Six things I don’t buy anymore, style edition. No one, including me, would call me a true minimalist. You’ll find countless videos online of people who have reduced their belongings to 100 items (does every sock count, or is every “pair” of socks? . . .) Although my husband and I consider ourselves as living simply – one car, no kids, one job between us – we have plenty of stuff.
We’ve got a three-bedroom apartment for just the two of us. I have fifteen pairs of shoes, and eight lip balms. We have two televisions (again, for just two people), four computers and two iPhones. But only one frying pan and one saucepan, heh. So call us “medium-ists.” 😊
As we age, it’s easier to see what is truly valuable, priceless even: health, friends, pets, learning, and gods willing, travel to NYC after the pandemic. Gadgets, vehicles, expensive dining chairs or necklaces – these don’t bring joy beyond the initial rush.
Things I don’t buy anymore, style edition:
Eye shadow palettes. I have two, and only need one. Like most of us, I use three or four colors over and over. Hot yellow eye shadow is still fresh in the tin!
Fast fashion. You’ve known this about me for a long time. I shopped at fast-fashion emporiums when they were a novelty ten years ago. Now it’s thrift, consignment, and brands that promote sustainability.
New jewelry. I’ve got lots of jewelry, mostly costume but with some valuable-to-me pieces. Most days I wear my plain wedding band and a 50 year-old ID bracelet gifted to me from my friend Bryan.
Specialized/trendy skin care, and “life-changing” products. I can’t be fooled anymore. Many skin products are wildly overpriced for the ingredients. I’ve pared down to Retin-A at night, Vitamin C in the morning, argan oil and high-octane sunscreen. And my skin looks good.
Chemical deodorants. Especially spray-ons, they’re still damaging our air quality. I like a “natural” deodorant made with few chemicals. My current favorite is Humble; it lasts all day and has a pleasant scent.
Manicures. I used to love a good set of fake nails, don’t judge. Now I am happier with super-short natural fingernails and clear or pink polish. During the pandemic I’ve had to give up pedicures but like General MacArthur, they will return.
“If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements.” -The Dalai Lama, 1935.
Runners-up in the no-buy category (household edition) include paper plates, newspapers, kitchen gadgets, CDs and DVDs, paper books and magazines, trendy decor, file cabinets, souvenirs, Keurig cartridges (we use a French press), and gym memberships.
What, if anything, is on your no-buy list? Please share. Stay fabulous and safe, wash and wash and wash, xo
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Great post and timely! I am retiring in a couple months (65 end of August) will get rid of the second car soon. One SUV is enough, we live in a harsh climate and lots of highway driving so safety is a priority.
I have paired down make up and chose to concentrate on two ( or three) good skin care lines that don’t spend fortunes on advertising or packaging.
Toying with going gray and giving up salon colour, reducing salon visits to quarterly. A ‘lob’ cut makes that easier and I trim my own bangs. As the only female grandchild/daughter and an adored wife I have more jewelry than I need and am thinking of gifting items I rarely wear to those that will inherit eventually.
I want to spend my hard won pensions on experiences not stuff.
A dear friend sold his condo and chose to rent something much smaller. He used his money to finance travel, hospitality, good food and wine and left this planet a very happy, well loved man. That’s my goal.
I do hear you on manicures though…not necessary unless it’s a special occasion but pedicures, YES!
No magazines, I online subscribe to groups of favourites ( Apple News)so much less expensive and easier on the environment. What I would pay for two magazines at the stand I can get more than 25/month and back issues! Books, online borrowed from the library. Good cook books I will indulge in occasionally as paper books.
Don’t you feel that this pandemic has resulted in people revisiting how they spend and what they spend it on?
I feel obvious, conspicuous consumption or buying for the sake of buying is getting old.
Oh yes far fewer trips to Costco, soul and $$ sucking place. Spend way too much there and throw too much out.
Oh gosh, everything that is on your list, is on mine as well. And for the same reasons. The only thing I haven’t quite mastered is not buying any new clothes. I don’t really need anything, but it is an urge within me. Addiction I suppose. I might have to get myself hypnotized or something.
