20 THINGS I'M NOT BUYING for our New Home | minimalism + saving money

Summary

In this video, the minimalist lifestyle advocate shares a personal list of 20 items she's avoiding for her new home to save money and simplify life. From unnecessary furniture and decor to faux plants and cheap hangers, she emphasizes intentional purchases and DIY repairs. She also discusses her preference for quality over quantity, natural materials, and sustainable choices, like secondhand shopping, to reduce waste and create a more functional living space.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses skepticism towards 'Home Essentials' lists, which often include unnecessary items.
• 🏠 The speaker emphasizes the importance of intentional purchasing and avoiding unnecessary clutter in a new home.
• 💸 A survey is mentioned, indicating that Americans spend $188,000 annually on non-essential items, leading to a lifetime waste of $1 million.
• 🛋️ The speaker plans to avoid buying excessive furniture and home decor to maintain a minimalist lifestyle and appreciate open spaces.
• 🛠️ DIY repairs are encouraged to save money and reduce reliance on hiring professionals for every task.
• 🌿 Faux plants are not preferred; the speaker aims to care for real plants instead, despite having a history of killing plants.
• 👗 The speaker will not buy bedroom dressers due to existing storage solutions in their walk-in closet.
• 👔 The preference for quality hangers over cheap ones is highlighted to prevent clothes from slipping and getting damaged.
• 🛏️ Nightstands are deemed unnecessary by the speaker, who has managed without them for years.
• 🧻 The speaker chooses not to have tissue boxes in the home, instead directing guests to use toilet paper.
• 🍽️ There's a rejection of disposable kitchen items and plastic cookware in favor of reusable options and natural materials.
• 🥂 The philosophy of using special occasion items daily is shared, as every day is considered a special occasion.
• 🥤 The speaker will not be buying an excessive number of glasses, focusing on practical and possibly aesthetically pleasing ones.
• 🛌 The decision to avoid woven blankets due to their maintenance challenges, especially in a family setting.
• 💡 The speaker dislikes floor lamps and plans to use recessed ceiling lights for better lighting without the glare.
• 🕰️ There's no need for clocks or timers in the home when phones and existing appliances provide the necessary timekeeping.
• 🧹 The minimalist approach extends to cleaning supplies, with the speaker likely to reuse or repurpose what they already have.
• 🎄 The speaker is not passionate about holiday decor and prefers to celebrate holidays in other ways.
• 🛍️ The final takeaway is about not buying everything new, with a preference for secondhand and thrift stores for sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is about simplifying life by not buying non-essential items for a new home and embracing minimalism.

What was the author's reaction to the '40 essential products for your first place' list?

The author was skeptical and almost fell into a deep depression, as they felt the items on the list, like a toothpaste squeezer and a sun-catcher shaped like a castle, were not essential.

What is the estimated amount Americans spend on non-essential items annually according to the 2019 survey mentioned in the script?

According to the 2019 survey, Americans spend $188,000 a year on non-essential items.

Why does the author advocate for not buying a lot of furniture and home decor for a new home?

The author values space and the feeling of openness, and believes that not filling the home with a lot of furniture or home decor can help maintain lightness, airiness, and a sense of openness.

What is the author's opinion on DIY repairs instead of hiring professionals?

The author believes that doing small repairs by oneself can save a significant amount of money in the long run and encourages the purchase of a toolkit for this purpose.

Why does the author choose not to buy faux plants for their new home?

The author is tired of faux plants and wants to try taking care of real plants to bring life and color into the house, despite having a history of killing plants.

What is the author's stance on buying bedroom dressers?

The author does not plan to buy bedroom dressers because they have a walk-in closet with built-in storage and do not have a large amount of clothing due to their minimalist lifestyle.

Why does the author prefer not to buy cheap hangers?

The author prefers not to buy cheap hangers because they are prone to breaking, causing clothes to slip off, and damaging the clothes with holes in the shoulders.

What is the author's view on having nightstands in the bedroom?

The author does not plan to have nightstands in the bedroom, as they have not missed them in the past and have found alternative places to put items like phones and glasses.

What is the author's approach to buying kitchenware for special occasions?

The author believes that every day is a special occasion and prefers to use fine china, good wine, and other special items regularly rather than saving them for specific events.

Why does the author avoid buying disposable kitchen items?

The author aims to reduce environmental waste, especially plastic and paper waste, and prefers reusable items even if it means more washing up after hosting.

What is the author's opinion on plastic cookware and its potential health effects?

The author is concerned about the presence of microplastics in food and bodies due to plastic cookware and the potential negative health effects, thus preferring natural material alternatives.

Why does the author choose not to buy a variety of glasses for different drinks?

The author finds it unnecessary to own many different kinds of glasses and prefers to focus on a few practical and possibly pretty ones.

What is the author's reasoning for not buying woven blankets?

The author finds woven blankets impractical due to the potential for damage from children or pets and the difficulty in maintaining their appearance.

Why does the author limit the number of pillows in their home?

The author finds that excessive pillows create visual clutter and can be a hassle to manage, especially with children who may throw them around.

What is the author's view on specialty appliances in the kitchen?

The author avoids adding more specialty or single-use appliances to the kitchen, having already decluttered items like a slow cooker and an instant pot that were not frequently used.

Why does the author not plan to buy a clock or timers for their home?

The author finds it unnecessary to have a wall clock or timers at home, preferring to use the clock on the microwave and setting timers on their phone when needed.

What is the author's stance on buying floor lamps for their home?

The author does not plan on getting floor lamps or table lamps, as they prefer the natural lighting in their home and plan to install recessed ceiling lights instead.

Why does the author consider not buying rugs for every room in their home?

The author finds that rugs can create echoes and are difficult to keep clean, especially in dining areas, and prefers to use rugs only in certain rooms for a cozy feel.

What is the author's opinion on candles and their use in the home?

The author has never been a candle person, does not enjoy the scent, and is concerned about the potential release of toxins and parabens into the air.

Why does the author choose to limit holiday decor in their home?

The author prefers to celebrate holidays in other ways, such as cooking meals or reading themed books, rather than focusing on accumulating holiday decor items.

What is the author's approach to buying items for their new home?

The author plans to buy items for their new home from thrift and secondhand stores to save money and be more sustainable, rather than purchasing everything brand new.