Minimalism

[PollyannaMom]

... (There's also something to be said for having enough ingenuity to be able to multi-purpose mundane things.)

Thanks! That sounds much nicer than "I keep too many craft supplies."

 

[indygirl99]

This is somewhat what I am interested in as well.

Oh, and I just returned from my department store grocery store, and I stayed strong In fact, after coupons, my bill came to less than $3 and I paid with cash. I realize it was just a step, but any journey starts with the first steps.

One of the things I did that helped was to make a list including the price of each item. Example My cereal is $1.89 a box, salad mix $2.99 bag and so on. I get only what is on my list and only take enough cash to cover my list plus $10 for slight overages on fruit/veggies (which I weigh to not go over).

I write on my list what the price was after I put the item in my basket and keep a running total so that I do not go over my cash budget. It took me about 3 months to get really good with this but now I can do it with my eyes closed.

By only taking enough cash for the stuff on the list you can't impulse buy without embarrassing yourself at the register when it rings up more than you have to pay.

 

[lovedisney123]

One of the things I did that helped was to make a list including the price of each item. Example My cereal is $1.89 a box, salad mix $2.99 bag and so on. I get only what is on my list and only take enough cash to cover my list plus $10 for slight overages on fruit/veggies (which I weigh to not go over).

I write on my list what the price was after I put the item in my basket and keep a running total so that I do not go over my cash budget. It took me about 3 months to get really good with this but now I can do it with my eyes closed.

By only taking enough cash for the stuff on the list you can't impulse buy without embarrassing yourself at the register when it rings up more than you have to pay.

I need to get better at making lists, but I don't think I can do the 'cash'. I like earning my Disney Reward points on my Disney Visa. But I realize it would probably be better not to do that.

I will add that I do pay off the visa every month. We have been married 34 years and I have never let charges carry over to the next month. I know if I was paying interest on the charges it would totally take away from my reward points savings.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I need to get better at making lists, but I don't think I can do the 'cash'. I like earning my Disney Reward points on my Disney Visa. But I realize it would probably be better not to do that.

I will add that I do pay off the visa every month. We have been married 34 years and I have never let charges carry over to the next month. I know if I was paying interest on the charges it would totally take away from my reward points savings.

I did the "cash" method before. It was when we were in a financial crisis and there was nothing extra yrs ago. It does force you to be very precise.

 

[ronandannette]

I need to get better at making lists, but I don't think I can do the 'cash'. I like earning my Disney Reward points on my Disney Visa. But I realize it would probably be better not to do that.

I will add that I do pay off the visa every month. We have been married 34 years and I have never let charges carry over to the next month. I know if I was paying interest on the charges it would totally take away from my reward points savings.

I'm exactly the opposite - I think I'd like to be stacking up reward points on every purchase and greatly regret I didn't get on that bandwagon years ago. But alas, I've stuck with my no-fee low interest cards I've had for decades rather than bother to figure out which credit product would benefit me most. I never use them for routine purchases - never. Only for on-line shopping and travel. DH and I pay 100% of our everyday expenses with cash via debit card. I guess it wouldn't be too late to start, but old habits die hard.

I guess if you feel that using a card causes you to over-spend, cash-only is a better plan. If you are in control of that, I see no reason for you to feel bad about using (and paying off) the card. But in relation to the thread topic, consuming less for financial reasons isn't the same as minimalism. Many purposeful minimalists could easily afford the things they do without - it's more about their priorities.

 

[lovedisney123]

We tend to take a trip to Disney every year (and that is not going to stop, we are DVC members and it brings us "joy" so that stays in our lives ) Using the Disney Visa for almost everything and then paying it off once a month is a way for us to help cover the cost of our trips. So I won't be giving that up, but I do need to be more mindful of my spending AND start making lists. I also used to (long ago) use coupons. I think I will look at those again.

