“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
Ten years ago, we sold, donated, or discarded over 60% our 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.
At the time, the idea of owning fewer possessions was completely foreign to us. Nobody had ever told us living with fewer possessions was an option for life… much less a better alternative to the endless pursuit of more and more.
Looking back, while I would have never admitted with my words that I was seeking joy in possessions, I had become more influenced by our consumer-driven culture than I would like to admit. As a result, I worked long hours to earn money to buy newer technology, trendier clothing, nicer toys, faster cars, and bigger houses. I didn’t really believe the purpose of life was to chase possessions, but my calendar and checkbook sure seemed to declare that truth.
Choosing to intentionally live with fewer possessions was a decision that sounded surprisingly attractive. It was a decision that found its roots in our finances, our family, and our faith. We had grown weary of living paycheck to paycheck, weary of trading time with our kids to manage our possessions, and weary of pursuing worldly gain rather than lasting purpose. Owning less offered escape from the clutter in our homes. It offered escape from the clutter in our lives. It forced intentionality. And it offered the very ideals our hearts most desperately desired.
Since choosing to live with less, we have experienced numerous unexpected benefits. We have more time, more energy, more freedom, and more money to pursue what is most important to us. Owning less means less cleaning, less burden, less anxiety, and less stress each and every day. In short, we are freed to pursue our passions.
Over the years, I have come to define minimalism as the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. I have found it to be a lifestyle that appeals to the heart and resonates with the soul. Owning less is an invitation that is appreciated, desired, and accepted when fully understood.
Minimalism may be just the answer to a better life that you’ve been searching for all along. (tweet that)
Dlb says
I think before one can get rid of stuff and stay committed to getting rid of the superfluous stuff in their environment, one must first start using less stuff.
For instance. Using less electricity. Fewer lamps, for example. Less electricity, fewer curling irons, or close dryers… Less electricity, fewer kitchen gadgets that need it. Before we can eliminate things from our life, whether it is clothing, shoes, furniture, gadgets, knick knacks, whatever, we must, must, first relinquish our dependence on them. Do laundry more often, wash dishes by hand, cook differently. Dependence on convenience is a good portion of what drives the need for more stuff and clutter. Tiny house living is nothing new. My grandma had a very tiny house with a passel of kids in it. But they only had what they needed… There wasn’t room for anything else. They were minimalists and didn’t know it.
The first step to minimalistic living is using less, of everything.
Chris Brandkamp says
A million years ago I came across two books that changes my life and address your very admonition: “we’ve got to live with less..”
The books were, The More with Less Cookbook, and, Living More with Less.
Far ahead of its time considering today’s now awareness of consumerism.
Stephanie Clark says
But how does a crafter apply this maxim? Creating requires inspiration, which improves with options, variety, often multi-media. I have purged a great deal of personal stuff, but cannot limit my beading as I enjoy free form, multi-media bead embroidery. I also like to crochet and switch from one handi-art to the next.
Any ideas to share?
Ronda Asta says
I’m very interested in the responses to your question Stephanie. I’m a quilter and have quilted for 20 years. Just saying…..
OLIVIA M SHELKEY says
my understanding is to get rid of clutter so you have time and room to focus on what you value. You value your crafting so why get rid of it?
ren says
OLDER PEOPLE on this site, PLEASE TAKE HEED, if your grown children say they do not want something, PLEASE do not take offense and PLEASE believe them…they DONT want it, No sense in holding on to these items.
Had a funny conversation with my oldest, (29years old), I told her I was going down to one set of dishes, she said she was sad I was getting rid of the Christmas dishes….I told her she could have them….but she doesn’t want them either.
So if the kids don’t want them and I don’t want them anymore….its time to let them go, no more extra dishes, one simple cream colored set.
I had a set for every season, but decided I can live with one set. will be taking the extras to the women’s shelter. So that’s two more boxes of things leaving, boxing them up and putting them in car this weekend….Forward Progress….
