“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.” —Peace Pilgrim
Three years ago, we sold, donated, or discarded over 70% of our family’s possessions. We removed clothes, furniture, decorations, cookware, tools, books, toys, plus anything else we could find in our home that was not immediately useful or beautiful. The result has been a completely transformed life and lifestyle. It is a decision we have never regretted.
The intentional choice to pursue minimalist living and owning less has brought with it a great number of benefits. It has been the answer to much of the discontent we felt in our lives when we owned more. And the decision holds the potential to do the same for you.
Consider these Seven Common Problems that Can Be Solved by Owning Less Stuff:
1. “I don’t have enough money / I’m in debt.” The simplest solution to almost every money problem is “spend less.” In fact, it’s the first step in almost every financial program ever devised. Purposefully deciding to own fewer possessions is an important step in getting your financial house in order – and often times, it’s the only step you really need to take.
2. “There’s just not enough time in the day.” We were immediately surprised at how much extra time we found in our lives after removing our unnecessary possessions. We came to realize, if we aren’t careful, the things we own quickly move from “time-saving” to “time-consuming.” Just think about all the time we waste caring for our possessions: shopping, researching, organizing, picking up, cleaning, repairing, replacing – even earning the money to buy them in the first place. And the reality is, it can be difficult to determine how much time our possessions are actually stealing from us until we actually remove them.
3. “There’s always so much cleaning to do / Even after I clean, my house feels cluttered.” Want to have a cleaner home? Own less stuff. It works every time.
4. “My house is too small / There’s never enough storage around here.” Chances are pretty good that your house isn’t too small – you’ve just put too much stuff inside it. Case in point: according to statistics, the average house size in America has doubled since the 1950’s… yet, many of us still think that we need something bigger. You probably don’t. And removing the unneeded possessions from your home and life will likely provide the opportunity for you to discover that again.
5. “I’m too stressed.” The artist and philanthropist, John Ruskin once said, “”Every increased possession loads us with a new weariness.” Every increased possession weighs down our lives with new things to worry about, care for, and maintain. Our purchases have far surpassed bringing convenience and ease into our lives. In fact, they have begun to do just the opposite – they have brought new forms of stress and anxiety instead.
6. “I can’t decide what to wear / It’s so hard to keep up with the changing fashions.” On the surface, fashion appears to be an ever-evolving game where the rules change with each passing season. As a result, it demands astute attention (and an expansive income). But it does not have to. Instead, carry a beautiful wardrobe filled with a few timeless pieces that you truly love to wear. Once you love everything hanging in your closet, deciding what to wear will be one less problem to deal with in your morning.
7. “I wish I had…” Our culture begs us to own more. Advertisements call us to purchase the latest and the greatest. Our natural tendencies cause us to compare our lives with those around us. And we seem to have a built-in desire to impress others by owning as much as possible. As a result, we spend precious energy wishing we had more. But this constant dreaming, hoping, and envying other’s possessions is stealing from our joy and contentment today. It makes us feel like we are missing something – even though there is so much joy right in front of us.
We made the decision years ago to live with fewer possessions. Sometimes, I get asked, “Do you think you’ll always be a minimalist?” My response is always the same, “Oh yeah, I’m never going back. There is just too much joy and freedom on this side.”
And I cherish the opportunity to invite others to experience it as well.
marjorie says
i know i possess too much stuff,i’m going to try what was suggested. thanks, trying.
Diane says
I would love to live this way when I got remarried I came into the marriage with very few possessions I just didn’t want the memories that came with them.!However I believe I married someone somewhere between a picker and a hoarder everything is a cherished posession it drives me crazy. He has a small trailer full of items from an antique store he owned 6 years ago that could just go to GoodWill
acajudi says
I have controlled clutter in 13 gallon Rubbermaid containers, covered by beautiful clothes. i keep an index box of the RM #, location and contents. I use different sizes ziplock bags inside the RM to keep thing seperste. i use RM for everything! I place books on top or pillows. Once I am dead, then i leave it all to my family to do what they want. i am very generous to others also, for all my life. i treat myself to online grocery, and I love my apartment. Social Security may force me to live in a cheaper country in the future. Rent etc, are too high, and we are not crooks, so we live off our income.
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
Kara says
I became a minimalist almost 2 years ago and I’ve never regretted it. In fact, I’m looking to purchase a tiny home in the near future. I love how freeing it is to live with less. I’m sure there are still areas where I can condense more and I’ll continue to do so. But as mentioned above, I’m never going back to the materialistic way of life again.
Penny says
Someone needs to teach myself how & especially my family how to live with less. Maybe someone needs to teach a class on this kind of stuff. 1 know I would definitely attend. ????
acajudi says
thank you.
Judi Grace StoryCorps.
Enjoy your stuff, for you can be dead in an instant.
Have a blessed 2017
https://storycorps.me/interviews/to-donald-trump-for-what-it-is-worth/
Jon says
I became interested in Minimalism when I discovered The Minimalists. It was a great inspiration to me. Since then, I have taken time to declutter, keeping only what brings me happiness.