But yes, that is not quite what minimalism is about. I am wanting to reduce our consumption. Luckily, DH tends to support my 'ideas' when I like to try new things. My adult children (who still live with us) are not fans. But I remind them that they are adults and I am not telling them they have to follow my example, but they need to stop raining on my parade. lol

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

As I said earlier, I am not a true minimalist, but this is the kind of stuff I avoid. If I need something, I buy it. I don't borrow it, I don't buy something because it is cheap and I might need it someday, and I don't peruse stores just for the heck of it. When I need something, I grab it and leave (well, I pay first . I don't go to the clearance section because I don't want to buy things simply because they are marked down. I needed pajama pants this weekend. I went into Kohls, grabbed two pair and was out the door five minutes later. I didn't look at anything else because I didn't need anything else. For me that works. I know it isn't for everybody.

You shop like me. I HATE browsing. I get what I need and I am out of there. All my shopping friends joke that I was born without the shopping gene. I tell DH that he is very lucky because I am a budget friendly wife!

Well sort of budget friendly...I have no problem spending money on travel deals!

 

[JamesMom]

I would actually love to be a minimalist, but my family lives otherwise. First, we homeschool. So we have a room to house texbooks, reference & novel library, and art and science supply boxes. Next, we are a Boy Scout family so we have tents, bags, cots, and other gear that takes up a bit of our master closet. My current hobby is acrylic painting so need to store canvases, easels, brushes, and paints. Finally, the rest of my family are a bunch of packrats with video games, movies, books and toys strewn all over the house. Our garage is packed to the gills with stuff my husband hasn't gotten around to throwing away (VHS tapes anyone?). Me? I own 3 pairs of shoes and all of my clothes could fit in a coat closet. Most of my books are electronic. We spent a week this summer (and last) in a vacation home half the size of our house with a suitcase and a couple of backpacks worth of stuff (not including provided linens and kitchenware) and thought - I could truly live here. Maybe when the kids move out, I can eliminate the clutter, finally!

 

[lovedisney123]

I do think it is harder with children. In particular middle and high school kids.

 

[JimMIA]

IDK - maybe. Or maybe yours are just mooches. The people I'm talking about though have made a conscious decision. They have no children and have a "life plan" that includes working as little as possible so as to free up time and energy for other pursuits (in their case, outdoor activities - the "big things" they own are a 2-person kayak and bikes). Here's some examples of what I mean:

• They live in a rented apartment with very little furniture. They do not have a TV. They watch what they can on their laptop, and use somebody else's Netflix password. If there's something on the broadcast channels they want to see, they go over to somebody's house or to a bar for sporting events.
• They do not have a vehicle so wherever the bikes or transit won't take them, they ask somebody for a ride.
• They don't have camping equipment so whenever they trek overnight, they borrow equipment.
• They have only the clothes they need for work and recreation. Anything else they borrow, like nicer outfits for special events and heavy winter coats and boots when they come to visit here in the cold months.

There's tons more but you get the gist.

Sounds to me like a "life plan" primarily designed to avoid work and the prospect of failure, and a flimsy justification for their intentional dependence on others. Back in the day, they were just called "losers."

 

[lovedisney123]

I could never do the 'tiny house' thing (although I do think they are cute and I like to look at photos of them.....personally, I have thought about those teardrop campers for vacations, but I think at our age I will stick to hotel rooms with bathrooms, but I do find those campers to be really cute and wish we could try one just for one trip).

I think minimalist come in various degrees. I would say I am striving for the moderate range. My goal is to get to the point that DH and I could move to a two bedroom condo one day IF we ever decide we want to do that. Our "kids" (who are young adults now) do not want us to do that because they want to be able to come back to the house they grew up in. But still, it would be nice to get things down to the point that if we did decided to downsize, we could do that.

