So, I want to share one of the best things I’ve done for myself in the realm of minimalism.

And no it’s not decluttering my things.

It’s creating and keeping an ongoing “want list”.

So, you know when you’re scrolling through social media or walking through a store and you see something and think, “OMG I need/want that!”

This is a list to curb those instincts.

When I have that rush of “gimme gimme gimme” instead of buying whatever it is, I put in onto my list.

And it sits there.

That’s right, I’m not allowed to buy it right away.

This allows me to research and find the perfect one of whatever it is.

I can find the style I want, the company I want to buy from and the price I want to spend.

I can keep an eye out for it in the thrift stores, search online, ask around.

And then when I do buy it whether that's a month, or several months later I’m in love with it beyond that initial high you get from getting something new.

And do you know what?

Sometimes I don’t buy it.

Sometimes it sits on my list, sits and sits, and then I go to put something new on my list and I’ll look back over it and see an item and go, huh, you know what I really don’t want that anymore.

And then I delete it from my list, and yes, there’s a lot of satisfaction in that. I just saved X amount of money.

Let’s talk about my current want list to give you an example of this.

So, at the moment I’ve put my want list into my Wunderlist app on my phone. That way I have access to it at all times.

Here’s what’s on it:

+ a Keep cup

+ lace barrette that can show

+ toe rings

+ acne pimple patches

+ underwear

+ tight black tank

+ striped linen pants

+ hair bandanas

+ delicate gold jewelry

+ black loafers/flat mules

+ new iPhone

So, right off the bat, I recently bought that bralette, some new underwear and I found three bandanas in the bottom of Michaels drawer. Boom check those off the list.

I want a keep cup because at the moment I only have a stainless steel coffee container that isn’t really an on the go option. I need something with a lid. But I’m not at the point where I’m ready to commit to a keep cup. Maybe I’ll find a better option I like more.

There’s no rush really to what’s on my list.

I haven’t looked into any toe rings or delicate gold jewelry yet.

And as I’m thinking through this blog post I’m remembering other things that I’m on the hunt for. I’m on the hunt for a pair of cloth (not denim) overalls.

And I’m waiting for the new iPhone to be released so I can get the 8 at a cheaper price.

I can add links to certain things I like. Such as those flat black loafer mule things, whatever they’re called. I can spend some time looking for the ones I want, and if I find a few I like I’ll add the link to the document, but I don’t buy it yet.

It’s mostly just about letting stuff sit on there.

Do I need a new pair of shoes to survive? Or acne pimple patches? Absolutely not.

It’s a practice of patience and really figuring out whether I need/want something or if it’s just that rush of “I need this now!"

And I’m happy to report that this has helped curb my shopping by a lot, and I wasn’t a big shopper to begin with.

Do you have a want list or the equivalent of it in your life? How do you use it? Or what do you do to stop and think before you buy something?