Most people are stuck in the same dumbass cycle: payday hits, you buy a bunch of random shit you don’t need, and two weeks later you’re broke again wondering why you are having a hard time building a fuckin’ savings account. Newsflash — it’s not because you’re underpaid, it’s because you’re hemorrhaging cash on garbage.
Minimalism is the cure. And no, I’m not saying you need to own a single bowl and spoon and eat your cereal on a fuckin’ floor mat because you don’t have a table. I’m saying stop buying stupid shit and start buying with a purpose.
Once, when I was younger (because now I’m old and decrepit), I had a young lady tell me I should buy a bunch of new clothes for a vacation I was about to take. I politely said “fuck no”. After all, I already had clothes, and they worked just fine. She was somewhat aware of my financial situation and she said to me “oh come on, I know you have a bunch of money in the bank.”
The following words I spoke came out of my mouth without a thought, but became a pillar of my financial principles to this day.
”Yea, well I have money because I don’t fuckin’ spend it.”
And that’s really the main point here. To be intentional with your purchases.
What the Hell is Minimalism?
Minimalism isn’t about being poor or “living simple” like some hippie influencer on TikTok. It’s about owning only the shit you actually use and value. That’s it.
You don’t need 12 pairs of sneakers, 6 gaming systems, 47 knives, and a closet full of hundreds of stupid graphic tees you’ve only worn once. You need the basics, the essentials, and a few high-quality items that actually make your life better.
The rest? Sell it, trash it, or give it to some other dumbass.
How It Saves You from being broke
- Kills the buying cycle: Minimalism smacks you in the face every time you’re about to buy some shiny new toy. Instead of impulse-buying, you ask: Do I actually need this, or is this just future garage-sale shit? That question alone saves you thousands.
- More money for real shit: That $300 you just blew on random clothes on Amazon? Yeah, that could’ve been in your TSP, or saved for a down payment, or literally anything else that doesn’t scream “financial dumbass.”
- Quality over quantity: Buy one set of badass boots that lasts years instead of three pairs of issued dumpster fire boots that break every ruck march. Buy once, cry once.
One good rule once you have things a bit dialed in is the One in, One out rule. Everything you buy replaces a similar item… or even better, multiple items. If you can’t think of anything you’d like to replace, then you don’t fuckin’ need what you’re about to buy. For example, if you can replace two jackets with one, high quality jacket that serves both purposes, then buy it and punt the other two in the Goodwill bin.
Minimalism and the ETS Shuffle
Let me paint you a picture: It’s ETS time. You’ve got 10 years’ worth of random gear, Funko Pops, half-broken TVs, and Amazon impulse buys stacked from the floor to the ceiling of your barracks room. Suddenly you realize you need a U-Haul the size of a fucking battleship just to move it all.
Minimalism fixes that. Imagine ETS’ing with a duffel bag, a ruck, and maybe a couple boxes. Toss it in the back of your car and roll out. Boom. Stress-free. Meanwhile your buddy is melting down in the parking lot because he can’t fit his 75-inch TV, three dirt bikes, and entire sneaker collection into his Corolla. Don’t be that guy.
Bottom Line
Minimalism in the military is simple: stop hoarding useless shit, stop buying dumb shit, and start focusing on what actually matters.
Less crap in your barracks room = more money in your bank account. Less garbage to pack when you PCS or ETS = less stress.
You don’t need to be a monk. You just need to stop living like a broke-ass packrat with a shopping addiction.
If you’re interested in learning more about minimalism, there’s a great documentary called The Minimalists that I recommend checking out. Or, there’s a shitload of videos on YouTube. Go check some out.