Life with a minimum of things. Nothing superfluous: how minimalism helps you regain control over your own life. There must be an outlet, otherwise there will just be boundaries, and sooner or later you will want to break loose and make a lot of mistakes.
Minimalism is strengthening its position among the advanced segments of the population every year. More and more people are abandoning thoughtless consumption, focusing on values at a different level. Moreover, they refuse not because they cannot afford to buy something, but because they do not see the pleasure in owning big amount of things.
Often consumption, especially among women, comes down to buying clothes. Many, I think, suffer from shopaholism to one degree or another. Its especially severe forms occur in cases where, after many years of relative lack of money, a normal income suddenly falls on a person, when one can afford a lot.
This is exactly what happened to me when I moved to France. Oh, I bought everything! My closet was bursting, but I still couldn’t stop. I realized my mistake only when I was getting ready to return home and the question arose of how to take out all this junk. As a result, I threw away a lot, gave some away, left some with friends, and then took it back on my next visit. At home, I had to live with a small closet for some time and I began to review my wardrobe, trying to optimize it and equip it with better quality and more expensive things, albeit few. Two years after my return, I discovered that I had very few things left that were bought in France. They were replaced by more respectable items brought from Italian outlets or bought at home. I also bought some luxury items in France, but in the total mass of these things there were very few. Oh, I wish I had the current worldview 7 years ago! I would spend my money completely differently.
Therefore, seeing how some women, including my friends, seem to be possessed, indiscriminately grabbing all sorts of rubbish at sales, filling their closets with it, and then complaining that they have nothing to wear, I cannot remain silent and climb with the same advice:
If you have money for ten skirts for $20, it’s better to buy two for $100. If you can buy ten skirts for $100, it’s better to buy two for $500. If you are going to spend money on ten skirts for $500, then still buy only two, and give the rest to an orphanage!
Okay, let’s say you haven’t gotten to the point of buying ten skirts for $500, but are wavering between several cheaper items and one more expensive one. Of course, variety is more interesting. But on the other hand, every single day you will be wearing something inexpensive and, perhaps, simple, albeit always different. And if you buy one expensive thing, you will look chic every day, even if it’s the same. Equally chic every day. Isn't it better this way?
In fact, switching to buying expensive things ultimately leads to savings. We don’t even notice small expenses, while they accumulate and turn into a tidy sum, which would be more than enough for something worthwhile.
I have already recommended the book “Lessons of Madame Chic” for reading; it also discusses minimalism in clothing. The author claims that shopaholism and a huge wardrobe are a purely American style. The French, for example, live differently. I quote:
In America, a person would feel awkward if he had to wear the same thing twice in one week, let alone three times. But in France this is nonsense. In fact, everyone does this! I started noticing the same thing in French films. If female characters in American films change outfits in the style of the heroines of Sex and the City, then in French films you will see the heroine in the same outfit at least twice. You never see this in American films unless the director wants to show that the character is poor or depressed. I recently saw the French film I Don't Say No, where Sylvie Testud's character wears the same clothes for almost the entire film - or the same three things - even though the film takes place over several months.
So how can you come to the point where you can fit all your things into a small wardrobe and not be tormented every morning by the question of what to wear?
First, of course, you should get rid of unnecessary junk. I wrote about this in some detail.
Next, I recommend following a simple and very popular rule: With every item purchased, get rid of two existing items.. It is necessary to follow this rule until the desired minimum of things is achieved, and then be guided by a 1:1 proportion, that is, buy a new thing only when you get rid of the old one. This applies not only to clothing, but also to household items, cosmetics, and so on.
The question arises: how much is the required minimum of things? Minimalist ascetics call the number 100. One hundred things (not clothes, but things in general, including furniture, appliances and dishes) is not the limit. You can reduce it to fifty. I’ve already talked about this, but here are two links for you again: one and two. I highly recommend reading it.
If we talk about clothes, then the same book “Lessons of Madame Chic” talks about a wardrobe of 10 things. This refers to clothing only; this figure does not include accessories, bags and shoes. But still not enough, right?