I have friends who have moved to condos and there is much less maintenance, so more time to enjoy weekends. Sounds wonderful to me Maybe one day. For now, this is taking steps towards that possibility.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I find it so interesting reading everyone's comments. I never really thought of minimalism as a movement or something I was trying to change into (and as i have said, I am far from what I guess those who do would see as a true minimalist)--I didn't much have to work to get where I am--I just moved in this direction as we got older. We also made several major moves and i think when you pack up and unpack and restore things you see just how much you really do not use enough to justify having it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have been a 'clearance' addict. Those red stickers get me for the 'maybe one day' thinking (maybe one day I will have a reason to wear it).

That is such a pervasive attitude we are taught from a young age in our culture (and I don't blame you at all for struggling with it--we ARE taught that and have it reinforced all the time). I actively tried to counter act that message with my kids as they grew up. It's one reason I look at cost per hour of use. Once again, that super cheap red tag item is still expensive if you never use it. I work under the it is not a bargain if I don't really want it or really need it anyway philosophy. It'S also why we avoid taking freebies and swag, etc. Which does not mean I do not love a good clearance price for something I do want/need--those are GREAT.

 

[damskipi13]

Is there a thread to discuss this topic that is already in progress? If so, could someone give me a link to the thread. I didn't find it in a search.
Thank you!

OP, I'm coming in a bit late but I didn't see this mentioned. Have you checked out the Destash thread on the Budget Board? It's not a minimalism thread per se, but it is about getting rid of things you don't need and has really helped me as I pare down my belongings.

The concept is good, but I just don't think I could really get there. I live in an 1800 sq ft house with four people and two dogs. I could probably cut back to 1000-1200 when the kids are gone, but that's about my limit. And I'd still want my two-car garage for storage purposes. Yes, there are items we don't use often, but I couldn't imagine having to rent or borrow each and every one when I do need it. We have four seasons here, that means clothes for four seasons. We have a yard, that means tools to care for it. I ENJOY decorating for holidays. The list goes on...

Minimalism isn't just about getting rid of 90% of the things you own. It's about not having things you don't use (keeping the minimal amount of things). So if you use holiday decorations, you can keep them and still be a minimalist. You just shouldn't have more decor than you need. For instance, I also love decorating for the holidays and for years I bought way more decor than I could reasonably put up. Three wreaths even though I only had one door, more ornaments than fit on an 8 foot tree, etc. So I started culling out the items that I liked least, and managed to get rid of probably two totes worth of stuff. I still have a LOT but at least it's stuff I know for sure I will use. Same with clothes - it doesn't mean you can't have four seasons worth of clothes, but you probably don't need 3 black peacoats (another example from my own life )

In my experience (we have moved a lot)--you fill whatever space you have. You don't use all the stuff--but you WILL fill the space lol

Yep. I move every 1-5 years for my job and I'm really struggling because of this. 12 months ago my house was >2500 sq ft. My current house is 1500 sq ft. The apartment I'm moving to is <1000 sq ft. Paring down from >2500 to <1000 sq ft has been hard! It's a lesson I need to remember the next time I move.

that's me as well. I don't like to have tons of stuff we don't often use BUT won't pay to rent something that I know (after crunching the numbers) that w/the frequency we would use it costs less after 2-3 uses to buy vs. rent (and I'm not a big borrower-esp. when it comes to powered equipment/items-b/c I KNOW how much it costs us to maintain/operate these and what the general life span is, our borrowing it/someone repeatedly borrowing it from us and just replacing the fuel/bottle of carpet shampoo is just a fraction of the upkeep/decreases the lifespan-once in a great while-fine, as a habit vs. buying/renting our/your own-nope).

I just do the math and decide from there. For instance, I own a carpet cleaner and a lot of people think that's unnecessary. But I have a dog, plus I like to steam clean the entire house at least twice a year. At $50/rental vs a cleaner that costs $200 and lasts 10 years, it makes a lot more sense to own the cleaner rather than rent one. But buying an 8-ft ladder was a mistake. I bought it to paint my house, but I only did that once in three years. It would have been much better to rent the ladder and just use a step ladder the rest of the time.

