Mindful Shopping: 10 Ways to Save Money and Avoid Clutter
Are you ready to take control of your shopping habits, save money, and avoid adding clutter? Our spending habits can leave us financially strained and contribute to environmental issues. In this era of easy online shopping, it’s no wonder we often find ourselves mindlessly adding items to our carts.
But by choosing to shop mindfully, we can make a difference. Whether you are trying to be more intentional with your spending to save money or be more economically sustainable, mindful shopping is the answer.
What is mindful shopping?
Mindful shopping is a practice that involves being aware and intentional about our purchases. It’s about making thoughtful decisions that align with our values and needs rather than buying things on a whim or because everyone else is. In other words, it’s about thinking before we buy and only buying what we truly need or will use.
Benefits of practicing mindful shopping
- Saves you money
- Reach financial goals
- Reduce landfill waste
- Environmental sustainability
- Avoid adding clutter to your home
Ten tips to practice mindful shopping
- Avoid fast fashion
Fast fashion, cheap, trendy clothing made as fast as possible, significantly contributes to environmental issues. Priced from $5-$15.00, these items are often worn a few times and then discarded due to the low quality of the material.
Fast fashion production also involves low-wage labor, further adding to its negative impact. By choosing to purchase sustainable items, you can help reduce waste and protect our environment.
- Buy second-hand first
When needing to purchase an item, shop second-hand first. You can visit your local thrift store, garage sale, or Facebook marketplace. So many items have plenty of life left in them, and by shopping second-hand, they do not end up in the landfill.
Also, you can ask your close family and friends if they are getting rid of any items to offer to you first. To avoid adding clutter, avoid receiving items you do not need just because they are free.
- Avoid online shopping
This one may be tough due to how convenient it is to do online shopping. But by shopping in-store instead of online, you avoid having all the items individually packed in plastic. Also, the boxes they come in. Instead, try to shop at your local stores to avoid all the plastic and boxes coming to your doorstep.
Avoid adding items to your cart to receive free shipping. I was so guilty of doing that and purchasing more items to save on shipping. You are spending more money and buying items you didn’t need or want.
- Stop impulse buying
We often shop because we are bored or feel we deserve to buy an item for all our hard-earned money. But by impulse buying, we buy things we do not need and spend money that could be spent in ways that add value.
- Find other ways to treat yourself
If you want to treat yourself, find other ways that do not involve spending money. You could have a friend come over and do face masks, paint your nails, or have a movie night. You could go to your local library and read a book or rent a book. There are plenty of other ways to treat yourself that do not require you to spend any money.
- Rent or borrow items
If you need an item you only use once or twice a year, check if you can first borrow or rent the item. For example, we used a power washer to wash the vehicles and clean the outside of our home. That power washer is no longer working, so now we will rent one for the one time of year we wash the outside of our house. You can also pay someone to do it for you. By renting, you will reduce clutter, and by borrowing an item, you will save money.
- Donate to nonprofit
I am already at a stage where I maintain my home with possessions. I have a donation box or bag where I put items I no longer use or fit and donate every other month. You may find it hard to donate an item you paid for because you do not want to see it as you wasted money on it. But the money has already been spent, and the item has already been used. Feel free to donate the item if you haven’t used it or do not use it.
I like to donate to nonprofits, knowing someone in need is using my gently used items. This will also help you to think before your next purchase.
- Avoid one-time use products
While mindful shopping, think of adding eco-friendly products and avoid one-time-use products. You can start by not buying bottled water and using a reusable water bottle. Many eco-friendly products include washable paper towels, laundry detergent, and beauty products.
Research what eco-friendly and reusable products you can purchase to save money. I order products from Groove Collaboration. They are committed to reducing and offsetting plastic through their marketplace, crafting our own planet first products and strict ingredient standards.
- Save instead of spend
Instead of mindless shopping when you are bored or need something new, transfer that money into your savings. By instantly transferring the money into your savings account, you can avoid making a purchase and see your savings account grow. You are also avoiding adding clutter to your home.
You can read my 13 Easy Tips for a Low-Buy No-Buy Challenge.
- Minimalism
Minimalism has helped me live with what I use, love, and enjoy. It has helped me save money by buying quality over quantity and avoiding mindless shopping. Minimalism has also helped me keep my home clutter-free and saves me time when cleaning. While minimalism differs for everyone, you can find what works for you and your family and enjoy the benefits.
Related posts
15 Benefits of a Minimalist Lifestyle to Enjoy a Simplified Life.
Six Clear Signs it is Time to Embrace a Minimalist Lifestyle
Final thoughts
By mindfully applying these shopping strategies, we consider our environment, save money, and avoid clutter in our homes. Remember, you can choose which methods work best for you. Start with the resonant ones and gradually incorporate more ways to shop mindfully. Every small step counts, and you’re on your way to a more mindful shopping lifestyle.