simplifies your life, and that starts with buying fewer things to begin with.
Food
5. Delete food delivery apps.
These apps are far too tempting. Not only do they make getting takeout too easy, they include fees and tips and even inflated food prices. If you must eat takeout, order directly from the restaurant and go pick up the food yourself. Or opt for delivery, if the restaurant offers that. Alternatively, you could stop by the grocery store for some much cheaper ready-made options like roasted chicken, salads, sandwiches or soups. Of course there are instances (when you’re sick, injured, or home-bound for other reasons) when these services are necessary, but for most of us on most days, they are optional.
Part of simple living is finding joy in the common moments and increasing our self-reliance. Without going into the ways the convenience economy fails our communities and their own workforce, I’ll keep it simple by saying that it’s more fulfilling to cook your own meal or even pick up your own meal than to rely on a stranger to do it for you. Plus, you won’t feel decision fatigue from constantly wondering what to order and where to order it from. Meal plan instead, and keep some frozen meals in the freezer for emergencies. You’ll probably eat healthier too.
6. Stop paying for drinks.
Stick to water, coffee and tea. Drink tap water (if it’s safe in your area) and use a reusable water bottle. Try cutting out soft drinks and juices. When eating out, stick to free tap water. Drinks are hugely marked up at restaurants. On workdays, bring your own coffee instead of picking it up on the way in. You’ll save money and time. I always set up the coffee maker in the evening, so all I need to do in the morning is push the start button.
I save money and energy with this choice. When I eat out, I don’t even look at the drinks menu and I don’t worry about the cost of eating out as much. When it comes to coffee, I create less waste by opting out of takeout. My grocery shopping is easier when all I buy from the drinks aisle is coconut milk for my morning coffee. I’m healthier for skipping the soft drinks and sugary fruit juices.
7. Skip the appetizer and dessert when eating out.
Eating out is already more expensive than cooking dinner at home, so when you do it, stick to your entree and skip the appetizer and dessert. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone out to eat and ended up with leftovers. For that reason, I almost never order an appetizer or side dishes. It saves me money and the trouble of carrying a box home.
Simple living includes being intentional about our choices. Too often, when looking over the menu, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, leading us to order more than we can eat. Simplify your meals by ordering only as much as you can eat, choosing healthier options, and picking foods that agree with your body.
8. Stick to your grocery list.
Before going to the grocery store, plan your meals and snacks for the next couple of days. Write down your shopping list, and then don’t deviate from the list. It’s tempting to add an item or two to your grocery cart while you’re at the store, but if you didn’t need it when you were writing your list at home, you probably don’t need it at all. You’ll come home with fewer items to clutter your kitchen cupboards.
9. Cook enough for leftovers.
If you’re cooking for 2, cook enough for 4 instead and save the leftovers for the next day. If you work outside the house, bringing leftovers can save you lots of money over time. Where I work, lunch from a local eatery would cost about $20 a day. Bringing it from home is not only more affordable but also easier. You’ll save time and money by cooking enough for two meals.
Building leftovers into your meal plan also simplifies grocery shopping because you’ll need fewer distinct items. You may end up getting takeout less often because you don’t have to cook for every meal. (And who wants to anyway?) You’ll have less food packaging and fewer takeout containers to deal with. You likely have some plastic or glass food containers for packing up lunch. And if you don’t have a lunch bag, you don’t need to buy one: just use a sturdy paper bag with handles.
Entertainment
10. Only use 1 streaming service at a time.
According to three recent surveys, the average U.S. household subscribes to between 3.6 and 4.1 streaming services. We’re loathe to cut any out because our favorite shows aren’t all on the same platform. And yet, we can only watch one show at a time anyway, so why not save some money every month by subscribing to only 1 streaming service at a time? When you’ve run out of interesting things to watch, cancel your subscription and switch to another service. Rinse and repeat.
You can also cancel other subscriptions like magazines, music, news, podcasts, and other apps. Evaluate what you really need and cut the subscriptions that aren’t serving you. You can always add them back in if you miss them.
This simplifies our lives because it takes away the stress of an overwhelming number of options. How often have you sat down in front of the TV and spent half an hour trying to decide what to watch? There are simply too many shows and movies available to us at any given time. (Not to mention news programs and content creators on YouTube.) Sometimes, having fewer options is freeing. You’ll spend less time making decisions and more time enjoying the show. Perhaps you’ll even spend less time watching TV.
11. Utilize your local library.
Frequent your local library instead of paying for: books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazine subscriptions, CDs, movie tickets, and streaming services. You can even find parks passes and museum passes you can check out.