 

[NHdisneylover]

[QUOTE="damskipi13, post: 55937704, member: 526563"

Yep. I move every 1-5 years for my job and I'm really struggling because of this. 12 months ago my house was >2500 sq ft. My current house is 1500 sq ft. The apartment I'm moving to is <1000 sq ft. Paring down from >2500 to <1000 sq ft has been hard! It's a lesson I need to remember the next time I move.

.[/QUOTE]
Uh-huh We lived in 5 states over the first 13 years of our marriage. Then we moved to Germany. We had a 2200 sq foot house in NH and could bring 4 suitcases each initially--boy do you figure out what matters then.
We stored a few things which came over when people traveled back and forth later on (my hardcover books I mentioned up thread, the Christmas ornaments which really mattered, family photos I could not get the first time) and shipped over one clock, one stereo and the karate belt rack my father in law made for my daughter. And there are still a handful of things in storage in the US that my daughter plans to use once she is out of college (a bed, a kitchen table and a desk--all family heirlooms type things). So, we it as not quite as drastic as it sounds, but still it pretty much forced us to evaluate what we truly cared about or used (we were not in a position to just rebuy many things right away then either).

 

[lovedisney123]

OP, I'm coming in a bit late but I didn't see this mentioned. Have you checked out the Destash thread on the Budget Board? It's not a minimalism thread per se, but it is about getting rid of things you don't need and has really helped me as I pare down my belongings.

Thanks! I am going to hopping over there and start reading. This sounds like what I am wanting to do as well.

 

[piccolopat]

As I get older and closer to retirement, I am very much aware that I don't want to spend all of my time taking care of stuff. When I am done with my job, I want to relax, travel, pick up old hobbies again, learn some new things and get more physically active. I want to keep things that are really important to me and get rid of as much excess as possible before I actually retire. My problem is that my DD (who visits all the time) wants everything I get rid of and she very much has a problem with too much stuff. If she sees a bag of stuff, she wants to go through it before it leaves the house. Sure, some of it is somewhat useful but if I don't love it or use it on a regular basis, out it will go. I am now trying to sneak things to Goodwill and the trash without her seeing things!

 

[lakelandgal70]

This lifestyle is near and dear to me. As I get older I want more experiences and less stuff. I just went through my closet and came out with 2 big trash bags full of stuff to donate to a dear friend for a fundraiser. I just went through my makeup and beauty products and got rid of a ton of stuff. I like purging lol. I dream of going to a smaller house all the time. We have a 1200 sf home with a pool and a lot of yard. We are talking about purchasing land up in TN and building a tiny home on it for a vacation home.

 

[lovedisney123]

This lifestyle is near and dear to me. As I get older I want more experiences and less stuff. I just went through my closet and came out with 2 big trash bags full of stuff to donate to a dear friend for a fundraiser. I just went through my makeup and beauty products and got rid of a ton of stuff. I like purging lol. I dream of going to a smaller house all the time. We have a 1200 sf home with a pool and a lot of yard. We are talking about purchasing land up in TN and building a tiny home on it for a vacation home.

Oh TN sounds beautiful! I love the mountains. I 'think' we will most likely stay in our area. But smaller does sound appealing. A tiny house would make a fun vacation home. I don't think it could be my primary home, but to have one some place to go to relax would be fun. But I do want less stuff to do to maintain our home because my goal (now that we just paid off our twins college years) is to start to travel (and not just to Disney).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I find it so interesting reading everyone's comments. I never really thought of minimalism as a movement or something I was trying to change into (and as i have said, I am far from what I guess those who do would see as a true minimalist)--I didn't much have to work to get where I am--I just moved in this direction as we got older. We also made several major moves and i think when you pack up and unpack and restore things you see just how much you really do not use enough to justify having it.

That is the truth. I have 3 storage sheds full of stuff and don't miss it. I cannot wait to get rid of stuff.