Of course modern western man will not be able to live limited to such a minimum, but you can still try. Everyone can determine for themselves how much they need. For example, a business woman can easily get by with a pair of business suits, five blouses, two pairs of shoes and two bags. This is for one season, of course. And only to work. But there are also evenings, weekends and vacations, and for all this you also need clothes. We need clothes for home and for sports, we need clothes and shoes for every season. Therefore, the goal is unlikely to be achievable in modern life.
However we can easily get by with ten things within one season and one activity. It is important to choose things so that they fit together and can be used to make several sets. This set of things is called a capsule. You can have a capsule for work, for active recreation, for travel, and so on.
If you think this is impossible, try an experiment. On your next vacation, take a small suitcase with ten items. I tried it, it worked. Now I always travel light with a minimal set of things that fit together and can be used to create several different outfits. It’s convenient to try to live with ten things on a business trip when you need to have business clothes, and an outfit for going out, and comfortable clothes for a walk around the city. If you often travel, then you probably already have such a minimal and multifunctional set of things. The idea I promote is to extend the principle of minimalism not only to travel, but also to life at home.
If you can implement this, if you replace cheap junk with a few expensive quality things, you:
You will look gorgeous every day
You won't have to worry about what to wear in the morning.
Free up space in your home
Save money
Save time on shopping
It's simple! Try it!
I was inspired to embrace minimalism by the girl with whom I lived together: she was a classic plushkin, we constantly quarreled, and that was also why. I could, for example, court her for half an hour to have sex, now we are already undressed, and then the alarm goes off - a sale has begun in one of the online shopping clubs that she monitors. It gets blown up and, like an eagle, swoops down on cheap things, which are then lying around, sometimes not even unpacked, and I sit there like a fool. My great-grandmother, by the way, was the same; during the lean Soviet times, she accumulated three wardrobes and lost her mind when moths ate her treasures. In general, when my girlfriend and I had a fight, I left in what I was wearing, just took the computer, and thought it would be great to start with a clean slate and an empty suitcase. Here's what I have today:
1. Computer
I have a four year old Macbook Air and it provides everything the average person could want in a computer. If you clean the disk at least once a month, I think it will last another ten years. I store the archive on the cloud.
2. Flash drive
Titanium SanDisk 8 GB, it’s a hundred years old, but it works without problems, enough for work documents.
3. Backpack
Caterpillar city backpack with laptop compartment. Durable enough if you don’t carry bricks in it, it started to wear out in my third year of constant wear. I take him to the office, to the pool, and on the plane.
4, 5. Glasses
Two clear IKEA glasses. They seem to be made of tempered glass, in any case, they can withstand boiling water when brewing tea, I also make cocktails in them. Two glasses are enough to drink at home with a friend or girlfriend, but for a large group it takes disposable tableware dial, like at student drinking parties. But it's even more fun this way.
6. Saucepan
A three-liter saucepan from Ikea is the most convenient size. You can mix a salad or cook soup in it and then eat it for three days. I left the frying pan with a friend and I don’t miss it at all.
7. Aluminum bowl
For eggs, sausages, porridge, heating the first and other small things, there is a bowl with thin walls; it heats up quickly. She's a salad bowl.
8, 9. Table set for 12 items
Ikea, 400 rub. I bought it when I was expecting my mother to visit - my habit of using disposable forks and spoons would have horrified her. 12 items at once is not a scam, I will still leave them with the owner of the apartment when I move out, but for now I only use two.
10. Knife
Victorinox - knife, corkscrew, beer opener. Does not rust, does not dull, the best gift I have ever received.
11, 12. Two deep plates
Ikea again. Previously, I took for granted this entire dimensional and shaped series of plates, dishes, bowls and bowls, but now I understand that this is all a useless multiplication of entities.
13. Towel
The big stupid towel with a camel on it that my ex and I bought on our vacation together in Egypt seems to be the only item that reminds me of her. I make do with one; in the kitchen, paper towels on a roll are more convenient.
14-17. Phone, cord, charging case, headphones
I have an iPhone 5S, with the latest update the power saving mode finally began to save the battery, but in general I travel a lot, no smartphone lasts that long without recharging. A friend gave me a case with a built-in battery; it makes the phone a little heavier, but it doubles its life and serves as a bumper. Well, charging from the network, a cube from an iPad, it charges faster. Apple headphones, their price is absolutely justified by their lifespan and sound quality.
