When do you know you’ve become a minimalist?

– 18 July , 2011Posted in: Minimalism

I don’t know. I just woke up and felt like one and said:

“Hey, I’ve really pared down on what I used to own. This feels GREAT! And I am not even missing anything I need or could possibly want.”

More confirmations followed the first realization.

Just the other day, BF and I were chatting, and he asked me:

“What are you thinking of buying next?”

I was stumped.

Excluding food, there are lots of things I want, impulsively desire and feel the need to stroke every time I pass by them.

But I couldn’t think of anything to REALLY consider buying and shelling out cash for.

I even tried making a list of all my desires and ended up crossing each one out for various reasons:

French business vocabulary book = Have to order it online, not a high priority
Car? = Nah, will wait until mine dies
Laptop? = Ditto. I don’t need another one.
House/Condo = Going to move to a new city in a month or two, then a new country
DVDs/CDs? = Nothing I really want out there at the moment
Typing cover for my keyboard = Product doesn’t really exist in stores
New brand of conditioner for my hair = Still have 2 tubes left of the old stuff
New clothes = Wardrobe ban in effect
Boots = One of my shopping band 2010 exceptions, but I don’t even know what I want

I desire things, yes.

But not strongly enough to buy them and add to my inventory of stuff just yet.

(Except maybe that French business vocabulary book.)

Nothing “urgent” or strongly desired came to mind.

Even now, looking down at my pants with the hook clasp that JUST came off, I am just going to go home, fix ‘em, wash and wear ‘em again.

It never occurred to me to go out and buy a new pair of pants because I don’t feel any need to.

And I might get bored with my clothing once in a while, but I just remember that what I have is not everything I own, and I can always just mix up the jewellery instead.

I mean, I’m traveling with one pair of heels, a pair of pants, 3 tops (I have Fridays off and I re-wear one top the 4th day of work), and a casual outfit.

It can get boring, but not enough to make me run to the mall.

The other thing that holds me back from shopping (other than my self-imposed ban), is that my whole wardrobe is really in another city because we were so set on moving there, but we might be moving to another city instead and I need to go pack a suitcase and bring back 75% of it.

It’s a process, not a project.

There are no deadlines, rules or restrictions.

You don’t have to get your life together by the time you’re 30 or 40.

You don’t have to only own 50, 75, or 100 things (all very arbitrary numbers in my opinion), because who’s to say 1000 is not a good number?

Actually come to think of it, I should just count my things out of curiousity. I must have over 1000 items at least, if I count every necklace and ring.

You don’t have to be a green, eco-friendly warrior to be a minimalist: the two are not related, but they sure do pair up well together!

It’s whatever you feel is minimalism to you.

It sounds so New Age-y, but what I’ve set out for myself as goals, such as fitting my life into 3 suitcases and 2 carry-ons, is ARBITRARY.

It’s all made up and only in my head.

It’s my own personal challenge and not yours.

Do you have a minimalist goal/challenge?

When did you finally feel that you were a minimalist, or that you wanted to work towards becoming one?

Tags: Feeling, Minimalism, Philosophy

About everydayminimalist

I'm a 20-something year old girl who lived out of a single suitcase in 2007, and now I'm living with less, but only with the best. You don't have to get rid of everything to become a minimalist! Minimalism can help simplify and organize your life, career, & physical surroundings. You can read more about me as a minimalist. Or come and visit my other blog Fabulously Broke in the City where I got out of $60,000 of debt in 18 months, earning $65,000 gross/year.

Vi

I don’t really feel like a minimalist yet. I’m perfectly comfortable living out of one small bag, and I don’t really own a lot of things. Almost everything I own, except for my large wooden easel fits in my car. My one vice is art supplies. I keep art supplies around like they’re going out of style and I cannot get rid of a lot of them because I always want to use them. Right now my goal is to get rid of my art supplies by using them! I just did a whole bunch of book binding because I had bought a lot of book binding materials and I had never used them. So now I have five really nice handmade books that I can either give as gifts or sell! And I’m doing this with everything! No more buying supplies until I use what I have! I used to work at an art store and I’d buy anything so I have a lot to do before I can buy supplies again. But I’m starting to feel more in control of that part of my life. I think I used to feel stuck because I always thought I needed to make perfect art every time I sat down to work, and now I’m letting myself practice and learn. I do a lot more art, and some of it’s crap, but I also get a lot of good pieces too! So, that’s how I’m becoming a minimalist! Still working at it…
http://twitter.com/mslejean WilmaJean

