Minimalism doesn’t mean that you have to live in a sparsely furnished apartment from now on, with just a chair, a bed, and maybe a table. It’s mainly about consciously choosing to do without things. Clothing is a very good example of this. Fast fashion companies release up to 24 collections every year, produced under sometimes inhumane conditions and causing enormous damage to the environment.
The German consumer buys about 60 pieces of clothing per year, which, however, are only worn for half as long as they used to be. This is also due to the poor quality of fast fashion items. Hand on heart, you surely have one or two items in your closet that you have never worn, right?
Clothing is always a double-edged sword. Most of us naturally want to be dressed chic and trendy. For example, I prefer to buy my clothes secondhand or to wear what I have until it falls apart. When I do buy something new, I try to pay attention to good quality and especially that it was made sustainably (although I don’t always succeed). That’s why it’s really hard for me to give the ultimate tip here. I think that at this point, everyone has to find the right path for themselves. Ultimately, minimalism, in whatever form, is about being more satisfied with what one has.
Minimalism is about consciously choosing to do without certain things. This naturally creates a completely new relationship to the topic of consumption. We buy many things even though we don’t really need them. For example, I am a real victim of packaging. Wrap it up nicely and I’m guaranteed to buy it. The problem is that many of these items end up in the trash after a short time. Whether it’s due to poor quality or simply because you realize you don’t need it after all. A good example of this was the pandemic. During the lockdowns, many people did a thorough decluttering. It got to the point where second-hand and social thrift stores could sometimes not accept anything more. Where I live, overflowing clothing donation bins were the norm during this time. At the same time, online retailers enjoyed an ever-increasing influx, and delivery vans were sometimes as full as they usually are only at Christmas.
Keep track of supplies, groceries and durable products before small price increases turn into unnecessary extra costs.
Or try it right in your browser — no install neededMinimalism doesn’t mean that you have to give up everything that brings you joy in the future. It’s more about consciously questioning your own consumption. “Do I really need this, or do I just want it because it’s terribly fashionable right now?”
For example, I have resolved to reduce my clothing consumption in 2023. Firstly, I want to wear what I already have in my wardrobe (and it is really, really full). Secondly, if I do need something new, I’ll look at secondhand options first. And yes, I know these are absolute first world problems. Perhaps a household budget book, where you track all your expenses, could also help you. That way, you can see how much money you save by consuming less and more consciously.
Food waste is a global issue. Every year, countless food items end up in the trash, either because they have spoiled or because they are nearing the end of their shelf life. The Smantry App aims to counteract food waste with relatively simple means. In the app, you simply record the food you have at home, as well as the expiration date. Then assign a storage location and you’ll have a complete overview. As the expiration date of a product approaches, you just use it up. With the help of the Smantry App, you also avoid duplicate purchases, which in turn is good for the household budget. Moreover, you avoid the so-called “cupboard dwellers”, ingredients that you feel you only need once every two years for a recipe.
We are not building our own chatbot. Instead you connect Claude to your pantry, your shopping list and your recipes.
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