Ever wish you had more time or money? Probably.
According to one study, 80% of working adults wish they had more time to spend with their friends and family. In a similar study, 60% of working parents “always” feel rushed.
And the New York Times, back in 2015, called the current American generation “stressed, tired, and rushed.” No doubt, many of us know that to be true.
What if there was a solution?
What if there was a way to have more time available in your life? AND more money as well?
There is a solution. And it is available right now, without spending a penny (literally).
The solution to this problem is: Shop less.
In fact, cccording to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spent 22 minutes/day shopping in 2019.
That is the equivalent of 133 hours each year (or 10,400 hours over a lifetime) spent shopping.
And it should be noted that this survey is far more conservative than most. Some studies show the average number in many scenarios might actually be closer to 400 hours each year! That’s almost 8 hours per week.
Almost everybody I know would take more time or money if it was offered to them.
Here’s the good news: You can have more of both.
Shop less.
Some might argue, “Yeah, but I have to shop. My family needs food and toiletries and my house needs cleaning. Some of these shopping errands are non-negotiable.”
And you would be right.
To live is to consume and there is a certain level of “shopping” that will always need to be maintained. But according to the studies listed above, only 25% of our shopping is spent on necessities (groceries, toiletries, etc.). The rest is spent on nonessentials amounting to $18,000 per year for the average American.
Wouldn’t we all like an extra 25 hours and $1,500 every month?
A second argument might go as follows, “Yeah, but what am I going to do with extra money and extra time if I can’t spend it shopping?”
And the answer is, “Anything else in the world. Surely there are more important things in life than what is on sale at your local department store. All those things you want to do with your life? You should go do them.”
We are a generation struggling to find both time and money. Given that reality, it’s surprising how many of us choose to use the little free time and money we have to spend it shopping—whether going to the mall, browsing websites, or simply looking at the lives of others wishing we had the physical possessions they own.
Shopping depletes two of our most finite resources: time and money.
Now, I’m not naïve enough to assume everyone who reads this post is going to stop shopping entirely.
However, for those of us who’ve ever wished we had more time and money in our lives, take some time to seriously consider this week how shopping and buying less would provide both—now, and for the rest of your life.
I AM READY! I have been trying to balance my budget and my family time is my most important commitment. I work full time, so this would help me regain life balance. Life balance is a personal goal of mine this year. This fits nicely into that goal. I am going to look at my phone and see just how much TIME I was spending on social media and shopping. This way I can see how much I am taking back! Thank you for your posts. I am enjoying them.
Grocery shopping on line with a list on the fridge which includes a week’s menu has worked for us for years. There’s less temptation to buy unneeded “bargains” as you’re not visiting the store.
We also buy fruit and vegetables separately on line now because they are delivered with no plastic packaging, it’s worth searching out local suppliers if you can.
I find that Facebook is horrible with ads and I’ll see something that I don’t know what it is in the picture or that I’ve never heard of l and click on the ad. The I’m down a rabbit whole. I’ve decided that I’m gonna set a daily limit on social media time so there’s less likelihood of even seeing the ads.
I just remodeled my home and I’m loving the open empty spaces so that will help motivate me.
I agree with this. The ads are horrible. I am also getting off social media. I have had less and less desire to be on there anyway. I am going to go and see how much time I was spending on social media and online shopping. I am ready for a radical change.
Thank you so much for this simple and working tip.
I always struggled when shopping to keep my budget and to have some save at the end of the month. I don’t like online shopping but often did find myself in a kind if retail shopping (things to make the home look nicer or little gifts for the kids…)
Finally I found a way to deal with this: I asked a good friend to do the regular shopping for me instead. He takes my list via WhatsApp when he does his shopping anyway and brings my stuff, too. So there is no *need* for me to get daily essentials which means I have to decide to take the tram, enter city and shop. This shopping a more proposeful way saves me a lot and he’s enjoying tea and cake at our home after as a thank you. And I can be sure – what is not on the list will not be on the bill.
I stopped buying clothing. My goal is to use up all the cloths I do have in the next 2 or 3 years. I did buy a new winter coat, but really I have enough clothing to last this long, if not longer. That is good savings in money and “shopping” time for me. Love this article. I may try to stretch my grocery shopping to twice a month now, have been inspired.
I love this, I’m trying this for 2023 to start.
I am doing this as well. First I cleaned my closet out of clothing that is not very well fitting. I had a few new sweaters come in for the holiday to wear for work. I would like some sort of capsule wardrobe that has a FEW interchangeable pieces. Workwear is my biggest challenge. At home I wear the same things, so it is not an issue.
I have also considered not buying new. Thriftstore shopping in 2024 if I do NEED anything.
So true! I generally shop about once every 8 to 11 days. Seldom more. That day I shop for what I need around town. Seldom making a day travelling to a larger city an hour away for a day of shopping. Fortunately I have an amazing, large thrift store at home. Had volunteered there before Covid. A passion of mine is using my creativity while cooking & baking, knitting, gardening, landscaping, other projects & helping others. A huge gratifying and important bonus in my life is giving to several charities annually and monthly. I think you learn a giving values life style coming from a farming family background. There is no limit in what a person can do & help improve a person’s quality of life!
And it’s not just the actual act of shopping. Six weeks ago we bought a new sofa bed from a national (Portugal) store having decided it would work much better in the study that doubles as a ‘guest room’ than the existing double bed. We were promised delivery in 5-10 days and I’ve already made in excess of ten phone calls (all but one unanswered) and send numerous emails to the store to find out where it is. We’re starting to wish we hadn’t bothered! Making do with what you’ve already got definitely saves money and time!!
Really goes to show that simplicity is key!
Yes! Shopping is such a time sucker. I switched from grocery shopping weekly to every two weeks. It saves so much time. It also saves money. Even though I always take a list, inevitably the odd impulse buy takes place. So reducing the number of grocery shopping trips I make has reduced my spending also. Win, win.
I don’t consider myself a shopper, but I’m going to log my time and spending to see how much I really am not aware of.
“You can both save time and money” Yes.
Thanks to all for good suggestions. This is something I can try.
I needed this, I’ve been spending $10 here $20 there on second hand items, alot of things I don’t particularly need but are a “good deal” sometimes I even spend time shopping in the middle of the night when I ought to be sleeping. I needed to hear this, I did some calculations in one of my shopping apps and realized I spent over 3k last year! Ouch. The thought of all the time I’ve used on that is even more convicting. I LOVED in you recent video that you talked about creating or consuming. I love to make things, to create and see that I’ve been giving away my time I could be doing that to consume. Its helped me put things in perspective. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Absolutely dement indeed!
i am a jewelry designer and instrustor..with a dream having my own busines… i find them on Facebook and second hand sells.
…my overthinking brain works best at night !!…in the morning my drawing helps me keep them in safe for later. I have found websites have less stylish templates so I found those in books and posters
Your idea of using videos are good examples, I am hoping to find more inspiring ideas from these articles, and free like on YouTube.
As usual, Joshua posts always have great suggestions and list.
Belinda, Enjoy your crafting! Spend as much time & money as you can & want on your hobby. I don’t think that minimalism is supposed to make us feel guilty or anxious about the fulfillment we get from our hobbies and interests or to limit our creativity.
I had just cancelled my Prime account, and then I read this. It reinforced my decision!
Nice achievement, June! Congratulations!
As a mom with lots of littles at one time, shopping is my “free” time out of the house (though a lot of it is grocery shopping, which is exhausting). Also, I’ve had to penny-pinch for so long, that its already disheartening to consider not being able to shop (our annual income is what “the average American consumer” spends on nonessentials, which, for a large family, makes things rather tight, to say the least). I enjoy crafts and DIY, which, unfortunately, can be an expensive hobby, and I already must limit that most of the time. Apparently, I need to grow in minimalism skills so I can enjoy both minimalism, shopping and crafting…
Belinda, Enjoy your crafting! Spend as much time & money as you can & want on your hobby. I don’t think that minimalism is supposed to make us feel guilty or anxious about the fulfillment we get from our hobbies and interests or to limit our creativity.
You need to join Reverend Bill and the Church of Ever Stop Shopping. He has been an anti-consumerism advocate for years
When I was raising my family, two boys, I planned meals for a week then shopped for everything I needed that week. The menu was posted on the refrigerator and my husband always knew what we were going to have for dinner. This saved endless trips to the store during the week. Now that the boys are grown and gone I still plan for five days ahead so I am not constantly running to the store. The temptation is to buy more than you really need. Thanks for this helpful post!
Excellent strategy, Carol!
I have found this to be true – but accidentally! With the increase of stores offering curbside pick-up (at no charge)…..I can pick out my necessities easily online, and have them brought to my car. The important thing: it keeps me out of the store looking for all the “good deals” and things I don’t really need! It’s a small step, but I truly feel the difference in what I’m NOT buying. Thank you for putting this in eloquent words!!!!
This helps me too, I need to stick to it! This last week I went in the store and ended up spending WAY more than I needed to.
I absolutely agree. Last year I began a ‘no spend’ year. I lasted until around August, and then started buying again. But I was a little too stringent.
This year, I’ve begun again, but am a little more reasonable. I’m learning some new software and really needed additional instruction, which I got online, and had to pay for. Also a new book that will truly enrich my life.
But as for stopping for coffee on the way to the dump. No more. Browsing at the Dollar Store or Big Lots. No more. Reading The Great Courses catalogs (a weakness of mine). No more. You get the idea.
So I fully subscribe to shopping less, not even because it saves money, it just saves time (and space, frequently).
Nick,
How did you decide what to spend money on? I really want to try no spend this year.
try only buying perishables/consumables….treat yourself to a good hunk of cheese, rather than an item…..
Thanks for this. Though I work to minimize my life in every way – I shop online due to sheer boredom – and it takes longer now since I don’t need anything really.
These numbers can definitely motivate me to get off that wagon. 25 hours is a lot of time!!
I might not end up spending much but I am definitely eating away my free time by “window shopping” online.
Time to start up the hobby wagon.
I needed this message! Thank you!
Love this!!!! Once you stop shopping so much, walking into a mall or even Target feels so weird. Enjoying time out in nature is so much better.
True that for me, also!
What amazes me is that I’m not much of a shopper and don’t contribute as much to that statistic… So there are people out there spending a lot more than 25 hours and $1500 per month!
Why does this feel so revelatory?! Challenge accepted :)
Such a simple statement but so true.