“There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.” —Jackie French Koller
From the moment we’re born, we’re told to pursue more. Advertisements from every television, radio, newspaper, magazine, billboard, and website scream to us on a daily basis that more is better. As a result, we work hard hours so that we can spend countless dollars purchasing the biggest homes, fanciest cars, trendiest fashions, most popular toys, and coolest technologies.
But we all know it’s not true. We all know, deep-down, that happiness can not be bought at a department store—more is not necessarily better. We’ve just been told the lie so many times we begin to believe it.
But what if, in reality, there is actually more joy in owning less?
That truth would change almost everything about us. It would change the way we spend our hours, our energy, and our money. It would change where we focus our attention and our minds. It would change the very foundation of our lives. And if it were true, it would free us up to pursue the things in life that we most value. In other words, it would be a life-changing and life-giving realization.
Unfortunately, for some, the idea of intentionally living life with fewer possessions is just too counter-intuitive. It’s an approach to life they have never been introduced to or have never been invited to explore. The benefits have never been articulated. As a result, it’s too far a leap… too long a stretch… and jumping in with both feet is just not going to happen.
But maybe there’s an easier way than jumping in with both feet.. maybe the lifestyle can just be sampled for a bit. Oh, one may not experience all the benefits that are afforded to those who jump in with both feet, but they just may taste enough to continue along the journey.
To that end, allow me to offer 7 areas of life where living with less can be sampled. They are designed to be picked one-by-one, risk-free. Conducting each experiment for 3-4 weeks will give a good feel for the practical benefits, but hey, it’s your experiment. You decide the length.
7 Ways to Sample Living With Less
1. Clothes. According to statistics, we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. That means that many of us have closets full of clothes that we no longer like or no longer fit us correctly. They are just taking up space. The simple exercise of going through your closet and removing all unused clothing leaves your closet lighter, your mornings less stressful, and your wardrobe full of things you love. Give your lighter wardrobe 30 days to work its magic… you’ll never miss those unused clothes.
2. Decorations. Many of the decorations in our homes hold no personal value to our lives. They just simply happened to match the color of the carpet or be on sale when we walked into the store. Unfortunately, they are distracting you and your guests from the decorations in your home that share your story and highlight your values. Take a moment to walk through your home with a discerning eye. Leave only the decorations that are the most meaningful and the most beautiful. Your home will begin to share your story in a beautiful way. And your old decorations will likely end up on sale at your next garage sale.
3. Toys. Too often, we fall into the line of thinking that says more is better… and so do our kids. We begin to purchase and collect far too many toys for our children. As a result, our children have no need to learn how to be creative, helpful, careful, or sharing. In that regard, fewer toys may benefit your kids in numerous ways. Although you may want to consult your children before you relocate their unused toys, there’s a pretty good chance that after only a few weeks the old, unused toys will be forgotten (except by whomever used to pick them all up).
4. Cooking Utensils. There never seems to be enough storage space in our kitchens. Yet most of our grandmothers cooked far more often, far more elaborately, and far better than many of us today… in much smaller kitchens. The truth is that when it comes to cooking, simple is almost always better. We need far less cooking utensils than we currently own. As a result, our drawers, cabinets, and countertops can be far better organized and useful if we simply owned less. To give this experiment a shot, check out this article from the New York Times: A No Frills Kitchen Still Cooks. Then, store all your unnecessary utensils in a plastic bin, put them away out of sight, and see if you just enjoy cooking a little bit more in your new, clutter-free environment.
5. Televisions. According to Nielsen, the average person watches 4 hours, 35 minutes of television each day. And the average American home now has more television sets than people. That threshold was crossed within the past two years. There are 2.73 TV sets in the typical home and 2.55 people. In the average American home, a television set is turned on for more than a third of the day — 8 hours, 14 minutes to be exact. We are literally sitting on the couch while life passes us by. Experiment with owning less televisions. As a result, you will watch less. And when you do, you will be more apt to do it together as a family.
6. Counter-tops. Clutter is a form of distraction. It pulls at our attention and redirects our thoughts – even for just an instant. Everything sitting out on your countertops competes for your attention. Unfortunately, we have become so accustomed to these distractions that we don’t even notice them anymore… until they are removed. Experiment, even for just 7 days, with keeping your countertops completely clear. Store things in drawers, cabinets, pantries, or temporary storage boxes. After one week, you’ll likely return some of it for the sake of convenience, but I’d bet my bottom dollar that you won’t return all of it.
7. Furniture. It may require some heavy-lifting, but if you’re up for the challenge, removing excess furniture from your rooms will immediately open up significant space and airflow in your home. The rarely-used pieces of furniture in your home are quickly recognizable and taking up more space than you realize. Oh sure, this experiment requires a place to store your furniture during the trial period, but it’s a quick and easy way to remove some of the largest clutter from your home.
