What It Means to Make Money as a Minimalist

For us, making money as minimalists means building income streams that don’t compromise our values.

We’re not selling clutter. We’re not chasing trends. And we’re definitely not saying yes to everything to stay busy.

It’s about sustainability in every sense: financial, mental, and emotional. It’s not glamorous, but it’s honest, and it’s possible.

What Google Doesn’t Tell You (Anymore)

Once upon a time, blogging about minimalism could earn you a decent living. If you wrote helpful, personal content optimized for search, you could bring in thousands of readers a day.

But then Google got weird.

With recent algorithm updates, many small creators (hi, us) saw their traffic take a nosedive.

It’s discouraging.

We’ve watched low-effort content mills and AI spam rank higher than lived-experience guides.

And that stings, especially when you’ve poured years into building trust with your audience.

So yes, we’re still blogging.

But we’re also getting scrappy. Diversifying. Re-evaluating.

Minimalism means knowing what to let go of, and lately, that includes chasing outdated traffic strategies.

So… How Do You Actually Make Money as a Minimalist?

Let’s break it down. These are the income streams that have worked for us (some better than others):

Affiliate Marketing

We only recommend products we use and love. That has not changed.

It means fewer sales but more integrity.

When someone buys through our link, we may earn a small commission without pushing junk.

Sponsored Content

We partner with brands that share our values. Not every offer makes sense, and we turn down a lot. We have the receipts to prove it.

But when it clicks? It’s a win for everyone.

Ad Revenue

We run ads on our blog through a network. It’s not our favorite aesthetic choice, but it helps fund the content we offer for free.

Digital Products

We’ve created downloadable resources and tools that reflect our approach to living: minimalist, mindful, and genuine.

Our Mindful Wares shop is tiny, but it’s meaningful.

Amazon Influencer Program

Listen, we will be the first to say that we are not fans of Amazon. We are not Prime members, nor do we shop on Amazon very often; however, we do own items that can be purchased on Amazon, and we can provide our authentic feedback about those products.

We create honest, short-form reviews for Amazon products we already own. As part of the Amazon Influencer Program, we can generate a little extra income by using items we already have.

None of these are passive. They all require maintenance, updates, and ongoing effort. But they’re flexible, and that matters more to us than scaling endlessly.

The Trade-Offs of Earning While Living Small

Here’s the unfiltered truth:

• We don’t chase every brand or opportunity, which means slower growth.
• We don’t pretend we use something just because it pays.
• We spend more time saying “no” than “yes.”
• We’ve learned to be okay with inconsistent income in exchange for consistent peace of mind.

There’s no overnight success story here, just intention.

Why We Still Choose This

We’re not trying to build an empire. We’re building a life. One with space to breathe, room to rest, and time to actually enjoy the days we’re living.

So, yes, you can be a minimalist and still make money.

However, it won’t resemble a Pinterest-perfect side hustle spreadsheet. It’ll look like choosing values over vanity metrics.

It’ll look like boundaries.

And sometimes, it’ll look like a really good spreadsheet with just enough to keep going, and that’s enough for us.

If you’re in the same boat, know that you’re not alone. You can build a life that supports your values and your bank account, even if it takes a little creativity (and a lot of boundaries).

Got questions about anything we mentioned? We’re always happy to share more about what’s working (and what’s not). Contact us and let us know.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions