Living Better with Less: 10 Minimalist Challenges to Take Back Control of Your Budget

Why Wanting Less Sometimes Means Wanting Better
We live in a world where accumulation has become almost automatic. A world overflowing with notifications, stuff, and constant temptations to consume more. But how many of these things actually make us happier? And how many silently weigh us down?
Minimalism isn't about white decor and three potted plants. It's not about living with nothing or depriving yourself of joy. It's a mindset. A sorting process. A way to take back control of what truly matters to you.
By choosing to have less, you create space. In your home, in your mind, in your budget. And that space? You can finally fill it with something else: time, focus, freedom.
This guide doesn't aim to impose a radical lifestyle. It simply offers you 10 small, accessible, and practical challenges to help you start shifting—step by step. No pressure. Just curiosity.
So, how about trying just one of these "commandments"? Just to see?
1. Declutter Your Home, One Room at a Time
Let's start with something tangible: your living space. Too often, our closets are overflowing, drawers packed with "just in case" items, and shelves filled with meaningless objects. The challenge here is to sort one room per week. No more. The goal isn't to flip your house upside down, but to create a steady rhythm.
For each item, ask yourself: "Have I used this in the last six months?" If the answer is no, ask what's keeping you from letting it go. Sentimental value? Guilt? Laziness? None of these are bad reasons, but they're often invisible weights.
Then what? Donate, sell, recycle. That forgotten pile of clothes might delight someone on Vinted. That old piece of furniture could find new life through a secondhand site. The money you make? It may not be much, but it brings value back to what you thought was worthless.
Decluttering is both symbolic and practical. You'll lighten your space, your mental load... and make room for what really matters.
Bonus tip: take a before-and-after photo of each room. You'll see the difference—and it's motivating!
2. Let Your Impulses Sit for 30 Days
Tempted to buy that new gadget, perfectly tailored sweater, or smoothie maker you saw in a video? Stop. Breathe. Wait.
The principle is simple yet powerful: when the urge to buy strikes, write it down... and wait 30 days. Not 30 minutes, not 3 days. A full month. If the desire is still there and justified, maybe the purchase makes sense. But most of the time... the urge fades.
This "cooling-off period" acts like a filter. It helps you distinguish a real need from a fleeting impulse—often triggered by fatigue, boredom, advertising, or mood.
It's also a way to put intention back at the heart of shopping. To buy less, but better. And the payoff? Dozens, even hundreds of euros saved each year... without frustration.
Pro tip: create a "delayed wishlist" in your phone or a notebook. You'll be amazed how often it empties on its own.
3. Declutter Your Digital Space Too
Clutter isn't just physical. Our phones, computers, and inboxes are overloaded too... and it comes at a real cost.
Start with a digital clean-up:
- Delete apps you no longer use (especially those with sneaky monthly fees).
- Review your online subscriptions (streaming, tools, platforms...) and cancel the dormant ones.
- Unsubscribe from marketing newsletters that tempt you to buy.
This digital purge isn't just mentally freeing: it reduces your monthly expenses too. We often forget about that €4.99 here, €2.99 there... until it adds up.
It's also a way to reclaim your attention. Fewer notifications mean fewer temptations. Which means fewer unnecessary purchases.
Practical idea: use a subscription manager (via your bank or a dedicated app) to spot hidden recurring charges.
4. Plan Your Meals Like a Pragmatic Chef
A half-full fridge, forgotten canned goods, and the classic: "What's for dinner?" Result? We improvise. We order in. We waste food.
Meal planning isn't about being a gourmet chef. It's about saving time, money, and stress. The method is simple:
- Spend 15 minutes a week planning 5 to 7 main meals.
- Make a shopping list directly tied to those meals.
- Once in the store: stick to the list. No detours.
This method helps avoid duplicates, forgotten items, and emotional purchases ("oh look, truffle-camembert chips!"). Most importantly, it drastically reduces food waste, which can cost a family €20–30 a week.
Bonus benefit? You can integrate leftovers into your plan. A roast chicken becomes a salad the next day, then a broth the day after. Zero waste, zero hassle.
Clever ritual: on Sunday night, clear your fridge with a "whatever's-left" meal. Surprise guaranteed—and savings too.
5. Have One No-Spend Day Per Week
What if, one day a week, you chose to spend absolutely nothing? No takeaway coffee, no pastry, no Uber ride. Just one day off the consumption carousel.
This is the idea behind the "no-spend day"—a mini challenge that's thought-provoking without being guilt-inducing. On this day, rediscover simple pleasures: cooking from what's left, walking instead of driving, picking up a book or calling a friend instead of doomscrolling.
The goal isn't deprivation—it's awareness. Realizing how many purchases have become automatic. And how possible it is to live fully without spending a cent.
It's also a great way to reclaim control over your finances. A few euros saved here and there really do add up. One no-spend day per week can save you up to €50 per month—with no radical lifestyle change.