Using your local library means needing to buy and own fewer things. I order items to be brought from other county libraries to the location closest to me, and I do a library run right after work every week or two. It’s become a simple routine. I run in, return some items, pick up and check out my reserved items, and leave within 5 minutes. Don’t get me wrong; I love going to the bookstore and browsing the books. But I usually end up buying more than I intended to buy, and then I donate half the books later anyway. Using the library simplifies my routines, my spending, and my possessions.
12. Socialize on a low budget.
Find ways to spend time with your friends and family without spending lots of money. You could meet your friends for coffee instead of brunch, or dinner at a brewery instead of an upscale restaurant. Look for low-cost events in your local community, like local concerts or plays, or small art or history museums. These are usually cheaper than the ones in a bigger city. Some major museums also have free days for local residents.
In fact, you don’t need to spend any money to spend time with your loved ones—try free events in your community, going for a walk or hike, visiting the beach, or even volunteering together. Remember that it’s the companionship that’s important when planning a get-together with a friend.
Simple living is about prioritizing our relationships with people over our possessions and all the other distractions of modern life. When you cut out the excess spending, the backdrops of high-class restaurants or sporting events, you get to the heart of friendship, which is based not on Instagram-worthy moments but on deep conversation and unexpected little moments.
For years, a friend and I met up every Sunday morning to go for a hike. We’d pick different parks and different trails, exploring our county’s beauty together. Over the years, we stumbled into quite a few amazing stories, from folks we met on the trails to challenging hikes, from spotting wildlife to getting lost. And even though we’ve also been to concerts and plays together, those moments from our hikes are more memorable than anything else we’ve done. Making memories together does not require spending money.
13. Cancel your gym membership.
Try canceling your membership for a few months and switch to free exercise like: walks, hikes, trail runs, pick-up sports games, or biking. Some local parks even have free exercise equipment. Make it social by bringing a friend along. And if you have weights at home, use them! (Ours are primarily being used to prop open a window that has a broken frame…) YouTube has free workout videos. You can also use your body weight for strength exercises, such as push-ups, squats, planks, and lunges. Or you can build movement into your daily life, from walking or biking to the store, doing yard work or other active chores, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or playing with a pet.
Perhaps you’re the type of person who goes to the gym routinely once a week. The vast majority of us aren’t. Quite a few people have gym memberships they never, or hardly ever, use. Beyond simply frittering away money for nothing every month, people feel guilt over not going to the gym enough, especially when they’re paying hard-earned money for it. Simplifying means reducing obligations, and a gym membership is an obligation. So don’t feel bad about cutting out the gym and freeing yourself up to find other, cheaper forms of exercise that you enjoy.
Mindset
14. Try a No Spend weekend once a month.
Designate a weekend every month to challenge yourself to spend no money. No eating out, no day trips, no shopping. There’s plenty to do for free close to home. Go for a hike at a local park, where you won’t be tempted to shop (unlike walking downtown). Visit a free museum or attend a free concert or play. Invite friends over to play board games or make a puzzle together instead of hosting them for dinner. Challenge yourself to make meals out of the stuff you already have in the fridge and cupboards. Prioritize getting stuff done—home repairs, laundry, cleaning the house, gardening. Come Monday, you’ll feel really good about how you spent your weekend.
Simple living is all about finding joy in small moments and spending our time intentionally. When you try a No Spend weekend, you may need to get a little creative, but we should all flex that skill sometimes! It’s the perfect time to ask yourself, what can you do today that will make your life easier tomorrow? When it comes to chores, that’s simple. But when it comes to leisure, it’s harder, isn’t it? Perhaps you want to work towards a goal, like learning a new skill, or maybe you need a rest without much to do. I think you’ll find that to have a relaxing day, or even a memorable day, you don’t have to spend any money.
15. Set your goals.
Cutting back on your spending is easier when you know what you’re doing it for. If you know you’re saving up for an early retirement, a home downpayment, or a dream vacation, challenging yourself to a No Buy Year feels like purpose instead of deprivation. Skipping that dessert, or that cocktail, when you’re out with your friends is hard, but it’s a lot easier when you know you’re saving for a piano.
Paula Pant of financial blog (and podcast) Afford Anything says that you can afford anything, but you can’t afford everything. Every time you spend money, you’re choosing what you want to afford. You may want to hold onto four streaming services at once, or you could choose just one and put an extra $40/month towards your credit card debt. When you start analyzing your spending through the lens of your priorities, you may just find that much of what you buy and spend your hard-earned money on is just fluff.
(Here you can read my post about envisioning your “dream day” and orienting your goals and habits around making that dream day into your every day.)
Just as simplifying your possessions is all about keeping the items that bring value to your life and decluttering those that distract you from the life you want to live, simplifying your spending is about spending money on the activities and items that bring value, while cutting out spending on things that don’t serve you in any meaningful way.
