15.07.2025
Minimalism is a conscious choice to lead a simpler, more sustainable life – and you can even do it if you have children. Find out in this post how families can create a minimalist lifestyle and how people of all ages can benefit from it.
Families who live a minimalist lifestyle also have more financial freedom. This money can be put to smart use – for example with the right investment solution. So you can stay relaxed even when investing.
Are you wondering how family life and minimalism could possibly fit together? For many people, everyday family life is a stark contrast to the idea of a minimalist lifestyle. When you think of family, you might think of untidy apartments, mountains of toys, a schedule full of football training, play dates and parents’ evenings, and holidays where you feel as though you’re carrying all your household possessions in your luggage. The term “minimalism”, on the other hand, tends to evoke images of a person who can fit everything they need to live into a rucksack.
But minimalism can work for families, too, and can offer great relief as a counterbalance to packed daily routines. Minimalism doesn’t mean that you give up all your possessions or never buy anything new. It’s about a lifestyle dedicated to the motto “less is more”. It’s about reflecting on the essentials – from both a material and an organizational point of view. Fewer bits and pieces, fewer overflowing wardrobes, fewer appointments, less clutter. And more space, time and freedom in return.
If you opt for a minimalist lifestyle, you create space – literally and figuratively. Space for shared experiences, restful solitude, liberating organization and creative boredom. Instead of excess, your everyday family life is shaped by calm, clarity and simplicity. The basic idea is to own only what makes you happy.
The keyword is communication. Involve your children in your discussions about minimalism and explain to them what the benefits are. For example, while you and your little ones are sorting out toys to sell or give away, explain that other children will be happy to receive the toys. Or plan simple, healthy meals with just a few ingredients and let your child help to choose. Even on events such as birthdays, it’s easy to explain why receiving just one slightly more valuable gift is often more fun than receiving a lot of little things.
The shift to a minimalist lifestyle won’t happen overnight and won’t be without conflict. After all, different family members have very different needs – so you have to make compromises.
But children learn quickly and understand the positive aspects of minimalism. Time with family and friends, formative experiences and the feeling of being self-sufficient are just as beneficial for them as they are for adults.
A minimalist home can also be a cosy home. Your house reflects your philosophy that you own only what makes you happy − maybe a lounge chair in the children’s room, fairy lights in the living room, a little cuddly toy collection for the kids.
If your rooms aren’t full, you have enough space to play, rest and spend time together. Fewer objects also means less clutter and less dust, which means less work cleaning and tidying up.
An often underestimated side effect is that people who consume less spend less money – and gain financial flexibility as a result. Suddenly, they have money available that no longer goes towards impulse purchases, unused subscriptions or mountains of toys.
Instead of needlessly sinking money into your everyday life, you gain funds for the future – maybe to make family dreams come true, such as a sabbatical or a tiny house in the countryside. Make targeted use of this benefit by taking a look at the following options as an addition to your savings account:
Take the opportunity to invest your small monthly savings on the financial markets. Please be aware that investments are subject to market fluctuations and entail risks.
Consider paying into pillar 3a – it’s attractive from a tax perspective and an important step towards future security. Retirement funds can be an attractive alternative to the retirement savings account 3a.
Children grow out of clothes and shoes, suddenly decide they’d prefer to play with Lego than with toy bricks, need equipment for football training, hiking trips and robotics courses – and with every step in their development, more items enter your home. And then there are your own books and all the winter coats in the attic. How can you get rid of this excess?
Be ruthless with your clear-out, but patient with yourself. Start with a drawer or toy box and work your way through your home systematically. You won’t be able to do everything in one day, but make sure you stick at it. Turn the clear-out into a family activity, and let your kids have their say. This also means that everyone has to make compromises. It can help to approach the issue in a fun way − for example by turning it into a challenge or offering a reward after work has been done.
Clearing out your home is a constant process. Check how full your cupboards, shelves and drawers are on a regular basis, and stick to the motto of “one in, one out”. Practical storage systems such as baskets, boxes and shelves ensure that every item has its place and make tidying easy. Always ask yourself if you really need the new items you‘re thinking of buying. Opt for high-quality, long-lasting products – this protects the environment and, in the long term, goes easy on your wallet.
Ask yourself whether you’ve been using the item recently. If not, why not? And would you miss it if it weren’t there? Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think about throwing things away immediately. Choose a compromise solution and store your item in the attic or cellar. If you don’t miss it, you really can get rid of it. Children find it difficult to let go, too, so you can suggest this option to them.
To get started, look through all your family members’ wardrobes: which clothes are too small? Which are too worn out or dirty to be salvaged? Which are never worn? You should carry on sorting out your clothes on a regular basis, ideally season by season.
Invest in timeless basics and a capsule wardrobe – in other words, a wardrobe with a limited number of pieces that can be combined easily and contain all the clothing you need for your everyday life. Sturdy clothing in neutral colours is worthwhile for children – they are easy to mix and match and may make another child happy when your kids have grown out of them.
Fewer than you think! Opt for versatile toys that meet a range of needs – such as building blocks, dolls, paints and handicrafts. An excess of toys is also distracting and creates sensory overload.
It can get difficult when children compare themselves to others (“my friend has way more Playmobil than I do”) and when relatives pile toys and gifts on your little ones. Explain that not all families are the same and ask relatives to be understanding of your minimalist lifestyle.
You’ve now finished sorting out your belongings, but you don’t want to simply throw unwanted items away. There’s a good solution to this: give them away to others or sell them. You can even get your children involved, so that they can earn a bit of extra pocket money.
In her guide “Familie Minimalistisch – Raum für Raum ausmisten – dauerhaft von Ballast befreien” (The minimalist family − declutter room by room − free yourself permanently from your baggage), author Nicole Weiss provides practical and easy-to-implement recommendations. The book was published by Humboldt Verlag.
On his YouTube channel, Max Green gives eight tips to combat clutter and make everyday family life easier.
Getting rid of clutter doesn’t just mean getting rid of material possessions. It’s also about
asking yourself which activities, stimuli and habits are a burden on your everyday family life.
Take a moment to reflect on what’s important to you as a family –
and what you can live without. This will help you decide how you want to change
individual elements in your everyday family life.
Minimalism goes hand in hand with a structured everyday life. Established procedures, clear rules and family rituals ensure calm and help to avoid stress. However, your structure mustn’t be restrictive and should meet all family members’ needs. It’s a never-ending process.
Even though hobbies and meet-ups with friends are beneficial, you don’t have to be there for everything. It takes courage to turn down invitations and say no to activities. But it also creates space for relaxation and play, away from the time pressures and hustle and bustle.
Consciously enter free time into your calendar and indulge in little family rituals such as walks, eating together and film evenings in front of your TV at home.
As a family, set rules for using your smartphones, tablets and computers – for example fixed media hours or screen-free zones at home. Don’t underestimate your own influence: if you’re constantly sitting at your computer, it’s hard to ask your children to limit their screen time.
Make sure you have enough alternatives available: arts and crafts, outdoor activities, cooking together or playing together.
Consciously enter free time into your calendar and indulge in little family rituals such as walks, eating together and film evenings in front of your TV at home.
Minimalist cooking doesn’t mean sacrifice, but deliberate simplification – with benefits for health, the environment and everyday family life. By using fewer, fresh and regional ingredients, you save time on shopping and cooking, produce less packaging waste and avoid food waste. Simple meals and shopping lists make cooking and shopping more efficient and relaxed. That way, less quickly becomes more: more taste, more mindfulness and more time together.