My phone and computer replace my library (I bought a Kindle, but never used it, gave it to my sister), so there are no analogue books in my apartment at all. Of course, I won’t be able to impress an 18-year-old Foucault fan, but I didn’t really want to.
18, 19, 20. Panties
21, 22. Jeans
Montana, blue, warm, and dark gray Jack & Jones are lighter. In general, the fewer things there are, the more universal they should be, so that you don’t look like a poor man who has forgotten about his image. I used to have black and khaki.
23. Long Johns
Uniqlo, their knitwear is cheap and feels good on the body.
24-28. Socks
5 pack of black socks.
29. Winter boots
Rieker - the quality is acceptable, the price matches.
30. Demi-season low shoes
Skechers - I buy the same model every year, it wears out zero over the course of a year (spring, summer and autumn), but it’s convenient and there’s no need to accumulate a collection in the closet. For the gym, of course, you need sneakers and at least pants, but now I’m running around a lot for work and don’t have time for fitness.
31-33. Three black T-shirts
Mustang - dense, do not stretch, do not wrinkle, do not fade. In general, eternal.
34-38. Five T-shirts with prints
Zara, Jack & Jones, Thai noname. I try to avoid huge letters and memorable pictures all over my chest; only Superman can do that.
39. Shorts
Semi-military shorts for the summer and for home - it’s easy for a lonely man to become ostracized, so I keep myself within limits and don’t walk around the house in just shorts.
40. White shirt
Zara, sometimes you have to wear it to business meetings with people who respect the dress code.
41-42. Two hoodies
Old Navy with a padded lining for winter and Pull & Bear for the lighter side.
43. Warm wool sweater
Dark gray, with a high throat, of unknown origin and weighs one and a half kilograms, but it completely justifies itself in the cold and when I’m sick.
44. Long sleeve vest
Uniqlo, good to wear in the cold.
45. Demi-season jacket
Windproof black Jack & Jones with lining.
46. Winter jacket
This green Uniqlo down jacket is the thickest they have.
47-49. Hat, scarf and gloves
Springfield and leather with an already unidentifiable label.
50. 2 sets of bed linen
One is Ikea, the second is some fashionable satin from friends as a hint that it’s time for me to think about a new girl.
How has my life changed after switching to minimalism?
At first I was afraid that she would become poor and I would sit in an empty room like an orphan. Nothing like that happened, on the contrary - I stopped procrastinating, staring at all the trash, stopped getting annoyed at the sight of things being dumped, began to read more, fall asleep faster and concentrate better on what I want to do. When there is the Internet, it replaces most offline entertainment, and whether a person progresses or degrades in it is only his decision.
A separate point of pleasure is moving. Acquaintances are rushing about, packing, loading their belongings into gazelles, losing and breaking something, getting upset because they are so overgrown with rubbish that it is a pity to throw them away. And I take a backpack, two 120-liter garbage bags and get into a regular taxi with them.
What do I spend the money I save on?
For healthier food and travel, I buy through Amazon e-books by specialty. I go to concerts, help my parents, put something aside.
If you've ever rented an apartment through Airb'n'b, remember what items were in the kitchen and bathroom; usually the owners leave only the essentials.
It is clear that living in your own home, you will accumulate more things: I rent an apartment with an electric kettle, washing machine, lamps, that is, I do not have to transport all this. But even in the process, when you are furnishing your home, try to emerge from the euphoria of spending and think: is this thing something you have long wanted, or just a “lucky purchase” on sale? How often will you use it? For example, you are used to a classic stove with oven, but you only use the oven once a month. Wouldn't it be better to save three hundred dollars and space by buying a cooktop and an air fryer instead, or even just one slow cooker?
It’s easier for us men to live than for girls, who feel uncomfortable without decor and a lot of little-functional things. I would recommend to them Marie Kondo’s book “The Magic of Tidying Up”, which, among other things, says: if an item makes you happy, leave it, if it doesn’t warm you up, throw it away. Or don't buy it. This is a very correct principle.
