The 'Do Not Buy' List of a 20-Something Minimalist Investing 80% of Their Total Assets, and the Secret to Saving Money

■ Introduction: Investing 80% of Your Total Assets Isn't About 'Self-Denial'

'How are you able to invest so much money?' 'Are you living a frugal life by denying yourself the things you want?'

When I mention that I invest 80% of my total assets into things like the S&P 500, I often get asked these questions. To give you the conclusion, I do not practice 'self-denial' at all. I buy what I want, and I don't hesitate to spend tens of thousands of yen on necessary self-investment.

So, why am I able to reduce my cash flow that much and direct my assets toward investments? It is because I realized a 'certain mistake' that many people in society make, and fundamentally changed my criteria for shopping.

In this article, I will talk about the 'way of choosing things' that I, a 20-something office worker and minimalist, have arrived at to generate money and time. By the time you finish reading this article, your common sense regarding shopping should be completely transformed.

■ [The Lie of Conventional Wisdom] Seeking 'Cost-Performance (Cheapness)' Results in the Greatest Loss of Money and Time

When it comes to saving money in society, common methods include 'buying sale items at the supermarket,' 'using 100-yen shop items as substitutes,' and 'buying clothes during sales.' 'If you buy cheap things, you will save money.' This is the common sense of society.

However, I declare: If you seek 'cheapness (superficial cost-performance),' you will end up losing the most money and time.

Before I became a minimalist, I was also deeply immersed in this 'trap of buying cheap goods.' There was a period when I bought many random shoes and clothes just because they were 'cheap.' But what happened?

Cheap shoes don't last long; the soles peel off quickly or they hurt my feet. Cheap clothes become baggy after just a few washes, are uncomfortable to wear, and make me feel down every time I look in the mirror. As a result, I ended up having to buy new ones immediately, thinking, 'This won't do.'

To buy replacements, it takes 'time' to search for products on my smartphone again, go to the store, and worry about the choice. Even though I thought I was saving money, when you add up the cost of buying replacements and the 'time' and 'brain memory' that were stolen, it was a complete net loss.

Conversely, the slightly more expensive shoes and home appliances that I bought with genuine conviction, thinking 'This is it!', have not broken at all, remain comfortable and easy to use, and I continue to use them fondly today without having let them go. 'Rather than buying cheap things over and over, using truly good things for a long time is overwhelmingly more profitable.' This is the 'truth that goes against conventional wisdom' that I have learned through personal experience.

■ [Secret Trick] My 'Do Not Buy List' That Automatically Generates Investment Funds

Having realized the wastefulness of 'buying cheap goods,' I introduced a [secret trick] to reduce my monthly expenses. It is not about saving by looking for eggs that are 10 yen cheaper at the supermarket, but rather a system of **'eliminating options from the start (deciding what not to buy).'**

The list of things I have decided never to buy is as follows:

1. Brand-name goods for the sake of vanity If you buy things based on 'how you are seen by others,' you will never save money in your life. This is because there is always someone better. Since I base my decisions solely on 'whether I am comfortable,' I have stopped paying for logos.

2. Convenience goods from 100-yen shops 100-yen shops are certainly convenient, but the psychology of 'it's cheap, so it's okay if it fails' kicks in, and I end up putting things I don't actually need into my basket. Then, they are left unused after a few times, and in the end, only the 'trouble of throwing them away' remains. For things I truly need, I buy high-quality items from specialty stores.

3. Clothes that are on sale Clothes bought for the reason that they are 'cheap' will never be worn. Clothes are things you 'buy because you need them,' not things you 'buy because they are cheap.' I have 'standardized my wardrobe', and I am convinced that buying necessary clothes at their regular price when needed is the least wasteful approach.

Just by eliminating these three things from my life, tens of thousands of yen are 'automatically' freed up every month, and that is converted directly into investment funds.

■ How to Choose Things Without Regret: 'Two Absolute Rules' Before Buying

After deciding on the 'things I don't buy,' I conversely set two strict rules for myself when I do 'buy things.' Only items that pass through this filter are welcomed into my room.