Here is my dilemma – I have things that belonged to my parents that I’m not at all sure what to do with– high school yearbooks, funeral guest books. What do you do with these things and not feel guilty about it? I’ve donated so much stuff and it’s such a freeing experience but am at a loss with these few things. Any thoughts?
I know this is rather late and hope you will see this response. I once read a really good book on simplifying your life and one of the suggestions they made was to take pictures of things. I always head on to all my sports awards and jackets and such because it was a big part of my life. I took pictures of everything and saved them in a folder on my computer. Then I got rid of it all, except for one trophy and one medal.
Just take photos innit
Funeral sign in book can be donated to the archives at your local library and we be there not only for you but the family now and years to come hope this helped
That’s a great idea! I bet the library would take the yearbooks too, especially if they were from a local school!
I did not keep my parents funeral books because they did not serve purpose for me. I would not look in the books and really think back and remember anything special other than my parents death so that is just my preference. For the high school books. Your parents would look at those books differently than you. It would be filled with memories for them however for you the point of those memory books is to remind you of some special person or moment. I would make a collage that I would add to my photo albums of my parents, any persons that were in the book I personally knew, the one shot class photo, and maybe anything written to or about my parents in the book. The rest of the book I would just discard. Hope this helps a little.
I would love to take them off your hands and use them for an art project, if you don’t think they’ll ever be used again otherwise.
Direct Message or just tag me on Twitter . My username’s @SisterDharma .
Thanks! Take care.
Robin what about creating a time capsule and burying these items? Or even asking family members if they would like to have some of the items.
Make an electronic copy of all things matter – letters, cards, photos, then discard!
I kept the things from family members (parents, grandparents, etc.) that held actual special meaning to myself. They are all contained in ONE locking plastic bin stored in my attic. Anything else, I recycled, gave to my siblings, donated, etc.
Now, instead of seeing “clutter” and “mess” and feeling overwhelmed, I am able to look through my “memories box” and appreciate the memories associated with each particular item and the feelings they invoke.
I don’t even keep my own yearbooks, why should I keep my parents? I have photos of them from when they were younger that take up way less space in my box, and I have the memory of my grandparents taking the time to show them to me.
My friend cut her grandparents’ & parents’ pictures out of everything she had and put them all in one scrapbook to show her children one day. That may be an option for you if you still want to keep the pictures, but it will still allow you to cut your clutter.
P.S. I told my parents that I was attempting to simplify my life, and if they had anything that they wanted back to let me know. Considering the vast bulk of items they didn’t want returned to clutter their lives, I didn’t feel nearly as guilty disposing of them!
Nothing ‘minimalist’ about this website. Lots of stuff to pick from to find out how to have less stuff and be happy because of it.
Will anyone see this comment or care about it? I will wait and see. Hoping to hear all comments are considered.
What are you talking about? LOL
I have learned over the years that sometimes less is more. I agree with taking pictures of items and putting important year book/school things into an album for future generations, but most of our children can care less about the bulk of the stuff and simple memories are best.
It’s amazing, but people do read comments. I personally found the website to be useful. We are all aware that we should have less but do nothing about it. So it draws one’s attention to minimilise again. We have to be reminded constantly until it becomes a way of life
Looks like you are on the way aboard. Question everything. Peace.
Where one might find this non minimalist, for those of us drowning in stuff who are struggling to get rid of stuff, this is helpful. Because I can get rid of things easily if I prove to myself I don’t need them. Otherwise I struggle. I started my parenting journey out trying to reverse the hoarding habits my parents instilled in me. The worst thing you can say to your child is “you can’t get rid of that” instead I have taught them to take pictures of their drawings and stuff that was special they still want to see and then quickly get rid of it, I want them to not be afraid of getting rid of stuff like I am for the sake of offending anyone. Those thoughts keep us in bondage and this article I am printing to help me as I go through my own stuff and work on freeing myself.
My policy if I haven’t used something in a year time for it to go. Donate, sell etc..
Then stop coming to the website and reading the blogs. And being negative. Simplify your life. Minimize your nasty attitude.
Comment was meant for Lois, 7/21/14. My apologies.
I agree that once you get onto this… It is as addictive as “accumulating” because one you feel the freedom of things starting to leave I just want to keep going!! Sometime I have stayed up late at night to clean out a drawer or cupboard and looked at it the next day and felt Great!! Yes a big Thank you to you Joshua for posting all these Wonderful encouraging tips… they all help and I am planning on looking forward to see the end result.. eventually!! :)
The way I have reduced my wardrobe
I created a matrix of seasons and occasions
primary seasons – summer/winter/rainy
occasions – formal/formal occasion (e.g. office party)/informal/informal occasion(e.g. going out with friends)/festive/home/sports. Also my job demands me to travel from extremely hot place to extremely cold country.
