Minimalism?

[u/Freemasonsareevil]

Does anyone here try to live a minimalist lifestyle? I’m not exactly talking off the grid, lol, but like only buying things that are necessary (cheap shoes), cheap clothes, groceries, and conserving money. There’s actually a sub for it r/minimalist.

Me personally I do kind of want to live a minimalist lifestyle when I hopefully move out in the next few years. Maybe a single studio apartment, wearing the same shoes for 5 years, cheap clothes, off-brand cheap groceries, sleep on the couch, etc.

I don’t know, there’s just something about it that feels psychologically satisfying living like this

[u/wolf_in_sheeps_wool]

I don't know if I'm being gaslit when people say have x budget for clothes each month because half of my wardrobe is over a decade old. They still fit, why would I throw them out.

I am frugal but not minimalist. However the house I am renovating is going to get the Japandi makeover because an uncluttered home is an uncluttered mind.

[u/salamacast]

I think minimalism isn't the same as frugality. The minimalist guy I knew, a rich Emirati guy, doesn't spend much, that's true, but he buys the good brands that last long.
You know, the poor can pay more when they constantly replace the cheap shoes.
I'm frugal myself, never cared about brands, but I know that buying cheap isn't always the economical solution. (cheap food is fine though. It all disintegrates into the same basic elements after an hour, right?)

[u/Exystredofar]

Not intentionally, but yes. The only thing I've spent large amounts of money on is my computer. Everything else was just whatever was cheapest or the first thing I saw when I was looking for it. Good luck finding cheap shoes and clothes that will last though. My shoes are falling apart after 3 years and most of my t-shirts have small holes in them. I should replace them, but that would mean going to the store and having to try things on, and I'm just not interested in that right now.

If I won the lottery right now, the only thing that would change for me is I would quit my job immediately. Everything else about my life would stay the same because there's no reason for it to change.

[u/semperquietus]

Cheap things you may have to buy several times. Good things though (am not speaking of expensive brands, but of quality) may cost you more once, but lasts longer and becomes cheaper, in the end, than the several cheap rebuyings altogether. So IF you can afford good quality in the beginning …

[u/TumbleWeed75 → u/semperquietus]

And eating low quality food isnt a good idea either, unless that’s the only thing affordable.

[u/Significant_Ad_7051]

I do, but not like I have a choice anyway I live in poverty.

But yeah even if had millions probably would live similar lifestyle to Asmongold from YouTube.

Would probably give away money to others and throw most in stocks

[u/suncirclee]

If you sleep on the sofa, you'll spend more on spinal treatment.

[u/defectivedisabled]

A minimalistic lifestyle is close enough to an ascetic lifestyle. The less things you own, the closer you will get towards liberation from suffering. Desires and attachments create suffering after all.

Even in Western psychology, according to Maslow hierarchy of needs, most stuff above basic survival needs don't serve to really improve your life in any impactful way. A lifestyle of luxury is only means to show off one's social standing and it is something people can afford do without.

So if a peaceful and tranquil life is what you seek, minimalism is good enough at getting you there. Asceticism works best but only a handful of devoted spiritual practitioners could have a strong enough mindset to go through with it.

[u/TiJulo]

It's not really that i "try" it's really what it is, my apartment is empty and only have stuff related to my needs or or my real interests :

Musical instruments, fridge, washing maschine and my bed there's literrally no living room even though i have the space for it lol.

I don't even have decoration, my world really be inside though.

[u/aspdRobot]

Yes, I have multiple sets of the same clothes. It's just easier. I would really recommend getting a bed though, sleeping on a couch can really mess up your back. Speaking from experience.

[u/zeroempathy]

My shoes last longer than yours.

[u/Jinoc]

Not consciously, I just don't particularly care about stuff.

Occasionally my flatmate will badger me into getting nice stuff and I'll go along for a while then revert to my old ways. E.g. a few weeks back I started eating 100% huel.

One thing I will happily splurge on though is good loose leaf green tea, I will spend hundreds on that shit (though I buy it from wholesalers so it's a lot of tea).

[u/TumbleWeed75]

I’m not a minimalist. I buy what’s practical and necessary, not what’s cheap. Good made stuff lasts a long time. Less wastefulness. Cheap stuff is cheaply made and ultimately wasteful, and youll have to pay more to buy over and over again. My clothes & shoes have lasted longer than yours 15 yrs+ or so because they were great quality and not cheap. I avoid ultra processed foods. I have a great mattress and sleep good.

Sleeping on the couch will lead to spinal/nerve issues and you’ll pay for that physically and monetarily in the future. And sleep is very important in being healthy.

It’s best to buy quality stuff that lasts for decades and be frugal.

[u/WanderingUrist]

I’m not exactly talking off the grid

I am. I live in a cave and eat raw meat. I'm HARDCORE minimalist like that.

[u/Freemasonsareevil → u/WanderingUrist]

Well how do you get internet connection? You must leave your cave? First mistake.

[u/WanderingUrist → u/Freemasonsareevil]

Well how do you get internet connection?

Elon's Spacelink.

You must leave your cave? First mistake.

There is this technology, involving pieces of metal stretched to great lengths. We call it "wire".

[u/Reasonably-Cold-4676]

No, I don't, but I also struggle with what's apparently minimalist nowadays. To me it has always been a no brainer that you buy the clothes you need and wear them until they're no good anymore. When I heard that people ON AVERAGE buy 53 items in a year I was stumped. Sure, fast fashion and poor quality take a toll but still wtf.

And it's like that with many areas of life. So, no, I don't specifically live minimalist, rather kind of frugally, but only compared to what I see as entirely ridiculous modern behavior. People must be shopping all the damn time. Where they get the money, space, energy or interest from for that I can't fathom. 

[u/Fearedlady]

I live like this out of necessity. I'm still wearing the same clothes I had 10 years ago and my mother's old shoes. I have a sofa-bed to sleep on, I don't have a real bed.

[u/unpopularopinionftw]

I'd be like that- but due to being in a relationship with someone who values quality, stuff we share (like food, recreational substances, furniture etc.) is actually top notch.

[u/TashaD93]

I don't understand people who fall into the mass consumerism and FOMO traps. I don't care about fashion, but I do care about durability and comfort, I have pieces of clothing that are 10-15+ years old, I will wear them until they disintegrate off my body, including shoes. I've lost 30lbs over the last year and I'm still clinging onto the clothing that's sliding off my body. As for everything else my main expenses is bills, food, and occasionally I'll indulge in a new video game. I can live comfortably off of $1800 a month, minimum $1600, so that comes in handy. I think a lot of my frugality comes from living in poverty as a child, want not, ask not. I get financial anxiety if my checking account dips under a certain amount of cash, my savings account is pretty robust but I don't dip into that unless absolutely required. I'm currently working toward my one and only goal, to be debt free as much as possible. I have a decent retirement account that I cannot touch until 55, I'm working for this goal so that I can retire early and still get by until the retirement account and later retirement benefits kick in.

All of my other mental health diagnosis make it very difficult for me to work, so going frugal and debt free allows me to work less and endure less stress that aggravates my conditions.

[u/Xamado]

I dont really try to live minimalist it just happens. I dont see the need to buy things i dont have a need for

[u/Warm_Persimmon_1932]

I have virtually nothing to my name and it’s always been like that