About The Everyday Minimalist
I’m a 20-something year old girl who is living the life!
I enjoy eating and trying different types of cuisines, cooking, organizing my closet, reading (biographies, chick lit & science fantasy fiction), watching chick flicks, talking for hours to my friends, shopping on Etsy for jewelery and ogling fashion and style.
My favourite TV shows are: Top Chef, Monk, Dollhouse, Mad Men, The Rachel Zoe Project, Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model, The Office, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Everybody Hates Chris and of course, Sex & the City.
I am a consultant, and I love my career which is something I know is rare for anyone at any age.
As for my name, The Everyday Minimalist, it’s because I really do apply the principles of minimalism to everything I own or think about. I like to simplify, organize and not be stressed about having things too detailed or complicated.
How I managed to live out of a suitcase:
See, as an consultant I was always traveling for business. One day, I realized that I was going to be traveling all the time, and not enjoying my newly decorated apartment.
So in late 2006, I decided to save some money and I gave up my apartment.
I sold every stick of furniture, packed a single suitcase, put everything into storage and requested to stay in the cities I was being sent to for projects instead of flying back every week.
At first my company was hesitant, not believing that someone would actually stay in a strange city in a strange hotel by herself without any friends and family, but I did it, saved them money and the clients were even happier having a “local” professional around to call upon.
And thus, a minimalist was born.
How I became a minimalist:
It wasn’t overnight, but a gradual change. After my little stint, I realized that if I could live out of a suitcase for an extended period of time, I sure as hell didn’t need a lot of the stuff I had in my old apartment!!
In fact, it was weighing me down mentally, and rooting me to a physical spot with the sheer amount of items I owned.
I wasn’t as mobile as I had previously imagined, and I wanted to be free of all of my unnecessary possessions rather than imprisoned by them.
I gave up the life out of necessity, hauled my stuff out of storage and started selling everything in my wardrobe I didn’t wear any longer.
How you can be a minimalist (a.k.a. Why I started this blog):
I want everyone to know you don’t have to get rid of everything to become a minimalist!
That is not necessary, whatsoever because being a minimalist is a loose definition in my opinion.
Someone with a lot of possessions can still be a minimalist, if they apply those principles and make conscious choices in other areas of their life.
And minimalism as a philosophy can be applied to anything, because it’s essentially simplifying, prioritizing and organizing.
I also want to show how you can apply becoming a minimalist to your home, office, career, computer (yes, really!), as well as shopping habits.
There are also many benefits to being a minimalist such as reducing your impact on the environment by buying less, using less and being more efficient with your energy usage.
I hope you will enjoy my posts and come to see that being a minimalist is not about extremes or specific “you must do this” demands to be able to call yourself a minimalist”.
It’s really all about what you do and choose to do on a daily basis.
City Girl
on Sep 15th, 2009
@ 5:18 pm:
Just discovered site after seeing your comment on my wishcasting wednesday post. Thank you so much for stopping by. I love the premise of your blog. Husband and I live in 500 sq feet which is only possible with some minimalism, though nowhere near the level you have achieved.
City Girl´s last blog ..Food Links {Listmania }
Concojones
on Sep 16th, 2009
@ 1:35 pm:
“I also want to show how you can apply becoming a minimalist to your home, office, career, computer (yes, really!), as well as shopping habits.”
Minimalism has a lot to do with the 80/20 principle applied to life (see Richard Koch’s book). He applies the concept even to people (try to spend all of your time with your best friends rather than other people). It’s a bit of a hassle to get American books here in Europe, but fortunately there’s *cough* Avax *cough cough*.
everydayminimalist
on Sep 16th, 2009
@ 1:36 pm:
I didn’t know it was a PITA (pain in the ass) to get American books in Europe. :\
Then again, getting European books here is a PITA. I guess I shouldn’t have assumed otherwise.
