If you were forced to adapt to the minimalist lifestyle...
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
United States
April 16, 2017 6:18pm CST
Let's bring up a hypothetical topic...
If you were forced, for whatever reason, to adapt to a minimalistic lifestyle.. what would you take with you and what would you get rid of?
There are a lot of people (myself included) that keep items because they have a sentimental value. Some of these things can be good things, as in an item that reminds you of a loved one who has passed away...
Some of these things, however, can be bad. Either reminders of bad times or just the bad habit of "I might use it one day.."
I have a lot of trouble with the latter one myself.
I believe if I were forced into a minimalistic lifestyle I would keep a small closet of maybe five shirts, five pairs of pants or capris.. I would have a hidden away container of clothes for different seasons...
I would keep my laptop, tablet and my e-reader though.. Those are must haves and wouldn't take up much space. My t.v. doesn't take up much space either, but I would most likely get rid of it...
I would have one dresser for lingerie items and pajamas. I would put all of my books in e-reader format. I would keep a few wall hangings, but if it couldn't hang on the wall then I wouldn't keep it.
I'm thinking in terms of items that can fit in a 200 sq ft space, so very tiny.
What would you keep? What would you get rid of?
7 people like this
9 responses
@celticeagle (159606)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr 17
We got bed bugs back in 2014. I totally freaked. We did a complete clean out and tossed everything. I call it The Purge of 2014. Make up, scads of clothes, old books, even pictures off of the wall. I think we became minimalists over a weekend.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
Not that I wish we would get that over here... but it sure would help get rid of things that we don't really need...1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159606)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum ..........Yes, it was a bad situation but helps us rid ourselves of a lot of stuff we no longer needed.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
@celticeagle Yes, I wouldn't wish it on anyone for sure.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
17 Apr 17
I never have a problem with the "I might use it one day" hoarding of items, but I tend to buy many things in bulk.
We have 3 months supply of toilet rolls at home.
I have a year supply of soaps at home. I bought it on my last trip to Thailand, and I intended the supply to last till another trip there.
I have a book shelf full of books.
These are not essential, but it will be painful to throw away.
I need the fridge to keep all the food too.
I need the washing machine, the pillows and mattress too.
I doubt I can really pack all my essentials into just 2 suitcases.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
are soap from thailand really good? how different are they from commercial soap?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
17 Apr 17
@scheng1 i understand now. thanks!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
Yes, appliances are a must have of course... but I hadn't thought of appliances as I was thinking of "THe Tiny House Movement". Essentially, it's where people move into spaces no bigger than 400 sq feet.
I understand stocking up on toilet paper and soaps...
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
17 Apr 17
I would keep necessary clothes, undergarments, my mobile, tablet, e-reader and laptop (with chargers) and if possible some books to read. I won't need a TV, instead I would make do with a transistor to listen to music and news.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
18 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum If you watch TV occasionally, I think it could be dispensed with as it occupies space.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
18 Apr 17
@dpk262006 There are t.v. mounting kits that allow you to mount the t.v. to the wall....
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
Yes, I don't watch much television myself. I would keep it only because I do occasionally watch television... but I wouldn't subscribe to a cable service.
@Courtlynn (66918)
• United States
17 Apr 17
Well.. i have so much clothes that doesnt get wirn cuz they "just fit" or used to and hope to get back to their size. So i guess id get rod of probably half-3/4 of my clothes. And soooo many printed photos, but not until after they all go on photobucket or something.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
Yes I have pairs of "I'll fit back into these one day" lying around...So definitely definitely clothes! I have gone digital and have been digital for awhile.. I only have one physical photo album.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
@Courtlynn A whole bunch of them then. I have a lot of photos in frames that I hadn't thought about...
@Courtlynn (66918)
• United States
17 Apr 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum we have a tote full of printed pictures from when my mom was little, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, my brother and i. Plus my daughter. Ugh
@ms1864 (6886)
• Bangalore, India
17 Apr 17
I did have to make a call like this one when i had to shift a few years ago....i must say...i think i brought more things with me than i should have....but i don't regret it.
I brought all my books..my painting supplies ...some sentimental things...more clothes than i should have ...
I think over these years ...i now have a better sense of what i should keep and what should go. Maybe these are things we only learn in time. 
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
18 Apr 17
You meant to say that with the passage to time and experience you could come to know what should be kept and what should be thrown away.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
18 Apr 17
Wow..
That was a good learning experience for you then.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
It definitely wouldn't be easy.. but what do you think you could get rid of without much thought?
@franxav (13624)
• India
16 Apr 17
That reminds me that I have to throw a lot of unnecessary things out.
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
17 Apr 17
ah.ah...1 pair of lungis (short cotton dress), some innerwear, Laptop, Smartphone, a pair of shorts, the drill machine toolkit.A good towel for a bath.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
All useful items... I hadn't thought of retaining tools, but that's a good idea as well. A necessity really.
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Apr 17
I'm pretty close as it is. I have my bike, my iPod, and my phone. And few clothes.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
17 Apr 17
I have so many different knick knacks and things I've kept simply because they were my mom's... I have jewelry of hers I never wear.
1 person likes this