I realized I can manage with by mixing and matching
1. Three pairs formal trousers
2. Three pairs of informal trousers
3. Two pairs of sports trousers (with zipper to make them shorts :))
4. Three formal shirts
5. Three informal shirts
6. Three sports T-shirt
7. Two swimming shorts
8. Three pairs of night suit
9. Two V neck sweaters
10. Two blazers
11. Two two-layer jackets (inner layer can be used independently)
12. Three pairs of foundation layer clothing
13. Two sweat jackets
Great help
Yes I believe that is called a capsule wardrobe. Good job!
Clean out your closet – then put everything back, but with the hangers hanging backwards on the rod (from the inside out). When you wear an item, after laundering it, rehang it the normal way (Outside in).
After 6 months, with no thought, no compromising, remove all items stull hung the “wrong way” and either donate or just discard these.
It is proof that you really do not wear them and will not miss them.
Also – no adding any items without removing an item – one for one.
Worked for me – my closet is neat, clean, organized and totally clutter free!!! As is my mind!
I agree! My son cleaned out his closet and hasn’t looked back since. My issue is the money spent so I try to find places to donate or recycle/sell items to make up for what was spent.
This is great. Good for you I know this is very rewarding. I recently found an article that showed a 9 piece capsule wardrobe that can be worn 30 different ways. I threw everything out on my bed, kept the 9 pieces, condensed my wardrobe down to 23 pieces, and that is all I kept. Also I found images online of all my pieces, copied them in color, glued them to magnets, and put them on my fridge so I could just piece together what I wanted to wear: example; this top with that bottom, etc.
Cool idea!
very cool Idea. Love this. as a mom of 6 I hate clothes we have thousands literally and I am trying to cut down to the bare bone minimum but have struggled with what that would look like, this helps tons thank you.
I read another post on a different blog about managing larger families gracefully, clothes was on the list! Specifically it suggested each kid doesn’t need more than a week’s worth of clothes (7 outfits, 10 for the summer because, well, dirt and stuff), and those clothes should either be a distinct outfit or be mix-and-match-able. She also decided that she “doesn’t minister to laundry.” If it can’t get tossed in the washer and dryer with everything else, it doesn’t get purchased.
Great post really helpful
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This is great! I already dove (dived?) in head first, but this gave me some great ideas of places I overlooked. It surprises me that I’ve already done most of these, but it still feels like I have SO much. I got rid of my only TV, donated/sold 60% of my books and 60% of my wardrobe, majorly decluttered my kitchen but I wanna do more. :) each round I think I’ve given away as much as I possibly can, and then I find more I can give away.
I have already diven in……
Last year we had to make the move from our 2,800sq.ft. house to live with relatives until we got back on tract after a financial disaster. We basically took over 2 bedrooms, one our bedroom and the other a TV room. The only 2 rooms with our belongings. After getting rid of maybe 1/3 of our belongings before we moved, we put the rest of our things in storage. I have always been a big collector of many things, added to that I’ve been in the interior decorating business. Things always had to be current in our house. I must say it has not been easy but I’ve learned one big thing, So much of my things are not needed. The relatives that we are staying with are minimalists. We are looking to move again into a place of our own and I will be downsizing again. This time I will have a much better sense of what I will put in our new house. No more saving things for our grown children, they don’t want it, they want their own. No more, I’ll wear it someday. Life styles change as we age. We don’t need all the jewelry, or the dresses. I am looking forward to a less cluttered life. Freeing my time and money so that I can spend more time with family and friends…in the end, that’s all that matters.
We got rid of our microwave years ago, I have a very small kitchen, and all it was doing was taking up a lot of what little counter space I have, the only thing we used it for was to heat up coffee, so out it went…..
I love not having a microwave – haven’t had one in years and I find I really don’t need it (even w two small children to cook for)
What a great list. Thanks for the reminder. When my daughter was little we used to use the first of December to mark the start of the Christmas season. We’d put up the tree and also sort through all of her toys and decide what she would give away to charity for other children whose parents couldn’t afford presents. I think it helped that ‘Santa’ was only a dressed up delivery guy and parents were the source of all presents.
The benefits of this tradition were many, but most noticeable is my daughter’s generous spirit as an adult and her ability to sort and shed excess anything with ease.
I recently got rid of some coffee mugs because, really, do 2 people require 16 mugs?! It’s now a joy to open the cupboard and pull out 2 of 4. Next up: 3 sets of eating utensils!
8 hrs. 14 mins. per day? That’s a full-time job, WOW! Love this entry-level idea. Thank you!
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The concept is brilliant in its simplicity – just love it.
Now to build up the courage to launch on this route to discovering the inner joy of living with less.