Regarding clothes: believe a marketer who has completed upgrade courses in consumer psychology - the number of rags and shoes in your home is directly proportional to the volume of neuroses in your head. Superman and Jobs and Zuckerberg wore the same thing not for the sake of image or to minimize the number of decisions - they simply had more logical recipes for how to self-actualize and.
As you already know, minimalism is close to me not only in the closet, but also in life in general. I love free, uncluttered space, open people, simple communication and natural food. A large number of things create chaos both in the space around us and in our heads. After all, the more things we have, the more our brain is occupied with them. And in my opinion, there are many others for him interesting activities🙂 So today we’ll talk about how to start the path to healthy minimalism in your closet.
What is minimalism?
Minimalism in my understanding is the ability to separate the necessary from the unnecessary, the ability to separate needs and desires. There is no specific magic number of things, having reached which you can call yourself a minimalist and at the same moment find harmony and happiness. Everyone has their own number, for some it is 50, for some it is 100, and for others it is 200. What is important here is not quantity, but quality: all the things you have should bring benefit and joy, and not gather dust in boxes and accumulate in the back of the closet. If you use everything you have, then everything is fine with you. And if there are things in your space that are kept idle, then it’s time to sort them out!
Today I have prepared for you a list of things that you should not buy or think very hard about before taking out your wallet at the store. This will help adjust your shopping style, even if you have not yet completed all the tasks from the Organizer. When I got bigger analyze your purchases, I discovered the following for myself 5 sneaky things you should avoid buying:
1 . Unplanned things
More than 60% of women regularly make impulse purchases. This is due to the fact that we are emotional creatures, and it is our emotions that push us to bring home the next nonsense. I have a useful article, because most often the answer to the question of why you have nothing to wear lies precisely in impulse purchases. They only clutter the space and do not bring any benefit to your wardrobe and personal style. I always advise planning all purchases and making a detailed list before visiting shopping mall. And, of course, don't forget to stick to this list, even when the red signs promise incredible savings.
2. What you already have
Sounds stupid at first glance, right? But notice how often it happens that you bring home a new thing and discover that you already have something similar or even identical. I won’t lie, this happened to me often during the period when my closet looked like a crazy sale at Zara. The explanation is simple: when you have a lot of things, it’s harder to keep them in your head and remember each one exactly. Therefore, before you buy something, think carefully about whether you have this item. This applies not only to clothing, but also to interior items, household items and cosmetics. In general, planning is the most correct strategy in the modern world of momentary temptations.
3. Items are not the right size
Have you often bought something one or two sizes smaller to lose weight? But then you never lost weight. And the thing lies in the closet and reminds of an unfulfilled dream. Or you were able to lose weight, but after a year or two. And you don’t like the new thing at all. Always buy things for your current life and figure, not for the one you dream of. If you fulfill your dream, then buy it for yourself as a reward. The same goes for shoes. Shoes should always be the right size! Don't buy nice shoes with the hope of breaking them in; they'll likely end up in a box, soaked in tears of disappointment.
4. Items that require additional purchases
This dangerous category, attracting clutter. For example, you buy trousers, for which you will have to buy a belt. And in general, there are few things in your wardrobe that you can wear with a belt. So this provoked purchase will be unnecessary. Or a wallet where there is no compartment for coins, and you will have to additionally buy a second one for coins. Or a swimsuit top, for which you will have to buy a bottom, since you don’t have a suitable one. The list can be endless. Personally, I avoid such purchases because they only contribute to the multiplication of things and expenses. I wrote more about how to invest in your wardrobe and shop wisely in.
5. Poor quality items
By knowingly buying things that will quickly become obsolete, you are only wasting your time and money, since you will soon have to replace them. And you also pollute environment, sending unsuccessful purchases to the trash, where they lie for years. A low-quality item will not bring you the benefit and joy it deserves, since you will not look stylish in it, it will not fit well, and will lose its appearance after washing. In general, he will do his best to spoil your image. So try to buy best quality that you can afford. Then your attitude towards the item will be more careful, you will wear it with pleasure and look good in it. A quality item can be seen from afar.
