Living Simple and Minimal
By Loretta
@noni1959 (13048)
United States
January 2, 2019 10:36am CST
Filling your life with so much materialistic items can cause stress and anxiety with so much clutter. Our society is so materialistic many of us think we need the latest gadgets, knick knacks or even shoes. I'm bad with tote bags and purses but have dwindled them down to about 20 total and still working on letting go of my purses. I use my tote bags for storage and they look good on my open closet shelves. My goal for purses is to have two I can switch back and forth from until they are worn out.
You should never rush into getting rid of everything. You can be a minimalist or just be simple but still have a few things that mean a lot to you. Everyone who is a minimalist are different from each other but most have one goal is to have what is needed, save money and bring joy but no clutter.
It can be hard to get rid of things for different reasons. Maybe a best friend gave you a pretty bowl or you paid a good amount for one so you feel guilty for giving it away. If you can gift to someone who will use it and it not take up space and collect dust, that can bring someone else joy.
I usually go through my things every month and have a box I put stuff in I have not used in six months or more. Some things are seasonal so I don't toss in unless over the years I have not used them even then. I can fit most of what I own in one room now but I always find a box full to donate.
The hardest for me was getting rid of over 3,000 books. I originally had to when I moved out of my huge house during a divorce, into a 34 ft travel trailer. I kept 40 of my very old books and after awhile, I realized those are the ones that make me happy to have. Now when I buy books to read, I pass them to my friends who pass them on as well. I loved having a library at one time but now love not having to dust them.
My 500 sq foot cabin is almost done and I can move in March. I have been looking for ideas that are healthy, easy to clean and make it look spacious. I like being simple. I still have a few knick knacks I like which are antique and vintage but now they will fit on a floating shelf instead of several other shelves.
If you have so much and don't know where to start, just take today and focus on one area and choose three things you have not used in a very long time and put in a donation box. Stop subscriptions for magazines and read online or better yet, go to the library and have some quiet time and read them. Some have exchange bins.
Do you live simple?
9 people like this
10 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Jan 19
I do not live simple at all 
- but I am working on some serious condensing. After what we went through with my MILs stuff and the heartache, I am really trying to get rid of stuff so no one else has to deal with it someday. We worked on some of it throughout the house this winter but oh we have so much more to do. We have tons of books too. How lovely you will be moving into a cabin 
!
- but I am working on some serious condensing. After what we went through with my MILs stuff and the heartache, I am really trying to get rid of stuff so no one else has to deal with it someday. We worked on some of it throughout the house this winter but oh we have so much more to do. We have tons of books too. How lovely you will be moving into a cabin !3 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jan 19
@Marilynda1225 That is what I intend to do this year too (I won't say "resolution" officially - because then I won't get it all done 
). The thing is, with my MIL, it was all done in front of her while she is alive and well - and done by my sister in law and friends most disrespectfully - whole 'nother issue. But I realized then that we really do hold on to too much - no sense in keeping every little thing that gets tucked away and forgotten anyway.
). The thing is, with my MIL, it was all done in front of her while she is alive and well - and done by my sister in law and friends most disrespectfully - whole 'nother issue. But I realized then that we really do hold on to too much - no sense in keeping every little thing that gets tucked away and forgotten anyway.2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Jan 19
@noni1959 I think we will have to get to the point where we just clear things out regularly - good that your parents did that. We did a lot in the past week - and it felt good to just let go - we just need to keep on doing it. My MIL was forced to live simply in a senior home by my sister in law - it's better in a sense, but the way it all went down was not very nice - everything was scooped up and thrown out in front of MIL - not just junk, but heirlooms and all 
.
.1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91116)
• United States
2 Jan 19
When we had to sell my moms house and I had to go through everything it made me realize that all the stuff I was hanging on to was useless and it made me unclutter my own life. However, some things have crept back in and once again my resolution this year is to get rid of clutter and get organized.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
2 Jan 19
I live very simple. I don't need a lot to get by. I am not materialistic at all.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
2 Jan 19
@noni1959 I think as we get older we want the simpler life and less clutter
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13048)
• United States
3 Jan 19
@Happy2BeMe I know I do. I'm condensing down so much that my youngest is amazed I'm letting go of purses. I've never been materialistic but do love purses.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
2 Jan 19
Yes, I try to live simpler and simpler. I remember one time some years ago where I moved with one car load. I had no furniture to move as where I was moving already had basic furniture.
I really like your philosophy: "one goal is to have what is needed, save money and bring joy but no clutter'" 
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
3 Jan 19
@noni1959 I am presently living in a studio apartment and find it more than adequate. It consists of one room which serves as bedroom, office, storage, dining room, entertainment room, study room, etc. It has a mini kitchenette and it has a full bathroom with shower and bathtub. Quite comfortable for me!
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13048)
• United States
3 Jan 19
When I moved to Oregon, I helped my daughter move her things first and after three heavy loads with a horse trailer and two trucks going over 10K miles round trip in all, I decided my things would be one load. Once here I did get more like a dresser and bed but the move was so easy not having to haul it all.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13048)
• United States
3 Jan 19
@1hopefulman I have a friend living like this as well. It's freeing.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13048)
• United States
3 Jan 19
@LadyDuck My son did this recently while he saves for a house this spring. He doesn't like paying for the storage but he went small while doing this. Recently, he has been purging and has a goal to get rid of the storage. He has so much cook stuff he doesn't want to part with.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13048)
• United States
3 Jan 19
I was like that in the house I sold. It had an actual library. I furnished it before the house. I said no way would I get rid of my books. Here I am today with maybe 60 and they will dwindle down too. It was hard but got easier as the years passed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382107)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan 19
@noni1959 I really don't understand people who just 'go shopping' whether or not they need anything. They aren't going for something specific but just to buy stuff. I can't see the sense in that. Maybe my money was always too hard to come by to spend in this way.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
2 Jan 19
I didn't in the past, but I'm really leaning in that direction. My husband keeps getting transferred and I'm so tired of packing things up for the move!! The less the better!
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13048)
• United States
3 Jan 19
That is so hard to pack up and move often. I'd like to get some really nice jeans that are high quality and a few nice tops and that be my wardrobe. I have so many different patterns and never seem to match them up often. I'll be reducing the clothing more soon.
@Marilynda1225 (91116)
• United States
2 Jan 19
I try to live the simple life and my goal for this year is to purge things and get rid of clutter. My garage and basement have too much stuff and most of it can either be tossed or donated to our local thrift shop.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91116)
• United States
4 Jan 19
@noni1959 that's a really good idea
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Jan 19
I have never been materialistic at all, and have always lived a minimalist life. But even then, I still go through my meager possessions at least once each year to purge whatever I can. I just don't like clutter, and if I have something I'm not using, I will get rid of it. Life is so much better when you can keep things simple!
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
2 Jan 19
I love minimal, I was a minimalist and then received an inheritance that cluttered my life, but I am getting rid of those pretties now, I took a tub filled with fine glassware and 2 extremely nice Chinese urns to the old home place, they will be sold this spring. I am working to get back to me, the minimalist.
Yes my books were the hardest to part with, I had hundreds, but like you, I do not miss the dust.
1 person likes this