Greetje
I like your term medium-ist. What I don’t buy anymore? Paper reading material, as much as I love and prefer it. Jewellery, although I never did buy much of anything. I guess it’s easier to say what I DO buy, which is sometimes makeup, even if I don’t wear it, it’s like a dream in a package. I’d like to buy more wigs, the costume kind. Great post.
Yeah, I think wigs should be exempted from what we buy. They are essential businesses! Makeup is dreamy, I get all goose-bump-y when I buy a new makeup. Stay fab and SAFE, xox. And VOGOFF, live forever!
Live a simple life to have full happiness! That’s it!
Men’s Style
i think you’ve got it! : >
Hi Patti!
I am with you on nearly everything but CDs. I buy those thrift, rip them to my laptop and sell them. Books too are great on resell, esp. vintage cookbooks or anything that has to do with Julia Child.
I def do not buy makeup, new jewelry, fast fashion (double yuck), or trendy cosmetics. I used to buy Origins until I discovered cheap products with sunscreen work just as good.
I have stepped up my purchases of lunches out to support the local restaurants and their staff.
Hello Tami and I hope your weekend is going well! I had no idea that cookbooks had good resell value, interesting! We have a lot in common otherwise with our low-shopping techniques. And going out to lunch, love that : > xo
I know I haven’t commented in years, and I no longer have a blog – or wear real clothes because hey only top half counts for a Zoom conference and I’m a why do I even need to turn on the video kinda gal – but your post resonates. Especially since the pandemic, I have noticed I had a lot of “stuff” I really did not need. And sweating is the BEST for your skin. I was dancing multiple times a week but am now cycling for exercise – and glowing skin – and wondering if I will ever have a chance to wear that one go-to eye shadow ever again. Much love and stay safe!
So wonderful to see you Lynette! I always enjoyed your blog and our contacts back and forth! Love the idea of sweating being good for our skin, esp since it will be about 90 degrees here for the next three months : > Keep cycling and stay well, xo.
Lovely post!, I’ve loved particularly your ‘medium-ist’ attitude, as it’s really inspiring. We also live in a three bedrooms flat (the two of us) and have more than enough technological devices, but also kitchenware (4 frying pans!). But we like to cook!
I totally agree about giving up on expensive creams and those eye shadows palettes. Since I’m keeping all my bathroom/beauty stuff organised, I’ve realised that I don’t need so many products!. It has made a difference!
besos
Hello dear Sra and I hope you are feeling great. I didn’t know they made four kinds of frying pans! : > Stay safe and fabulous, xo.
1. Physical books: yes, I know, heresy. We finally pared down our book collection from over 1000 to under 100 & are happy with that. We’re both reading more than ever, but are buying digital & using the library. We’re still hip deep in magazines, though.
2. Exotic ingredients for recipes I never make.
3. Snacks, bread, candy: enough said.
4. Household cleaners: I use one brand of green cleaner for everything
5. Fabric. I used to sew. Then I used to just buy fabric. Sewers know what I mean.
6. Clothes for “good”: we’re retired. We rarely go out. I have (more than) enough.
7. Journals, notebooks: “enough” is when you have 50 of the things!
8. Kale: we eat bushels of fresh veg daily but we don’t like kale. Buying it doesn’t mean we’ll eat it.
9. Cat toys: we find them more entertaining than the cat, who prefers a cardboard box, a rolled up ball of paper & the occasional housefly
10. Wine. We both hate it & finally just admitted that instead of trying to find something we like because everyone tells us we’ll love it if we find the “right one”. No, we won’t. We’ve been looking for 20 years. If it existed, we’d have found it by now.
Good morning, Janet – this would make a great article! No bread for you? That would be a tough one for me. I’m so with you on clothes for “good”. And cat toys. They only love the string. Stay well, xo.
Great post!
thank you Minau! Have a lovely day, xo.
Thank you for sharing the Dalai Lama quote and insight into your admirable values and life style. I have stopped buying and wanting more clothes etc and now ,like you, appreciate what I have .I am also having creative fun shopping my own closet and and creating new artistic looks.
Hello Joan and thanks for coming over, and for your kind comments! Enjoy your closet-shopping and stay well, xo.