living with less

[Gerianne]

I saw a video this morning of two guys talking about living with the basic minimum of your needs.
they call themselves minimalists.
it was an interesting talk.
it made me think.

[debidoo]

I would love to be a minimalist after decades of having a horded up house due to my husband and older son and then taking over my mom's house and she was a closet hoarder.  We have managed to get rid of a lot but not enough.  All I can do is keep trying. 

[sschnelten]

Probably everyone could live with less, it would be less stress, less cleaning if you have less stuff, I can see alot of benefits to have less things...........

[cathy37]

I would love to be able to live with less, but after several years you collect things that you don't want to lose because they are special to you.

[sak4kat]

I've lived the less lifestyle before.  Still do to a BIG extent.  My husband has a butt ton of clothes.  4 closest that are overstuffed ... armoire and dresser... all over stuffed.  I have one closet for all 4 seasons.  1 pair of shoes for each season.  I don't find it necessary to have stuff - it just weighs me down.  I get this from my Dad - he worked and worked and worked wanting nothing more than a truck that ran and tools to keep working.  When he died and I looked around an oversized lifestyle... I couldn't see any signs of Dad.  Can't take it with you.

[vickysue]

As i get older i am finding i need less and less to have around me.  I have been giving a lot  of items to charity. If i have not used some things in a couple of years i don't think i will now.  In fact when spring gets here i will be going out to the shop and start getting rid of more stuff. I have been a craft hoarder and  so much of it i will never use again and other people will i just give it to any one who wants it.

[pmagalei]

I wish my mind can actually do that.  That would be very tough. I also see that minimalist survivor guys that go out in the jungle and sometimes in the Wintry weather without any shoes, He is tough. I think I am spoiled.

[Tresbn00]

I saw a documentary, in December, on Netflix about two guys and a book that they wrote about minimalism. I have lived a pretty minimalistic life for about eighteen years but set my 2017 goals even more rigidly. I calculated what people who live on food stamps have to spend on a daily basis and live on one third of that amount. I think the minimalists toted the '333' concept: wearing only thirty three items for three months. I would qualify for the 33/84 club as I have worn less than 33 items for over seven years. I trim my own hair every month so that I can diminish my cuts to three times a year. On the flip side I aim to make money during every wakeful minute (and a few things that make me money while I sleep).I have eleven phone applications that I use to make money whenever I have a fee moment.

[fillfran82]

Hello!

Now days I'm living the minimalist lifestyle. I'm not buying much of anything except the basic stuff that I need. The major reason for me to cut back is because I'm making less in my job as I devoted my full attention to my home business. I don't regret it though, even though I'm making less money I'm finally happy doing what I love. I'm willing taking a pay cut so that I can live my dream. 

[dbsaus1]

I don't know if I could ever adopt a minimalist lifestyle but I think we all can live with a little less if we think about it.

[sbenkoski]

when my mom died i moved to another state it took me 19 trips and a moving company to get moved... 50 years of my stuff, and her house. I couldn't part with her things so i packed all of her 70 years of stuff - 6 months later I was 1000 miles away with so much stuff the moving guy said (wow) I've never seen so many chairs ??  We both had 3 bedroom houses, so there I was 6 bedroom sets. A single woman with no kids!!  When I came back to MN i made one trip with a small 16 foot trailer and was lucky enough to find a Cabin rental On The Mississippi River with all the stuff i really needed  to start over with NO stuff. The 16 foot trailer is still packed and has been in storage for 5 years so I guess that stuff also isn't really important.  Ive found what really matters are the people we have in our lives and the wonderful 4 legged love of my life my dog Bunches.

[MichelleHW101]

I call minimalists living poor.  I do that myself where every penny I make is precious so I buy only what is needed.  That being said, what is needed various depending on the person.  So yes, I have a cell phone, computer, tablet, blu-ray player, tv, cable, etc.  I consider those a need in this day an age.  (Though I only have one of each.)  Yes, we all grow attached to what we have and the only way to be a true minimalist is not to form attachments.  Own 1sneaker or black shoe.  1pair of jeans (preferably black), 2 pairs of dress pants and a set of 10 blouses per season (so 40 shirts in all), a coat (preferably 2 a winter and a fall).  Then one tv, basic cable or a digital converter box with one computer (prefably a laptop that can convert to a tablet) and a cell phone.  Then all you need is to buy food.  We can all do with less 'clutter' but then we have to let go of everything that we desire, everything that makes us happy.  Personally, I scrape for every penny so if there is something I really can't let go of, I keep it or I buy it.  Being a minimalist is easy on paper, or making a video about.  Actually being one is a lot harder.       

[themrs13]

I think i could do ok living with less

[6265AT99]

Seems to me living with less is easier said than done.

[annadote]

I totally agree. The more I think about it, the more I realize how much stuff I have that I could live without. I am currently researching about the new trend of tiny houses. Living in one of those would certainly force me to get rid of unnecessary stuff.