On the other side of a metaphorical fence, I've a feeling I need to spend *more* money in 2025. Why? To help declutter, which includes assistance selling and shipping many of my belongings. This expenditure could be construed as an investment - in my mental health and lifestyle, to type the least. Beyond this, outside of essentials and things that will be used and bring joy to my life, I think I'd rather begin spending money on positive experiences over material items. This is a paradigm shift in perspective I wish I had in my teens. All the best!
Getting coffee out is a great example for me of something to do when it facilitates my wellbeing in some way. I like doing it when I’m meeting a friend to connect over a warm beverage in a nice cafe. Sometimes when my mental health gets bad and my environment starts to become messy as a result, it is very helpful to go to a calming cafe and journal/plan my recovery. If I’m traveling in a new place, I love passing a morning in a local coffee shop to experience the vibe.
@GyudonDream why buy from ad? They charge a lot. And you often lose money on a new watch. My rolex datejust that I bought for a good price in october (I haggled) is now up 18% a big jump in 2025 because of rolex price increases but I was already up a bit. I bought a vintage datejust 1978
There is a book called “the one thing” that takes a deep dive into to the psychology of writing or having a priority list This book is borderline life changing
I make a list, too! My father, a former US Naval officer and scientist, made a list every day! German ancestry! I am doing the same thing ! 🤗🥰🥰🥰GO NAVY! ⚓️⛵️⚓️🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
I just don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the phone number! , let the phone ring ,just to frustate SCAM callers ! 🤔🤔😉😉😉🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Then I delete that number! 🤗🥰🤗
I appreciate your positive outlook and graceful approach. So many feel they are giving up or failing if they don't have endlessly spend or acquire unnecessary things
From Brazil here! Almost every things I’ll put practice to 2025! 😊 Do not by necessity and yes by conscience and do not needed buy buy buy all the time… Thanks for the video. Precious tips 😊 Happy holidays! 🎉
Most of what you say makes sense. But there is one "purchase" that is extremely important and that is voluntary additional contributions to you superannuation. I am 77 and I have done that for years and the returns I have received made it very worth while now.
I will be on a low-buy year for 2025. I will take it month by month, with January being a no-buy except for necessities (food). I look forward to all of the money I will save. I would also like to get back into my online savings buckets, which help me save throughout the year. The Christmas fund is one that I definitely plan to contribute to, so I will be prepared before Christmas. I already cook most of my meals at home, so I will be eating healthy the month of January which will require me to continue cooking all of my own meals.
Great video Seve. Hope you have an awesome 2025! With health supplements most of them don’t work or aren’t needed. Having a better diet and exercise is all we need. I take vitamin d through the winter and that’s it. Really awesome list buddy 🎉
A car is one of the biggest issues we have in the US. They're a huge expense that is never cheap and never gets cheaper over time. The biggest issue is that, with the exception of a select few cities, they're mandatory here. Everyone has to spend a minimum of $2500 per year on a car, even if it's fully paid for
I love how you’re focusing on the long-term benefits of minimalism! It’s crazy how much stuff we accumulate without realizing it. I’m definitely reconsidering my spending habits for 2025 after watching this!
It's all very well and you are right on many things, but let's take the coffee. Yes, it is expensive, BUT for the humble amount of 4 Euros I get so many things: A corner at a cosy place, inspirations, relaxation, often good music, the coffee of course (although I also like my homemade coffee, I find those in a good Café often better), often I can also browse thru interesting magazines, I can write (and it's very nice to write in cafés), I can meet other people, I can take interesting photos, I can just sit and enjoy that urban cosiness. It's a cultural lifestyle I love. But of course I live far away from cities, so visiting a Café for me is about twice a month.
Hi Seve. Merry Christmas from Montreal. So what am I not buying/accepting ?? 1. Grocery Bags. Here in Montreal, plastic bags are no more. The store I shop in, sells those reusable bags for $1.00 @ And I have a few. I use them to sort (our) recycling in the building. We have a set of 5 cloth bags for groceries only. As the store bags get ratty, I just throw them in the trash. But I don't buy new ones. If I need a bag, I can go downstairs and I have a box (where I sort the trash) with discarded bags, that I draw from when necessary. 2. I don't need a new phone. Mine is basically a pod cast or music player, since there are no active apps on it, nor social media for that matter. And the odd phone call. 3. I have a desk set pair of headphones. I have a wireless set for traveling/shopping, and a simple wire bud with the microphone if I don't want to hold my phone. 4. Dishes. Mugs, Glasses etc. I just recycled all the dishware we no longer used. 5. Tenants here just throw anything away, sometimes. So I have a collection of misc. things in a box hidden away, back stage where I collect odd "things" I might need. We have a window unit for the summer/fall and I needed large plexiglass sheets to fill the open void. I got them from the refuse collection I sorted. I'm just creative in that way. I don't store that stuff up here, but in the basement space, that only I have access to. 6. I used my Desktop set until it died. And only this past summer did we have to replace it, with a new Windows 11 model !! Hubby uses his laptops until they implode. And also we had to replace his this summer as well. (but we had the cash to make those purchases) - because we live frugally !! 7. Freezer/Sandwich bags: I recycle all of our plastic bags (in house) when we use them, then empty them, they go in a larger bag in the cabinet for future use. We don't buy them unless we run out of ratty useless bags. Everything in my apartment serves a purpose. Like I have said before, if we don't need it, we don't buy it. This is our first Intentional Minimalist Christmas.
I had an iPhone 5 for six years. At year four, I watched some TH-cam videos and learned how to replace the battery. I replaced the battery for much less than Apple Store would have charged, then used the phone for 2 more years. I replaced it when apps I wanted to use would not run well on the old phone. Now, it is used as a prop in my local theatre productions.