For me, it’s after the hubs “made” me purge my closet. I enjoyed the process so much, I blogged about it. Then I purged all around the house when he was at work, and I had the day off. Now instead of thinking of stuff to buy, I look for storage solutions/containers, and ways to donate. My wardrobe is so much more “me” now. I can focus on being productive, and look forward to the new year of accomplishing things I didn’t have time to do while tending to all my stuff. Quality over quantity!
Jake

I started to feel weighed down by possessions, I couldn’t explain it – I had lots of things I didn’t use any more, but felt somehow attached to. That & that media forcing things upon us, buy this, buy that. It all made me feel stressed & anxious – like I wanted to run away. I think that has been a slow process that Id tried to ignore for many years, except now it feels like Ive just ‘woken up’

I googled the way I felt & found this site, Zen Habits, The Minimalists & a few other really helpful sites that made me feel like I wasn’t going mad – in fact it was all quite normal. Since then my ebay rating has soared & my house is looking much more refined, if not lighter too. Id like to get my possessions down to the minimum so I could up sticks to another counrty for that life adventure someday, Im 34, nearly 35 but feel so much younger inside – life excites me & I want to live it, freeing up these items makes it all seem possible. Its right when people say that if you have lots of things, they end up owning you, that used to sound silly but now I understand exactly what it means, how can it have taken me so long to get to this point! Im just happy I got here I guess

Thank you for reading, J – England, UK.
Lydia

I knew I had turned the corner after I went to Pennsic last year. (Pennsic is basically a massive annual Renaissance festival, but unlike at most Renn Faires, everyone who attends actually camps there for two weeks).

I loved the warm, inviting, cosy simplicity of our living arrangements there. Then I got back home and felt overwhelmed and put off by all the stuff in my apartment.

I realized that aside from what I had been camping with, the only things I really needed were my clothes, laptop, ipod, and the contents of one bookshelf. Everything else could go. I actually gave away all my regular furniture too, and set up the medieval furniture from camp in the apartment! It didn’t make sense to have cheap mass-produced uninspired stuff on display in my apartment year-round, while really nice handmade high-quality furniture was in a storage locker and was only being used once a year at a festival.

I don’t miss any of the stuff that I got rid of, I love having such a unique space (it feels like one of the hobbit homes in the Lord of the Rings films, lol) and it feels great to walk into a spacious, airy, uncluttered apartment everyday.
Lisette

2years ago I started browsing modern design magazines at Barnes & Nobles and always found myself in awe of the minimalist homes. Also, I’d always admired minimalist photos, and characters in movies with austere minimalist styles. I began remodeling my house & life about 6 months ago, donating 32 not-so-inexpensive items of clothing, furniture, knick knacks, and other idle possessions. I am stunned by the affect is has had on me. I feel more alive, sexy, focused, HUMAN, and creative them ever. I realized I was born a minimalist.

I take it to the max too:
-I only buy items I can use multipurpose ( hydrogen peroxide for whitening teeth, disinfecting clothing in the wash, deordorant, teeth whitener, and mixed with facewash for an acne treatment)
-buy mostly fresh fruits & veggies, and grains, rice, cereal, legumes, flour, spices, etc out of the bulk bins at my local health food supermarket. Yep, cook 90% of food from scratch!
-Have a “floating” house; Nothing on the floor except beds and seating. (And even those sit at least 5in above the floor, so you can see the gorgeous dark teak glossy wood floor underneath.
-When people wish to buy me gifts, I insist on either food or experiences; NO STUFF!!!