After I myself stopped buying these 5 things and began to put into practice all the principles from the Smart Wardrobe Organizer, the number of things in my closet decreased significantly in size, but improved in terms of quality. I hope you found this article helpful and inspires you to make changes in your wardrobe and life.
How are things going with your wardrobe? What stage are you in: decluttering, planning, shopping? Or have you already assembled your ideal wardrobe?
It's not easy to be cool, but it's easy to be cool.
Believe it or not, a harmless pile of trash in your bag and dark thoughts in your head can be connected. In the rhythm of life of the 21st century, we do not notice how we grow unnecessary things and events that prevent us from enjoying something more important. It's time to take a rational look at your surroundings and get rid of junk - minimalism will help you with this.
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Story
The philosophy of minimalism comes from design. In the early 60s, interiors based on simple and laconic furniture, soft curves, geometric shapes and natural, mostly light colors came into fashion. The designers realized that at home a person wants to look at silhouettes that are understandable and not strain the eyes, and not guess whether there is a bedside table or a pot in front of him.
From design and architecture, the direction moved into fashion.
Hubert Givenchy and his muse Audrey Hepburn revolutionized the idea of elegance. Remember her style: it turns out that you can look beautiful in a simple turtleneck, skinny trousers and pumps. The little black dress, which Coco Chanel brought into fashion a hundred years ago, is still a must-have for all fashionistas.
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Minimalism today is again on the crest of a wave, and you definitely can’t call it banal. Stella McCartney, for example, chooses simple and clear silhouettes, but rich colors; Kanye West in new collection uses only natural shades, but intricate designs. A champion of the “less is more” principle in the mass market is the Japanese brand Uniqlo. Its basic line is simple cut items made from natural fabrics. Well, if you are reading this text on your phone, then the main representative of minimalist design is right before your eyes. This is your iPhone. A black rectangle and a login button at the bottom - what could be simpler?
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Main principles
From the external, minimalism has moved to the internal – to the structure of our lives. People realized that excess of anything is not a luxury or decoration, but a burden. the main objective minimalism is not a cool total-black outfit, but getting rid of junk in your thoughts, in your body and around you.
By giving and removing unnecessary things, we do not become poorer, but gain: free time, good relationships, exciting hobbies and a lot of space for creativity.
So that in an impulse to make the world a better place you don’t throw your mother’s set and father’s fishing rods into the trash, adhere to the principles of minimalism:
- Happiness is not in things. It is in you, in your favorite people and activities. Things get torn, lost and stolen, so there is no point in getting attached to them.
- It's simple - it's beautiful. A Japanese proverb says: “The beauty of the flower is in the flower.” To look at a beautiful flower, will you look at the one in front of you, or will you specifically go to the botanical garden?
- Quality is more important than quantity. It is better to buy one expensive but good shirt and wear it for five years than five shirts that will wear out within a year.
- Set priorities. If you are a makeup fanatic and want to dedicate your life to it, then it is normal to spend a lot of money and time on makeup. If palettes and lipsticks are lying on the shelf idle, then you will probably find something to spend the money on from selling all this junk.
- Moderation is not only about things. Think about whether you are wasting your energy on relationships that do not please you, on useless surfing the Internet, on thoughts about what your classmates think of you. Even in words: instead of withdrawing into oneself, endless tears at night and hour-long soul-searching, isn’t it easier to directly tell a friend “you offended me”?
- Responsibility is not only for yourself. Buying things recklessly takes a toll on both your wallet and the planet. Watch the films “Home. A Journey Story" and "The Real Cost of Fashion" to learn about the impact of fast fashion and consumer culture on society and nature.
How to achieve minimalism?
The easiest way is to go from external to internal. Take a critical look at your room and wardrobe: do you use all the things? Divide your property into three categories:
- Whole
- With defects
- Faulty
Important! Just sort out your own. Would you like some of yours to be thrown in the trash?
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Clothing, books, equipment
Leave whole things as is - they will have to go through another cleaning. Either repair or donate things with minor defects: books to the library, clothes to a second-hand store, equipment to special collection points or buyers. Put significantly damaged items in a pile with the faulty ones and safely throw them away. By the way, we already wrote about this in the text about.
Remember: quality is more important than quantity.