Tell me you are still going strong and have not reverted to your old ways (what I catch myself doing!)~Signed, Trying to Become an Ex- Paper Hoarder Among Other Things
Minimalist living. This appeals to me. I realize that I have wasted money all my life, and trust me, my father echoes this in my head. I have been blessed to lead a rather wealthy existence. I made good money. But I see that I wasted much of it thinking I needed stuff to surround me. I could probably be a millionaire now if I had held back! I regret it and have tried to de clutter but everytime I do, I find that I miss the things that I have given away! Like clothes for instance. I go throught the closet stuff the give always on garbage bags, drag them to the Salvation Army and then a few weeks later I am looking for a piece that I gave away.
When it comes to clothes you already have, I’d recommend just get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit or you know darn well you will never repair. Keep the rest since you already have it. Eventuallly as clothes get worn out, discolored, ripped, and/or stained you’ll start using the excess. And don’t buy more. Signed, Learned After the Same Happened to Me.
That’s a brilliant idea. Have a “when in doubt” back up pile/area.
Yes, donated a beautiful jacket about 4 years ago and I still miss it – ugh.
A Dear (now departed) friend challenged me to not buy any clothes for a year.
(undies an exception!)
Best challenge ever & I highly recommend to everyone once in their lifetime. I emptied my wardrobe tried everything on, mix & matched like never before. A whole new wardrobe.. BRILLIANT
Awesome!
I agree. i have decided just not buy anymore and use up the ones I have. Plenty of clothes but usually stick to the same ones so will try to wear different ones
I struggle with NEEDING something the day after I gave it away. But I realized a thing about it the other day. I didn’t ever want that thing BEFORE I got rid of it and am only thinking about it now because I just saw it and thought about it and reminded myself that I own it. I gave myself all the reasons that I needed it just the other day. But then my rationality explained to my sentimentality that we had plenty other items just like it and this one could go.
I try to remember later on, when I want that thing, that I previously, being of sound mind and body, did knowingly and intentionally get rid of it.
Then I go smell my favorite calming essential oil blend and try not to freak out about life without whatever the thing is.
In 2008, at age 60, I looked at myself in in a mirror in one of the four bathrooms in our 5,000 sq. ft house in Denver and decided that I ‘couldn’t live like this anymore.’ Whatever I couldn’t fit into a 17 ft U-Haul truck or the Jeep it was towing wasn’t going to make the trip to Coeur d’alene Idaho. I took my two bikes and my sea kayak, and the clothes I liked most. I went from a custom 5,000 sq. ft home to a 1,000 sq. ft. apartment located over a Paso Fino horse barn. Three years later I moved to an island on Puget Sound. Whatever I couldn’t fit inside or on top of my Jeep didn’t come with me. The rest I gave away. If you would have asked me ten years ago if I thought I could retire on the amount of money I now live on, I would have laughed and thought you were kidding me. I have never been so happy, or free. I have learned how to dance on the other foot….
Hello Steve. Reading your comment nearly brought a tear down my cheek. I’m in my 30s now but that is the life I want for myself when I retire. You have inspired me with your story to work harder to reach that goal. Thanks and God bless.
That’s great!
Hi Steve, thank you for your comment. It was so inspirational.
I absolutely love your story. It spoke to my heart. It’s clear your spirit has been set free. Well done and bless every fresh new day that awaits you!
I love this! Approaching 60 and distraught that life is not how I imagined, simplicity and minimalism is calling to me. Instead of spending more time sad and upset at what I don’t have, I am moving toward being blessed by what I do and even paring it down more. Just spent a weekend with a family member in a 5,000+ custom home and of course it is fabulous! but it really got me thinking- that really isn’t what I desire. Long road ahead but perhaps the happiness I seek is really in less!
Steve your reply to this post brought tears in my eyes. You have summed up your reflection in a beautiful and inspiring way which caused an emotional shift for me. Very well said sir and I will continue working towards a similar experience.
Sometimes it can take a lifetime to long for happiness and well-being. Sometimes it can be enough to watch a TV spot with Jousha Becker and read a memorable posts by Steve who used his own mirror to self-reflection.
I will soon turn 63 and live by the philosophy of “less is more” ….
Thanks for your story. Not being ready for retirement myself has haunting me since 5 years ago.
Oh, and I have to admit that I want to live in a big house for at least ten years to get it out of my system. Signed, Wanting to live Large Because I Know I’ll live Small Later
Great comment!
That is just beautiful! I cannot imagine the feeling of freedom you have now! Kudos to you!
I am having trouble. One set of sheets. But the thing is, we need flannel for winter and cotton for summer.
And, once a month a cleaning lady comes. There is not time for me to get the kids up and to school, and wash ALL their sheets and dry them, by the time cleaning lady gets here. So we need two sets. But then, that’s 8 sets of extra sheets! My whole closet. :( 6 kids and 2 adults.
And trust me, having her clean (the scrubbing and stuff that keeps mold away) is essential. Plus, it forces me to keep clutter away or she can’t clean!