I visited Helsinki for the first time in 2009. As young girls, of course we did some shopping. But I still wear three of the sweaters I bought back then. And I love them very much. They are soft, warm and very comfortable. I'll wear them until they fall apart. And then I come back to Helsinki for some shopping. 😉... Just kidding. But visiting Finland again is pretty high on my bucket list. Greetings from Germany 😁
Great video, i admire your take on all this. May I add one more: The Gym! Personally i think it is unwise and unimaginative to pay silly money per month to do fitness work in a gym when the free alternatives are all around you.
I've never considered myself a minimalist, but I've been living as a minimalist for a long time))) and I rarely buy anything (only the essentials) and eat very little (only the essentials)😄
Cafe spending tip for those of us who already have no debt and a healthy savings rate: consider buying your coffee beans from a local cafe. I have a cafe in my old neighborhood that I go out of my way to buy beans from, and the only time I get a drink from the cafe is when I stop in to buy beans. This keeps the drink purchases to a minimum, and maintains its “treat” status
I plan to not buy soda, or other fizzy or acidic drinks. My teeth seem kinda ruined from excessive sugar intake and insufficient dental care in my childhood and early teens, so even with a fairly healthy diet and moderate intake of carbonated drinks, I had a small new cavity this year and my teeth are often sore to cold if I have had too much acidic fruits and drinks recently. The sugar or artificial sweeteners are not healthy either so I will really try to save money and improve my health this way.
@@therichbuddha3277 I've been drinking flavoured carbonated water, with a few % fruit juice, as a refreshing treat on my summer vacation, I'm pretty sure they're still acidic. And cost about 1€/can
U can still drink those without damaging teeth. Just drink without putting lips around the bottle and drink it like water….the drink won’t touch ur teeth😅
As a lover of actual books I’m trying to learn to like reading on a kindle app on my phone. It’s easier and better than lugging books around and it takes up less space.
I understand and its great just to have one device. However reading on a real Kindle is so much better ("ink" display, format, battery life during travels). Mine has survived 4 phones+ and works like a charme
My iPhone 7 serves me just fine and I eschew this idea of needing a new one. Thank you for being vegan! While I live in an area prone to earthquakes and power outages I am starting my serious emergency kit but otherwise hope to spend little in 2025. Great video.
Hi Seahawkess, fancy meeting you "in Finland" - I noticed you on Goobie's and Lee Asher's channel :-). I (female, no worries ;-) ) live in your neck of the woods as well. Had to give up my hand-me-down iPhone 4 because of G5... :-(
I am with you on most everything on the list...except the library, which is not as easy to access in the country I am in currently. Most of this I have done for some years already and find it liberating.
as long as you are happy. you do you. life is short so make sure that you are happy. I disagree with many of your suggestions. but as long as you are enjoying life. then do it. im a luxury enthusiast so we are different. But I do like your videos.
My husband loves books and will look on Amazon for deals. He specifically looks for used books for about $10.00 USD , including shipping. Once a book he has been wanting for a long time appears in his price range, he buys it. On average, he saves about 1/3 the cost.
I grow my vegetables and dehydrate, freeze and can it. I feel much better eating vegetables. I eat at home and I have a stainless steel coffee pot that can be put on a stove or use it outside. I buy coffee beans for low prices.
Thanks for the tips! I live in San Francisco where living spaces are much smaller. I’ve made a habit of donating stuff yearly. So now I just need to focus on buying only things I really need.
If I felt a need to buy status items I feel that having therapy would be money better spent. 🤣 Good one! Thanks for sticking to the subject. I subscribed to two other “Minimalist” channels only to have one devolve into their vacation and multiple pictures of their friends and the other kept going into buying and renting out dwellings in spite of the fact that several people warned that this is a terrible idea in certain areas where people tend to tear up your property and not pay rent. Phooey on people that can’t stick to the subject and/or give dubious advice.
Ok...Bags are a problem for me too! I think I am always searching for the perfect bag/backpack and so buy too many. Many will get sold at a yard sale this spring. Also the supplement sales racket is intense. I also like to keep it simple with just a multivitamin. I also need to cut back on skincare/personal care products!!
The big exception with phones is this: You need to be very sure the long term phone you do buy has a history of recieving years of security updates. Saving money on not buying new phones every few years is effectively negated if your phone gets hacked because a security hole that was never patched and you lose everything.
I feel like magazines are just ads. More ads than actual content. I am constantly flipping to read the articles but it’s pages of ads or articles that are ads (“staff’s picks for month” and it’ll be like $70 lipstick or $50 glass cups, more ads under the guise of a topic. Oprah magazine is like this, ads everywhere.). I’ll just google what I’m looking for.
Great ideas. They don’t all apply to me, but I like the ones that do. That way I can have more money for important things that I need, like new guitars
Ihana suomiaksentti! 😂 jotenkin niin hellyyttävä ja ilahduttava. Tosi hyvä video, pitää vilkaista lisää. Aloitan ainakin puolen vuoden ”no/ low buy” -ajanjakson, joten näistä videoista on varmasti apua 😊.
There is a difference between a status symbol you buy to fit in and an object of passion that you will use but people won't admire because they don't regard it as a status symbol worth investing in. For example, I won't waste money on a Ferrari because a Volkswagen will take me from point A to B in the same effective way. On other hand, I would invest 300 euros in a Borsalino hat because I love hats . Just like spending 100 Euros on a perfume. People do notice it, but it's a passion of mine.
I will definitely be on a low-buy this year! Things simply come into your home and you don’t really notice until it’s everywhere! Love your moomin mugs! Here in Sweden they are really popular too! I have a couple of them, but I don’t need more now.
