Topic: the minimalist philosophy
teadipper's photo
Sun 05/13/12 04:46 AM
I am facing moving tons of stuff into a tiny apartment. I keep coming across minimalists. I am thinking that is the way too go. Less stuff. Less headaches. I wonder what others thought of this philosophy.

Derekkye's photo
Sun 05/13/12 05:26 AM
Brevity is the soul of wit...so minimalism sounds good to me

Conrad_73's photo
Sun 05/13/12 05:58 AM
So dang hard to practice!:smile:
Oh,let me keep this for a while longer!
Might as well hang on that a bit longer!
Guess the Hunter/Gatherer-Type is still very much alive within us!
First we go look for it,then can't let it go!laugh

no photo
Sun 05/13/12 07:52 AM
Edited by Leigh2154 on Sun 05/13/12 07:54 AM
First I was going to reply to Tea because I agree with her, then I read Derek and I agree with him and he seems to agree with Tea, and then I read (((Con))) and he's right too!laugh

I am in the process of dismantling my parents home ( the house sold this month)...It a nightmare for me and for my mother!...Both of us have cried a river over this and both of us have made this statement over and over....."How did I ever accumulate so much and why?!"...This experience has me leaning strongly toward a minimalist lifestyle for my golden years...I am even considering having a house built to fit that type of lifestyle.....

Conrad_73's photo
Sun 05/13/12 08:00 AM

First I was going to reply to Tea because I agree with her, then I read Derek and I agree with him and he seems to agree with Tea, and then I read (((Con))) and he's right too!laugh

I am in the process of dismantling my parents home ( the house sold this month)...It a nightmare for me and for my mother!...Both of us have cried a river over this and both of us have made this statement over and over....."How did I ever accumulate so much and why?!"...This experience has me leaning strongly toward a minimalist lifestyle for my golden years...I am even considering having a house built to fit that type of lifestyle.....
Guess ultimately we just can't get out of our ways!
Must be hardwired into us,somehow!:smile: waving

no photo
Sun 05/13/12 08:06 AM


First I was going to reply to Tea because I agree with her, then I read Derek and I agree with him and he seems to agree with Tea, and then I read (((Con))) and he's right too!laugh

I am in the process of dismantling my parents home ( the house sold this month)...It a nightmare for me and for my mother!...Both of us have cried a river over this and both of us have made this statement over and over....."How did I ever accumulate so much and why?!"...This experience has me leaning strongly toward a minimalist lifestyle for my golden years...I am even considering having a house built to fit that type of lifestyle.....
Guess ultimately we just can't get out of our ways!
Must be hardwired into us,somehow!:smile: waving


Yep, I think you are right...Also the fruits of our labor, our comforts, our memories, our gifts, our books, our art.....................................Our stuff!!laugh

msmyka's photo
Sun 05/13/12 09:15 AM
I will never be a minimalist but I will tell you when I moved into the place I'm in now I got rid of a ton of "stuff" and it felt GREAT.

no photo
Sun 05/13/12 09:37 AM

I will never be a minimalist but I will tell you when I moved into the place I'm in now I got rid of a ton of "stuff" and it felt GREAT.


:thumbsup: .....Like losing unwanted pounds!laugh laugh

msmyka's photo
Sun 05/13/12 09:38 AM


I will never be a minimalist but I will tell you when I moved into the place I'm in now I got rid of a ton of "stuff" and it felt GREAT.


:thumbsup: .....Like losing unwanted pounds!laugh laugh


Unfortunately no actual pounds came off during the great purge of 2011 LOL

galendgirl's photo
Sun 05/13/12 09:55 AM
About 10 years ago I did a major "get rid of stuff" sweep at my home. What a catharsis! SO liberating!

I've since moved and gotten rid of more but tends it creeps back in. I regularly evaluate if I've over-saved "stuff" and take things to the thrift store or otherwise clean it out.

I also really TRY to think "where will I put this and how will it be used" when I bring home a treasure. If it doesn't have a place it shouldn't come home with me, no matter how much I like it or what a good bargain it might be.