Concojones
on Sep 18th, 2009
@ 5:52 am:
To be honest, I could get most books fairly easily through Amazon UK and then having them shipped to my country. Truth is, I prefer to get books via the library (I’m not interested in owning) and they only a have a limited number of international bestsellers – mostly translated, yuk…
everydayminimalist
on Sep 18th, 2009
@ 8:53 am:
I do prefer getting books from the library, but the problem is having a library close to you so you don’t have to make the trek out there half an hour there and half an hour back just to read some books.
Translated best sellers never capture the true beauty of the original language. It’s one of the reasons why it’s going to be SO GREAT when I finally know a second language well enough to read
Kate
on Sep 18th, 2009
@ 11:49 am:
What a fabulous start! I’m working towards a minimalist lifestyle and your blog is great inspiration.
Kate´s last blog ..I will teach you to be rich
everydayminimalist
on Sep 18th, 2009
@ 11:53 am:
Thanks!
lynda
on Sep 30th, 2009
@ 5:33 pm:
I love your blog! It is an inpsiration! My daughter and I live in 720 paid-for square feet and love it, especially when we visit the McMansion owners and see their endless to-do lists and bills! Having less IS more!
lynda´s last blog ..Minimalistic Heroes, and Current Progress
everydayminimalist
on Oct 1st, 2009
@ 5:53 pm:
@lynda Thank you so much! I think not having lists of things to do (clean upstairs, clean downstairs, do this do that) and to pay for all of it is exhausting.
Having less stuff means having more money.
Ginger
on Oct 19th, 2009
@ 9:31 pm:
I found you! This looks like it’s going to be a great resource! Way to go, Ms. Minimalist!
Ginger´s last blog ..1st WordPress Post
Non Consumer Girl
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 2:29 pm:
About 15 years ago I lived in the UK, and moved my entire home via lots of bags and one trip on the London Tube.
Life was so simple then, and I had so many life experiences!
Nowadays, it is a 10 Tonne truck to move!
I am still downsizing, it will be great to get down to a 5 tonne truck!
lynda
on Feb 21st, 2010
@ 1:57 pm:
I agree Non Consumer Girl! When I moved here I eliminated all but what could be moved in my van by myself personally, or with a dolly.
It made life so much easier because I did not have to beg for help moving a big heavy couch or my old queen-sized bed! Of course, people thought I was nuts selling my furniture, but I know the truth!
I'm looking forward to spring so that I can thin out more…
Krista
on May 31st, 2010
@ 9:44 pm:
I can’t believe I’ve never looked this up before! I always think it would be amazing to be able to live out of a suitcase, and often daydream about not being tied down by all my stuff…
Well anyway i’m off to clean up my room. I have a laundry basket I’m putting things I don’t need in, and putting in the basement (for now)
everydayminimalist
on Jun 1st, 2010
@ 11:57 am:
It is pretty cool to live out of a suitcase, but you do get lonely and you start craving your stuff around you
But if you can control that urge to start hanging pictures or decorating (totally cured out of me by living out of a suitcase) it’s interesting.
Cheena
on Aug 31st, 2010
@ 2:02 pm:
HI, I found your site while trying look up organizing. I too have been downsizing at first I thought I would be nice to have a apartment with furniture and things but as life goes on and I see how others survive without much. I like idea of being able to just pick up and go with out allot of baggage. Papers are another thing that can get out of control so I also go threw my papers and get rid of old stuff. It really makes you feel better some things I have threw out in the hall and then I go out an grab something back again cuss I feel that attachment I can't get rid of quite yet. Nice Blog!
queijoemel
on Sep 7th, 2010
@ 8:08 pm:
I found your blog yesterday by googling for 'kitchen organization'. Actually, it took me to the post you have for travel packing. Not sure what was the connection there. I absolutely LOVE your blogs!!!! Yes, by now, I have checked out your other blogs as well. THANKS so much for sharing your organization tips, minimalist approach and thoughts. Oddly enough, I am at a phase where I feel I should pack up my stuff and move to a city with good public transportation. And, I truly want to downsize. That may mean I won't buy real estate to live in until I am comfortable in the new city. So, do you have any thoughts on finance organization and investments? Esp., if they aren't real estate. Again, your blog is a inspiration!! And, thanks for all the photos on the travel packing!! Loved it!!