Gentle tip: choose an easy day to start (a Sunday or day off), and give it a fun name: "Slow Saturday," "Zero-Spend Tuesday"—whatever works. The goal is to make it a positive habit.
6. Always Consider Secondhand First
Need furniture, clothing, or an electronic device? Before rushing to buy new, ask yourself a simple question: "Can I find it secondhand?"
Platforms like Vinted, Leboncoin, Geev, or local thrift stores (Emmaüs, recycling centers...) are full of great finds. Many items are like new, often 50–70% cheaper. Sometimes even free.
But it's not just about money. Buying secondhand means breaking the consumer reflex, giving objects a second life, and reducing your ecological impact with minimal effort.
There's also a thrill in the hunt: the joy of thrifting, of landing a great deal, of giving new value to something discarded. It's economical, ecological... and oddly poetic.
Field tip: set up alerts on your favorite platforms for the items you're looking for. Let the algorithm do the work while you live your life.
7. Audit Your Invisible Subscriptions
They're lurking in your bank statements—subscriptions you took "just to try," or because "a free month couldn't hurt"... and that still charge you every month.
Netflix, Spotify, Canal+, gym memberships, meditation apps, software, cloud storage... the list can be long. And you'd be surprised how much you're paying without even realizing it.
The challenge? List out all your subscriptions. One by one. Note the price, frequency, and actual usefulness. Be honest: do you really use them? Do they still bring you value?
Cancel ruthlessly. For the ones you want to keep, try legally sharing (some plans allow it) or switching to a free version if available.
You can easily save €20 to €50 a month, just by shutting down a few digital drains.
Smart tool: apps like Bankin' or Linxo can automatically identify your recurring expenses. In just a few taps, you'll know where your money's going—and where it could stay.
8. Lower (Just a Bit) Your Energy Bill
Energy isn't always visible... but it's always on your bill. The good news: reducing your usage doesn't mean living in the cold or by candlelight. Often, it just takes a few clever habits.
Try these small but effective moves:
- Lower your heating by one degree: you won't feel it, but your bill will (up to 7% savings).
- Turn off standby devices (TVs, routers, coffee makers...). Standby mode can make up 10% of your annual bill.
- Use power strips with switches: one click, everything's off. Easy.
- Switch to LED bulbs: they use 80% less energy than traditional ones.
- Run washing machines during off-peak hours (if your energy plan allows it).
These are simple, common-sense changes that can cut €100 to €200 off your annual bill—without compromising comfort.
Beyond the savings, there's the satisfying feeling of "not wasting." A small gesture for your wallet, a big step for your mindset.
Bonus tip: try a one-week "energy sobriety" challenge. Note what you change—and how it feels. It's often easier than you think.
9. Only Buy What Truly Has a Place
How many times have you bought something... only to never use it? Another black t-shirt, a kitchen gadget still in its box, a home decor item you grabbed "because it was on sale"?
This challenge follows a simple rule: the "one-in, one-out" method.
Each time you consider a new purchase, ask yourself:
"Am I willing to get rid of something equivalent at home?"
This rule forces you to evaluate the real usefulness of what you want to buy. Is it a true need, or just a passing urge? Does it offer something new compared to what you already have?
It's a gentle but powerful way to prevent clutter and shop mindfully. It turns each purchase into a deliberate decision—not a distraction or quick dopamine hit.
And in the process, you free up physical space. Fewer things mean less cleaning, less organizing... and more clarity.
Alternative: give yourself 24 hours to think, plus one equivalent item to donate for each new one. It saves you from many useless purchases.
10. Choose Quality Over Quantity
Buy a €15 sweater every three months, or a good €60 one that lasts several winters? The answer seems obvious... yet we often go for what's cheapest, fastest, most "convenient."
This final commandment invites a shift in perspective: think in terms of long-term cost, not just upfront price.
A cheap but flimsy product might cost you two or three times its price over a few years. By contrast, investing in something durable, repairable, built to last is both a responsible and economical choice.
This applies to clothing, appliances, furniture—but also to digital tools or kids' toys.
It's not about buying luxury. It's about thinking through the true value of what you buy: its lifespan, usefulness, and whether it simplifies your life or just clutters it.
Simple question to ask before buying: "Would I rather have three mediocre ones... or one good one?" More often than not, the answer is clear.
True Luxury? Space, Time, and Clarity
After these 10 challenges, you might not be living in a sleek minimalist loft. But you'll likely see your daily life differently. Less waste, fewer useless things, fewer decisions... and more ease.
Minimalism isn't the goal—it's the path. A way of saying: "I choose what stays." What serves me. What brings me joy. What reflects who I am.
So, what's your first small step? Sorting a drawer? A no-spend day? Deleting an app? It doesn't matter where you start—just that you do. The rest will follow naturally.