I'm not a genuine minimalist, but compared to a lot of others I know, my "stuff" factor is low.

msmyka's photo
Sun 05/13/12 10:02 AM
Here's something else I learned... storage bins are amazing. They are great for storage and moving. They make it much easier to get to things that you want to keep but are not everyday needed items and they provide a lot more protection than cardboard moving boxes. Getting that kind of stuff out of the way and into a closet or garage helps A LOT for organization in a small place. Clear ones are good because you can see what's in them. I also label mine.




no photo
Sun 05/13/12 10:13 AM

About 10 years ago I did a major "get rid of stuff" sweep at my home. What a catharsis! SO liberating!

I've since moved and gotten rid of more but tends it creeps back in. I regularly evaluate if I've over-saved "stuff" and take things to the thrift store or otherwise clean it out.

I also really TRY to think "where will I put this and how will it be used" when I bring home a treasure. If it doesn't have a place it shouldn't come home with me, no matter how much I like it or what a good bargain it might be.

I'm not a genuine minimalist, but compared to a lot of others I know, my "stuff" factor is low.


:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What really floored me in going through this with my mother is how LITTLE people are willing to pay for the things you worked your butt off to get!!!...Major reality check!.....

msmyka's photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:21 AM


:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What really floored me in going through this with my mother is how LITTLE people are willing to pay for the things you worked your butt off to get!!!...Major reality check!.....


That's why I normally choose to donate to friends and family. If I can't sell it for decent amount then it might as well go to someone who I know will love it like I did.

galendgirl's photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:25 AM
For Mother's Day I'm being a mom...getting the guest room/sewing room ready for my college student to spend the summer with me. I am amazed at how much stuff has already crept back in - I had space, and things accumulated.

Guess who's going to the thrift store bin today?

Happy Mother's Day!
flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou

no photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:41 AM



:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

What really floored me in going through this with my mother is how LITTLE people are willing to pay for the things you worked your butt off to get!!!...Major reality check!.....


That's why I normally choose to donate to friends and family. If I can't sell it for decent amount then it might as well go to someone who I know will love it like I did.


We did do a lot of that Myka and it made momma feel good to know many of her things would stay in the family or go to friends who will cherish them...after everyone picked out the things they wanted, we ran a "moving sale" ad....next and final step will be donating to Habitat for Humanity....We are almost there!!:banana:

Conrad_73's photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:42 AM



First I was going to reply to Tea because I agree with her, then I read Derek and I agree with him and he seems to agree with Tea, and then I read (((Con))) and he's right too!laugh

I am in the process of dismantling my parents home ( the house sold this month)...It a nightmare for me and for my mother!...Both of us have cried a river over this and both of us have made this statement over and over....."How did I ever accumulate so much and why?!"...This experience has me leaning strongly toward a minimalist lifestyle for my golden years...I am even considering having a house built to fit that type of lifestyle.....
Guess ultimately we just can't get out of our ways!
Must be hardwired into us,somehow!:smile: waving


Yep, I think you are right...Also the fruits of our labor, our comforts, our memories, our gifts, our books, our art.....................................Our stuff!!laugh
yep,all we Stuff!
Might somehow need it to hang our Memories on to!

Conrad_73's photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:44 AM


I will never be a minimalist but I will tell you when I moved into the place I'm in now I got rid of a ton of "stuff" and it felt GREAT.


:thumbsup: .....Like losing unwanted pounds!laugh laugh
BTW,where do them Pounds go when People lose them?
Do they report them to Lost and Found?laugh

no photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:50 AM



I will never be a minimalist but I will tell you when I moved into the place I'm in now I got rid of a ton of "stuff" and it felt GREAT.


:thumbsup: .....Like losing unwanted pounds!laugh laugh
BTW,where do them Pounds go when People lose them?
Do they report them to Lost and Found?laugh


I'm not sure Confrown ...I knowthink ,,,,,lets ask the truthers, they know everything!!

laugh

Conrad_73's photo
Sun 05/13/12 11:53 AM




I will never be a minimalist but I will tell you when I moved into the place I'm in now I got rid of a ton of "stuff" and it felt GREAT.


:thumbsup: .....Like losing unwanted pounds!laugh laugh
BTW,where do them Pounds go when People lose them?
Do they report them to Lost and Found?laugh


I'm not sure Confrown ...I knowthink ,,,,,lets ask the truthers, they know everything!!

laugh
Might get some Outlandish "Theory"!:smile: