Comments on: What is minimalist living? http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/ Everything about less. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:27:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Caty http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-38273 Caty Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:04:19 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-38273 I have been intoducing the minimalist lifestyle for a few month now, and have to say......wow! We have a huge house in the city, and seeking for innerp peace, I decided to go fewer and smaller. I am moving into a Wild Resort now, and my new house is a third from the house I have been living in. Perhaps I will be able toe move with 20 or less boxes, because I gave everything to the poor. I have a new life, that is not centered around what I have or want, but who I am! I just love it! xxx I have been intoducing the minimalist lifestyle for a few month now, and have to say……wow! We have a huge house in the city, and seeking for innerp peace, I decided to go fewer and smaller. I am moving into a Wild Resort now, and my new house is a third from the house I have been living in. Perhaps I will be able toe move with 20 or less boxes, because I gave everything to the poor. I have a new life, that is not centered around what I have or want, but who I am! I just love it! xxx

]]> By: Duchess http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-34480 Duchess Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:35:02 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-34480 I have been a minimalist since the early 70s. Before everyone was writing and blogging about it. Back then I often said "all I really need is a suitcase with wheels with everything I own in it." (that was way before suitcases had wheels) You only "Need" what you truly NEED and actually use!!! Which If you really think about it. Is not much We have 3 catergories... DAILY use, SEASONAL use, and EMERGENCY use. DAILY: ....... ......is obvious SEASONAL: ..... NO holiday decorations. It is coats, gloves,etc.Which can be expanded to include gardening tools and canning supplys.... EMERGENCY:... is flashlights, battery cables, shovels etc. Which can be expanded to include several months worth of emergency food and water supplys. We both have hobbys, those supplys are kept to a minimum. We very quickly go through everything every 3-4 months. I like the saying. If it was stolen would you replace it... Honestly Importance in our life is each other and our dogs.... ...LIFE.. the rest is Stuff and replaceable...... Food, clothing, shelter are needs. People have more or less expensive: variations of food, clothing and shelter. I prefer a couple of better made outfits , to a closet full of ..cheaply made ones. You can only wear one outfit at a time. You only need the amount of space you are in. Be it standing, sitting or sleeping. I have been a minimalist since the early 70s. Before everyone was writing and blogging about it.
Back then I often said “all I really need is a suitcase with wheels with everything I own in it.” (that was way before suitcases had wheels)

You only “Need” what you truly NEED and actually use!!!

Which If you really think about it. Is not much

We have 3 catergories… DAILY use, SEASONAL use, and EMERGENCY use.
DAILY: ……. ……is obvious
SEASONAL: ….. NO holiday decorations. It is coats, gloves,etc.Which can be expanded to include gardening tools and canning supplys….

EMERGENCY:… is flashlights, battery cables, shovels etc. Which can be expanded to include several months worth of emergency food and water supplys.

We both have hobbys, those supplys are kept to a minimum.
We very quickly go through everything every 3-4 months.

I like the saying. If it was stolen would you replace it…

Honestly Importance in our life is each other and our dogs…. …LIFE..
the rest is Stuff and replaceable……

Food, clothing, shelter are needs.

People have more or less expensive: variations of food, clothing and shelter.
I prefer a couple of better made outfits , to a closet full of ..cheaply made ones.
You can only wear one outfit at a time.

You only need the amount of space you are in. Be it standing, sitting or sleeping.

]]> By: Kim http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-33515 Kim Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:59:39 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-33515 I agree. We strive to have more and more things.....which do not make us happier. I believe that having less requires less worry; can't fret over that which you don't have(or don't have to dust). Everyone who responded has valid points and I am inspired to adopt and embrace this style of living. I agree. We strive to have more and more things…..which do not make us happier. I believe that having less requires less worry; can’t fret over that which you don’t have(or don’t have to dust). Everyone who responded has valid points and I am inspired to adopt and embrace this style of living.

]]> By: Cindy http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-33244 Cindy Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:11:10 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-33244 I think a minimalist is the exact opposite of a hoarder. I get rid of things I'm not using on a monthly basis. My cousin has clothing from the 60's. I have empty cupboards, drawers and closets. My cousin has everything stuffed beyond their capacity. I can travel in Egypt for a month with a carry-on suitcase/backpack. She needs two large check-in and a carry-on. Same with people. She surrounds herself with people (and often chaos) and I have nine life-long friends and avoid chaos like the plague. I sell my homes furnished, if possible -- moving with nothing but my clothes. She needs two moving vans. :-) I think a minimalist is the exact opposite of a hoarder. I get rid of things I’m not using on a monthly basis. My cousin has clothing from the 60′s. I have empty cupboards, drawers and closets. My cousin has everything stuffed beyond their capacity. I can travel in Egypt for a month with a carry-on suitcase/backpack. She needs two large check-in and a carry-on. Same with people. She surrounds herself with people (and often chaos) and I have nine life-long friends and avoid chaos like the plague. I sell my homes furnished, if possible — moving with nothing but my clothes. She needs two moving vans. :-)

