Earlier this month I read a great post by Joshua Becker from Becoming Minimalist. It was called, Expand Your Don’t Want List. The article stresses the importance of being happy with what you have. Right away I started to think about what I would put on my don’t want list. I took a few minutes and jotted down the first things that came to mind. Here is what I came up with.
My Don’t Want List
I don’t want a big house; my family of 5 is comfortable in our 1200 sq ft home.
I don’t want clothing that needs to be dry cleaned; I prefer not to have an extra chore.
I don’t want a CD/DVD collection; I can borrow what I need from our local library.
I don’t want decorative pillows; they just seem to be in the way.
I don’t want appliances with fancy features; simple is easier to maintain.
I don’t want low-quality items; I prefer items that last.
I don’t want items stored in my attic; I want my things to be accessible.
I don’t want multiple TVs; my family rarely watches TV, and if we do, it is together.
I don’t want an assortment of beauty products; the basics keep me clean.
I don’t want a crowded living room; I want a spacious area to entertain guests.
I don’t want a closet stuffed with clothes, pens that don’t work, more than one purse, a smartwatch, a virtual assistant, more shoes, or expensive jewelry.
I could go on and on but I won’t; I’d rather go outside and do some yard work.
What’s on your don’t want list?
I love this! I would add “I don’t want the latest and greatest smartphone” to the list. If you get caught up in the marketing hype that tells you you need the latest new feature, it will be obsolete within a few weeks and there will be something else new. Instead, ask “does the phone I have do what I need it to do?”
Excellent point!
Everything you said but I guess mostly I don’t want clutter to be my life.
That’s a nice short list that says a lot! 🙂
Great list, Suzanne! I just came from a memorial for a friend who recently died rock climbing. Hearing stories about her was a true inspiration. We climbed & hiked together, but I didn’t realize just how much she loved adventure. I don’t want to live my life without regular adventures! Experiences over things, please! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🌞
I’m sorry about your friend. It sounds like she lived her life without regrets.
I agree that experiences are way more important than things.
I appreciate your empathy, Suzanne. She did, indeed, live without regret, as we all should! 🌞
What a great idea! I just love this. It’s a great twist on the wish lists that so many people are apt at making. But this one is not only better for our budgets but also good for setting boundaries and simply saying ‘no’ to things that other people feel they’ve got to have
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😁
I love the idea of a ‘Do Not Want List’ as it is a great way to think about the things we do not need and even come up with some surprises along the way.
I cannot stand clothes that need to be dry-cleaned or pillows thrown on every piece of furniture. Items that last mean more. Finally, to my list, I add a microwave. I have never had one or found it useful.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for reading my post and sharing your list!
I avoid dry-cleaned clothes and throw pillows too. I still have a microwave but I have thought about what it would be like without it.
It’s actually a great idea to have a don’t want list. Almost similar to having a to-don’t list, where we list our vices that we strive never to do.
I’ve always been a stickler for quality too, but weirdly enough, when it comes to kitchen knives, I’ve found those cheap Kiwi knives to be amazing for their price ($4). Those babies are sharp and can be easily honed, so sometimes if you explore your interests enough, you’ll find some pretty value-for-money items despite being ‘cheap’!