Why do you need a cracked mug without a handle if you can buy exactly the same whole one? Don’t forget about your responsibility to the planet: hand over batteries to special collection points, don’t throw away old cans of varnish along with other garbage, donate torn magazines and books for recycling.
Things that are ok should be checked using a list of questions:
- Have you used this in the last six months? Will you use it in the next six months?
- Does it have some unique, indispensable function?
- Will it be more expensive to rent? Borrow from friends?
- Do you feel joy when you wear or see this item?
- Are you keeping it for yourself, or so others know you have it?
- Does it go with most of your wardrobe? Your interior?
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If the answers to all are “yes”, then leave it: the thing is really useful. Even one “no” is a reason to think. Most often, dust collector souvenirs from trips, trousers bought two sizes too small, cheap jewelry, roller skates thrown on the mezzanine and Stuffed Toys, which your relatives give you from year to year. Do exactly the same as with slightly defective things: give them to an orphanage, a thrift store, or just give them to your friends.
What you use once a year may be useful to someone every day.
Lifehack: P When paying for new clothes, equipment and books, ask yourself the same questions. If you really like something, don’t buy it right away. Go home and think about whether you really need it. When you wake up in the morning, you will no longer have the motivation or desire to go to the store. If you are determined and even ready to change your plans for the sake of this thing, remember the paraphrase from the cat Matroskin:
“To buy something unnecessary, you have to give away something unnecessary.”
In other words, for every new T-shirt, book or candle, you should throw away one of the ones you already have. This way you won't trip over the growing piles of new purchases. You can control your own acquisitions, but gifts from outside are often kept out of politeness to the donor and are never used.
To stop this flow, create a wishlist and send it to your friends and family: this way they will give only what they need. It would be right for you to ask them for the same. It’s better to give not things, but impressions: bake delicious cookies, give tickets to a concert, take your parents on an excursion to a neighboring city. The holidays are about togetherness and time with loved ones, not about gifts.
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Personal care
- Do you know that you are very beautiful? Without drawn eyebrows and kilometer arrows? Makeup is wonderful, but most of all how means of self-expression. When you spend money and energy trying to hide your complexes, think about getting rid of them first? And you won't need foundation.
- Stick to tactics "1 to 1": one item per type of product. For example, use not 20 different washbasins alternately in a week, but one. As soon as it's over, you can move on to the next one. This way, the effect of a particular product will be more visible, and you will save time on making a decision.
- Many skincare products can be made with your own hands. Body scrub = sugar + oil, face mask can be made from fresh fruits and berries. In addition, use the product to its full potential: with chocolate-colored lipstick you can paint your lips, do contouring, apply it to your eyelids, and draw on your eyebrows. And in general, if an item has a very narrow scope of application (like glitter for ears), then it is better not to purchase it.
- Sharing is caring! Buy things in bulk with your friends at big discounts, share cosmetics and skincare products with your mother, except for very personal ones, like mascara and brushes.
- Main: don't waste water! Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or soaping your face. Both the planet and your utility bill will be pleased.
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Food
If you've seen the movie Sugar, you know that too much sugar in desserts and savory foods leads to some kind of addiction. However, carbohydrates and glucose are essential, so just don't add sugar to everything and read the ingredients carefully.
This rule applies not only to sugar, but also to salt, pepper, spices and seasonings. First, try eliminating artificial sauces from your diet, replacing them with a lemon, garlic and butter dressing. Then you can switch to dishes without any additives.
Meat, vegetables and fruits already have their own taste; there is no need to interrupt it unnecessarily.
Sometimes we eat out of boredom, for company, out of anxiety, or... just because there is food? Agree, you don’t run to smell everything just because you have a nose. Eat only when you want to eat.
However, what should not be at a minimum is health. Be careful about your diet and don't throw out healthy foods to reduce the amount of food you eat overall.
Once again: the main thing is quality.
I came to the idea of becoming a minimalist gradually and have been living with it for about four years. At first I didn’t even suspect that the worldview I was moving towards could be called in a simple word"minimalism". It’s interesting that I haven’t read absolutely anything or looked at minimalist topics, but... There is one consideration: it seems to me that some ideas, due to their popularity, simply float in the air: it seems that you don’t consciously obtain any information on the topic, and then – and you find yourself right in the epicenter of events.