An associate I had over for lunch actually offered me $300 to remodel her home!
Minimal for Life!
Lisette
Layla

For me, it was when I got back from my trip where I used a 22-L backpack and a giant purse to carry everything around with me. I went downstairs to do my laundry and there was a ton of lint in the dryer, which is a fire hazard… and I started thinking, and I realized it didn’t hurt to think about what would happen if I lost everything (it would just be really inconvenient.)
http://minimalistmommi.blogspot.com Minimalist Mommi

This is a toughie for me. We have two kids, so with them, comes a huge amount of stuff. We have much more than I’d like, but when you’re in a family, you just don’t have a say over everything in the house. I never feel quite minimalist enough due to this. It’s quite frustrating…
Anonymous

When you realize you don’t miss your stuff and your quality of life is the same or better as a minimalist. I don’t want to limit myself by living with 100 things. I just know how many needs, wants and luxuries are enough for me. I get overwhelmed by too much stuff.

I’ve realized what is important to me good health, family, friends, the ability to live a free and personally fulfilled life, and to be able to travel. A good life is whatever it means to you. It seems like minimalism frees you from the rat race. Although this doesn’t mean much if someone is in debt. I think you have to also be debt free to be truly free.

I read about one couple that retired on a $500k portfolio this was when the market was good. I read their book and basically they wrote that they simplified and don’t miss their jobs, they were tired of their stressed out jobs and created a plan to get out. They don’t call themselves minimalists though and they travel a lot by looking for deals, etc.

It’s not just them, other seniors, and blogger minimalists of all ages say they quit jobs they hated, put in less hours or retired early because of downsizing or minimalism, or both. One blogger even went as far as saying that he doesn’t care anymore if the economy is up or down because minimalism has freed him from consumerism and the pressure to stay on the treadmill.

Personally I do think that it’s important if the economy is doing well because we’re all interdependent on it and everyone’s pocket book is affected by it, as well as careers, job growth, progress, and the GDP of our country. One book that really helped me was Your Money or Your Life. It’s a little new age-y and green in certain sections, but overall a worthwhile read.
- http://ozarkscrescentmural.blogspot.com/ Victoria-Ozarks Crescent Mural
  
  Jaime, You have a very interesting minimalist and money blog reading list. I’m wondering if you would feel fine about sharing it. It sounds like some good reading. Thank you!
  
  I like “Your Money or Your Life” too. It is some of the best writing I’ve ever seen. Someone suggested it on Tiny House Blog, so I finally bought it. It is slow reading for me because I am so caught up in the beauty of the words.
  - Anonymous
    
    Hi Victoria, the couple I was referring to are Billy and Akaisha Kaderli at http://retireearlylifestyle.com
    
    They wrote an e-book of how they retired, and let me just say that its really good.
    
    http://www.retireearlylifestyle.com/10.htm
    
    http://www.retireearlylifestyle.com/20questions.htm
    
    They have several e-books but the one I bought was called “The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement” which is listed 2nd from the top of their list. They divide their time between the U.S., Mexico and traveling to other countries.
    
    I know the website isn’t very organized, but it’s a good website if you take the time to look around, it has a lot of information. Well I hope that helps. =)
Lauren

For me, minimalism is on going. I didn’t decide to purge everything in a month or anything. I’ve been working on eliminating everything for the past 2 years, and I’m still going. Taking this long to do it has taught me what I really need and use. Instead of just assuming I can go without it. Just when I feel like I can’t go any further, I find ways to. Like you, I’m not going for 100 things or anything. Just what I love and need. To me adding challenges (ex. 100 thing challenge) kind of takes the fun out of minimalism. In my opinion, it makes it more serious and straining than it should be. That’s why I like your blog so much is because you make minimalism fun. I don’t care for the others as much. I read yours and Francine’s (Miss Minimalist).
Shawna

I’m doing 365 days of minimalism right now. I’m trying to take a portion of every day of the next year to get my life where I want it to be. I can actually de-clutter, work towards the sell of my too-big house, read or research, or even meditate: it all counts! My rule is thatt it has to happen a little every day. I’m excited for the end of the year comparison! I have already come so far and feel so much lighter and happier! I try to use my blog as an online diary about it, forcing myself to a certain level of accountability, and I also use it as place of inspiration. And of course your site is one that I visit often. :) I’ve even linked to you a time or two, hope you don’t mind!
http://www.enuffstuffs.wordpress.com Rebecca