]]> By: Lisa http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-28681 Lisa Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:47:17 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-28681 i think this is something i will always continue to work towards in my life. The less you have helps you then to realize that you can live with even less than that!!! It is a huge lie this world/life has told us that we need more to be happy and the truth is that more only steals our time to truly enjoy the real gifts in life, ie. time with those we love, enjoying the beauty of the day.....rather than spending it caring for things, maintaining our things. It is crazy. Minimalism is something that I will always strive to achieve and hope to influence others to let the burden of our material things go and enjoy life with so much less. I do agree that it doesn't mean to have things of little worth.....just a few things that we can truly have the time to enjoy. i think this is something i will always continue to work towards in my life. The less you have helps you then to realize that you can live with even less than that!!! It is a huge lie this world/life has told us that we need more to be happy and the truth is that more only steals our time to truly enjoy the real gifts in life, ie. time with those we love, enjoying the beauty of the day…..rather than spending it caring for things, maintaining our things. It is crazy. Minimalism is something that I will always strive to achieve and hope to influence others to let the burden of our material things go and enjoy life with so much less. I do agree that it doesn’t mean to have things of little worth…..just a few things that we can truly have the time to enjoy.

]]> By: Don Harros http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-24633 Don Harros Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:01:57 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-24633 I love minimilistic living...it's freedom from what society paint for you to believe what life should be::"The more the merrier" Yeah right!!!!...I believe that modern simplicity and minimilism is the way of life for me and it save people from a lot of strees.... I love minimilistic living…it’s freedom from what society paint for you to believe what life should be::”The more the merrier” Yeah right!!!!…I believe that modern simplicity and minimilism is the way of life for me and it save people from a lot of strees….

]]> By: Minimalist J http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-21010 Minimalist J Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:52:51 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-21010 Liz - I have this problem with computer gear. I use stuff until it is pretty much completely obsolete, then put it in the basement "just in case" I need a spare of something (unlikely since it is obsolete) or want to run an extra server (unlikely). Trying to sell it is a hassle, and much of it won't sell at all since it is quite old. But yet it lingers here. Sometimes stuff only leaves when I have a fit of "I can't stand this old junk being here" and just freecycle it... You can try selling stuff in large lots for a cheap price - this reduces hassle somewhat, and although you don't get as much as perhaps selling it separately, at least you get something. And, I feel that people are more likely to really use something they pay a bit for rather than get for free, so the is more likely to remain in use. I could go on and on about the things I've tried, but I certainly haven't found an easy answer! Liz – I have this problem with computer gear. I use stuff until it is pretty much completely obsolete, then put it in the basement “just in case” I need a spare of something (unlikely since it is obsolete) or want to run an extra server (unlikely). Trying to sell it is a hassle, and much of it won’t sell at all since it is quite old. But yet it lingers here. Sometimes stuff only leaves when I have a fit of “I can’t stand this old junk being here” and just freecycle it… You can try selling stuff in large lots for a cheap price – this reduces hassle somewhat, and although you don’t get as much as perhaps selling it separately, at least you get something. And, I feel that people are more likely to really use something they pay a bit for rather than get for free, so the is more likely to remain in use. I could go on and on about the things I’ve tried, but I certainly haven’t found an easy answer!

]]> By: Paul Overton http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-20901 Paul Overton Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:10:51 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-20901 I am always reminded when I am on the road, that I actually have everything I need and want stuffed into a carry-on bag. Coming home sometimes depresses me because there is a "weight" that comes with ownership of stuff. Great article. I am always reminded when I am on the road, that I actually have everything I need and want stuffed into a carry-on bag. Coming home sometimes depresses me because there is a “weight” that comes with ownership of stuff. Great article.

]]> By: Liz http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-20712 Liz Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:03:06 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-20712 I know this post is quite old but I just stumbled across it and found it (and also the comments) quite inspiring. Moving towards minimalism is my major goal for this year. I have been trying to move away from my materialistic existence and participation in mindless conserism for the past seven months. I do have one question though... I have a lot of stuff- books, CDs, DVDs, nick knacks and clothing to remove from my life. If I bothered I could probably make quite a bit if cash if I sold it but pschologically I feel I just want to give it away so that it is gone now. Has anyone else experienced this and what would you recommend? I know this post is quite old but I just stumbled across it and found it (and also the comments) quite inspiring. Moving towards minimalism is my major goal for this year. I have been trying to move away from my materialistic existence and participation in mindless conserism for the past seven months. I do have one question though… I have a lot of stuff- books, CDs, DVDs, nick knacks and clothing to remove from my life. If I bothered I could probably make quite a bit if cash if I sold it but pschologically I feel I just want to give it away so that it is gone now. Has anyone else experienced this and what would you recommend?

]]> By: Edith Gammad http://theminimalist.net/2006/01/24/what-is-minimalist-living/comment-page-1/#comment-18725 Edith Gammad Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:24:52 +0000 http://theminimalist.net/?p=85#comment-18725 One can choose a minimilist life only after experiencing a life filled with excess, when one comes into his senses and makes a commitment not to complicate it anymore. One can choose a minimilist life only after experiencing a life filled with excess, when one comes into his senses and makes a commitment not to complicate it anymore.

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