5 things I stop buying since I became minimalist
Becoming minimalist also means reviewing our consumption and particularly our useless purchases. Today, there are a certain number of products that I have stopped consuming or only very occasionally. Most of the time I have found a substitute for them. My goal being to consume better in a general way, even if the ecological aspect is not systematically respected, I grant you that. I promise I will continue to make efforts.
CDs
The first thing that came to me quite naturally was the CDs. Why would I need piles of CDs and plastic boxes when I don’t even have enough to read them. The record players are destined to disappear (just like the cassette players used to be). My substitute here is a subscription to an online music platform. Personally, I use Spotify, which I really like for its playlists, but there are others (Deezer, Apple music…). It allows me to listen to a larger variety of music while paying quite little since I share a family account with family members. An extra bonus is that it stops the illegal listening that kills artists.
DVDs
In the same way, we have the DVDs. Between supports like Netflix and streaming on computer (this practice is not really legal) or VOD, there is a lot of possibilities. A DVD is still expensive and you don’t watch it that often. Thanks to smart TV it has become very easy to access any kind of movie, series or show by replaying. I’m taking full advantage of it.
Make-up remover pads
We now move on to the bathroom where I have greatly reduced my waste thanks to the washable cottons. I use them to remove my make-up but also to clean my face with a floral water. You have to plan to have a certain quantity (at least twenty if you use it each morning and evening). Personally, I quickly run out of stock because I only do one machine of white clothes per week. When I run out of washable cotton I simply use a washcloth but it’s less pleasant and rougher on the skin. You can also make your own if you are good at sewing.
Make-up
Concerning make-up, I only buy very limited products now, I simply replace my daily items when they are finished. It’s a real change from my beauty blogging years when I used to go 2 or 3 times a month to Sephora, I subscribed to beauty boxes and I accumulated a ton of product in my bathroom. Finally, I realize that it’s really not useful. I limit myself to one exemplar for the majority of my make-up products and then I complete it with a few palettes and lipsticks, that’s more than enough for me.
Books
The next thing I practically stop buying are books. I sometimes buy one if it’s an author I really love and I know I’ll read it several times (especially self-development ones). Most of the time I borrow them for free from the library at work, a friend loans them to me or I buy then donate the books (book box, friends, library).
Clothings
This category has also been a big change since a few years ago. I used to do a monthly shopping session. Today it’s more like one or two new purchases a year or I only replace used pieces. Otherwise, I found the second hand alternative through the Vinted platform. It allows me to find clothes of the brands I like at discount prices with a good quality and in good condition.