Re composting there are a few options. If you have a communal garden in your apartment block ask the body corporate if you can install a compost bin. Or use a worm farm – they can fit in a garage on balcony or even inside if you have the space (I used to work in a an office space that had one in the kitchen). Contrary to popular opinion they will take citrus and onion – before adding these get the farm working well and make sure you add a layer of newspaper each time you add scraps – they love newspaper! An occasional handful of lime might be necessary if you get little flies.Worm casting can be mixed with sand and used as potting mix. A bokashi bin also works inside but must be emptied into a garden every few months.
Amy

Our family goal is everything we own, except furniture to fit in a space the size of the back of our mini-van with the seats folded down. We are almost there! I would love to move some where that we could sell both our vehicles and walk or use a surrey to get every where we need to go. I don’t really consider myself a minimalist though. Just a Mom who is looking for less she has to manage on a daily basis.
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  How do you manage toys for kids? When do you draw the line?
  - Amy
    
    We have two 18 gallon plastic totes that all the toys fit into. One for stuffed animals & fabric toys and the other for the rest of the toys. We have blocks, building blocks and trains. We used to have a lot of toys and we donated most to the local Science Center for their play area. Our library also has a play area so when the kids get bored with what we have we can always go play with the toys in some other places.
    
    I’m not sure where I’ll draw the line. After being a single parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum for the first 7 and a half years of his life I knew something had to go because I was just to stressed all the time dealing with stuff, so it had to go. The younger two children have never known excess like the oldest so they don’t miss what they’ve never had.
Caroline

Before I was just getting rid of stuff I didn’t want or need, but calling it minimalism makes it a real goal. A very inspiring goal and blueprint for life. It’s so much better than organizing, which I’ve always naturally been obsessed with. I was no stranger to purging unwanted or unnecessary things, but now my definition of unwanted and unnecessary is different. Having less makes my life easier and it also gets me more of what I really want (which, of course, is NOT stuff).
Caroline

Before I was just getting rid of stuff I didn’t want or need, but calling it minimalism makes it a real goal. A very inspiring goal and blueprint for life. It’s so much better than organizing, which I’ve always naturally been obsessed with. I was no stranger to purging unwanted or unnecessary things, but now my definition of unwanted and unnecessary is different. Having less makes my life easier and it also gets me more of what I really want (which, of course, is NOT stuff).
Apple

I’ve always been a minimalist, but getting rid of my bin last week was a HUGE step. We’re aiming to turn into a no-waste family.
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  I’m currently aiming to be a no-waste household too. I find it hard to
  figure out where to put organic matter if the city doesn’t pick it up for
  composting… or if you have an apartment but not a home with a backyard.
  - Apple
    
    in-sink erator?
    - http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
      
      I had to Google that.
      
      Yes I think we could install it, but in an apartment?
Heidi

I knew I was turning minimalist when my whole house started looking immaculate. No more piles of clothes, no kids toys without it’s place (gave old toys away and finally chucked away broken toys) and bathroom now looking like a hotel bathroom… so damn neat!!! So so so happy….
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  When I go into homes with so many little knickknacks collecting dust, and
  STUFF everywhere, it gives me a bit of an anxiety attack, to be honest.
  
  I feel the need to … ORGANIZE and DECLUTTER.. then I have to rein myself
  in
Heidi

YOU are absolutely correct…in every way… *sigh*
http://ozarkscrescentmural.blogspot.com/ Victoria-Ozarks Crescent Mural

I was born one, so I’ve always just preferred a few things. I get uncomfortable when I sense there’s too much of one thing. I figure out what it is and give it away. I’m not into counting though; that just seems strange and OCD to me.
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  Wow. You’re a natural minimalist! BF is one too.. for me, it’s a learned
  behaviour for the betterment of my lifestyle.
Annie

I knew I was a minimalist when I realized that I preferred owning less to having more. When I could look at something and pass it by without a qualm. The times I got a rush when I found other things to part with.