Being a minimalist is about making your life easier and more productive. It doesn’t mean giving away things that are useful in your life situation. Relax, DE clutter and don’t worry about having extra sheets that make your life simpler come wash day.
I agree with Cindy. For example, I have enough underware to wear a fresh pair for three weeks, if not four. That works for me. Yet, I don’t have the same set up for socks & bras. Signed, No Overkill Where Not Necessary
I’m with you too Cindy! Less is not always simpler, go with what works for you.
If you really want to reduce the number of sheets you use, have all flat sheets. When you change the bed, put the bottom sheet in the wash, put the top sheet back on the bed as the bottom sheet, then use the clean sheet as the top sheet. This way you only need three sheets for each bed.
Better still, change 4 beds at a time; the 4 bottom sheets will be washed and when they’re dry they will become the clean sheets for the OTHER 4 beds. This way you will also need only 4 beds’-worth of pillow cases spare because you’ll be changing them at the same time as the sheets. This means at most you would have 4 sheets (not sets) and 4-6 pillowcases in your closet. (duplicate the numbers for cotton/flannel)
Fitted sheets always wear out quickly, then your whole set is ruined. It is NOT hard or slow to put a flat sheet on a bed and do hospital corners. And a flat sheet always fits after it’s shrunk, unlike “fitted” sheets which get tight from shrinkage and rip if your toenail so much as brushes against them.
I much prefer flat sheets. We have a standard size bed and I put king size sheets on to give us more coverage. This is possible because of using all flat sheets.
Great idea. Why didnt i ever think of that?
I have 4 kids so lots of linen to be washed and changed. Especially with potty accidents! I wont see flat sheets the same again. Thanks 😄
Fold each set up smaller than a pillow and put that complete set in one of the pillow cases. It will free u of clutter.
Minimalism to me is having what I need and use. That’s it. We have temperature ranges from -40C to 40C so I understand needing a variety :) I store off-season sheets & blankets in plastic bins in our basement. I store the guest bed sheets in the same room as the guest bed. Maybe try storing the clean 2nd set of sheets in each child’s room (under the bed perhaps or up on the top closet shelf).
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My kitchen counter tops are absolutely clear and I love it. Gave away the microwave to the crew at the Dollar Store for their backroom and haven’t missed it a jot. Going to give the closets and the kitchen another pass. Television is on “vacation pause” as I do more with online. Have lived without tv in the past and I like it (except for missing sports). I have been paring down for 12 years. Getting to the bare bones is really fun and satisfying … I was laid off from a $55K/year+benefits job in 2008 … and it is hard to imagine that in 2015 (income about $15K) my life is richer,, simpler. I’ve found that when a challenge comes up … if I slow down, think and persevere I can meet it. I am more creative when life can’t be fixed by just writing a check. Love your blog, Joshua!
I like what you are saying. Being all-around healthy is what I’ve learned (living @$15K to begin with) is what’s important as a foundation. Healthy in terms of finances, health-including mental, and a active family life that only includes family members who promote loving, respectful relationships.
I like what you wrote about the clothes in our closets, I’m going to try this!
Love reading your blog. Your thoughts are such an inspiration. I am a divorced mom raising 12 year old twin boys all by myself. I have been paring down for about the last 6 months and I am loving my life so much more. Even my boys are happier with less. We moved into a smaller apt and have seen big savings on the light bill among other things. Making our life simpler has allowed me to work way less and go back to school to do something I will enjoy. My poor coworkers work their butts off, are constantly worn out and I feel bad for them because they just don’t understand my lifestyle and how much more happiness is out there when you get to do more of what you want with life instead of just working it away.
I’m a hoarder because I hoard. My mom and two of my sisters hoard, too. My hoarding isn’t as bad as them because I don’t own a house and garage like them, but I’m sure if I had the space, I’d fill it. I got sick of criticizing them and looked at myself. I’ve got my hoarding down from 7 rooms to 1. My partner is in shock. Signed, No More Projects & No More Saving It–Just in Case
What great insights and tips! I just purged my wardrobe in response to this. Good stuff.
Simplifying sounds all well and good. So my question is:
What could possibly be the (emotional) reasons why a person vehemently resist, even aggressive when paring down or simplifying was suggested? Denial? Lack of motivation? Hiding?
I’m not the guru, but I believe that things are anchors. They anchor is firmly in the world. They tie us to an idea or a sentiment. We need a few tethers, but too many weigh us down. If we feel that we aren’t sufficiently tethered, we seem to literally be trying to hold ourselves down with so many paperweights.
I have also been studying addiction and a lot that I have read and listened to talks about being connected to our friends and families instead of being connected to our addictions. Clutter is another addiction. There is a video on YouTube called “everything you know about addiction is wrong” by Johann Hari, it is a tedx talk. Listen to him and think about STUFF as the thing a person is addicted to.
