Minimalism

[FoxtrotOscar1]

Does any one practice / live by it?

Have you tried it and went back to normal consumerism?

I like the idea of a less cluttered life but everything you do requires things, tools or equipment of some sort.

[anonymous-user]

I've bought into minimalism to some extent and really enjoy it. Had a big clear out over a year ago and I've got the stuff down to about 20% of where I was prior.

I stick to keeping stuff I need and really genuinely like. The rest of the tat gets thrown away/not bought.

Edit: If you're intrested in minimalism then a great book to read is 'Goodbye, things' by Fumio Sasaki. He takes it a bit extreme for me but each to their own.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 15th December 21:49

[egor110]

Also its about really thinking about new purchases , instead of impulse buying give yourself a week to mull it over .

Also when a replacement comes in get rid of the old one .

[Johnnytheboy]

No.

[FoxtrotOscar1]

I do normally mull any purchases over. Purely to figure out if its the right thing for my needs etc.

I have clearouts probably twice a year. Usually have to force the wife to do the same. Shes very sentimental and keeps the most mundane of items (receipts etc)for the memories.

[ChemicalChaos]

No

[FoxtrotOscar1]

AJ5641 said:

Had a big clear out over a year ago and I've got the stuff down to about 20% of where I was prior.

I stick to keeping stuff I need and really genuinely like.

20% is quite a huge reduction. What sort of items were most difficult to remove?

[anonymous-user]

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

AJ5641 said:

Had a big clear out over a year ago and I've got the stuff down to about 20% of where I was prior.

I stick to keeping stuff I need and really genuinely like.

20% is quite a huge reduction. What sort of items were most difficult to remove?

Things that I thought I might need later, but in fact I never did and couldn't tell you what any of them are now!

I like the idea of being able to put everything I own into the back of my car at once; excluding furniture and big household items.

[Pulse]

Yes. I’ve pretty much always practiced it. Even more so as I get older.

I find it makes me a lot less anxious, as a side result.

[BritishBlitz87]

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

I do normally mull any purchases over. Purely to figure out if its the right thing for my needs etc.

I have clearouts probably twice a year. Usually have to force the wife to do the same. Shes very sentimental and keeps the most mundane of items (receipts etc)for the memories.

I'm like this too. I think it's just the fact that I don't have a very good memory, so while I might not need the box of old matchbox cars, tatty old car magazines, random reciepts from a school trip when I was 12 etc. I know for a fact that if I get rid of it, I'll forget the memories that go with it, memories that can never be replaced, and that's one of my biggest fears.

The trick is not to put the clearout off so long you getall misty-eyed and nostalgic looking through your boxes of ste!

[BritishBlitz87]

And then there's the empirically proven fact that as soon as I chuck some vaguely useful bit of junk out, I'll need it in the next few weeks!

[andygo]

BritishBlitz87 said:

The trick is not to put the clearout off so long you getall misty-eyed and nostalgic looking through your boxes of ste!

I find it best to flush my ste, I have never been that sentimental about it. Never thought about keeping it in a box..

(Sorry....)

[FoxtrotOscar1]

Pulse said:

Yes. I’ve pretty much always practiced it. Even more so as I get older.

I find it makes me a lot less anxious, as a side result.

I think thats very possible. For example I can relate to Steve Jobs etc having the same wardrobe every day. Just takes much less thought and there for time

Too many things = too many thoughts.

[monkfish1]

I think i like the idea, but no idea if i could do it.

Mostly because as well as the usual junk ive got more tools, equipment and cars than i know what to do with.

Whilst i could bin off some cars, im not so sure about all the tools and equipment. If the tools and equipment goes, how do i do anything?

My widfe says im out of control.

[anonymous-user]

monkfish1 said:

I think i like the idea, but no idea if i could do it.

Mostly because as well as the usual junk ive got more tools, equipment and cars than i know what to do with.

Whilst i could bin off some cars, im not so sure about all the tools and equipment. If the tools and equipment goes, how do i do anything?

My widfe says im out of control.

If you genuinely need the tools and equipment then that's fine. If you don't or you're holding onto stuff 'just in case' then get rid of it!

There is nothing worse than seeing an untidy workshop full of st that has clearly not been used since the day it was bought

[anonymous-user]

FoxtrotOscar1 said:

Pulse said:

Yes. I’ve pretty much always practiced it. Even more so as I get older.

I find it makes me a lot less anxious, as a side result.

I think thats very possible. For example I can relate to Steve Jobs etc having the same wardrobe every day. Just takes much less thought and there for time

Too many things = too many thoughts.

Keep it simple

[VR99]

Minamalism appears to be translated differently by different people...just have a look on YouTube at how many videos have been put out there on the topic..there are extemes.

If you are referring to living like a monk with no friends or possessions and just a loin to cover your regions whilst practising yoga each morning then no, not my thing but hey I don't judge.
But from a decluttering perspective I get it and definately reaped the benefits of just throwing out/selling excess 'stuff' that just takes up space.

[FoxtrotOscar1]

AJ5641 said:

Edit: If you're intrested in minimalism then a great book to read is 'Goodbye, things' by Fumio Sasaki. He takes it a bit extreme for me but each to their own.

Edited by AJ5641 on Tuesday 15th December 21:49

Had a quick gander at that, sent it to the Mrs to stick on the Christmas list... or should I try to find an E-book?

[monkfish1]

AJ5641 said:

monkfish1 said:

I think i like the idea, but no idea if i could do it.

Mostly because as well as the usual junk ive got more tools, equipment and cars than i know what to do with.

Whilst i could bin off some cars, im not so sure about all the tools and equipment. If the tools and equipment goes, how do i do anything?

My widfe says im out of control.

If you genuinely need the tools and equipment then that's fine. If you don't or you're holding onto stuff 'just in case' then get rid of it!

There is nothing worse than seeing an untidy workshop full of st that has clearly not been used since the day it was bought

I dont "need" all that gear, as i dont "need" 8 cars. Indeed, the problem with 8 cars is none of them are how i want them, because their simply isnt time to stay on top of them all. And 4 of them are projects. So i spend lots of time thinking about it and planning stuff for them.

Ive got rid of one, and another can go when i finish one of the projects, but after that, i just cant bring myself to decide. Ive got a freind who has just one toy/hobby car. Ive no idea how he does it.

I guess im an ideal candidate for minimalisim?

[Spare tyre]