(ENG only) Sometimes I stop myself to think and I realize how much I have changed in these past few years thanks to minimalism. Looking back now, I clearly recognize that not only it made me feel comfortable in living with less stuff and step by step with more intention too, but also it changed me as a consumer and a person making me save money in the long term and appreciate much more what I have already, crave less stuff and treasure more the simple things in life.

It transformed me in a simpler, more conscious and frugal person. And it can do the same for you too! 🙂

There are a few habits that help me and can help you do just that: living a simpler life on a tighter budget, saving money but making your everyday life a richer one.

• cook your meals at home as much as possible. And bring them with you at work, at school, at the gym, on the go… If you don’t need to bring an entire meal with you, don’t forget to pack some snacks to keep in your bag just in case you get hungry, so you don’t have to stop anywhere to buy some extra food. And if you can meal prep, even better! You can plan all of your meals for the week and budget your grocery shopping accordingly.
• “shop” your pantry / fridge before going to the store thinking that you have nothing to eat. You might have the most organized, minimal pantry ever, but taking an extra check at your fridge and pantry before running to the grocery store is a good habit: most of the times there is something to make one or two meals out of!
• library card. If you are a book worm but also if you`re someone who likes reading every now and then, a library card is what you need. Because it means unlimited books for free!! Or for a small yearly fee (my local library in Berlin charges me 10€ per year, which is just a fraction of the price I would have paid if I had to buy books even second hand). And thanks to apps (Overdrive or Libby), you can even use your library card to access to ebooks or audiobooks like you would with normal books. Awesome isn`t it? 🙂
• if you’re a coffee or tea drinker and like to order your drink of choice to take away or if you just like to have something to sip on on the go, make your drink at home and put it into your reusable cup. You’ll save money and the planet will thank you too.

• “refresh” your wardrobe through some wardrobe challenges or capsule wardrobes. You will learn how to make the most out of your wardrobe and it will make you feel like you have new clothes. Remember that a small wardrobe doesn’t mean not having options: a while back I wrote a blog post about all the benefits of a small wardrobe, you can check it out to find some inspiration if you are in a bit of a wardrobe rut.
• if you have to look for new clothes, consider second hand stores or clothing swaps (usually clothing swaps are free!) before buying completely new.
• be a tourist in your own town. Take advantage of some free time and explore and visit parts of town you don’t know very well or haven’t been in a while to. Try to look at everything with curious eyes using a fresh new perspective.
• organize more meet ups or gatherings at home, or meets outside if the weather is nice. Everyone can bring something to eat or drink too: we’re not talking about fancy stuff here but just a simple way to spend some quality time together. You can also browse online for organized some meet ups in your town if you’re looking for some new friends.
• JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out). There is always so much to do, so much going on, so many events to attend. Our agendas are getting fuller and our to-do lists longer. As an introvert, sometimes (actually even more than sometimes) I like to miss things out, to linger more, knowing that I am just enjoying the quiet normality of my home. Sometimes just the though of all the things I have to do makes me overwhelmed and anxious. It’s nice to have a break and embrace my introvert side too.

In this video I made a few months ago, you will find these simple habits discussed a bit more into depth, if you’d like to know more 🙂

Is there anything specific you do on a regular basis to be more frugal? Let me know down below!

xoxo

Jen