Rule 1: Never compromise on things you use every day I don't skimp on 'things I definitely touch every day,' such as my bed, mouse, or hair dryer. For example, even a 30,000 yen hair dryer costs about 82 yen per day if used for a year, and about 27 yen per day if used for three years. If you consider that you can buy daily comfort and performance for just a few dozen yen (the law of daily cost calculation), there is no cheaper investment than this.

Rule 2: If in doubt, imagine the 'hassle of throwing it away' When I'm attracted to something thinking, 'This looks convenient,' I always imagine, 'How will I throw this away when I let it go?' before I buy it. Does it require arranging for bulky waste pickup? Is it too heavy to carry out? Is the shape a pain to sell on Mercari? If my intuition tells me it will be a hassle to throw away, I won't buy it, no matter how attractive it is. This is because items without a clear exit (way to let go) become a debt to my future self.

■ [Carefully Selected] 4 God-tier items that I, a non-buyer, am so glad I invested in for myself

I will introduce four first-string favorite items (god-tier items) that I, who buy absolutely nothing unnecessary, can assert were a great success to buy by spending money on purpose, having cleared the rules above.

1. Logicool Trackball Mouse (M575S) As I introduced in my past desk tour article as well, investing in a mouse that you touch for several hours every day is the best. Since you can operate the cursor with just your thumb, wrist fatigue has completely disappeared. It is the ultimate time-performance improvement item that allows you to avoid the risk of stopping work due to wrist pain for just a few thousand yen.

2. Panasonic Hair Dryer Nanocare (EH-NA0G-A) This is the hair dryer that received a huge response in my washroom article. You might think 30,000 yen is expensive for a 'machine just for drying,' but just by drying your hair every day, it moisturizes to the core, and the texture becomes a different dimension. If you consider the cost of salon treatments and the time in the morning to fix bedhead, it is a self-investment that easily pays for itself.

3. Braun Electric Toothbrush Oral-B (iO2S) This is also at the top of the 'never compromise on things you use every day' list. Teeth are the ultimate asset that, once lost, never return. The moment I switched from manual brushing to this, I was able to enjoy that 'smooth feeling' like after a dental cleaning at home every day. It is the strongest armor to prevent cavity treatment costs and hospital visit time.

4. True Sleeper Light 3.5 I spoke passionately about this in my sleep investment article as well, but you should not compromise on the sleep environment where you spend one-third of your life. High-end beds costing hundreds of thousands of yen go against Rule 2 because they are a 'hassle to throw away,' but you can get a weightless sleeping comfort just by 'laying this' on top of your existing bed. The lightness of being able to roll it up and throw it away when it's no longer needed is also 100 points for a minimalist.

■ Conclusion: If your shopping criteria change, your life's mobility will increase

Stop buying things just because they are 'good value (cheap).' And concentrate the saved money on 'truly high-quality things you use every day' and 'future investments (S&P 500).'.

The secret to why I am able to put 80% of my total assets into investments is just this.

When 'cheap things bought out of compromise' disappear from your room and only 'things you love and are truly convinced by' remain. Your room will be surprisingly tidy, and your brain's memory will no longer be taken up by useless decisions.

Why not choose things based on 'true value for yourself (time and comfort)' rather than 'cheapness'? If you change your shopping criteria, your life's mobility will definitely increase.

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🔗 Recommended articles to read together

▼ For those who want to let go of 'failed cheap purchases' as quickly as possible and create space in their room For those who read this article and thought, 'Maybe I should let go of the clothes I don't wear in my closet or unnecessary items...' This is a decluttering hack that lets you buy back 'time' without taking a single step out of your house, by letting go of Mercari, which ends up in the red when converted to hourly wages.

▼ For those who want to know more about the investment effects of the 'Nanocare' and 'electric toothbrush' introduced this time This is a washroom tour that realistically explains how I stopped using expensive lotions, abandoned the vanity of matching towels, and focused my investment on my hair and teeth with the money I saved, which I call 'ultimate subtraction skincare'.

▼ For those who want to know how to create a 'zero overtime' environment to generate investment funds I introduce how I use the 'trackball mouse' mentioned here to skyrocket my work efficiency at home. I also showcase my all-black cockpit (desk setup) designed to create time for side hustles and self-investment.