In response to something I posted and thought was neat – colour changing bathroom tiles, reader Chris posted:
These tiles cost $291 per square foot. Why would you even think about posting this on a minimalism blog?
My more detailed response:
1. Because it’s my blog.
2. Because I thought it was cool, since I am into technology and other geeky things.
3. Because to me, you are confusing the two words: Minimalism and Frugality, and the two are not the same. I will also cover why Frugality is not being Cheap.
Thanks for bringing up the point Chris, and letting me write this post to explain in detail.
Minimalism is not owning more than you need and can use.
It isn’t about living like a monk.
Without any possessions or allowing yourself your desired wants, although some choose to take that route.
Let’s say you own a small bathroom. It’s pretty clean, and clear of any extra stuff, but it’s missing that something extra.
Perhaps, these colour changing tiles are exactly what you want.
You have an element of something cool without adding bulk or extra stuff, and are willing to shell out $291 per square foot, then why not?
Why do we buy Macbooks?
Because they’re reliable, they have a clean, minimalist look to them, and everything makes sense on the system for the most part.
But guess what?
Their price tags are almost always double or triple what you can buy a similar PC for, but the quality is just not there in the hardware nor in the operating system.
Why do we buy e-readers?
Because we don’t want a library of heavy books to carry around all the time, nor the bulk.
Yet the cost of the device is around $150 – $300, and the price of each book is around $10.
It’s a lot cheaper to just borrow a book from the library or a friend, read it in Chapters for free, or buy it secondhand.
But if we see a true value and purpose to it, as a minimalist, the price is worth it, because being a minimalist is not always going for the cheapest option.
Read: Why aesthetics matter in minimalism
Frugality is not the same thing as being a minimalist
The concept of frugality is to be careful with your money.
Although the two concepts can intersect — if you can save money and save bulk at the same time, why not? – but they don’t mean the same thing.
This at first glance, may not seem to be a careful choice to spend your money.
But let’s say if someone had a budget in mind to redo their bathroom, and this is what they want to put in as the main feature, while staying under budget then why not?
If they made the choice, have the money and are under budget, why should they punish themselves by not putting in what they really want?
Perhaps confusing the word frugal for cheap, is another issue with me.
A frugal person is also not a cheap person
A frugal person understands that if they put in very cheap bathroom tile for example, and it chips after a year or two, or gets dingy, they might have to rip it out and redo them again.
If they invest in slate tile for example, they may not have the same problem, and it might even help be a selling point in the value of the home.
So if they decide to invest in colour-changing tile that looks like slate at first glance, because it makes them happy, then who are we to deny people their choices?
A frugal person might also decide to just tile the top half or the bottom half of the bathroom in the tile to save money and get the same effect, while keeping the rest in slate or some other matching tile.
Being frugal doesn’t mean you only buy and eat the cheapest food possible, or try to penny pinch on everything you can.
A frugal person understands cost-per-use and the longevity of purchases.
Like purchasing a good quality pair of shoes for much more money, that will last and can be re-soled in the future to keep them going, and not cheap ones that will wear down easily, pinch and hurt your feet, and have to be replaced every 3 years.
Even if it costs more.
Or buying a brand like Seagate or Western Digital for an external hard drive instead of a 50% to 100% cheaper brand like ZData that will lose all of your important documents with a little bump (True story!!! Happened to me once.)
Let’s examine my purchases:
I own 2 laptops and a netbook. One is a PC and one is a Mac. I use all 3 on a regular basis.
My netbook travels with me for meetings or on trips, my PC laptop is my main hub for working at the client site as a freelancer for professional purposes, and my Mac is for personal purposes, such as surfing the web or entertainment.
Do I need all three if I am a minimalist? Yes. Because all 3 serve a purpose in my life that is a need that cannot be handled comfortably with only one. Travel, Business and Personal.
Travel — I need a light PC not a Macbook, but the Macbook Air crossed my mind until I realized it wouldn’t work for a meeting.
Business — I cannot work on a Netbook for long periods of time, and I need a PC because Macs are not supported.
Personal — I could use my business PC for this, but the Macbook is just superior for entertainment and surfing. Plus, I don’t like mixing personal work and information (like my blogs) on a business-only laptop.