I appreciated the sentiments of the article, but I think you need to review the correct usage of “less.” If you are referring to items that can be counted, the correct adjective is “fewer.” For example, “Experiment owning fewer televisions.” “We need far fewer cooking utensils…”
Thank you…i was thinking i was the only one who squirmed a bit over less and fewer!
Minimalism is easy. It is we who are complicated.
Well put!
Good article.
I’ve been learning on minimalist living a lot recently and what struck me was how it is essentially one of the core teachings of the Buddhist philosophy. The lesser possessions you have , lesser the worries will be. Lesser the worries , freer the mind will be. Freer the mind , happier a person will be. I’m actually feeling ashamed of myself for not thinking about a more simpler practical application like this of such a fundamental teaching of a philosophy I believe in.
I made a major purchase a few weeks ago and while it made me ecstatic to possess that thing for a while , I realize that it no longer makes me as happier, as with the most things I have purchased -necessities or otherwise. I took the first step of the long process of letting go with purging my clothes. While it was a very difficult decision to let go of things I have bought with my hard earned money , it was also such a ease of burden on my mind and I’m already looking forward to continuing the process with my other possessions…
I researched the process of how to start my way as a minimalist last year. I sold my TV (didn’t watch it much) and decided to use my PC for internet while using a ‘dumb’ phone for a month as a way of pairing down a duplicate, testing if I could get used to internet limitations. If I had internet on my PC, why duplicate that to my phone? I was paying for both Cox internet and T-Mobile data through my phone plan at the time. That was a lot of money every month, especially the notification that I over used my phone data often!
My PC decided not to work for a majority of that same month (surprise, surprise), and being in school, the PC was easier for the online class and research for campus courses during the no-school-snow-day assignments we got. I bought another smartphone. I was fine that 1 week of PC and paying a cheaper phone bill. Then, my brother in law fixed the PC after I got the phone. I missed using the phone and decided to keep it, yet…I still have my PC currently. Guess who doesn’t use it often (me!)
I happen to know my roommate’s laptop is broken and her very old computer is going to be donated soon once she has a replacement. I found the perfect way of giving it to her: if she de-clutters her unused computers out of the apartment, and use mine she can have it. That way, while I’m here I don’t feel like I’m “going cold turkey”. It will still be here for use without the title of “mine” and next time I move, it’s one less item to worry about!
My mind got sidetracked off the minimalist way. Granted, I don’t have a crazy amount of stuff; I am OCD and love everything organized. I naturally tend to pair my stuff when I move or get more stuff coming in, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have duplicates of different things piling away in closet storage.
Reading this article has gotten me inspired once again on the minimalist path, and at just the right timing!
Thank you so much for this information and a reconnected inspiration!
I have lived alone for the past 11 years and just turned 40 this year. I must say there were many days I was lonely and longed for my life that was left behind. I had “Everything”….and I that’s just simply put. During my marriage, we lived in a 5,000 sq ft home on 10 acres. Ahh! The life! Or so I thought.
Since then, I bought a 1,600 sq ft 3 bedroom home on 2 acres and lived in it alone for 5 years. I only wanted the home because my children were in middle and high school and wanted a private, quiet home for them to finish school and prepare for college.
And now, here I am. I live in Phoenix, AZ in a 1 bedroom condo by myself and I could not be more thankful that life took me on this journey. During the years , I bought more clothes and home decor to fill 3 homes and last a lifetime. I have since downsized to a 32 piece wardrobe, a car paid in cash, and way more money in my savings.
I have taken the minimalist living journey for the last 3 years and has taken me this long to rid of all the material things I once had to have so badly. One must remember minimalist is not only physical things but a state of mind that helps with financial things like too many credit cards and unnecessary bank accounts. I was able to condense not only my home life but also my financial well being.
I still have nice quality things but not so much of it. Living minimalist doesn’t mean you have to live like a peasant. I copied the life styles people who built contemporary homes with more living space but less furniture, which taught me how to prioritize my home decor and living space. I actually found that by going with more quality products, I saved more money over time. Buying something just because it’s on sale or cheap doesn’t actually save you money when you buy too much of it. Less is definitely more.
I am teaching the rest of my family to live the same life….My Mom especially, she keeps everything..lol! Thanks for the inspiration and have a blessed year!
In July 1977 in Mother Earth News I found this quote by Marya Mannes: “The Good Life exists only when you stop wanting a better one. It is the condition of savoring what is, rather than longing for what might be. The itch for things – so brilliantly injected by those who make and sell them – is in effect a virus draining the soul of contentment. A man never earns enough, a woman is never beautiful enough, clothes are never new enough, the house is never furnished enough, the food is never fancy enough.
There is a point at which salvation lies in stepping off the escalator, of saying, ‘Enough; what I have will do…..what I make of it is up to me.'”
