The journey to become minimalist can be hard work. It requires significant physical effort, personal reflection, and unexpected emotional obstacles.
Several times along the way, in fact, I wanted to quit. But then, inspiration would strike: a work appointment was scheduled near Goodwill, an inspiring article or blog post provided motivation, family would announce plans to visit, even the garbageman’s arrival in the morning could send me into a ten-minute decluttering spree to fill one more bag. Each, at different times, provided motivation for us to continue downsizing.
But maybe, more than any other, the most significant and recurring motivation to minimize our possessions came from the opportunity that our possessions represented.
Our excess could become a blessing to somebody else.
At first, however, this was not the case. Instead, our goal was to get as much financial return as possible from the things we were discarding. My thinking was, I paid good money to buy this stuff. I should get something in return.
I opened an account on eBay (at one point, even placing my entire junk drawer on auction—surprisingly, no bids). We scheduled a garage sale. We placed items on Craigslist. We took clothes to the consignment shop.
My wife and I began conversing and planning how we might spend the extra money we were about to receive: savings, dining, vacations, or maybe new carpet for the living room? It seemed, the possibilities were endless… until we opened the doors for our first garage sale.
On that summer Saturday morning, both our garage and driveway were filled with things we had decided to discard: old clothes, toys, dish ware, decorations, electronics, books, CDs, DVDs, just to name a few. Each with a handwritten sticker to signify the price.
We got up early and rushed through breakfast. We arranged the tables neatly. We put up balloons by the street. We played soft music—just like they do in department stores. And then we opened the doors.
Customers came. And then customers went. They’d pick up items and put them down. We chatted with each of them hoping to appear like a nice, sweet, trustworthy couple. We haggled and made deals. We marked down prices. We worked every angle to make more sales.
By the end of the day, we had earned $135… and we promptly spent half of it going out for dinner because we were both too exhausted to cook.
We were tired, frustrated, and discouraged. There are few experiences in life that make you question your taste in home furnishings more than watching some of your favorite decorations not sell despite being marked down to 25 cents.
We packed up the remaining belongings in the back of our minivan to deliver to Goodwill. But before we did, my wife made a phone call.
We had boxes of baby supplies left over from my wife’s most recent pregnancy—my youngest was two years old at the time. Kim called Care Net—a local organization in Burlington, VT that routinely supplied expectant mothers with maternity and baby wear to see if they had any need. To which they responded, “Yes, yes we do. We always have a need.”
Based on their enthusiastic response, we made another phone call. This time, we reached out to the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program which helps refugees and immigrants gain personal independence and economic self-sufficiency. They explained to us their desperate need for towels, linens, and cookware.
Our hearts were softened as we began to comprehend the number of men, women, children, and expecting mothers in our own community who could benefit from the items we had stashed in the back of our closet.
We found more joy in delivering items to those local charities than we could have ever found in money earned from selling our clutter.
This experience changed my view of minimizing and forever changed my advice to others embarking on the journey.
If you need the money, make the effort to sell your excess—especially when it comes to big, expensive items.
But if you do not need the money, just give your things away.
Reselling your clutter adds time and energy, anxiety and frustration to the minimizing journey. But giving things away, especially to local charities whose values align with yours, brings a joy and fulfillment to your soul that money can never buy. You will be reminded why you embarked on this journey in the first place.
PC says
Unfortunately very few people are aware of it . Great post. Thanks.
Dividend Power says
Too much stuff is never a good thing. Eventually it just becomes garbage when no one has used it in a few years.,
Paul French says
So true
ChildOfImmigrants says
Yes yes yes! People do not realize that stuff NEVER ‘stands still’. It will deteriorate, go out of style or be obsolete while we hang on and on for a ‘good resale offer’. We should get it to other people who really need it while it still has useful life. A quote attributed to Saint Basil says, “The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes.”
Ana says
I love the line “Our excess could become a blessing to somebody else”– a wonderful reminder to give. Thank you for the great read.
wanda says
OMG YES!!!! I moved out of my home last year and like you guys, decided I was going to hold a garage sale. Time was closing in, so I decided to go to the local flea market, set up shop and sell there. Well, that was a lot of work, early morning rise to set up by 6am, only to received a little over $100 for stuff I had for years, spent a lot of money on and had expected more. Mind you, it was the beginning of the covid19 lock down. I’ve always donated to local charities and decided to just donate everything I didn’t want or need anymore. I got rid of over 60% of the stuff I owned and collected over the years….WOW, what a relief and so freeing!
