12 Tips to Embrace Underconsumption Core: What We Can Learn From TikTok’s Newest Trend
By Jeremy Steckler
One of the newest trends to take TikTok by storm is called underconsumption core. If you’re active on the internet, you’ve probably heard this term bouncing around. In short, underconsumption core promotes a more minimalist lifestyle focused on reusing, repurposing, and simplifying. Whether you’re renting an apartment in Scottsdale, AZ, settling into a home rental in Kansas City, or finally buying your dream home in Albuquerque, NM, embracing underconsumption can help you find joy in what’s already at your fingertips.
To get you started on your journey, ApartmentGuide reached out to a wealth of experts to offer tips on how to start engaging with this way of life. Read on to learn more about ways to live more with less and bring more peace and joy into your life in the process.
1. Underconsumption spurs creativity
It’s a common experience to be overwhelmed by choice when anything is possible, but having limitations often helps with encouraging one’s creativity. "I always encourage people who want to embrace underconsumption to start making their own home decor and clothing. For example, you can take up weaving and make wall art, coasters, blankets, placemats to decorate your place,” says Sarah Hegge, PhD, and writer of The Craft Blogger.
“Making things by hand naturally reduces how much I buy, and not just because it takes so much longer to make an object than to click 'add to cart'! I also end up more connected to the items I make, so I'm less likely to want to replace them out of boredom or to follow trends."
If you’re a creative person, underconsumption can also promote creating space and time for your passions. "Incorporating underconsumption into a creative person's life can free up both time and mental space for artistic pursuits. By consciously reducing unnecessary purchases, individuals can shift their focus from material acquisition to creative expression. This shift not only saves money but also encourages deeper engagement with their craft,” says Cindy Cisneros, LCPC-S, Licensed Psychotherapist and Certified Creativity Coach of Creatively LLC.
“Instead of spending time shopping or managing possessions, creatives can invest those hours into honing their skills or exploring new ideas. Ultimately, underconsumption can lead to a more intentional and fulfilling creative process.”
2. Try a no-spend challenge
Modern-day culture is built on upgrading your purchases and consuming more. Many people and companies promote spending more as a means of feeling satisfied. If this resonates with you, consider taking some advice from Jess and Josh of Minimalists Managed, an online resource for those curious about minimalism, and try a ‘no-spend challenge.’
“Trying a ‘no-spend challenge’ is a great way to kick-start a new era of underconsumption in your life! For an entire month, challenge yourself to buy absolutely nothing but the bare essentials.
Mark it on your calendar, set little reminders in your phone, and use a simple minimalist budget to keep you on track. It will rewire your brain away from mindless spending, as you become hyper-aware of smart marketing and societal pressures to buy more.
You’ll get to know yourself better, refresh your ‘needs’ from ‘wants’, and become more intentional with where you want your money to go in the future.”
3. Implement rules for purchasing
A lot of purchases are impulse buys. When that first pull to purchase shows up, it feels like buying that product will solve all your desires. What usually happens is that the product ends up discarded or unused shortly after. "You’ll first need to go from a consumerist mindset to intentionally limiting purchases to what truly serves your needs,” says Jeremy Grant, founder and CEO of Knocked Up Money. “To do this, adopt a 24-hour rule for small purchases and give yourself a week for larger buys. This practice curbs impulsive spending and helps you focus on what truly adds value."
Another way to tackle this is by setting up separate checking accounts for each purchase area. "Mindless spending often boils down to our behaviors,” says financial coach Craig Dacy of Dacy Coaching. “When we see more money in our account, we spend more. We recommend opening multiple checking accounts for each area of life (bills, food, spending, etc.). When you get paid, allocate funds to each account. When you go to spend in one category, you'll see less funds available, so you'll behaviorally spend less."
4. Create a budget for yourself
It’s hard to know where your money goes if you aren’t tracking your spending and keeping a budget. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to living a life of underconsumption. “Kickstart your underconsumption journey by diving into a fun and easy annual budget planner,” suggests ManjaSheets, a provider of spreadsheet templates.
“Tracking your expenses not only curbs mindless spending but also empowers you to prioritize what truly matters. Pair that with a weekly meal and grocery planner to slash food waste and make sustainable choices effortlessly. These tools transform minimalism and sustainability into enjoyable, everyday habits!”
5. Cleaning up your space
Nothing clutters a mind like an unclean space. On your underconsumption core journey, Allison Misulia, blogger at Married and a House, recommends starting by creating some order in your space. “Begin seeking minimalism in the areas in your home that you struggle to keep clean. This is a symptom of overconsumption,” she says.
“Two big problem areas for me were my clothing and the kitchen. The lack of order in these areas was an indication that I had too much stuff. After I minimized these areas, I discovered the peace that comes with living with less. And I began my journey embracing underconsumption.”
6. Pare down the products and services you own
So many people are paying for services they don’t need or own products that don’t serve a purpose anymore. “Make a checklist of the products and services that you often use and start asking yourself these questions. Is it indispensable? Does it make a significantly positive impact on my life in terms of productivity, health and lifestyle? Is there a better alternative to this?” suggests 3D House Planner. “This is a great way to prioritize quality over quantity by reducing possessions to only what adds value to your life.”