I am already doing what you intend to do this year. I cut my hair in the spring then put it near the bird feeders so that they can use it for nesting. I get coffee when I am out to prevent loneliness. I sew therefore my costs are low. I can't remember when I last used a taxi. Charity shops can take your extra shopping bags. I'm not sure that your lifestyle will prevent you from being isolated. Birdy
I agree. Getting out occasionally for coffee etc helps us, or at least those of us who are not extreme introverts, connect with the community around us.
Bro I got into a silver stacking hobby every time I would want something that is a impulse purchase I would buy silver i stead I ended up at the end of my year with over 8 thousand dollars of silver made me realize how much I waste money 😢
This is a great video and I'm taking a lot of tips from it :) If there was one thing that I would say budget and buy, it's the laptop 😂 tech has made a really huge advancement in laptops, and regardless if it's Windows or Mac, it's out of security support. But the missing key is also another justification.
Hi Seve so happy I found your video. I was communicating with a Miguel on your video. I so enjoy communicating with others all over the world, this brings us all together. Hugs 🤗 and love ❤️ coming your way 😊
I once met a college professor. He grew up in Germany during WWII. His family actually hid their father , a German soldier in a closet. So he would not be sent to the Eastern front! This professor told me he only had a knapsack, one fork ,one spoon ,one knife, and one plate! I was very impressed with his simple lifestyle!
Hey Seve. I know you said you won't buy a new laptop, but since it's a Windows laptop, have you thought about upgrading the internals? A friend recently asked my help on upgrading a 7 year old laptop he had. It still booted the OS off an HDD and came with just 4GB of RAM. I swapped it to an SSD and installed new RAM to make it 16GB, and he said it felt so much faster as if it's a brand new laptop. 8 years old would make your laptop probably a 7th gen Intel, and those are still pretty capable for most tasks.
My local library lets you recommend new books, and gives you the right to checkout. Also, they will borrow a book they don’t have from other libraries in 5 western states. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks for the book to arrive, but it is a great way to get a look of books that aren’t local. Also, the library has given us free electronic access to magazines & newspapers. Cell phones: I replaced the battery to double the life cycle it.
Can I introduce you to my 23-year-old daughter!! 😅 I’ve recently adopted the model that I can appreciate something without needing to own it. It is helping a lot in curbing the impulse buys! I’ve also started asking myself “do I want it bad enough that if someone was standing here willing to give me the cash value of them item that I would still choose the item?”
Ironically I have just bought a new phone and intend to buy a new laptop in 2025. The issue is some of us work or live in a way that older technology makes things slower and harder, essentially losing us money. Agree with most of what you say, though.
I don't think so.. good supplements can change your life.. for good workout you need good vitamins.. my solution for problem is Animal pack.. I use 2 box (44 PCs /box) per year
Great list. I want to spend less on clothing and if I do buy anything, hoping to keep it minimal and possibly second hand. I have plenty at this point and I want to make it a practice to get rid of one clothing item per month. If I buy anything, an item has to leave as well. I'm also avoiding purchasing anything else I already have plenty of already. Candles, perfumes, lotions, etc.
Seve, I bought (Amazon) & installed a new battery in my Samsung Galaxy S5. Ran like new until phone carrier required upgrade to a 5G phone, which they provided free.
Carrier giving free phones, sounds like a top notch customer service 🫢 Did that come with some more expensive phone subscription package you need to commit to or it was just a great deal overall?
Would be cool to know what food you typically shop in a week, I also incline towards veganism but for me as a brought up mixed diet from birth it's hard to know what's worth it and how to not compromise on health and price, doesn't help that there are so many choices out there
I have used the library most of my life. My parents wouldn't buy me books so the libary was the next best thing. I still use the library but finding books l like or that interest me is difficult now. So l do buy books usually used from amazon.
@SunnyKindJourney Thanks Seve! The saving is going SPLENDIDLY but I am planning also on doing a TEFL (Teaching English As a Foreign Language) course and I will need a good one. Also probably a lapel mic and maybe headphones.
I think it is quite useful to buy a new phone now, because it takes much better photos than 5 years ago, much better haptics and the battery life is much better and the screens are bright in the summer and almost all phones offer 5+ years of software updates, which was not the case in the past. But in the next 5 years it will be difficult to make progress because phones can't take photos better than dslr, so at the moment it's ideal to upgrade for the next 5 years. But I agree about other things, even about 1 perfume :D
I have my own list of 10 things I don’t buy, but if I do, they must be from the thrift store or on the clearance rack. And if I do buy something something must go.
For the laptop, if you don't do anything too demanding, try Linux. It uses much less resources than Windows, and it will improve your experience. Changing the old HDD with an SSD will also help a lot.
Great advice. I also have an old phone - probably 6-7 years. It still works fine, but the Otter box protecting it finally broke off a piece of rubber and I need to replace it... and there are no phone covers for my model of phone 😅 I was going to just deal with it, but I also discovered my platform ceased being supported in January 2023, so I guess safety dictates I get a new one next year.
I'm similiar to you to some extent. I refuse society/social media dictate to me how i should spend my money I earn. Regarding phone purchase, I upgraded after 4 years but aim to keep my current phone for at least 5 years or more. I have a laptop currently which is 12 years old and desktop computer which will turn 13 years old this year. I don't spend a lot on clothing or shoes, I don't spend it on TV/Music/Film Subscription or on watches. I buy clothes, shoes and cologne when on sale if i need replacement. I do haircuts at home. I also mostly eat homemade food and rarely spend money on coffee outdoors. I do spend money on coffee and cake as a treat and occasional go out for a alcoholic beverage. However, I do want to spend money on an expensive laptop which i aim to keep for 10 years if i can last that long. Some people spend money just to flex on social media e.g there is an addiction of travelling and some people are doing it for the wrong reasons. To act "cool". Travelling is not unique, anyone can travel for the most part.
I don’t know if they give out plastic bags at the grocery store where you’re located, but you could use those for garbage bags just take it out once a day. Free
If traveling to Chicago, I recommend staying at The Wrigley Hostel on the far north side of the city one block from Wrigley Field (where the Chicago Cubs play). Safe neighborhood, easily walkable, and near the train. (Oh- and my brother-in-law owns and runs the hostel and he’s a good guy. 😉👍🏻)
I tried to live with a second hand phone for five years but I couldn't store anything on it and it was getting too dark to see. I really regret that I got myself into a new phone contract though. I lived so many years without one. But it's my lifeline to my family in Europe now and also, I love youtube podcasts and live without TV.
My phone will turn 8 years next April... I also want to see, how long it will live, but on the other hand I just really would like to have a better camera in a phone. So I may buy new one because of that 😅
As compassionate gesture to my future self: Am deliberately consuming enough animal foods with high fat content; thus ensuring limited consumption of medications and medical services in general.
Hello Seve- I guess the aTH-cam algorithm "introduced" us! I am very happy to have discovered your channel and I am looking forward to immersing myself in your content. I am wondering if you have any recommendation for how to start? From the very beginig of your channel or jumping in here, today and working my way around your body of work? Thanks in advance! Henry
Free pens are always useful and eventually they run out of ink. I would prefer to get free pens and shopping bags. These days here in America in some states we have to pay for plastic bags, Walmart (Wally world) has fabric bags that I keep and reuse. ♻️
All of those are my habits, too, and don't think I'll change that in 2025. My already small income is going to be smaller on top it! 🙃 No panic though. Compliments to the ladies who cut your hair, it looks great. We cut our hairs at home with a very good pair of scissors from Fiskars, Finland, and on top of it we have scissors and knife sharpeners from the same quality firm, a good investment. I love the Moomin mugs, and I started a collection for my grandkids, but nobody needs all of them. You can enjoy the variety where ever you see them. 🙂 Keep your parfumes in the fridge (perhaps in a bit of alu-foil, too) as they go rancid with time. Myself I don't use anything parfumed if it can be avoided...therefore I insisted on a washingmachine of our own, it is very dear to me. I thank it every week! Hubby and me boycot Black Friday/Week sales as being too commercial and newfangled, as are Halloween and Valentine etc, but we watch the Lucia program on TH-cam, and cook something nice for our old Nordic traditions, adapted to be vegan. I'm very happy that there are people who produce and sell such produce I do want to buy!
Thank you! You have great systems and habits in place. Maybe in my next video I will include a top Nordic habit of cutting hair with Fiskars scissors. I've gotten countless haircuts back in the days with those haha 😂 Thanks for the support and hope you will manage even with the lower income!
What are some things you’re planning to *not* spend money on in 2025? 👇
Clothes, books, gadgets and many more things
On the other side of a metaphorical fence, I've a feeling I need to spend *more* money in 2025. Why? To help declutter, which includes assistance selling and shipping many of my belongings. This expenditure could be construed as an investment - in my mental health and lifestyle, to type the least. Beyond this, outside of essentials and things that will be used and bring joy to my life, I think I'd rather begin spending money on positive experiences over material items. This is a paradigm shift in perspective I wish I had in my teens. All the best!
Clothing and shoes. I do NOT need any more. I have already stopped most other things.
Food.
@@susanp.collins7834 Susan, are you producing all your food? Congrats, then, that is really a huge step!
Getting coffee out is a great example for me of something to do when it facilitates my wellbeing in some way. I like doing it when I’m meeting a friend to connect over a warm beverage in a nice cafe. Sometimes when my mental health gets bad and my environment starts to become messy as a result, it is very helpful to go to a calming cafe and journal/plan my recovery. If I’m traveling in a new place, I love passing a morning in a local coffee shop to experience the vibe.
I just love your voice and the speed of your speech. It makes one really listen to your content.
Thank you so much! 🥰
😂 Therapy before Rolex. Good one!
Need to consult the therapist first haha 😂
@@SunnyKindJourney Love it. What an awesome take 😆
Disagree. Rolex are a good investment.
@@Ollichrunless you can get one from your AD. If not it ain’t worth it.
@GyudonDream why buy from ad? They charge a lot. And you often lose money on a new watch.
My rolex datejust that I bought for a good price in october (I haggled) is now up 18% a big jump in 2025 because of rolex price increases but I was already up a bit. I bought a vintage datejust 1978
Sometimes I take a piece of scrap paper, write a list of thngs that need to be done that day. Keeps me organized . Then I rip it up at the end of day.
Great habit to keep things organized but still decluttered 😉
Love this idea
There is a book called “the one thing” that takes a deep dive into to the psychology of writing or having a priority list
This book is borderline life changing
I make a list, too! My father, a former US Naval officer and scientist, made a list every day! German ancestry! I am doing the same thing ! 🤗🥰🥰🥰GO NAVY! ⚓️⛵️⚓️🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
I just don't answer the phone if I don't recognize the phone number! , let the phone ring ,just to frustate SCAM callers ! 🤔🤔😉😉😉🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 Then I delete that number! 🤗🥰🤗
I want to read the books I already have before I buy new ones. Should keep me busy for a year😄
I appreciate your positive outlook and graceful approach. So many feel they are giving up or failing if they don't have endlessly spend or acquire unnecessary things
From Brazil here!