Beth Grant DeRoos says
I agree 100% I sold all of our 20 place settings of the Lenox fine bone china, all the sterling silver forks knives spoons and all the Waterford crystal. Felt so freeing…..
Dan Andrews says
I’ve lived minimalist since 1980 when I moved away to university. Since then I’ve moved all over the country to work in new locations, and I loved being able to just pick up and move within a day.
My biggest challenge now though is my book and old clothing clutter. The books are all reference books that I may not use for a year or two, but then suddenly become indispensable when I do need them. I get rid of old editions when new ones come in, but still I struggle to figure out how to thin the ones I have.
My problem with clothing is that old clothing you normally give away or throw out or turn into rags gets a second life because I need it for working in the bush or tundra, where you don’t care if it gets stained with dirt, bug repellent, squished bugs and blood, or gets torn. So I end up with clothing that is for field use only, and once again, it may sit there for most of the year taking up space, but when I need it, it is indispensable. Usually, I’ll destroy a set of shirts in one field season (pants last longer), so that removes some of the stuff, but there’s always “new” old stuff wearing out and getting moved from every day use to just field use.
I could still probably move in a day, but it would be a very long day and would take a pick-up truck with a trailer (far cry from when I could fit everything two of us needed into a mid-sized car, and drive across the country to start a new life).
Incidentally, ten years ago we furnished our new place with belongings people were throwing away or selling at garage sales, and we spent about $150 in total, and our place looked quite good. People couldn’t believe we had furnished the place for that cheap (people throw away such good stuff at times, especially in some of the fancier neighbourhoods). When we moved across the country again 3 years later we just sold what we could and donated the rest, and once again, fit everything we needed into the car. It is easy to walk away from belongings if you haven’t spent a fortune obtaining them in the first place, and it brings a sense of freedom to be so mobile.
Susan Zimmer says
First, I want to thank you for such awesome posts and ideas. You inspire me. I am a minimalist for years now and I am getting even more strict with myself as I age. What is to hard to clean, what is to heavy to move, what gets in the way and never used. It is a lifestyle, I agree and it is so freeing. What I do is twice a year…Spring and Fall, I have a garage/yard sale…this I find to not be just fun to do, but gets even more out of the house, I make some vacation money and I love the social aspect of it as I am about as organized with my sales as I am about the inside of the house. Thanks for such a great site that I love to read and pick up even more tips.
Elizabeth says
I have found an extremely simple yet effective tool that I use when purchasing an item. I have taken my paycheck and calculated my hourly pay rate after ALL deductions. I will then look at the price of the item in question. The price of a so called “inexpensive” item may actually require me to “work” three hours for it. A large expensive purchase may literally require me to “work” many months for it. Having this mindset has totally changed my purchasing habits.
Susan says
That’s exactly the same thing that I’ve done forever. I considered how many hours it would take for me to work to pay for the item and it does make you think carefully if the item is worth it.
jake says
i can move in 15 minutes …
Anna says
I LOVE this. New inspiration/goal! :)
Samer Masri says
“The more we own , the more we are HERE , the more the others see us”
This is the way we are grown up on by our society and advertisements..
Maria says
I’ve been working on purging my home for the last month so it’s still new and fresh. I’ve found the question to ask myself when I see an object to get rid of or something I’m looking to buy is, “Is it worth my freedom?” Can’t remember which article I read that line in but it’s gold! Is it worth working x hours to buy? Or is it worth x minutes of my day to clean/organise/tidy up?
Josh says
It is so awesome to hear so many people discussing minimalism in a positive context. It is so rare where I live for people to understand what I am talking about, and it is so refreshing to read through these comments and to see how many people ‘get it’. People just don’t seem to get it, even when I try my very best to explain to them that minimalism allows me to follow my passions, to live intentionally, and to rid myself of the burdens that come with more possessions. As a minimalist, I am free to pursue my passions and to spend my days doing things (both socially and professionally) that I love doing.