I enjoy owning things, but not being owned by them. I had fun giving my home and stuff away, and I know that when I move on a lot of the things I accumulate here will be left behind as well. It is a pleasant experience to not be attached to stuff.
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  Oh I like that. “I enjoy owning things, not being owned by them”
  
  A lot of people identify who they are by the car they drive, the watch they
  wear and the things they own.
- Heidi
  
  yes yes…!! Me too!! I actually felt excited to give my stuff away to people who wanted them… funny! hehe
http://escapenine2five.blogspot.com/ Ben

It IS a process to be sure. I recently went through my closet and got rid of everything that either didn’t fit well or I never wore. The end result was the realization that I wore the same 5 shirts and 3 pairs of pants without trying to be minimal. Now, my closet is uncluttered and I feel like I have space in my brain. I love “editing” my things.
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  I edit every time I look at my closet. I think: Do I really use this? Not
  really. I just like the colour…
  
  I have to start selling/donating!
M Johnson

I knew I was a minimalist when I was able to let go of tons of unused art supplies, all the paperwork from my previous businesses, all the clothes that I still liked and which still fit, but were unworn, and all the household things that were mostly unused but which I was keeping because I’d spent a lot on them or for “just in case.” Coupled with a shopping moratorium, the result was more space for better stuff and a vastly improved quality of life. Minimalism rocks!
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  I wish you could motivate my parents They keep every little thing they
  can dig up…
Alyssa

This is why I love this blog! I don’t feel as guilty for having more than 100 things. So many people think minimalism is about white, bare walls and Apple products. Once people realize one of the most important things about minimalism is having only what you need, it makes it a lot easier. I know I have more than 1,000 things. I’d be scared to find out exactly how much I have (I should tally it though, for perspective). But I’ve pared down a lot and I’m in a good place right now. I’ll keep paring down. I can’t see myself ever *wanting* to live with just 100 things, but who knows how my perspective will change. It’s a work in progress
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  I should note that I do like white bare walls and Apple products… but not
  everyone feels like that and I respect that!
http://twitter.com/ishrattrishna Ishrat Trishna

To me a personal minimalism goal is to utilize fully every single thing I own, whether in the house or for myself. If I have a pair of shoes or a chair that only gets used once a year, I don’t feel I am being a minimalist. I just want to keep the essentials I regularly use in my life and nothing more. That’s all.
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  But I find that sometimes I keep things BECAUSE I use them once a year….
  like a citrus juicer (bad example)… I use it for juice during the summer,
  but not for the rest of the time.
  
  Or even better, for guys, a tuxedo for weddings. They could rent one, but
  they use a tuxedo or suit every time there’s a wedding or event, but they
  can’t predict when they’ll use it.
  
  I keep things if I still see a use for them and there isn’t a substitute
  elsewhere.
  - Qommon
    
    I like to tell people that I wear my mom’s suit (I am a male). I call it my mom’s suit because she bought it, she tells me to wear it, and she cleans it and stores it. If left to my own devices I would ruin that suit. Stains, rips, wrinkles, the whole kit and kaboodle. That’s why I like earth tones, you can lay in the grass and not worry. Those are two of my favorite things to do!
Angie

I have pared down 289 things that I have donated, sold, or gotten rid of. My goal is 365. I counted all my things and came up with 1650 things. We are a family of 5, so with the kids stuff too it was 2245 thigns for the household. I didn’t think that was bad for 5 people. I knew I was a minimalist when I became curious about how many things we had and started counting them. And then making a conscious effort not to buy anything we can’t use. I am documenting my journey here http://minimalistwith3kids.blogspot.com/
It has been fun! I am enjoying the fact that I only keep what is meaningful and what adds value to my life.
Cheers!
- http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
  
  Curious, why 365?
  - Angie
    
    So I can feel like i got rid of something every day. ha ha
    - http://www.everydayminimalist.com The Everyday Minimalist
      
      LOL!!! Oh I see

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In a Nutshell

other blog: fabulously broke in the city
minimalist since: 2007 -- why minimalism?
talk to me: contact me here!
current location: canada/usa
home: hotel room
owns: 3 suitcases 2 carryons of stuff
# of items: more than 100!
furniture: 1 japanese futon
works: business consultant
gadgets: macbook pro, ipod touch (pda)
drinks: earl grey cream tea
practices: rebel yoga and de-cluttering
loves: minimalism, $$ management, traveling
quirk: must prep my food before eating
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When do you know you’ve become a minimalist?

I desire things, yes.

It’s whatever you feel is minimalism to you.

Do you have a minimalist goal/challenge?

When did you finally feel that you were a minimalist, or that you wanted to work towards becoming one?

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