5 Easy Ways to Minimalize

Specifically, five products I bought to reduce and reuse.

Hello Readers,

Before we get started, I want you to know that I’m not a hardcore minimalist. My partner and I live on a fixed income, living day by day, and so we have a more pragmatic view of minimalism.

A few years ago, I caught the prepper bug, which was more just a realization of how much of a prepper I already was at that point. As with minimalism, I take a pragmatic approach to prepping. However, it was prepping that got me into minimalism.

I’m good at puzzles, and I quickly saw how taking one-time-use products is futile as they will just run out. It would be more prudent to take things that can be cleaned and reused, or at least to reduce your dependency on disposables.

In my efforts to solve the puzzle of the best bug out bags for my partner and I, I came across several products that I now use every day. They not only minimalize my belongings, but save me money, and reduce my carbon footprint, which to me is important no matter how you view climate change.

In this article I list five things that I have purchased to help minimalize, save money, and reduce my waste. These five things are:

AeroPress Coffee Press

I’m a writer, and so I stereotypically drink a lot of coffee. Probably too much, but I am borderline hypoglycemic, so it does help me in the morning quite a bit. I know, however, that many of you can’t bring yourselves to drink pressed coffee, but I enjoy it.

The AeroPress is amazing and versatile and, if you include the next product on this list, will greatly reduce your carbon footprint as just boiling water takes less energy than a full service coffee appliance. It does take a bit more effort on your part, but Earth will thank you every time.

There is a smaller travel version, but it’s the same price as this one and, honestly, not much smaller. You can currently get the original for $39.95, and I can personally vouch for this product as I’ve had mine for almost three years now, and nothing has worn or broken down. And I use it at least twice a day. I also plan to write an article on how to minimalize it even further.

The DISC

This next item is a reusable filter designed for the AeroPress. Don’t make the mistake of buying the mesh one that they make as it will break down, being made of several parts. However, this one is a solid piece of metal that has been laser cut with very fine holes.

Despite what you may think, this does phenomenally well, even with fine ground coffee. It does make it a bit harder to push the plunger down, but I’m doing my part by not using disposable filters.

Portable Bidet

This product might be a bit controversial, but it’s time to get over our American ego. If you’re not familiar with what a bidet is, well, go look it up. In my search for reusable products, this one came up. I lived in Italy for a time, and our house had a bidet, which I never used.

However, I see the point now, especially when I don’t get enough fiber in my diet. As a prepping item, I saw it as a way to make using leaves more appealing, as it would reduce the amount needed to complete the job. It’s also useful for washing hands and feet.

I use it every time now, and most times, I could use just one small wad of toilet paper to dry off and be done, though I always use one more just to make sure. This one product has reduced my TP bill quite a bit and was useful during the lockdown hoard buying.

Reusable Ear Swabs

This product might be a bit controversial for some as well. For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that using ear swabs is bad for you. Despite this, I’ve been using swabs my whole life, and I can still hear high frequencies like dog whistles and car brakes going bad since I have a hyper-sensitive nervous system. Give this article some love if you love/hate that blurse too….[[|:-/

It took me some time to get used to this, and I actually settled on the bumpy one. Be sure to check out the one from Last Swab, as it’s just a singular one with a cool little case. I got this one from Strogem because I like to do crafts, and some of the tips are perfect for applying glues and putties.

Collapsible Straw

This one might not be new to you, but even here in progressive Seattle, I hardly see anyone using them. I don’t eat out as much as I used to, but I do use it occasionally. I also got it as it can be used as a bellows for your campfire. I’m not putting a link to this one, as there are tons of them on Amazon and others.

Anyways, these are just a few of the things I’ve purchased to minimalize, prep, and reduce my waste. As a bonus, I get to save money on top of it. Please consider these products as a way to improve yourself, and to help ensure the future of our one-and-only planet.

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Thank you so much for reading. Please consider recommending my substack. I hope you imagine having a wonderful day....[[|:-)