Almost every things I’ll put practice to 2025! 😊
Do not by necessity and yes by conscience and do not needed buy buy buy all the time…
Thanks for the video. Precious tips 😊
Happy holidays! 🎉
Most of what you say makes sense. But there is one "purchase" that is extremely important and that is voluntary additional contributions to you superannuation. I am 77 and I have done that for years and the returns I have received made it very worth while now.
I will be on a low-buy year for 2025. I will take it month by month, with January being a no-buy except for necessities (food). I look forward to all of the money I will save. I would also like to get back into my online savings buckets, which help me save throughout the year. The Christmas fund is one that I definitely plan to contribute to, so I will be prepared before Christmas. I already cook most of my meals at home, so I will be eating healthy the month of January which will require me to continue cooking all of my own meals.
I really enjoy these types of videos, thank you for making them🇺🇲
100% agreement from me!
Glad you like them! And thanks for watching 🌿😊
When I see something i like I always ask me 2 questions:
Do i need it?
Do I need it NOW?
If the answer is "no" it's not worthy buying.
Great video Seve. Hope you have an awesome 2025!
With health supplements most of them don’t work or aren’t needed. Having a better diet and exercise is all we need. I take vitamin d through the winter and that’s it.
Really awesome list buddy 🎉
Except psrfume ☺️ I buy my fav parfume and use it daily after shower; don’t buy another until it is finished 😌
I used to have that habit but I narrowed down my selection. I enjoy sewing but there’s always items that are more convenient to purchase.
I make my own body oil and prays with essential oils and I sale them at market too.
It’s amazing how life advice like this can spark a positive outlook.
5:24 💯%. I make coffee at home and my Zojirushi thermos stays hot for 8 hours at least. And it's always perfect
A car is one of the biggest issues we have in the US. They're a huge expense that is never cheap and never gets cheaper over time. The biggest issue is that, with the exception of a select few cities, they're mandatory here. Everyone has to spend a minimum of $2500 per year on a car, even if it's fully paid for
The insurance, registration, taxes, etc.
Let's also talk about the poor quality of newer vehicles that need a lot of maintenance
@Joshua-le1vn or you cannot work on the vehicle yourself. They have us porcupined.
@ItIsJustDucky Yea exactly! Way too much tech in these new vehicles.
I love how you’re focusing on the long-term benefits of minimalism! It’s crazy how much stuff we accumulate without realizing it. I’m definitely reconsidering my spending habits for 2025 after watching this!
It's all very well and you are right on many things, but let's take the coffee. Yes, it is expensive, BUT for the humble amount of 4 Euros I get so many things: A corner at a cosy place, inspirations, relaxation, often good music, the coffee of course (although I also like my homemade coffee, I find those in a good Café often better), often I can also browse thru interesting magazines, I can write (and it's very nice to write in cafés), I can meet other people, I can take interesting photos, I can just sit and enjoy that urban cosiness. It's a cultural lifestyle I love. But of course I live far away from cities, so visiting a Café for me is about twice a month.
Hi Seve. Merry Christmas from Montreal. So what am I not buying/accepting ??
1. Grocery Bags. Here in Montreal, plastic bags are no more. The store I shop in, sells those reusable bags for $1.00 @ And I have a few. I use them to sort (our) recycling in the building.
We have a set of 5 cloth bags for groceries only. As the store bags get ratty, I just throw them in the trash. But I don't buy new ones. If I need a bag, I can go downstairs and I have a box (where I sort the trash) with discarded bags, that I draw from when necessary.
2. I don't need a new phone. Mine is basically a pod cast or music player, since there are no active apps on it, nor social media for that matter. And the odd phone call.
3. I have a desk set pair of headphones. I have a wireless set for traveling/shopping, and a simple wire bud with the microphone if I don't want to hold my phone.
4. Dishes. Mugs, Glasses etc. I just recycled all the dishware we no longer used.
5. Tenants here just throw anything away, sometimes. So I have a collection of misc. things in a box hidden away, back stage where I collect odd "things" I might need.
We have a window unit for the summer/fall and I needed large plexiglass sheets to fill the open void. I got them from the refuse collection I sorted. I'm just creative in that way.
I don't store that stuff up here, but in the basement space, that only I have access to.
6. I used my Desktop set until it died. And only this past summer did we have to replace it, with a new Windows 11 model !! Hubby uses his laptops until they implode. And also we had to replace his this summer as well. (but we had the cash to make those purchases) - because we live frugally !!
7. Freezer/Sandwich bags: I recycle all of our plastic bags (in house) when we use them, then empty them, they go in a larger bag in the cabinet for future use. We don't buy them unless we run out of ratty useless bags.
Everything in my apartment serves a purpose. Like I have said before, if we don't need it, we don't buy it. This is our first Intentional Minimalist Christmas.
Great list!! Thanks for sharing 👏😊 And Merry Christmas to you too!
I had an iPhone 5 for six years. At year four, I watched some TH-cam videos and learned how to replace the battery. I replaced the battery for much less than Apple Store would have charged, then used the phone for 2 more years. I replaced it when apps I wanted to use would not run well on the old phone. Now, it is used as a prop in my local theatre productions.
My husband replaced mine in my old iPhone 6 years ago! I’ve had my 13 for 4 years and I imagine he’ll replace the battery in this one too soon
I visited Helsinki for the first time in 2009. As young girls, of course we did some shopping. But I still wear three of the sweaters I bought back then.
And I love them very much. They are soft, warm and very comfortable. I'll wear them until they fall apart. And then I come back to Helsinki for some shopping. 😉... Just kidding.
But visiting Finland again is pretty high on my bucket list.
