Recently, I’ve been thinking about the non-essential things that we buy but don’t really need; the possessions that don’t add much value to our daily life or to our level of happiness.
Everyone will have a different list of non-essentials and a different definition of them at different stages of their lives.
When I was single, I used to spend a lot of money on going out, partying and drinking. But once I had children, partying and drinking weren’t as critical to my lifestyle and my well-being as they once were. Other things became much more pivotal.
When you are in your 70s, doing up your kitchen may not be on your mind, but for a young family moving into a new flat, a well-designed, fully functional kitchen is a priority.
All those non-essentials people choose to change/swap, and buy in bulk often leave a massive environmental footprint and mountains of debt, especially for those who try to keep up with the Joneses on credit. I’ve been a victim of that type of social pressure for years and have fallen prey to too many people and situations where I stupidly wanted to show off to make myself feel better. I spent addictively on non-essentials, which, surprisingly, didn’t have a lasting happiness factor attached to them. Who knew, right?
Since I believe the road to financial independence is full of self-discovery and emotional growth, knowing who you are and where your priorities lie will surely help you resist social pressure and the urge to inflate your lifestyle out of fear of being perceived as having less or being less important. Deciding what non-essentials are for you is a choice, like everything in life. A long time ago, I decided that having a huge house wasn’t my priority in life. I’ve seen how my parents struggled, how much money all those houses ate up over the years, and decided that I would rather invest in experiences than in a new roof or overpriced house insurance. Also, having flashy cars is something I completely don’t care about. As long as my car takes me from point A to point B, I’m happy.
However, beauty treatments and cosmetics were essential for me, even more than buying new clothes. Since the start of 2021, I have become deeply involved in the sustainability and minimal-waste movement, so my outlook on beauty products has shifted dramatically. I’m very happy with my home-made tonner (that is the only DIY beauty product I can make that works so far) but for instance, instead of spending a lot of money, and I mean A LOT, on face masks, I have found alternatives, as good as the ones I used before, which will generate less waste and have a smaller price tag attached to it.
Gadgets and electronics aren’t essential for me, either. I have old phones; usually, my hubby gives me his old one when he upgrades. I don’t replace my computers often, and when I can, I buy refurbished or used equipment. I’m happy to do it.
My non-essential list is ever-changing. I do have four core components that are constant, but since I started my journey toward financial independence and discovered eco-minimalism, I’m constantly on the lookout to expand my non-essential list with reusable, sustainable swaps.
I know that buying more doesn’t give me happiness. I also know very well that once I invest in certain sustainable swaps, those purchases will stay with me for years without needing to be replaced weekly, monthly, or yearly.
Knowing what your essentials and non-essential items are in life also reduces stress and anxiety. If, instead of focusing on what matters to you in life, you keep buying things you cannot afford while inflating your lifestyle unnecessarily, worrying about how you will pay for them will make your life pretty challenging.
Knowing what your essentials are gives you peace of mind: no matter what happens in life, you will be happy and able to cover your needs without the added pressure of stress, anxiety, or feelings of deprivation.
What is your list at this stage of your life? Do you care to share?
PS. I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect big thinking & small typos.
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