It gets messy and I don’t want to hook up a PC to a client’s network where they could potentially scan or see things on my computer for whatever IT reason they claim.
Do I need all three if I am frugal? Yes. Because I purchased what I needed, without spending more than I required for each need.
I got a Dell PC for around $1000, and a Macbook for less than $1000 (older model), as well as a Netbook after a $100 discount.
I didn’t buy the $2000 Dell with all the bells and whistles, nor the Macbook Pro for $2000.
I even upgraded the RAM on all three laptops on my own, saving a bundle of money as well, instead of paying for that insane premium that Apple charges to install RAM.
I was frugal in the sense that I knew what I needed, and then I purchased what I wanted, and nothing more.
Do I need all three if I am cheap? No. I probably would have just purchased the Netbook for cheap and kept it at that.
But I am not cheap, and I would be unhappy with such a small screen for working on it for long periods of time.
So you see, the three words: minimalist, frugal and cheap, are not all equal to each other.
You can be all three at once, or any combination you choose.
What I liked the most about that colour-changing tiles is that they don’t add bulk, but adds something interesting .
- Understanding: Simple Living, Frugality, Living Green and Minimalism; what’s the difference!?
- 10 Baby Steps to Minimalism: #2: Stop Impulse Spending – 5 ways to help curb the urge
- Money in Minimalism: Can we live without it? (Part Two)
- The defining Ah-Hah! Moments of my Life – Part 2
- Why aesthetics matter in minimalism
Non consumer Girl
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 10:07 am:
Thank you for defining minimalism, frugalism and cheap.
I connect with mimimalism, but not the frugal and cheap .
You have articulated the differences quite definitively.
Deborah
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 12:22 pm:
If you have one teacup, make it exquisite. One sweater, make it cashmere. One computer, make it a Mac
.
This post is brilliant and, in my opinion, should be a duh for everyone. Why WOULD think minimal=cheap.
Rob Shemeley
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 12:55 pm:
Greetings! First let me say that I enjoy your blog and I'm a regular reader, subscriber, and fellow student of minimalism. Thank you for providing great content for free!
I saw in this post, Confusing minimalism with frugality, that you asserted Macs' price tags are "almost always double or triple what you can buy a similar PC for…" Now I know you were defending Macs there, but that point isn't quite true. Yes, you can find a PC that has the same processor speed, RAM, and hard disk space for half the price of a Mac, but it won't have a real video card (it'll use integrated video…this is a big difference!), built-in iSight camera, firewire, an SD card reader, a built-in monitor for the desktops (you'll have to purchase that separately), backlit keyboard in the case of the laptops, huge glass multitouch trackpad, external button to check battery status, and more…not to mention world-class software for everything you want to do (iLife suite) instead of 500 worthless pieces of crippled "Manufacturer edition" apps.
When people make the price comparison, they aren't comparing apples to apples (literally!). They only look at the core processor speed, RAM, and hard disk space, which are the first specs you see and consider, and they omit all the other features and innovations that make the computing experience efficient, effective, seamless, and worthwhile.
Also, Mac doesn't produce any models for the "super low end" or netbook markets, not even the Mac Mini, so people who are looking for $299 PCs will always think Macs are "more expensive."
If you go to Dell.com and build yourself a PC equivalent to a Mac in just basic stats, it will be much cheaper. If you add in all the extra features the Mac has, the Dell will be just as much or more, and will have much lower quality support, no usable bundled software, less aesthetic value (though they're improving on that front), and simply not as much bang for the buck.
- Rob (Software Engineer and Windows/.NET developer for over 13 years, now develops Windows apps from a virtual machine on a Mac
)
tabatha
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 5:38 pm:
good to know seagate is a good brand, thats what i have and its lasted pretty well.
Kevin Martin Doyle
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 8:17 pm:
Thanks for a great and insightful article! I think one of the beautiful things about trying to live a simpler life is having the time and energy to seek out and enjoy items of quality. Rather than buying 3 cheap, easily breakable cameras, you save and seek out a higher quality camera that will not only last longer but will provide you room to grow as a photographer. I think this example can be applied to computers, vehicles and, yes, bathroom tiles. Thanks again, I enjoyed the read!