How I started living as a minimalist
Living like a minimalist = eliminating all forms of clutter
Use plastic paint cans as flower pots; make organizers for socks and tights from toilet paper rolls; cut out coasters for pencil cups from shampoo bottles... Once I happened to see coasters for hot dishes, to which Coke and Sprite lids were glued as legs. Optimization solution? No. It's just another option for cluttering. Where? Probably from the Soviet past with its shortages and the way of thinking that was formed on this basis.
Maintain lists of income and expenses
It may seem that this has nothing to do with the principles of minimalism or has, but it is very mediocre. But I believe that exploring your relationship with money – required condition, if you decide to live like a minimalist.
My example: under the influence of the ideas of minimalism, I began to keep track of income and expenses. Every evening I write down all my income and expenses - it only takes a couple of minutes.
In addition to controlling your finances, there is another pleasant bonus: you understand how many small, stupid and unnecessary expenses there are - and you gradually begin to reduce them. I’m talking about such little things as a cup of coffee or tea, a bottle of water (after all, you can take water with you from home or tea in a thermos), a pie on the go (they are generally not healthy to eat) - in a month they alone add up quite a decent amount!
Become a minimalist = buy only what you need
Before any purchase, ask yourself these questions:
- Is this exactly what I need?
- Do I have things that perform similar functions? (if about technology)
- Will I use this often? If it’s very rare, maybe it will be cheaper to rent?
- For what reason do I want to buy it - for myself or so that others will know that I have it?
- What does this go with? (if we are talking about clothes, shoes, jewelry or other accessories)
Being a minimalist isn't just about saving money.
The main difference between saving and minimalism is in the approach to spending. A person who saves is forced to refuse purchases; he may suffer from the fact that he does not buy something for himself, and think with regret about the impossibility of purchasing. Another important indicator: imagine what you have more money– would you buy this thing?
A person who adheres to the principles of minimalism is more likely to consciously refuse unnecessary purchases - because he understands that there is no need to overload his home and life with things, that it is quite possible to do without a new acquisition - he does not suffer if he refuses to spend.
Reasonable frugality
At the same time, minimalism implies. I often remember the words from the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki: “My new $400 golf club became worth $150 after the first swing of it.”
How can this be used? Buy second hand! On sites like “From Hand to Hand” and in groups on social networks, a sea of completely new or used 1-2 times items are sold by hand every day. The item has not lost its properties at all or appearance, and the price will be several times lower.
Minimalism comes in different forms!
Fashion dictates – not only minimalism, but also its details. The image of a minimalist that is currently on the internet: you wear black, gray and white, have one string of pearls, live in completely white walls and keep one minimalist painting on the wall and a vase on a completely empty table. Or something like that.
Article on the topic: are you ready to wear 33 things for 3 months? Read about
It’s funny to read how whole battles unfold under some posts: my minimalism is better! No it's mine! No it's mine! Ew - but he’s not a minimalist at all, well, what kind of minimalism, when they have four boxes of toys for children, if you want to live like a minimalist, leave one box.
I remember how I laughed after one post with photographs of the minimalist interior of the author’s apartment: in the kitchen there were multi-colored mugs on a shelf - maybe a dozen. Under the post, of course, there was a comment: they say, hahaha, what a minimalist you are - so many mugs, and colorful ones at that, and you’re a shopaholic!
Funny? Funny and sad. It's sad that good idea giving up what is superfluous began to be perceived only as something external, that some kind of framework appeared: before this point you are still a minimalist, but after it (for example, after the tenth cup) you are no longer. Is the point to give up everything altogether? So that all people have the same minimalistic set of 3 mugs-3 plates-3 forks?
Is it possible to compare the minimalism of a family with three children with the minimalism of a young unmarried guy? Or slander this family because they are only nominally called minimalists, but they have so much stuff?..
It seems to me that minimalism is, fortunately, a universal worldview. And everyone can apply it to their life situation to the extent they are ready, and based on their own needs.
Do you adhere to the principles of minimalism? What helped you become a minimalist, what prevents you from living like a minimalist?