I connected with an old boyfriend last year and we decided to move back to my home, which I had kept and rented out. It was a joy to suggest to him to donate all his unwanted and duplicated stuff, and even claim the donations on his taxes. We’ve moved back to my original home and since I gave away so much when I first moved, the items we brought from his home replaced the furniture I gave away. The joy is that we have slimmed down to the necessities of what we need and desire to live with. We can see the walls and floor baseboards in every room. No more wall to wall clutter. No more clothes, utensils, gadgets, decorative items, pictures, furniture, etc., etc., that we don’t need, won’t wear, won’t use. It’s been extremely liberating!
It’s even refreshing to go shopping and have the discipline to question ourselves on the purchases….do we really need this??? Why do we need this? Is it really necessary? I’ve/we’ve walked out of stores feeling quite pleased that I/we didn’t purchase something because we liked/wanted it and had to figure our where/what to do with it….LOL!
It is a process, but I’ve figured the frame of mind is to decide what will ‘STAY’ or ‘GO’, no in between. Also, question myself before purchasing anything. We’re now retired and do not wish to be bogged down with unnecessary items and things. Consumerism is in FULL EFFECT in the US and around the world. It’s a constant discipline to keep from falling into the trap of buying/wanting more.
I’ve appreciated your writings, weekend reads, social media posts which assist me with staying in the frame of mind that more stuff is not best. Saving $$$$ and spending quality time with family and friends is best and more rewarding.
THANK YOU for ALL that you’ve achieved & continue to do. I also appreciate your page contributors and guest authors. I made your page my home page some years ago :-) and sometimes when I sign on, many of the articles are really timely and on point!!! Thank you again!
Pervez says
What a lovely reminder that there is always more joy to be found in caring for others.
David @ Filled With Money says
Great perspective. Sure you may not make money but a couple hundred dollars is not going to make a huge difference to your life over the long term.
It’s better for the world to give to someone else who may truly be in need.
Elisa says
Amen!
Dan says
I can’t help to reiterate there are place that will take all your boxes and they will take them all for a dollar in exchange. If this makes sense
Doris says
I am 82 and have lived in my home since 1975; with divorce, death and quite a few moving in and out through the years ……(kids!) I have found some treasures that bring back a lot of sweet memories! What I am finding as i share them its not the object….its the memories that are associated with them. I have found that by taking pictures of the items I can “keep the memories” and not have ALL THAT STUFF! Like you shared….what a great feeling when someone can use or needs it!
Vicki Burgess says
Yes, Doris! A photo is a way to keep & treasure A memory, rather than saving the actual item.
We traveled all during my youth so my mother, you could say discouraged accumulating much since it meant having to pack it up shortly to go somewhere else. And, we three children did just fine! We did each have our favorite toys that packed neatly into a small trunk, that was easy to carry. Playing outside was more desirable! It was my mother, the family historian, who took pictures then placed in my scrapbook!
In fact, in my own home, now a grandmother of three wonderful children, I’ve recently asked my grandson what he likes and would like to have. He’s five! Eagerly, he pointed to some items from Japan. I lived there as a child, and my step mom, was Japanese. I inherited her beautiful Kokeshi dolls to add to my childhood collection. My dad began it for me and there’s a Kokeshi doll from my Nanny in Japan. She gave it to me during our trip to Hakone, Japan. A very special memory before the divorce. I’m giving away items to family now, rather than after I pass. If they like something, why not give it away now to that specific family member? They can begin enjoying it, while I reclaim my space!
I observed what happened to my late, beloved paternal grandmother when she was faced with an either or decision. Either she stayed at her current location, or she choose one of her three adult children to relocate to live by them. She was in Lantana, FL. They were in Indiana, Fort Washington, Maryland, and California. Her two sons were traveling to her to spend three months at a time. They helped shepherd her husband through cancer before he died. Their own father died when they, A Marine and A Sailor were both overseas, the Marine in Vietnam. Their mom was alone ten years before meeting a gentleman whom she happily married. Now, he died. We all loved him. She was 89, A widow, and needing both knees replaced. She was losing her mobility. I visited and she told me she has a decision to make. Then said, I cannot take all these things. Items her late husband gave her from travels together. I realized then it is best to avoid accumulating things. It broke my heart. She made her choice and her sons helped her sell things and move. She was very happy because her family was present for her! That’s the importance! Having your loved ones.