Greetings from Germany 😁
I love the shoutout to the library!
Great video, i admire your take on all this. May I add one more: The Gym!
Personally i think it is unwise and unimaginative to pay silly money per month to do fitness work in a gym when the free alternatives are all around you.
I've never considered myself a minimalist, but I've been living as a minimalist for a long time))) and I rarely buy anything (only the essentials) and eat very little (only the essentials)😄
Cafe spending tip for those of us who already have no debt and a healthy savings rate: consider buying your coffee beans from a local cafe. I have a cafe in my old neighborhood that I go out of my way to buy beans from, and the only time I get a drink from the cafe is when I stop in to buy beans. This keeps the drink purchases to a minimum, and maintains its “treat” status
I plan to not buy soda, or other fizzy or acidic drinks. My teeth seem kinda ruined from excessive sugar intake and insufficient dental care in my childhood and early teens, so even with a fairly healthy diet and moderate intake of carbonated drinks, I had a small new cavity this year and my teeth are often sore to cold if I have had too much acidic fruits and drinks recently. The sugar or artificial sweeteners are not healthy either so I will really try to save money and improve my health this way.
Try Zevia or Cove or Poppy, all natural carbonated drinks. Irony is 3x as much as the crap pop
@@therichbuddha3277 I've been drinking flavoured carbonated water, with a few % fruit juice, as a refreshing treat on my summer vacation, I'm pretty sure they're still acidic. And cost about 1€/can
never ever consume added sugar
U can still drink those without damaging teeth. Just drink without putting lips around the bottle and drink it like water….the drink won’t touch ur teeth😅
Sounds like you have come up with a great list. Well thought through.
Thank you! :)
As a lover of actual books I’m trying to learn to like reading on a kindle app on my phone. It’s easier and better than lugging books around and it takes up less space.
I understand and its great just to have one device.
However reading on a real Kindle is so much better ("ink" display, format, battery life during travels).
Mine has survived 4 phones+ and works like a charme
My iPhone 7 serves me just fine and I eschew this idea of needing a new one. Thank you for being vegan! While I live in an area prone to earthquakes and power outages I am starting my serious emergency kit but otherwise hope to spend little in 2025. Great video.
Hi Seahawkess, fancy meeting you "in Finland" - I noticed you on Goobie's and Lee Asher's channel :-). I (female, no worries ;-) ) live in your neck of the woods as well.
Had to give up my hand-me-down iPhone 4 because of G5... :-(
I am with you on most everything on the list...except the library, which is not as easy to access in the country I am in currently. Most of this I have done for some years already and find it liberating.
There are many free ebooks, e.g. gutenberg project
Still running my 2016 macbook pro. Good enough
as long as you are happy. you do you. life is short so make sure that you are happy. I disagree with many of your suggestions. but as long as you are enjoying life. then do it. im a luxury enthusiast so we are different. But I do like your videos.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! I appreciate it even more since you different views 🙌🏼 Have a good one!
My husband loves books and will look on Amazon for deals. He specifically looks for used books for about $10.00 USD , including shipping. Once a book he has been wanting for a long time appears in his price range, he buys it. On average, he saves about 1/3 the cost.
Sounds like a great system to keep purchases intentional and also save money 😉
I grow my vegetables and dehydrate, freeze and can it. I feel much better eating vegetables. I eat at home and I have a stainless steel coffee pot that can be put on a stove or use it outside. I buy coffee beans for low prices.
Thanks for the tips! I live in San Francisco where living spaces are much smaller. I’ve made a habit of donating stuff yearly. So now I just need to focus on buying only things I really need.
I’m so happy to hear that you’re vegan! Compassion for animals is so important as well as eating plants is much healthier for us and the planet too!🥰❤
If I felt a need to buy status items I feel that having therapy would be money better spent. 🤣 Good one!
Thanks for sticking to the subject. I subscribed to two other “Minimalist” channels only to have one devolve into their vacation and multiple pictures of their friends and the other kept going into buying and renting out dwellings in spite of the fact that several people warned that this is a terrible idea in certain areas where people tend to tear up your property and not pay rent. Phooey on people that can’t stick to the subject and/or give dubious advice.
From PHILIPPINES here. ❤
Glad you found my channel :)
As a teacher I can NEVER get too many pens 😅if I give the free ones out to students and don't get them back it's OK
Ok...Bags are a problem for me too! I think I am always searching for the perfect bag/backpack and so buy too many. Many will get sold at a yard sale this spring. Also the supplement sales racket is intense. I also like to keep it simple with just a multivitamin. I also need to cut back on skincare/personal care products!!
The big exception with phones is this: You need to be very sure the long term phone you do buy has a history of recieving years of security updates. Saving money on not buying new phones every few years is effectively negated if your phone gets hacked because a security hole that was never patched and you lose everything.
I feel like magazines are just ads. More ads than actual content. I am constantly flipping to read the articles but it’s pages of ads or articles that are ads (“staff’s picks for month” and it’ll be like $70 lipstick or $50 glass cups, more ads under the guise of a topic. Oprah magazine is like this, ads everywhere.). I’ll just google what I’m looking for.
Those mugs are so CUTE!!! I'm such a sucker for cute/pretty household items.
I know I love silly pretty things as well. Candles and wreaths for my door are my weakness
Dude, you are amazing.
Great ideas. They don’t all apply to me, but I like the ones that do. That way I can have more money for important things that I need, like new guitars
Ihana suomiaksentti! 😂 jotenkin niin hellyyttävä ja ilahduttava. Tosi hyvä video, pitää vilkaista lisää. Aloitan ainakin puolen vuoden ”no/ low buy” -ajanjakson, joten näistä videoista on varmasti apua 😊.