Charley
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 3:29 pm:
Excellent and thorough response. This seems to be a hot button for a lot of folks. They have a perception of what Minimalism or Simple Living should be and anything that challenges that definition leads to some serious differences of opinion.
I'd say that I would never pay $291 a square foot for tile, but I did spend a princely amount for our bathroom tile a year ago.
I also love my Samsung NC10 netbook and it's all I need for non-work activities (work provides us a secure IBM Lenovo). I'm not a gamer and I don't care to spend much time working with movies or pictures. If I did, I would probably need a Macbook instead.
It's all based on your values and priorities. Thanks for taking the time to explain yours.
- Charley
jean
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 11:53 pm:
I liked this post. For me, minimalism is the essentials, the feeling of "enough." Lately, I'm visited by the paradox of small-scale food storage. The points you make are similar to thoughts I've been experiencing.
Hasina
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 1:09 am:
I couldn't agree more. I decided to embrace minimalism so that I could focus on things that really matter to me. Sometimes they're expensive and I'm okay with it although I tend to be more frugal. To me being cheap has more to do with greed.
everydayminimalist
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 8:44 pm:
Those are all valid and good points, but I have not had the same experience as you in dealing with PC quality versus a Mac.
Don’t get me wrong, I love PCs! If I had to buy a PC or a Mac, (only one), I’d pick a PC for practicality reasons, and the fact that I feel like it does MORE than a Mac. To me, a Mac by itself for what I do and what I work on, is a lightweight in comparison. They’re good for sound, video, surfing and minor things, but nothing heavy duty unless you start trying to install Parallels or something on there to have Windows functionality (which I’ve tried, but it only works best on higher-end Macs with the power to really fuel that)
In fact, I am currently lusting after a Sony Vaio right now (the newest with Intel i7) but I do find that in a lot of laptops, especially HP, Dell and Toshiba, the case the laptop is in (the body) is really awful, made out of cheap plastic and overall …well, cheap.
For one thing, Dell just came out with the Adamo I believe, and HP with the Envy brands, and the bodywork on those machines are close but not quite the level of a Mac’s laptop body.
In addition, when I say Mac, I am also referring to the OS (operating system) because it just runs smoother, doesn’t lock up and confuse me with weird messages the way Windows does on PCs.
And let’s face it, most PCs come with Windows and the OS is not very friendly to beginners. The layout of the whole OS can’t realy be called minimalist in my opinion. Not compared to an Apple OS, and not unless you change it with Stardock programs to make it look more Mac-like.
Lastly, I wasn’t referring just to the specs which you’ve pointed out make the difference, as Apple machines tend to be the latest and greatest in hardware.
It is more along the lines of the “look” of a sleek, seamless machine with a smooth, rounded curved lid, rather than something like the Dell I have, that is not quite as eye pleasing. That is more minimalist.
Still, I think the closest PC that comes to being in the same field as a Mac in my mind (looks, power, etc), is the new Sony line. And you’re right, their price tags are on par with the cost of a Mac because the specs are right up there.
everydayminimalist
on Jan 25th, 2010
@ 8:46 pm:
Having enough is the key. “When it feels like too much, scale back!” (is my motto)
Of course, this is a problem with purses and wardrobes for me, because I never feel that I ever have enough!
Jim
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 3:04 am:
I think a lot of people confuse minimalism and being frugal. Like you said, they are not the same. I love living without clutter and things I don't use or need. I downsized to a studio apt and I live in an expensive neighborhood so I pay more for my studio than I would pay for a much larger place in another neighborhood. I have a very nice place and I have nice, quality things. I wouldn't be able to afford as nice and quality of things if I lived in a larger place in this neigborhood. What it comes down to for me is that I don't need a lot of space because I don't have a lot of stuff. I have a very nice (380 sq ft) apartment and the things I have are good quality and will last a long time. I'm not frugal at all. I like good food, good wine, and I will pay for good quality, whatever it might be. I am also a vegetarian and I use mostly environmently friendly chemicals in my home, but that is another blog!