Somehow that piece of wisdom survived my hectic life until now I have it posted on the face of my propane refrigerator (I have lived off grid for 17 years now). My cottage is small, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom. I am gloriously happy now with so little.
My one “vice” is my books. I finally started seven years ago to give them away and not keep them, but I still have quite a few.
What a wonder these past 17 years have been. I am blessed.
I make a point of going through all my personnel belongings every 6 months at least and tossing what is not being used. So far no regrets as I am careful not to go berserk. Have also learned that this purging cycle does NOT include the wife’s items. Made that mistake once, pretty much urged that extended endeavor. But I do humor her as I continue my purge of Stuff..
Oh im sooooo being minimalist i cant wait i threw out alot of everything and already i feel great and i can look at the money i have in my pocket now people see me and ask me for funds and i just smile because i know i have a choice to give or not to give yes
I have been paring down and I love it. My spouse has slight hoarding tendencies. You wouldn’t know it necessarily by looking at my home, but the places designated as “his spaces” it is obvious. His closets, garages (we have 2), basement workshop area, home office, side table (which I ferry all the papers and send them up to his office), all filled with stuff. Not floor to ceiling, just cluttered and messy and hard to find anything. Stresses my eyes. He collects random stuff. So that is one thing. Then there is me. I’ve allowed myself to release more and more stuff. My spaces are clean and open and bright. However, I still shop and buy more. So it creates a distraction and constant cycling and recycling of items. Junk shops, and sale/clearance items are a trap. Then when I get around to the next purging round, I feel so angry at myself and guilty for having wasted the money, but not enough to not buy something else if the impulse strikes. And I buy with emotion and justify with logic. I am going to stay away from the junk shops more. I mean I don’t go a lot, and sometimes months go by without going at all, but it has become a pastime and boredom killer for us to go for a drive and check out a shop on an occasional Saturday. So how do I release the shopping mindset? I’m obviously filling a need/ an emptiness with it. That is clear. And I prefer minimalist, so I’m kind of in this weird place of minimalist-non-minimalist.
I am in that same spot. I recently came across a blog called Minimalist Packrat that touches on the different types of personalities when it comes to keeping stuff. I figured out I am 2 types but anyone can be a mix of many or dominate in one type. I am a Collector and a Cycler. My collector days are mostly done from my youth. Having more financial ability now is what transferred me into a Cycler and that being the worst for me as this is the big money waster! I will buy, enjoy, Goodwill the item, then buy another which is never ending!
Well now that the mirror has been placed before me and after typing myself I am now AWARE as hell when I get near a store and am getting quite good at resistance. Now in my mid forties I am preferring the saved money in the bank and the free-feeling of becoming minimalist. I have been on this journey for a few years now and have continuously rid myself of things. My home is finally very minimalist now, including a capsule collection for the year of 45 pieces of clothing (closet hangers).
Have hope and be truthful with yourself about the end goal when your about to spend that money. If the desired object doesn’t fit your goal, then don’t buy it! That’s working for me more and more now. There IS a light at the end of the “stuff tunnel”. after all.
The final push for me is now understanding my triggers and the truth of my perfectionism. I am re-training my brain to be content with the beautiful and sparse decorations and furnishings I have. I want to leave a monetary legacy to my closest friends when my days are done and this newer lifestyle is getting me on track.
And one more note. My mother passed away in 2011 sadly. Of many hints that needed immediate attention one really hard truth is that when we pass nothing goes with us. It’s all left behind for others to deal with. Well what I dealt with was Goodwilling and freely giving away an entire household of Moms massive amount of stuff. Not exactly a healthy way to grieve. Don’t leave that burden behind!!
hello everyone i have read and loved all these story’s now id like to share my own maybe some one will take something away from it like i have done from one else’s.my husband and i have both lived hard life’s he moved to WA state from AR to be with me at the time we lived in a dark nasty little apartment with nothing but a bed and 1 TV we had no cable no internet nothing but our phones and each other we didn’t even have dishes but we were so happy and in love within a year or 2 we bought a mobile home it was huge to us we had our son in October and in January our house burnt down it was a total loss.we did not know how to pick up and move on our marriage was in trouble from all the stress all we could focus on was we had lost.even though we didn’t want it an opportunity come to us to buy a 35 ft travel trailer its been 5 months since we moved in it its been a god send to have our own space again we are putting our family and our marriage back together and starting to love life again getting back to the basics you really learn what life is all about
#1. We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time! Oh how true. I prove it to myself every year when I go camping or on a trip. I take more than I use, and never miss all I leave behind.
2016 will be my transition into this lifestyle. I realized that material possessions no longer attract my attention. I’d much rather have a clean look from home to attire. Even with my websites, I’ve changed the look to a minimalist style. Thanks for this post it has put me a step in the right direction.
