Minimalist Blogging: 8 Simple Tools

There are some articles on the Internet that claim minimalism is only for the affluent. I disagree. Minimalism is simple. Do less. Keep less. Live frugal. Minimalist blogging is being intentional and specific about your blogging choices.

Minimalist Blogging Is For Anyone

So you’ve heard the term minimalism and thought that it’s not for you. You’re not one to live with little. You’re an average American with a family of three, a 2000 square-foot house and two cars. You’re not a minimalist. How could you be a minimalist blogger? Here’s Merriam-Webster’s definition of minimalism:

A style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity

In several articles online, I’ve seen authors argue that minimalism is for the rich. Their argument is that minimalists buy expensive furnishings and electronics. According to the definition of minimalism, that argument is filled with logical fallacies. It’s not about money. It’s about owning and using less. It’s about spareness and simplicity.

Minimalist Blogging Doesn’t Require Expensive Stuff

I’ll admit. I have small gadgets: MacBook Air, iPad Mini and iPhone. However, they are not the most expensive models and I’m definitely not rich.

I’ll also admit that to truly live out my minimalist vision, I would need a bigger income. The reason is that minimalists choose quality over quantity. In the long run that will save you money. What’s all this have to do with blogging?

The Right Tools Make It Easier

Although minimalist blogging is not an expensive endeavor, I’ve found that certain tools help. Those tools might cost a bit more than the cheapest tools on the market, but they’ll help you be more productive and they’ll last longer. So how much money are we talking here? Let’s break it down:

1. Laptop: Although a laptop computer is not an absolute necessity for minimalist blogging, but it helps. A laptop allows you to blog almost anywhere at almost any time. A decent laptop costs anywhere from $500 to $2000. I suggest going with a MacBook. A MacBook Air starts at $899 to a little over $1000. But you’ll have less worries about viruses and the portable size is a big plus. 
2. Tablet: You don’t need a tablet, but they are nice to have on the run. Tablets are great for email and social networking when you’re traveling. Cost: $300 to $800. 
3. Smart Phone: You don’t always carry your laptop or iPad. That’s why a smart phone is perfect tool for minimalist blogging. It’s small. It’s simple. You can do almost anything on it. But I don’t suggest writing blog posts on your phone. Another reason for having a smart phone and a tablet is to make sure your responsive blog theme looks good on all devices. Cost: $50 to $200 per month, depending on your device, provider and plan. 
4. Internet: Of course you’ll need an Internet provider. Cost: $30 to $100 per month, depending on your choices.
5. Domain: A domain name costs about $15 per year. I recommend purchasing your own domain to establish a unique voice.
6. Hosting: I currently use Fat Cow Web Hosting. I pay less than $10 per month for full hosting with unlimited data.
7. Podcasting: If you choose to do podcasting you’ll need to invest in some good microphones and portable audio recording devices. Cost: $100 to $1000.
8. Advertising: I don’t advertise at this point. Advertising is a personal choice and can be very expensive.
9. Total: My total blogging investment (not including smart phone contract and Internet service) over a five-year period is about $2500. That includes all my equipment. That breaks down to less than $50 per month. You don’t have to be rich to practice minimalist blogging.  

Minimalist Blogging Costs Less Than Most Hobbies

At Hip Diggs, I promote using less to create a blog that’s both beautiful and functional. Most other articles about blogging will try to convince you that you need to buy much more than I suggest. They’ll promote paid themes. They’ll recommend expensive software and apps. They’ll try to convince you that those things are necessities. It’s not true. You can blog using the basics. You don’t need all the extras.

Minimalist blogging is about choosing content over flash. It’s about using less to make something more interesting and useful to your readers.  

So is minimalism a rich man’s game? No. Is minimalist blogging an expensive endeavor? No. You can get started today. 

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