Rose
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 3:28 am:
Great post. Exactly what I believe too! And I'm probably going to invest in a Macbook when my rubbish HP laptop finally dies. I miss the TiBook I used to have… boy could that thing take a knock and a half. Someone sat on it once and bent it and it still worked just fine. Testament to their durability, for sure…
Greg
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 4:25 am:
Lets also not forget the true origin on minimalism is design.
Even though I would not buy one of those thin macbooks as I don't require one, I would however, class it as minimalist and well suited to those who tend to pursue the lifestyle associated with it. I wouldn't think otherwise if it was expensive or cheap.
Tweets that mention Confusing minimalism with frugality | The Everyday Minimalist -- Topsy.com
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 3:01 am:
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StyckyWycket
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 9:41 am:
I loved this article: it rings so true. I have gotten to the point where I just am sick of all the stuff – clutter is money. I’m making it a point to save my pennies and use them to buy quality pieces: items that I won’t have to keep buying over and over because I break them or lose them.
If you buy an item at a throw-away price, why would you be as careful with it? I cannot count how many times I have lost things because I had the frivolous notion of “Oh well, it’s not like I paid a lot for them.” How much money and space have I wasted with this mentality?
E_Z
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 10:21 pm:
Caveat emptor with Sony laptops. I've caught buzzed about it being crap more specifically the architecture. Toshiba on the other hand has very stable architecture.
E_Z
on Jan 27th, 2010
@ 12:50 pm:
Minimal is definitely not cheaper. If you look at one of those minimalist kitchens/bedrooms/etc. (*drool*), you'll notice that there is a price for an aesethitcally clean look. Those setups ain't cheap! They're more expensive and better (imo) than the trendy granite counter/stainless steel applicances look that is so cliche (again, imo).
And frugal is definitely not the same as cheap, although they can be closely aligned as EDM pointed out. Frugal = value seeker, Cheap = just looking for the cheapest price regardless of quality.
Carolyn
on Jan 27th, 2010
@ 9:52 pm:
GREAT response.
oilandgarlic
on Jan 29th, 2010
@ 4:59 pm:
I'm definitely am or trying to be a minimalist. I love clean, modern design in general and my house is less cluttered than most people's homes. I definitely agree with your definitions of minimalism and frugality.
I don't really confuse minimalism with frugality or frugality with cheapness. What confuses me and is frugality and simplicity or simple living. I wrote 2 posts about this personal battle! Is simple living the same as being 'green' because a lot of things that make life easier isn't cheap or green. My life would be simpler with a maid but that can be costly. My life would be simpler if I didn't recycle or line-dry clothing but those aren't green choices.
Maybe you can tackle frugality and simple living in another post?
everydayminimalist
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 7:17 am:
Yes, perhaps I can do a little reading through everything and try to figure out what it all means.
I do think that in the end, frugality/simple living/minimalism is the same thing. Probably just to varying degrees…
I will definitely mull over this one. Thanks!!
uberVU - social comments
on Feb 1st, 2010
@ 7:05 am:
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by brokeinthecity: Confusing frugality with minimalism, and to a lesser extent, being cheap. There’s a difference between the 3! http://bit.ly/8kKq53 #fb…
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on Feb 1st, 2010
@ 9:42 am:
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on Feb 1st, 2010
@ 10:03 am:
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Funny about Money
on Feb 1st, 2010
@ 3:16 pm:
What a good insight! It's one of those things that's so obvious we don't see it because it's right in front of us. All you have to do is look at the NY Times's style section to see that minimalism ain't necessarily cheap.
I think we frugalists engage minimalism, though, as part of our strategy to avoid waste and to spend wisely.
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everydayminimalist
on Feb 2nd, 2010
@ 8:06 pm:
That’s a good distinction: frugality intersecting with minimalism as part of a strategy rather than following a philosophy of less…
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@ 7:30 pm:
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on Feb 8th, 2010
@ 5:04 am:
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on Mar 7th, 2010
@ 6:58 am:
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on May 26th, 2010
@ 3:49 pm:
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on Jul 27th, 2010
@ 10:36 pm:
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