We have just moved for the 3rd time in 3 years and we definitely have too much “stuff”. I have a clean out every time we move but we still seem to accumulate so much. The kitchen is definitely a problem area, I try to stay away from buying gadgets and things but I get lots of gifts which are for the kitchen, then I feel guilty getting rid of them. I think I will work on the idea that if I haven’t used it in 12 months…it needs to go.
Maybe I don’t understand minimalist. I have never had as many things as what people have posted here. And still, my life seems too complicated. I wear the same uniform almost every day whether I am working or not. I am a retired mechanic. If I’m relaxing or working in the summer, I’m wearing shorts and Uniform shirt and/or a bathing suit for days on end. In the winter I am wearing just enough to keep from freezing my butt off. I am stressed and would like to get more simple. We are planning to move to the country in the next three years. I hope that will help. Of course, country is not easy to find within 300 miles of where I live now zip 76135. My wife will not move away from our children. I really think we need to. There are so many beautiful places in Texas/Arkansas/Oklahoma/Louisiana/New Mexico. But, she can’t see that because of the kids that seldom come to see us anyway.
Thank you, Tammy! This concept of making collages can be applied to so much stuff,,,including one’s own yearbooks. There are many avenues to explore – thank you for opening this door.
I love what GraphicArts is offering now: making collages using a chalkboard image as your surface. Go to graphicstock.com to load & get started! There are all kinds of ideas with very good guidance on this site. It’s all FREE!
I truly appreciate this blog. I have found over the years that I am much happier with “owning” a lot less overall (mentally, emotionally and spiritually) and having fewer items as well. I am always disappointed at how I will spend money on “things” only to end up donating or giving them away. A lot of times it is because I shop online, but silly me, I decide (against my better judgment) not to keep the receipts, so I can’t return the things that I don’t end up loving. The only answer is to donate them. At any rate, I don’t buys a WHOLE lot anymore, so I don’t have to do this as much as I used to. I have pared down my decor, my furniture, and now we are down to 6 rubbermaid containers which fit neatly on a shelf in the garage. I am seriously considering getting rid of some of that stuff as well, because a lot of it is old letters and cards that I can’t say that I’ve ever really pulled out and looked at again, nor do I truly desire to do so. In this electronic age, it is not necessary to have a lot of hard copy photos, so we will probably scan ours in to an electronic file and then get rid of them. I feel SO FREE! Thanks again for this inspiring blog!
I did many of these things. I just became bored of how I looked.
A man still needs STYLE!
Thanks for the cool idea Tammy.
As an artist or crafty person, I find having less, more difficult than most.
Out of necessity, I have gotten rid of at least half of the things in my household.
I can’t be done yet, but many things are sentimental. My husband passed just over a year ago. In the process of moving and having to get rid of many things, I vowed I would not ever again keep so much.
Pictures aren’t always helpful, but I have used this to great advantage.
Minimalism
Minimalism is not about giving up all of your material possessions to the point of deprivation. It is not about living a solitary life. It is not about not buying anything for a whole year. It is not about giving up on technology. It is not about detaching yourself from the use of social media.
Minimalism is simply about giving up the excess in your life to make space for the things that really matter. It is about minimizing the noise (physical or emotional) in your life so you could focus on the present. It is removing the clutters so that you can have more space and time for yourself. It is living with enough so you can give the excess to others. It is about giving up on labels and living up with principles. Minimalism is about finding happiness within.
There are many places, websites and books wherein you could find different meanings of minimalism. It will differ from person to person but one thing is for sure, the meaning will always revolve around the things that matters to us.
I invite you to be generous, to be present, to be healthy, to be purpose-driven, to be better, to be passionate, to be free, to be principle-oriented, to be creative, to be yourself and to be a minimalist.
Hi
I’ve just found your article, and thought, no way, I live Minimal, so there is nothing in here that can challenge me – I was wrong.
We rarely watch TV..I am a single parent living alone with her 2 boys (10 + 12) we do family running and don’t do name brands so what could they possibly say that I can change – the kitchen for one! yes I am a women who loves her “stuff” and I still hold onto my kids shoe-box each of their first booties and baby caps they wore with their hospital armbands. But putting those baby items in a frame on the wall, will make my lounge look amazing.
And yes I admit to being a parent that proudly lives for my kids so the house is for their enjoyment and the toys and things can seriously take over. Crates of toys need to go. their TV though can stay as I need my own TV in case I want to watch a movie which is usually on a weekend. Some furniture pieces to need to go.
The space will be appreciated.
Countertops – being the only one who cooks in the house – oh yes, the herbs have taken over basking in the sun, fresh herbs better than dried, perhaps a place on the wall space will grant extra counterspace. Re-arranging /swopping cupboards worked like a bomb for me in my spring clean, my pots are closer to the stove and the food cupboards closer to the fridge which makes meal planning a good few minutes less. Thank you for showing me that I can still learn alot. Keep up the good work.
Marina and the boys.