However, I have one big problem: I own four computers, a Kindle, two iPods, and my iPhone 6S Plus. This is way too much. Yet, I’m afraid that I am going to lose something important. I will tell you that I am a tech junkie, and this is does not make me feel good. My files on these devices have no organization. I have way too many files, documents, music, and photos. I have no idea how to declutter this mess. I decided that I needed to pay $9.99 per month for a Google Drive. I really have no need for such a service. I have a peripheral hard drive which I use to back up my Mac. I don’t back up the other computers. What should I do?
LENNY NASCIMENTO says
Que belo experimento!
Sempre tive muitas dificuldades em doar o que me pertence. Tenho muito entulho!
Graças pela oportunidade de poder exercitar!
Gratidão!
Cassie says
This hits home with me. I realized just how much my possesions were ruling me after I left my husband. I moved into a studio apartment and had to lug all of my belongings up 5 flights of stairs, organize it and try to stuff it all into a single closet (wasn’t possible). After a month on my own, feeling cluttered and closed in, I realized how many of my marital problems must have stemmed from having and wanting too much stuff. I spent a week tossing out 70-80% of it and instantly felt lighter and happier. I got back in contact with my husband and found out he had done the same. Now we’re working on mending our broken marriage and I honestly think that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t let go of all the clutter, both physical and emotional.
Rosanna Champion says
I am excited to learn this next 14 days. We are packing and preparing to move semi off-grid and into a tiny house. The trigger was a layoff, but God has been working this in our hearts for a while. I am writing our story in a blog. Check out my website.
Jessie Weis says
What made me start to simplify happened 15 years ago. I decided to move from Washington State to Wisconsin, but didn’t want to pay thousands of dollars for a mover, so I decided to move everything in my car in one trip. At the time, I was living in a 5-room apartment, which I considered pretty simple living. But, as I evaluated everything by the “will this fit in my car, and do I actually need it” criteria, I found I was keeping a lot of stuff either because someone gave it to me, so I felt bad throwing it away, yet it was not good enough for someone else, or because of sentimental value and the memories it elicited. I found I didn’t need those things which weren’t good enough to pass on and wasn’t willing to make room for them. And, the sentimental stuff just took up room, while the memories would remain with me, long after I got rid of the mementos. That experience started the ball rolling, and since then, I have downsized several times. It is so much better living with less! Life is a lot more enjoyable when it becomes simpler!
MyLw Lawrence says
Joshua thanks lots.
It amazes me whenever I go camping for weeks, I travel with less and enjoy more than when am at home with luxuries: that consume more time I would use for self development or helping others in life.
Although camping life cannot be adapted at home, there is lots to learn about to live simply, reducing on earthly possessions and committing time to relax and enjoy life like on a camping holiday.
Brenda says
I have just told my husband this past week. We are going thru “everything” in the house. EVERYTHING! I’m so tired of clutter and unused items.
Jane F. says
I really want to downsize all my belongings. I have so much and my house is cluttered and dirty because of all the “stuff”. My problem is that I am so overwhelmed I do not know where to start. I cannot seem to find the little picture that says to do a little bit each day. I only see the big picture and I don’t know where to start in that big picture? Do I start in the living room, where my family likes to hang out. Do I start in the kitchen when we used to cook meals? Do I start in the master bedroom and get our bed back in there and out of the smaller bedroom? Do I start with my daughters room so she has a clean room to go into? Where do I start? I am overwhelmed and need help. PLEASE
Angie says
Jane,
I’ve been there. It’s hard to focus on something small when all you see is the entirety.
My first step has been to get some containers/boxes for organizing, some boxes/bags to put things in that I will be donating, and to have a trash bag (or many) ready for the stuff that goes in the garbage. Then, after a good night’s sleep, and a large amount of time budgeted for cleaning (for example, a Saturday morning/afternoon), I set to work on one single area…kitchen cupboards, or bedroom closet, etc (and once done there, I move to the next small area)….put things in their places….whether it’s on the shelf, in the box to be organized later (when I’ve made the space), in the donation box, or in the garbage. At the end of the time you have, get the garbage out, and the donated things to your vehicle (and to the donation center within a few days)….that way you won’t be going through and second guessing your decisions to get rid of things (if you are someone who tends to hold on to things….I am).
When you look back at all the things that you’ve accomplished in that time (even if it’s just a few small spaces), make sure you acknowledge your hard work with a simple reward, and mentally process that you HAVE done a good job. It should give you a little motivation for the next day/time you budget to get things done. And, I would recommend, don’t wait long periods of time until the next time you try to get things done….spend 20 minutes a day doing something (more if you can)…that way you get into a rhythm, and it gets done. For me, my self-esteem gets a boost when I can look at what I’ve accomplished and know I worked hard.
Last, I’ve heard that there is a really good book that people like for organizing their homes….”The life-changing magic of tidying up.” I’ve reserved it at my local library….have not read it yet, but I’ve been told great things. The premise of the book seems to be to take each item in your hands and decide if it brings you joy. If it does not, get rid of it. (A painstaking process, but thorough and rewarding in the end.)
blessings to you!