Minimalism and Money: How a 30-Day Challenge Changed Our Mindset

Less stuff, more freedom. That’s what everyone says, right? But what if we told you that embracing minimalism doesn’t just declutter your home, it can completely reshape your money mindset? Steve Jobs is famous for only having a few basic furnitures in his apartment. That’s the power of Minimalism and Money working together: less stuff, more clarity, and better financial decisions. In this article, we’ll share how doing the 30-day minimalism challenge helped us cut expenses, boost focus and unlock a new level of financial freedom. Master minimalism and money.

If you’re stuck in the cycle of buying stuff to feel better, keep reading. This story might just change the game for you.

The Wake-Up Call: Clutter, Chaos, and Credit Cards

Like most people in their late twenties, we were caught in the loop: work, spend, repeat. Our small apartment was full of random gear, clothes we barely wore and Amazon packages we didn’t even remember ordering. And despite some solid income from our jobs, we never really felt ahead.

Then we came across the 30-Day Minimalism Game (originally shared by The Minimalists). It sounded simple: each day, you get rid of that number of items. Day 1 = 1 item, Day 2 = 2 items… all the way to Day 30. By the end, you’ve eliminated 465 items.

We were intrigued. Could less really be more?

What Happened During the 30-Day Challenge

We started small: old socks, tangled cables, a half-broken lamp. But soon, we hit emotional stuff: gifts we felt guilty about, gadgets we never used but paid too much for, clothes that no longer fit our style (or our bodies).

Something weird happened: every drawer we emptied made our minds feel lighter. It became addictive. And even more important…

We started noticing our spending habits.

We weren’t just decluttering stuff, we were decluttering the impulse to buy. Suddenly, the €6 gadget, the €40 shirt, the new tech toy… they all seemed unnecessary and not worth the money.

The Mindset Shift: From Consumer to Creator

The biggest transformation wasn’t physical. It was mental.

Minimalism forced us to confront one core truth:

“You’re not broke because you don’t earn enough. You’re broke because you’re spending on stuff that doesn’t matter.”

You have to break out of a a consumer mindset. New gear, new clothes, new tools , they all gave a temporary dopamine hit, but zero long-term ROI. You’re better of buying ETFs instead.

After decluttering, we started tracking spending. Subscriptions were cancelled. Impulse buys dropped. We reinvested that money into tools that actually moved the needle: better hosting for our blog, a decent mic for content creation, a course on affiliate marketing.

The Financial Wins: How Minimalism Helped Us Make (and Save) More

Here’s what happened in numbers:

• Saved €250/month by cutting subscriptions, eating out less, and avoiding impulse buys.
• Invested €250 in our side hustle business (see the on the insights page)
• Created space physically and mentally to focus on more important stuff.
• Stopped chasing shiny objects, which saved countless hours and energy.

We also discovered the power of slow money: the idea that it’s okay to build wealth without rushing, as long as you’re intentional.

Minimalism and Money: Why They’re Connected

If you’re trying to make more money online, whether through side hustles, freelancing, or affiliate marketing, clutter is your enemy. Not just physical clutter, but digital, emotional and financial clutter too.

Here’s why minimalism matters if you want to grow your income:

1. It frees up time and energy – No more wasting mental energy on things you don’t use.
2. It boosts focus – You work better in a clean, distraction-free environment.
3. It aligns your spending with your goals – Every euro becomes a decision, not a reaction.
4. It helps you build a buffer – Less spending = more saved capital to invest.

In short, our journey through Minimalism and Money gave us a toolkit to do more with less and feel more in control.

5 Steps to Start Minimalism for Financial Freedom

Want to try it yourself? Here’s a quick action plan to combine minimalism with money-making:

1. Do the 30-Day Minimalism Challenge – Start today. It’s free and powerful.
2. Track every expense for 30 days – Awareness is everything.
3. Cancel 3 subscriptions this week – Ask yourself: does this move me forward to my goal?
4. Sell unused stuff on Vinted / Facebook Marketplace / eBay – Use that cash to invest in your side hustle job.
5. Limit buying to once a week – Create a “cooling-off” period before purchasing anything and think about it twice.
6. It connects habits to results – When you link your minimalist habits to your money goals, you unlock the real power of Minimalism and Money.

Final Thoughts: Minimalism Isn’t About Less, It’s About More

More clarity. More freedom. More money. That’s what minimalism gave us.

Doing the 30-Day Minimalism Challenge wasn’t just a fun experiment, it was a turning point. It helped us shift from being unconscious consumers to intentional creators. And in that process, we started building a better financial future.

So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or broke, maybe the answer isn’t more.
Maybe it’s time to explore the connection between Minimalism and Money for yourself.