Love your channel and reflections.
There is a difference between a status symbol you buy to fit in and an object of passion that you will use but people won't admire because they don't regard it as a status symbol worth investing in. For example, I won't waste money on a Ferrari because a Volkswagen will take me from point A to B in the same effective way. On other hand, I would invest 300 euros in a Borsalino hat because I love hats . Just like spending 100 Euros on a perfume. People do notice it, but it's a passion of mine.
Commenting on a Galaxy S8+. Still works!
Awesome, but no security updates ?
I will definitely be on a low-buy this year! Things simply come into your home and you don’t really notice until it’s everywhere!
Love your moomin mugs! Here in Sweden they are really popular too! I have a couple of them, but I don’t need more now.
I am already doing what you intend to do this year. I cut my hair in the spring then put it near the bird feeders so that they can use it for nesting. I get coffee when I am out to prevent loneliness. I sew therefore my costs are low. I can't remember when I last used a taxi. Charity shops can take your extra shopping bags. I'm not sure that your lifestyle will prevent you from being isolated.
Birdy
I agree. Getting out occasionally for coffee etc helps us, or at least those of us who are not extreme introverts, connect with the community around us.
Bro I got into a silver stacking hobby every time I would want something that is a impulse purchase I would buy silver i stead I ended up at the end of my year with over 8 thousand dollars of silver made me realize how much I waste money 😢
This is a great video and I'm taking a lot of tips from it :)
If there was one thing that I would say budget and buy, it's the laptop 😂 tech has made a really huge advancement in laptops, and regardless if it's Windows or Mac, it's out of security support. But the missing key is also another justification.
Your mentioning most of the things I have changed in order to stay within my means and cost effective. Thank you for sharing 😊
Hi Seve so happy I found your video. I was communicating with a Miguel on your video. I so enjoy communicating with others all over the world, this brings us all together. Hugs 🤗 and love ❤️ coming your way 😊
I once met a college professor. He grew up in Germany during WWII. His family actually hid their father , a German soldier in a closet. So he would not be sent to the Eastern front! This professor told me he only had a knapsack, one fork ,one spoon ,one knife, and one plate! I was very impressed with his simple lifestyle!
New books, clothes, eating out, movie theater, gadgets , decor
7:48 hey we have the same pink mug at home too! as well as dark blue one, featuring Muumipappa and his boat :D
Great vid!
Hey Seve. I know you said you won't buy a new laptop, but since it's a Windows laptop, have you thought about upgrading the internals? A friend recently asked my help on upgrading a 7 year old laptop he had. It still booted the OS off an HDD and came with just 4GB of RAM. I swapped it to an SSD and installed new RAM to make it 16GB, and he said it felt so much faster as if it's a brand new laptop. 8 years old would make your laptop probably a 7th gen Intel, and those are still pretty capable for most tasks.
I love the Moomins! I read the books as a child. Thanks for the reminder of happy memories. ❤
They are so cool 🥰
My local library lets you recommend new books, and gives you the right to checkout. Also, they will borrow a book they don’t have from other libraries in 5 western states. Sometimes it takes 2 weeks for the book to arrive, but it is a great way to get a look of books that aren’t local. Also, the library has given us free electronic access to magazines & newspapers. Cell phones: I replaced the battery to double the life cycle it.
Can I introduce you to my 23-year-old daughter!! 😅 I’ve recently adopted the model that I can appreciate something without needing to own it. It is helping a lot in curbing the impulse buys! I’ve also started asking myself “do I want it bad enough that if someone was standing here willing to give me the cash value of them item that I would still choose the item?”
Mugs and backpacks! I feel so seen.
Good video!
Thanks! 😊
Ironically I have just bought a new phone and intend to buy a new laptop in 2025. The issue is some of us work or live in a way that older technology makes things slower and harder, essentially losing us money. Agree with most of what you say, though.
Thank you so much re supplements! It’s so hyped in a lot of channels. Plain iron is all I need.
I don't think so.. good supplements can change your life.. for good workout you need good vitamins.. my solution for problem is Animal pack.. I use 2 box (44 PCs /box) per year
Great list. I want to spend less on clothing and if I do buy anything, hoping to keep it minimal and possibly second hand. I have plenty at this point and I want to make it a practice to get rid of one clothing item per month. If I buy anything, an item has to leave as well. I'm also avoiding purchasing anything else I already have plenty of already. Candles, perfumes, lotions, etc.
Seve, I bought (Amazon) & installed a new battery in my Samsung Galaxy S5. Ran like new until phone carrier required upgrade to a 5G phone, which they provided free.
Carrier giving free phones, sounds like a top notch customer service 🫢 Did that come with some more expensive phone subscription package you need to commit to or it was just a great deal overall?
Would be cool to know what food you typically shop in a week, I also incline towards veganism but for me as a brought up mixed diet from birth it's hard to know what's worth it and how to not compromise on health and price, doesn't help that there are so many choices out there
I have used the library most of my life. My parents wouldn't buy me books so the libary was the next best thing. I still use the library but finding books l like or that interest me is difficult now. So l do buy books usually used from amazon.
My laptop has terminally passed. It has been refurbished twice. Which is now I am watching videos about saving and making money.
Hope you'll be able to make and save enough to get a new one!
@SunnyKindJourney Thanks Seve! The saving is going SPLENDIDLY but I am planning also on doing a TEFL (Teaching English As a Foreign Language) course and I will need a good one. Also probably a lapel mic and maybe headphones.
