Living the Minimalist Lifestyle

My husband and I (and now our daughter) are minimalists.
We've downsized everything, only have one car, no dishwasher and a clothesline for drying.
Our wardrobe consists of 2 drawers (each) and half a small closet.
Last fall I counted 66 items of clothing total.
We have one pay-as-you-go cell we bought from Futureshop 2 years ago, this phone calls and texts, thats it.

Clutter drives me crazy, even pixie's toys are confined to one small basket.
People tend to think our apartment seems "empty" but I find it very warm and comfortable.
We only have one living space, so to keep it tidy and open we really can't clutter it up.

DH and I really hated being a slave to our possessions, and wasting money on stuff instead of experiences.

Does anyone else live a minimalistic lifestyle?

Peace
- flowermama:daisy:

 

Not the way you do....but I live on the road so what I got is what's on my back!

 

and you have a computer and internet connection?

just messin with ya. i'm somewhat of a minimalist too, but i have my share of material things.

 

I hate clutter. I'd be more of a minimalist if I was single. People have commented about our "lack of decor" - the same people who don't have a single empty spot on any wall in most areas of their homes. Most think it (areas of our home) looks odd, at first, but many have later said that it's actually quite calming. I can't stand being in someone's home when it's filled to the brim.

People NEED so much less than they think they do.

 

we've been clearing out a lot of our non-necessary things lately, it's nice to have less 'stuff' to deal with.

 

would you become a nudist?

:sunny:

 

Actually the internet and a computer can be one of the best ways to minimalize. I copy all my important papers to pdf. which are backed onto a hardrive.
Likewise, all our DVD's are on a removable hard-drive, I don't need to keep the dvd cases out and displayed, I have it all at the click of a remote.
I also have a Kindle, so I only hold onto the most precious of books.

You don't have to be single to be a minimalist - thought it's harder, you can even do it with a family.
It's tough, but well worth the work.
There's even a lot of ways you can minimalize, even if your spouse doesn't feel the need to do so.

Peace
-Flowermama:daisy:

 

have to agree with you, would rather have life experiences and beautiful memories, than clutter everytime.

 

that just sounds like "electronic clutter"

 

True enough - but at least it clears up a lot of 'physical clutter' and when you live in a tiny apartment, it really helps
I'd like to get rid of the tv completely, but DH doesn't ask for much, just that we keep a tv to watch movies on, so I don't push.

 

I think I'm a "minimalist" as well, I'm not attached to materials that much! I depend on my creativity to build what I need, and as you said experience!

 

Compared with what you described I am definately living the minimalistic lifestyle too :2thumbsup:

 

I aspire to be a minimalist but it is not likely to happen in this lifetime.

 

I'm clearing out alot of clutter that has accumulated over the years. It feels great! I think as time goes by I will be able to get rid of more and more. It's just that this first great clearing is a baby step as far as learning to let go.

 

in a sense. i don't own many clothes, or plates, bowls, stuff like that. but i have a lot of books, tools for the house and garden.

 

I don't have alot of clothes. I do have some rather bullky homemade costumes that I won't part with. I have lots of dishes that I haven't been using but I think I will start to. Hubs has lots of tools, etc.

I find myself in the sandwich generation of clutter. I have stuff that my parents gave me and stuff that I've kept for my kids. Having other peoples' clutter makes it worse. I'm not a freaking storage facilty, lol!

 

I think that is silly, you're still in possession of your books and DVDs but in a different form. It's not living a minimalist life in that aspect, you're simply compacting things down with the help of technology which doesn't feel minimalist to me? So much you can hold in computers.. sort of defeats the purpose. Also, who would want to get rid of their books? Books are wonderful.

 

Not so sure I'll become a minimalist in the near future, mostly due to putting together this music studio deal... guitars, amps, keyboards, computers, rackgear, recording interfaces, microphones, cables... Kinda hard to pare that down. Besides that deal I've got books, furniture, artworks I've made, things my Father gave me (family history/artifacts) etc. Stuff that would be very hard to lose.

I did lose a lot in the flood a few years back, still recovering from that.

 

Here's some love :grouphug:. Find a good place to keep that.

 

interesting theme....