I’ve been working on a project of transferring photos from my albums into decorative boxes, that store photos more neatly with a label, than the cumbersome, thick photo albums. I am giving away all scrapbooking supplies. No need to do that because I’ve seen what family does to them after the funeral!
It’s torn apart! The photos are torn away by the person who wants them. The scrapbooking art becomes garbage. So no more wasted effort on that fruitless task! ? I don’t want to spoil another’s fun & view about scrapbooking, but I am no longer interested if it is just going to be destroyed.
Minimalist causes me to rethink the effort about whether to continue it, especially if it’s fruitless.
I’m an artist, so when I design a painting, I think too about what will become of all the art made when I’m gone. I have the talent but I am no Da Vinci! I want to avoid leaving a barrage of garbage behind, that no one is interested in looking at, much less keeping. So at one point, after I have fun painting, if it isn’t meaningful, I can gesso over the canvas to start again on the next meaningless painting! ?
Again, Minimalist has caused me to rethink what I do and how it makes an impact on space, now and in the future.
Thanks Joshua! I enjoy each of your emails. Very inspiring and motivational!
Vicki Burgess says
Yes, Doris! A photo is a way to keep & treasure A memory, rather than saving the actual item.
We traveled all during my youth so my mother, you could say discouraged accumulating much since it meant having to pack it up shortly to go somewhere else. And, we three children did just fine! We did each have our favorite toys that packed neatly into a small trunk, that was easy to carry. Playing outside was more desirable! It was my mother, the family historian, who took pictures then placed in my scrapbook!
In fact, in my own home, now a grandmother of three wonderful children, I’ve recently asked my grandson what he likes and would like to have. He’s five! Eagerly, he pointed to some items from Japan. I lived there as a child, and my step mom, was Japanese. I inherited her beautiful Kokeshi dolls to add to my childhood collection. My dad began it for me and there’s a Kokeshi doll from my Nanny in Japan. She gave it to me during our trip to Hakone, Japan. A very special memory before the divorce. I’m giving away items to family now, rather than after I pass. If they like something, why not give it away now to that specific family member? They can begin enjoying it, while I reclaim my space!
I observed what happened to my late, beloved paternal grandmother when she was faced with an either or decision. Either she stayed at her current location, or she choose one of her three adult children to relocate to live by them. She was in Lantana, FL. They were in Indiana, Fort Washington, Maryland, and California. Her two sons were traveling to her to spend three months at a time. They helped shepherd her husband through cancer before he died. Their own father died when they, A Marine and A Sailor were both overseas, the Marine in Vietnam. Their mom was alone ten years before meeting a gentleman whom she happily married. Now, he died. We all loved him. She was 89, A widow again, and needing both knees replaced. She was losing her mobility. I visited and she told me she has a decision to make. Then said, I cannot take all these things. Items her late husband gave her from travels together. I realized then it is best to avoid accumulating things. It broke my heart. She made her choice and her sons helped her sell things and move. She was very happy because her family was present for her! That’s the importance! Having your loved ones.
I’ve been working on a project of transferring photos from my albums into decorative boxes, that store photos more neatly with a label, than the cumbersome, thick photo albums. I am giving away all scrapbooking supplies. No need to do that because I’ve seen what family does to them after the funeral!
It’s torn apart! The photos are torn away by the person who wants them. The scrapbooking art becomes garbage. So no more wasted effort on that fruitless task! ? I don’t want to spoil another’s fun & view about scrapbooking, but I am no longer interested if it is just going to be destroyed.
Minimalist causes me to rethink the effort about whether to continue it, especially if it’s fruitless.
I’m an artist, so when I design a painting, I think too about what will become of all the art made when I’m gone. I have the talent but I am no Da Vinci! I want to avoid leaving a barrage of garbage behind, that no one is interested in looking at, much less keeping. So at one point, after I have fun painting, if it isn’t meaningful, I can gesso over the canvas to start again on the next meaningless painting! ?
Again, Minimalist has caused me to rethink what I do and how it makes an impact on space, now and in the future.
Thanks Joshua! I enjoy each of your emails. Very inspiring and motivational!
Jojo says
Thank you, Josh, great post. I remember some donation places were closed and there were items on the curbside for pick up. Early last year my dental office got a box for “Toys for Tod…” and at coffee shops they did it set it aside before. Pandemic was so great and heartfelt to see this happening.