I think it is quite useful to buy a new phone now, because it takes much better photos than 5 years ago, much better haptics and the battery life is much better and the screens are bright in the summer and almost all phones offer 5+ years of software updates, which was not the case in the past. But in the next 5 years it will be difficult to make progress because phones can't take photos better than dslr, so at the moment it's ideal to upgrade for the next 5 years. But I agree about other things, even about 1 perfume :D
Thanks for the tip! 🙌🏼
Don't give $20 a month to audible ➡️borrow audiobooks from your public library
Ask your acquisitions librarian to buy books!
Definetely agree! 😊
🙌🏼🙌🏼
I'm starting with not more unnecessary clothing and watches!
I agree with mostly everything except agenda I can't live without. Point 5 😅 so truth. Wish you nice Christmas from Turkey.
I cut up tea bag boxes, biscuit boxes, etc to write my shopping lists on
You had me at vegan! 😊✌️
I appreciate you and your content ~ 🙏
I was with you until the moomin mugs, then my strength faltered. I realllyyy want those. 😭
I have my own list of 10 things I don’t buy, but if I do, they must be from the thrift store or on the clearance rack. And if I do buy something something must go.
For the laptop, if you don't do anything too demanding, try Linux. It uses much less resources than Windows, and it will improve your experience. Changing the old HDD with an SSD will also help a lot.
I agree with researching and asking myself do I really have to have. Good idea.
Great advice. I also have an old phone - probably 6-7 years. It still works fine, but the Otter box protecting it finally broke off a piece of rubber and I need to replace it... and there are no phone covers for my model of phone 😅 I was going to just deal with it, but I also discovered my platform ceased being supported in January 2023, so I guess safety dictates I get a new one next year.
I'm similiar to you to some extent. I refuse society/social media dictate to me how i should spend my money I earn.
Regarding phone purchase, I upgraded after 4 years but aim to keep my current phone for at least 5 years or more. I have a laptop currently which is 12 years old and desktop computer which will turn 13 years old this year.
I don't spend a lot on clothing or shoes, I don't spend it on TV/Music/Film Subscription or on watches.
I buy clothes, shoes and cologne when on sale if i need replacement. I do haircuts at home. I also mostly eat homemade food and rarely spend money on coffee outdoors. I do spend money on coffee and cake as a treat and occasional go out for a alcoholic beverage.
However, I do want to spend money on an expensive laptop which i aim to keep for 10 years if i can last that long.
Some people spend money just to flex on social media e.g there is an addiction of travelling and some people are doing it for the wrong reasons. To act "cool". Travelling is not unique, anyone can travel for the most part.
I don’t know if they give out plastic bags at the grocery store where you’re located, but you could use those for garbage bags just take it out once a day. Free
If traveling to Chicago, I recommend staying at The Wrigley Hostel on the far north side of the city one block from Wrigley Field (where the Chicago Cubs play). Safe neighborhood, easily walkable, and near the train. (Oh- and my brother-in-law owns and runs the hostel and he’s a good guy. 😉👍🏻)
Nice one.
Baby Boomer here! If you grew up with parents who went through the Great Depression ,it is easy to collect a lot of STUFF! 🤔🤔😉😉😉
I tried to live with a second hand phone for five years but I couldn't store anything on it and it was getting too dark to see. I really regret that I got myself into a new phone contract though. I lived so many years without one. But it's my lifeline to my family in Europe now and also, I love youtube podcasts and live without TV.
1. Stop Unwanted subscriptions
2. No new clothes
3. Repair products incase of damage
THANK YOU for being vegan 🌱
🌱🌱
My phone will turn 8 years next April... I also want to see, how long it will live, but on the other hand I just really would like to have a better camera in a phone. So I may buy new one because of that 😅
As compassionate gesture to my future self: Am deliberately consuming enough animal foods with high fat content; thus ensuring limited consumption of medications and medical services in general.
Hello Seve- I guess the aTH-cam algorithm "introduced" us! I am very happy to have discovered your channel and I am looking forward to immersing myself in your content. I am wondering if you have any recommendation for how to start? From the very beginig of your channel or jumping in here, today and working my way around your body of work? Thanks in advance! Henry
I find a whiteboard is much more helpful than a productivity planner
Free pens are always useful and eventually they run out of ink. I would prefer to get free pens and shopping bags. These days here in America in some states we have to pay for plastic bags, Walmart (Wally world) has fabric bags that I keep and reuse. ♻️
Was the book you bought “Abroad in Japan”?
Backup the data on your phone and then factory reset it. That can clear up a lot of slowness
All of those are my habits, too, and don't think I'll change that in 2025. My already small income is going to be smaller on top it! 🙃 No panic though. Compliments to the ladies who cut your hair, it looks great. We cut our hairs at home with a very good pair of scissors from Fiskars, Finland, and on top of it we have scissors and knife sharpeners from the same quality firm, a good investment. I love the Moomin mugs, and I started a collection for my grandkids, but nobody needs all of them. You can enjoy the variety where ever you see them. 🙂
Keep your parfumes in the fridge (perhaps in a bit of alu-foil, too) as they go rancid with time. Myself I don't use anything parfumed if it can be avoided...therefore I insisted on a washingmachine of our own, it is very dear to me. I thank it every week!
Hubby and me boycot Black Friday/Week sales as being too commercial and newfangled, as are Halloween and Valentine etc, but we watch the Lucia program on TH-cam, and cook something nice for our old Nordic traditions, adapted to be vegan.
I'm very happy that there are people who produce and sell such produce I do want to buy!
Thank you! You have great systems and habits in place. Maybe in my next video I will include a top Nordic habit of cutting hair with Fiskars scissors. I've gotten countless haircuts back in the days with those haha 😂 Thanks for the support and hope you will manage even with the lower income!