How to Shop Like a Minimalist: 4 Key Shopping Tips

Kat Thinks and Codes
by Kat Thinks and Codes

I want to talk about something exciting: how to shop like a minimalist. It's easier than most people think because minimalists live with less. So how do you shop as a minimalist? I have prepared a few shopping tips, and I'm sharing my experience with shopping as a minimalist.

1. Wants and needs

For tip number one, what I would recommend is having a list of the things that you want and a list of what you need. I usually write down the things I need, for example, new running shoes or leggings, and then the things I want, like a nice lipstick that I saw somewhere or a book I would really like to read.


This helps me to know what I'm looking for when I go online, I look through the stores that I'm interested in, and it helps me stick to what I am interested in rather than jump onto buying these things that I don't need.


Also, I found that this list is an excellent reference for when sales come around so that you're not overwhelmed by all the choices available out there online. You actually stick to your list as a reference, and you get the things that you really like.


A small clarification that I want to add here is that I did put in the list the things that I both want and need, although in separate columns.


The reason why is that many people think minimalism is an all-or-nothing solution where one day you just stop buying things, you don't get anything, and you limit yourself in all purchasing choices.


I think it's really important to be gentle with yourself and let yourself transition into buying fewer items by slowly reducing your consumption but still honoring your desires and wishes.

Shopping bags

2. Use wants as a reward

I would recommend setting the things that you really want as a reward for achieving a specific goal. Usually, we tend to overbuy things impulsively, but I totally recognize that it's important to indulge yourself occasionally with the things that you want.


So what I usually do is treat these things that I want as a reward for myself for achieving specific goals.


The main point here is to set that thing you want to buy as a reward to make it more meaningful to you. It becomes something that you really work hard for.


Then you're shifting your perspective and your mindset from over-buying things to actually working for things that you want, achieving goals, and having that fulfillment of working for something that you really desire.

Waiting to buy

3. Take time before you purchase something

Build in some time before you make a purchase. What I mean by that is, for example, you see this beautiful advertisement for these beautiful running shoes you want to buy, and you impulsively want to click on them because they are on sale.


What I would recommend doing is to add them to your cart if you prefer, but take some time and come back to the purchase later.


I look at the item, and I'm like, okay, this is what it looks like I want to buy, but let me think about it a bit longer. Usually, I take a day or two just forget about it, sort of just having it in the back of my mind; I know I'll come back.


I'll look at it again, but what usually happens is that when I come back to it, I'm like, this is not really that pretty, or this is not even what I really want.


Building in that time between seeing that item that you want to buy and between the time when you actually make the purchase helps me to determine if this is something that I want.


It helps me to remove that impulsivity aspect from purchasing so that I can objectively evaluate if this item is up to my taste and if something that I really need is something that I really want.

How to shop like a minimalist

4. Reuse and repurpose

I would recommend looking at reusing and repurposing things that you already have. To give you an example of what we did recently is that we bought a nice, beautiful king bed that is a gray color. Our nightstands didn't fit at all with the bed; they were a different color.


However, the nightstands that were sold in the store to match this bed were really expensive; they are not essential items that you absolutely need to be of high quality. So then we started looking at the options of what we could do.


What I realized at the end is that we have these beautiful nightstands that don't fit in terms of color, but they are made out of oak wood, so they're really sturdy.


What we did was we went to the construction store and bought a sander machine which cost about $30. We also bought paint to cover the nightstands with a grayish tone that would fit with our bed. Then we bought handles to repurpose and redo our nightstands. After a few hours of work, we ended up with the perfect nightstands that matched our bed and that were of good quality,


I would recommend looking into the things that you already have and looking into how you can repurpose them. Use them in another room or in another style to fit with your house. I really love that approach because it allows you to give a second life to the things that you have, reuse them, and, at the same time also, save money.


How to shop like a minimalist

Minimalist shopping comes down to a few things - knowing the difference between wants and needs and handling each differently, taking time to think about purchases instead of impulse buying, and reusing what you already have to create new things.


Minimalist shopping saves money and resources; what are your favorite ways to shop like a minimalist? Comment below to share your ideas.

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  • Excellent post! Have been using this method my entire life to stay on track with budget, and savings. I also manage a local small business and use this method there as well. We just did a big supply run, and keep a running list of things we need and only purchase when on sale. The regular products we purchase on a routine basis, I check around occasionally to see if another retailer has a better price. For instance, we use Nature's Miracle Urine formula. Big Box hardware and pet shops charge around $45 per gallon jug. Tractor Supply regular price is $37.99. so I purchase there and it's only a mile up the road so we don't really have to go out of our way to get it. And when they have a sale, I purchase several jugs to keep in reserve and never run out.


    Once one starts doing this it becomes second nature and easy to do.


    And a couple times a year I buy myself a little something from the want list as a reward for saving money. This time it was new solar lights for my front yard flower bed and walkway. Last year it was a few beautiful pots for my front porch. Found them at Home Goods for literally a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Another time it was a front porch lighting upgrade. All little things that make my home welcoming and improving the curb appeal. Another time it was a couple Madeline pans - you get the picture.


    Just requires a little bit of discipline and patience and those are free!


    Thanks for sharing! ❤️


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