Minimalism tips

Ever heard the saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? It may surprise you that other people in your life want your discarded stuff. Before you sell everything, ask your friends and family if they want some of your items. This may ease the transition of riding your home of household junk. Also, if you end up not selling everything, you could donate your things to a local charity. This may leave you feeling a sense of abundance and happiness that you could give to those who are less fortunate. And, as an added bonus you can use your donations as a tax deduction.

With the advancement of technology, there are countless ways to sell your goods online. Make money now by listing them on sites like Letgo, 5Miles, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. All of these platforms make it simple to post and sell your things to buyers in need of your items. Another way to sell your things is to conduct a yard or garage sale. All you have to do is pick a date, haul your items out onto your yard, list their prices, and post flyers around your community. Before you know it, your neighbors will be knocking down your door to get your unwanted items.

If you don’t want to spend your valuable time negotiating with your service providers, use a company like Trim to cut your spending. Trim helps you negotiate your bills, analyze your spending habits, automate your savings, and gets rid of unwanted subscription services. Trim is the ultimate minimalist companion for helping you simplify your life and use your money the way you want. All you have to do is create a free account to get started with Trim. It’s as easy as that! Please note that Trim takes their payment immediately. For example, if Trim saves you $10/month, they will request their 33% fee ($40) right away. But you keep 100% of the savings after that. If you’re ready to cut your spending and increase your savings, sign up for Trim today!

Just because a service price is stated, doesn’t mean companies won’t offer deals and discounts for your loyalty. Often, all you have to do is simply ask and companies will give you the best rate they have. Start calling your service providers to find the best deal. If your service provider won’t lower your bill, try looking for alternative options that cost less and offer better amenities. A minimalist is always willing to ask for a deal. Don’t be afraid to ask for the price you deserve! Or, if you’d rather have a trained professional negotiate on your behalf (for free) check out our top recommendations for bill negotiation services.

Next, examine your financial priorities. If you’re financial priorities and expenses don’t align, it’s time to make some adjustments. One of the best minimalist tips you’ll receive is to prioritize your spending. For example, if you discover you’re spending a lot of money on a TV package every month but barely watch TV, you may want to cut this expense. Why have an expensive TV package that you rarely use? You could be spending that money on things you actually enjoy, such as time with your family or weekend getaways. Decide what you want to spend your money on and begin cutting back on your other expenses. If you want help cancelling your unused subscriptions, check out our “Cancelling Subscriptions Guide” here.

A money leak is an amount of money you can’t determine how you spent. Money leaks consist of bank or investment fees and unnecessary expenses. If you discover you’re paying a bank maintenance fee, you may want to look for another banking solution. Online financial institutions (such as CIT Bank) have no-fee checking and savings accounts that actually let you accrue interest. If you have to keep your account somewhere, why not earn interest on your account? Discover an online banking option that fits your financial needs and minimalistic lifestyle:

• Best High Interest Savings Accounts
• Best Free Checking Accounts
• How to Waive Overdraft Fees (and never get them again)

Sites like Google Shopping, Shopzilla, and Pronto allow you to compare prices to find the best deals by comparing the same items across different sites. One of the best ways to live minimally is to do your research before purchasing any items. It’s imperative you find the best deal possible. Another idea is to set up price trackers on sites like SlickDeals and CamelCamelCamel. These sites will send you a notification when the price drops on an item you’re in search of. Taking proactive measures to identify the best deals and discounts is the only way minimalists live.