7. Review your digital habits
Underconsumption core isn’t just related to the consumption of material goods, it can also relate to how you approach your connection to your phone and computer. “For underconsumption, I like to start with my digital habits,” says Jef Quin, a travel and creative blogger. “Screen time, social media use, apps downloaded, and subscriptions can all get out of hand pretty quickly. But when I balance these things, I find myself underconsuming in other areas too."
8. Reuse instead of buying new
Another core tenet of underconsumption is the reusing and repurposing of other items. “The easiest way to take part in underconsumption is valuing what you already have. For me, this looks like reusing things instead of purchasing new,” says Emily Waddell, founder of The Honest Consumer. “I always prioritize rewearing the clothes in my closet instead of buying new. Around the house, I also reuse old sheets and towels for our pets. These are both easy ways to minimize what I'm purchasing, save money, and live more sustainably.”
Kerri of Urban Market Bags adds that reusable options can include things we often consider single-use. “Want to consume less? Go reusable! One reusable water bottle will clear your cupboards of plastic and reduce spending. And one reliable pack of reusable shopping bags will not only replace a closet full of disposable bag chaos, but will also become your go-to bags for shopping, the beach, sporting events, travel, and everything in between,” she says. “Here’s an extra tip: before heading into a store, predetermine what you are there to purchase and only bring the number of bags you'll need — if it doesn't fit, you don't need it!
Finding other uses for items around your apartment or house is also another way to reduce waste and decrease spending. “You can reduce waste with a sustainable conscience by repurposing items such as glass jars for storage or old clothes for cleaning rags, reducing the need to purchase new,” shares 3D House Planner, a free service to help with designing apartments and homes. “Moreover, use compost kitchen scraps for your garden and adopt a ‘repair before replace’ attitude toward electronics and household items.”
9. Reduce food waste
The United States currently leads the world in food waste, discarding nearly 60 million tons of food every year. Instead of throwing your scraps into the trash, consider composting or repurposing them. “You’re meal planning and eating more fresh food at home, but what do you do with the peels, pits, and pieces you can’t eat? Lots! Try a new creative recipe like candied citrus peels or grow some greenery for your apartment from avocado pits or celery stalks,” says Karen Ramsey of KC Can Compost, a compost collection service in Kansas City. “Then find a local community food scrap drop off site for the rest! Food scraps can be turned into rich, healthy compost – a natural fertilizer for yards, gardens, and urban farms.”
Another way to combat food waste is to reduce your consumption of new foods by planning out your meals for the week. In fact, many households have plenty of food at home that could be used to create tasty meals. “One of the greatest areas of financial waste comes in our food. We spend hundreds at the grocery store when our pantry and fridge are already packed. Apps like SuperCook will create recipes using only the food you have on hand. This can drastically reduce your grocery bill,” says financial coach Craig Dacy of Dacy Coaching.
10. Pick where you want to live that aligns with your values
Your living situation can also have a big impact on how you consume. “With work becoming more accessible to many people from almost anywhere, think through where you want to live – ideally in a much lower-cost area. But only consider places that accommodate your passions. In my case, it's outdoors and skiing. Because of this I recently relocated to the Comox Valley, where I spend my summer days hiking and my winters on the ski hill,” says Michael Brown, CEO and President of Adacado, a digital advertising business.
“Here we have lower cost housing and a much lower cost lifestyle, as the consumption of urban dwellers is not a part of rural life. In these towns full of underconsumers there is also an abundance of great fresh foods, homemade clothing, and household items,” he continues. “So my tip is to pick your one or two top priorities in life and find a place with like-minded people.”
11. Choose experiences over stuff
Underconsumption core can also be engaged with when on vacation. There’s often pressure to purchase physical reminders of a trip, but consider spending that money on experiences to treasure instead. Unique experiences encourage mindfulness and expansion, leading to a better appreciation of life – especially if these experiences are out in nature.
Jay Eisenberg of Skyland Air shares a similar outlook on these transformative experiences. “In a world dominated by constant connectivity and consumption, embracing underconsumption means choosing to unplug and let nature be your guide,” says Jay. “Imagine putting down your phone and soaring in a bright yellow open cockpit gyroplane over the stunning North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Free from distractions, you can fully immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery, cultivating a sense of simplicity and presence that allows you to experience the island's natural beauty in a deeper, more meaningful way.”
12. Explore additional underconsumption core quick tips
There are plenty of ways to incorporate underconsumption core into your life. For some quick tips, the team at WP Moose, a company that helps create WordPress themes, has compiled a list of their favorite ways to engage with this movement.
"1. Shop secondhand. Thrift stores and consignment shops are a great place to find affordable clothing and other items.
2. Unsubscribe from marketing emails. This will help you reduce the temptation to spend money on things you don't need.
3. Find free or low-cost activities. There are many things you can do for fun that don't cost a lot of money, such as going for walks, visiting museums, and attending free concerts.
4. Cook at home more often. This is a great way to save money and eat healthier food."
Conclusion: A fuller life with less
Living a life of underconsumption can lead to increased peace and joy while decreasing costs. In a world that promotes upgrades and constant bigger displays of wealth, it can be hard to reprogram the brain to realize what’s in front of you may be enough. Try some tips from this article in your life and see how you feel. You might discover the joy that comes from spending less and treasuring what you have.
