15 Little Luxuries that Make Even a Minimalist Feel Rich

As I've written many times, minimalism is not about living in poverty.  Minimalism is about focusing on what matters to you so you can put your time, money, and energy toward what you really care about, while minimizing anything that might distract you or weigh you down.  Minimalism is about paying attention to the satisfying details of each day, enjoying simple pleasures instead of always looking ahead (or back) at the big bucket list adventures or celebrations.

So what are some of those daily details that feel like a luxurious indulgence?  What are the little treats and comforts that enhance your life without overturning your finances?

15 minimalist luxuries

1.  Attentive upkeep

Cleaning, repairing, and maintaining your possessions makes you feel that they're valuable and of high quality.

For example, you might have a ritual of cleaning your summer shoes (and having them resoled if necessary) before you put them away for the winter.  Add cedar blocks* to keep them fresh.  Next spring when you bring them out, it will be so nice to see them again.

* This blog is reader-supported.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.  Thanks.

2.  Beverages al fresco

Take your morning tea or coffee outside to your porch, patio, or balcony.  The cool freshness, the leisurely feeling of sipping a stimulating, delicious hot drink, and the delights of nature ground and energize you for your day.

3.  Quality ingredients

Real vanilla.  Good butter.  Fresh herbs.  Local, in-season fruit and veg.  Vermont maple syrup.  Coffee beans roasted just down the road.  You can still fix simple meals, but using top-notch ingredients feels like self-care.

4.  A well-made bed

Straightening the covers, making everything nice and smooth, placing the pillows just so....  It only takes a few minutes, and immediately makes the bedroom look neat, clean, and cared-for.  And if you've spent money for a pretty coverlet, why not show it to advantage?  Then just before you get ready for bed, take a moment to turn down the covers.  It looks so inviting.

5.  A budget

A lot of people think budgeting is a sign that you're poor, but a budget is simply a plan for your money.  It gives you control.  Instead of wondering where all your money went, you tell it where to go.  And sticking to a budget lets you save for your dreams and give more generously – both are true signs of wealth, if you ask me.

6.  Value

Less but better is the ultimate description of minimalism.  Over time, as you waste less money on things destined to become clutter, you can buy fewer, higher-quality items.  One well-made, versatile purse.  One set of high-thread-count sheets.  An attractive, well-fitting capsule wardrobe.  Better food, furniture, and footwear.  You don't need a lot of things to feel wealthy – just a few items of quality.

7.  The library

If you love books, you can get all you want from the public library.  Whether you discover a great read on a back-corner shelf, request something specific through inter-library loan, or put a hold on the latest bestseller, you can satisfy your book love without spending a penny.  And when something you've waited for becomes available, it's like a special gift!

And don't forget that many libraries also have preschool story times, book clubs, craft and game clubs, author events, community concerts, and more.

8.  Tidiness

Is there anything nicer than a freshly vacuumed carpet or a spotless, citrus-smelling kitchen?  Or a newly decluttered desk or bathroom cabinet?  They make you feel competent and complete.  Now you can truly relax.

9.  Roses

My husband Jon loves caring for roses.  Even though we live in an apartment, we have several miniature rose bushes in pots on our small patio.  In our climate, we can cut beautiful blooms from late April to early November.  I put them in small vases so we have flowers throughout the house, which makes them feel even more extravagant.

10.  Museum memberships

For $110 a year, I buy my daughter and son-in-law a family membership at the California State Railroad Museum near downtown Sacramento.  Their whole family plus two extra guests (friends, or Jon and me) can go anytime, free of charge.  (Elizabeth takes her boys about once a month – we join two or three times a year.)  Not only can we enjoy and learn from the extensive permanent collection, but we can also play with their awesome model train setups for free.  We get free rides on the excursion train.  We get early access and discounts on tickets for the annual Christmas Express train ride.  We get a steep discount at the museum store.  We get discounts at other Sacramento museums.  All for less than $10 per month.

Check museums near you, or zoos, botanical gardens, planetariums, etc. for a similar offer.  It's such a luxury to walk in, flash your pass, and be greeted as an honored guest.

11.  Happy hour

Our favorite restaurant has a cozy pub-like area where we sometimes go for happy hour.  They have the most delectable roasted Brussels sprouts, and creamy polenta with mini meatballs and pesto, all made by hand in-house.  Jon and I share these dishes (about $10 each), along with a glass of wine or maybe a cup of their delicious pour-over coffee.  We can relax and talk or listen to their piped-in oldies (1950s-1980s) music.  The wait staff is friendly and attentive, so we always tip 20%.  It's still an affordable treat.

12.  Journaling

This time-honored practice is associated with personal growth, and can be a sophisticated form of self-expression.  Use a journal to convey your gratitude, collect inspiring quotes, jot down funny things your kids say and do, write your prayers, record your goals, keep track of books you read (or movies you see) and your thoughts about them, compose poems, invent recipes, observe daily events, and more....  Choose a beautiful book for your beautiful thoughts.

13.  Setting the table

Of course there are circumstances when paper plates are a perfect choice.  A new baby, illness, kitchen remodel, large parties, etc.  But for all other times, why not use real dishes and glasses, real flatware and cloth napkins?  They don't have to be fine china, crystal, and silver.  I use my white stoneware dishes, stemless tumblers, and our wedding stainless steel (still looking beautiful after nearly 41 years of daily use).  This habit isn't just more eco-friendly – it elevates even a simple meal to a dining experience.

14.  A nap

My youngest grandson wasn't feeling well, so guess what he did?  Without fanfare, he climbed onto the couch with his favorite blankie and fell asleep.  Yet how often do we "power through" when we're under the weather or short on sleep?  We feel guilty about taking even a short rest.

Something as simple as a nap can give us the energy we need to get things done or fight off a cold.  Maybe it shouldn't be a luxury, but in our go-go-go culture, it is.

15.  The things we take for granted

It's easy for us to get so busy, or so focused on our phones, comparing ourselves to others and what they have, that we forget how blessed we are.  Most of us enjoy many benefits that not everyone has.  (For example, my mom lived the first 15 years of her life without an indoor toilet or on-demand hot water; I grew up without a dishwasher or air conditioning.)  Yet a century or two ago, even kings couldn't have imagined living with these luxuries.

Clean drinking water, hot showers, flush toilets.  Or how about waste removal?  Once a week, someone picks up our garbage and takes it away, preventing noxious odors and rampant disease.  I have my own washer and dryer, dishwasher, central heat and air conditioning, a car.  Health and dental insurance.  Eyeglasses made to my exact prescription.  Classical music I can stream for free 24/7.  Even the spices in my cabinet are a luxury.  They've been gathered from all over the world, and at one time they were worth fortunes.

Tune in to your many blessings, and I guarantee you'll feel rich.