For the longest time, I convinced myself that the more I owned, the more “together” my life would feel. More home décor, more makeup, more kitchen gadgets, more clothes, more planners… If it promised to fix something in my life, I bought it.
And honestly? It never really worked.
Instead of feeling organized or stylish or prepared, I felt overwhelmed. Everywhere I looked, there was stuff — stuff to clean, stuff to organize, stuff to maintain, stuff I felt guilty for not using. It wasn’t just physical clutter; it was mental clutter, emotional noise, and way too many decisions for no reason.
Slowly (very slowly), I started letting things go. And even more importantly, I stopped bringing new unnecessary things in. Nothing extreme — I’m not a hardcore minimalist. I still love beautiful things. I still shop! But I’m so much more intentional now.
Here are the 12 things I stopped buying to simplify my life — and how each one helped me breathe a little easier.
1. Trendy Home Decor I Didn’t Even Really Like
There was a time when every Target run ended with a new candle, pillow, vase, or cute little decorative whatever. It felt harmless… until my home started looking like a storage room for random trends.
Now, I only buy décor when:
• I genuinely love it
• I know exactly where it will go
• It fits my long-term style
My home feels calmer, lighter, and so much more “me.” Not Pinterest-perfect — just peaceful.
2. Cheap Jewelry Sets That Turned Green Within a Week
You know those $12 packs of earrings and necklaces that look cute for two minutes and then immediately tarnish? I used to buy them all the time. They tangled, broke, irritated my skin, and ended up in a sad pile in a drawer.
Now I have a small collection of simple, good-quality pieces I wear constantly. They don’t irritate me, they go with everything, and they feel special. Having less actually made getting ready easier.
3. Backup Beauty Products “Just in Case”
My bathroom cabinets used to be overflowing — three shampoos, five lotions, multiple cleansers. Half the time I forgot what I had. I told myself I was being prepared, but really… I was just creating chaos.
Now, I only replace things when I’m actually running low. One shampoo. One moisturizer. One cleanser.
It sounds small, but not seeing mountains of products every morning has been a surprisingly big relief.
4. Holiday Decorations for Every Single Occasion
I used to feel guilty if my house wasn’t decorated for every holiday — Easter, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, even random themed days. I kept bins and bins of seasonal clutter.
Now? I decorate for the ones that genuinely bring me joy. For me, that’s fall and Christmas. The rest of the year stays simple, and honestly, my home feels calmer for it.
5. Fast Fashion Impulse Buys
Cheap tops that never fit right. Dresses I wore once. Those “maybe I’ll wear it someday” jeans. I spent so much money trying to keep up with trends — and still felt like I had nothing to wear.
Now, I buy fewer clothes, but better ones. Pieces that feel good, fit well, wash well, and last. My closet is smaller but 100 times easier to navigate.
6. Random Kitchen Gadgets I Used Twice
If TikTok told me a gadget would “change my life,” I bought it. Pineapple cutter? Had it. Avocado saver? Yup. Mini waffle maker? Obviously.
Most of it just took up space.
Now, if I’m not going to use something weekly, it doesn’t get purchased. My kitchen drawers finally close without me wrestling them.
7. Pretty Notebooks I Was Too Scared to Write In
I used to be obsessed with stationery. I’d buy gorgeous notebooks and then… never use them because they felt “too nice.”
Now I keep just one or two. I write in them. I scribble. I cross things out. I make them mine. No more hoarding blank pages waiting for the perfect idea.
8. Overly Specific Cleaning Products
At one point, I had a cleaning spray for everything:
• one for glass
• one for granite
• one for wood
• one for bathrooms
• one for stainless steel
• one “all-purpose” spray that somehow wasn’t useful for anything
Now? I have two multipurpose cleaners and a good sponge. My cabinets are cleaner, and my routine is simpler.
9. Duplicate Tech Accessories I Didn’t Need
I used to keep multiple chargers “just in case,” extra earbuds, phone cases, random cords… It all ended up tangled in a drawer.
Now I keep the essentials:
one charger
one backup
one pair of earbuds
one case
That’s it. No more tech clutter.
10. Books I Knew Deep Down I Would Never Read
This one hurt a little. I love books. But I used to buy them like I was building my own personal library… and half of them stayed untouched.
Now I:
• read samples first
• borrow from the library
• only buy books I truly love or want to keep
It feels so much better, and my bookshelves finally make sense.
11. Subscription Boxes I Didn’t Even Enjoy Anymore
Beauty boxes, lifestyle boxes, snack boxes… At first they were fun. Then they became clutter. Unused serums, random tools, things I didn’t choose and didn’t need.
Canceling them was oddly freeing — both for my home and my bank account.
12. Anything That Starts With “Maybe I’ll Use This Someday”
This was the biggest shift for me.
“Maybe someday” was how I justified way too many unnecessary purchases:
• clothes that weren’t my style
• art supplies I never touched
• gadgets I didn’t know how to use
• décor that didn’t fit my home
Now, if it’s not a yes for right now, it’s a no.
This tiny mindset shift has prevented so much clutter — and honestly, so much guilt.
Final Thoughts: Simplifying Isn’t About Having Less — It’s About Needing Less
Stopping these purchases didn’t make my life dull or empty. It made my life lighter.
I can find things easier.
I clean less.
I spend less.
I feel less guilty and less overwhelmed.
I enjoy what I do have so much more.
You don’t need to do a huge declutter or become minimalist. Just start with small choices. One category. One drawer. One habit.
Ask yourself:
“What am I buying that I don’t actually need — and don’t even really want?”
You’ll be surprised how freeing it feels to stop letting random things take up your space, your money, and your mental energy.
And the best part?
You get to appreciate what you already have — and create room for the things that genuinely add joy to your life.
