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StitcherMinimalism, in the year of our lord 2026, isn’t what it used to be. What started as a way to simplify and save is now often costing people more, thanks to social media trends and influencer hype. Today, we’re breaking down how to get the real benefits of minimalism without all the excess baggage.
You’re allowed to have unlimited things, you’re allowed to have just a few, and it’s okay to recognize that minimalism is just a trend.
Minimalism Except It's Not
What started as a movement meant to promote sustainability and intentional spending has often been hijacked by marketing. Jen and Jill say that trends like capsule wardrobes and constant decluttering can push people to get rid of perfectly usable things, only to buy new “minimal” replacements. Instead of reducing consumption, it can create a cycle of buying, purging, and rebuilding.
A better approach that they suggest is to cultivate creativity, focus on changing spending habits rather than just decluttering, embrace what makes you unique, and buy secondhand.
The Emotional and Cultural Downsides of Minimalism
Jen says we need to stop defining ourselves by trends. Minimalism has convinced us we must be “sure” of every purchase, to the point it can make you feel bad for wanting things, shallow for valuing objects, or morally superior if you don’t. With values-based spending, there’s always a margin of error. You might buy something thinking you value it and later realize you don’t, and that’s okay, it’s part of figuring out what truly matters.
They highlight that minimalism only works when it’s values-based, not aesthetic-driven, performative, or part of a spending cycle. And that real minimalism means buying less, using things longer, repairing, personalizing, and keeping what you love.
How do you do minimalism?
Jill prioritizes empty spaces, sometimes abandoning things a bit recklessly. Jen is the same, always in maintenance mode, because she can’t focus when clutter surrounds her.
Bill of The Week
Thanks Hannah for sharing your bill of the year $8k on student loans and paying it off in January!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews of our book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke and we especially loved this one from:
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This was by far one of the best books I’ve read about budgeting and money management. A lot of books written by influencers are awful, and they’re clearly a cash grab, but this was great. There’s an awesome mix of practical money tips and some of the psychology behind why we spend. The psychological concepts they explain are easy for the average reader to understand as well.
My only complaint about this book is from listening to the audiobook. There are two of them, and they alternate parts, sometimes a bit too much. Sometimes, it’s almost every other sentence, and it’s brutal. Other than that, absolutely fantastic read.
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