The Expense of Minimalism

As soon as a movement appears its opposition starts picking it to pieces.  This is true of minimalism.  One of the recent arguments against minimalism is that it’s too expensive.  The most minimalist gadgets are far from affordable, so how can anyone possibly afford to be “truly” minimalist?

The truth is, there are some costs to minimalism.  But to help you navigate the financial requirements of being a minimalist, I have endeavored to collect a list of what you need to either purchase or already own to be minimalist.  Here goes.

1. A bowl.  Minimalists do eat, so you do, in fact, need a piece of dinnerware in order to be a minimalist.  I picked up my bowls from the Dollar Tree before being gifted a dinnerware set for my wedding.  Or you can buy this tiny, $36 million bowl.  Either way, you can eat very well out of one bowl, as proven by Food Network’s article delineating 88 One-Bowl Dinners.
2. A bed.  This one is probably up for debate, as there are minimalists who don’t own a bed.  However, owning a bed does not preclude you from being a minimalist.  In fact, my husband and I own a very expensive bed from Sleep Number.  But you aren’t required to own an expensive bed, either.  Joshua Fields Millburn, one of the two kings of minimalism, actually owns a bed, though I have no idea how much it cost him.
3. Clothes.  This is another item that is up for debate.  MapMuse hosts lists of nudist colonies by state in the US.  However, in most cities and, indeed, countries, clothing is required to be worn in public by law.  Do you have to buy this really ugly minimalist dress for $3,410 from La Garconne?  No, thank God, you don’t.  You can take a page out of Jessi Arrington’s book and wear a different outfit every day, or you can wear the same 33 pieces over and over with Project 333.  Whether you choose to shop vintage, consignment, or designer, clothes are a basic necessity for nearly all minimalists.
4. Transportation.  Yes, the Tesla is the car of choice for…well…just about everyone right now.  Especially since Elon Musk offered to cover all expenses to repair a car belonging to Manfred Kick, who damaged his Tesla to save another driver’s life.  Kudos to Mr. Kick.  However, you don’t have to spend $60,000-$100,000 on a car to be a minimalist.  Lots of us get around on our feet, a bicycle, public transportation, or even a fully-paid-for Toyota Corolla.

That about completes my list of what you really need to have to be a minimalist.  I recommend a few other items, like a toothbrush, deodorant of some sort, and maybe a backpack to carry your 15 things…bearing in mind of course that Andrew Hyde has only one of the four above items in his list of minimalist necessities.

Lazy Grazing

The variety of apps available for meal plans is staggering.  I’ve used a website to track my fitness, and it worked great.  The problem?  I hate taking the time to add in all my data.

If you were to tell me that I had to use one of those apps or die, I would probably go ahead and die.  Truthfully, my minimalism and my credit-cardlessness are both effects of this laziness.  If I don’t have a lot of stuff, I don’t have to tidy often.  If I don’t use credit cards, I don’t have to track them and make sure they’re not charging me fees out the wa-hoo.

So why should my food be any different?

My mother loves Weight Watchers, and I love their motto, “Eat to live, don’t live to eat.”  But what I don’t love is having to figure out how many points I get, how many points I’ve used, and how many points I have left.  For thousands of people, it has helped them get their weight on track.  To me, that just sounds like homework.

In reality, I want to be able to just say “yes” or “no” to food without having to think about how much or how often.  Enter the easiest “diet” ever.

Disclaimer: I hate the word “diet.”  I have a long history with diets, not because I’ve gone on them, but because I have a family member that has been on a diet since before I was born.  I don’t weigh myself, except to mark milestones, and I don’t “try out” different diets.  So moving forward when I say “diet,” I am only referring to the pattern of food consumption which one follows, not to a specific copyrighted plan.

In my opinion, Paleo, the Caveman Diet, or Processed-Food-Free, is the laziest diet ever.  And that’s why I love it.

Most diets tell you how much, when, and how many.  My personal introduction to Paleo came in three forms, and my favorite is on NerdFitness.com.  The winner in his explanation is where he explains that you can literally eat vegetables all day and never get fat.

I am an avowed grazer.  I don’t eat large meals, and I follow the philosophy of “stop eating when you’re full.”  Have you heard the expression that “if you sigh when you’re eating it’s your body trying to make more room in your stomach”?  Whether or not it’s true, hearing that expression helped me learn to be conscious of when I was full.  It started with recognizing that deep sigh when I was eating, and moved on to a viewing list full of documentaries about food production in the US.

You could say I have something of an addictive personality.

The thing is, gluten is a gateway drug for me.  If I eat cake, I want more cake.  If I eat cheese, I want more cheese.  If I eat vegetables, I want more vegetables.  Like being vegan, buying gluten-free processed foods leads to an over-consumption of sugar and starch, and ends up with me feeling like I just ate a big old stack of cardboard.

So while those fancy apps with their daily calorie counts look like a great option, an item is only effective if you use it.  Going back to being lazy is the best option for me.  

Enough Minimalism

Most people who struggle with the idea of minimalism do so because they see it as living with as little as possible.  However, if minimalism were strictly defined by as little as possible, minimalist art could not exist, as art is not a necessity.  Minimalism is often defined as being limited to only what is necessary.  For example, a minimalist in the country may be “allowed” to own a car, but a city-dwelling minimalist can’t, because public transportation is available.

On my nightstand, I have a small, red, ceramic cat.  By both of these previous definitions of minimalism, I’m not allowed to own this cat, because owning it exceeds necessity.  However, this small ceramic cat provides four functions:

1. Stores my hair elastics.
2. Stores my engagement and wedding ring while I sleep.
3. Prevents my lip balm from rolling off my nightstand.
4. Provides something aesthetically pleasing while completing these tasks.

While a small box, a bowl, or even a disposable plastic baggie could also fulfill at least three of these functions, I choose to keep it because looking at it brings me a little joy.  As a minimalist, I’m not going to go out and collect as many small, red, ceramic cats as I can find.  One is enough.

That, to me, is the definition of Minimalism.  Not as little as possible.  Not only what is necessary.  But that which constitutes enough.

For you, enough might include a collection of vintage sneakers, which you enjoy wearing and looking at.  It may look more like the lifestyle of buddhist monks, who sleep on a simple mat, own one set of clothing, and beg for food every morning.  Whatever your “enough” looks like, remember to be grateful that you have not only what you need but, if you’re like me, what brings you a little joy, too.

Saturday Short: Minimalist Realism

Minimalism will not help you escape your problems; it will, however, give you plenty of time to face them.

Married to a Minimalist: How to Talk to the Minimalist in Your Life

There are plenty of articles out there on how to deal with being a minimalist in a relationship with a non-minimalist.  Mostly, they focus around tolerance and small steps.

Since there are a lot more of "you" than of "us," I am going to take the opposite approach.  If you are in a relationship with a minimalist, here are some ways you can work to keep the peace:

I wish I really thought these old guys were talking about
minimalism.  I doubt they are.

• Understand that you don’t have to change anything.  You might feel like your minimalist is hinging their approval on the number of items you own.  If you are in a healthy relationship, your minimalist loves you whether or not you let go of any possessions.

• Thank your minimalist for their suggestions, and move on.  It’s okay to say, “That sounds like an interesting idea, but I’m not willing to do that right now.”  Often, your minimalist is trying to help and needs to know you have heard their suggestion, even if you don’t follow through with it.

• If your minimalist presses an issue, you can reply with, “Can we please drop the subject for now?  I would rather talk about something else.”  This is just good conversation skills and can be applied to any repetitive topic.

• Try to keep your things tidy.  Minimalism flare-ups often occur in two situations: something is missing or something is in the way.  If you can keep your possessions tidy, it will avoid these two situations.  Out of sight, out of mind.

• Let your minimalist know you aren’t relying on them to care for your stuff.  If you manage packing and moving your things, pitching in with laundry and cleaning, and keeping your things in good repair, it is reasonable to expect your minimalist to respect your desire to keep your things.

• Check your motives.  If you are resisting because your minimalist has an “I’m-right-and-you’re-wrong” attitude, try addressing the source of your resistance.  You can say something like, “I am open to letting go of some things, but I’m concerned that if I do, you will become over-zealous and insist on my doing more than I’m comfortable with.”  Be honest, but gentle.

• Remember that your minimalist wants the best for you.  Nagging is often a poor communication tactic for caring.  Ask your minimalist to explain how they think letting go of possessions will help you.  Most likely, their response will surprise you.

Home Design Planning

List your rooms/spaces.

Identify the primary purpose for each room.

Kitchen: Food storage/preparation

Dining Room: Playing on Computers

Living Room: Using the TV

Bathroom: Pooing (Seriously, you probably spend more time on the toilet than you do in the shower.)/ Cleaning myself

Office: Feeding pets

Bedroom: Sleeping/Storing Clothes

Garage: Storing Car & Tools

Back Yard: Storing trees

Front Yard: Admiring House

Guest Room: Making guests sleep

List anything else you are doing or would like to be doing in each room.

Kitchen: Nope

Dining Room: Eating/Entertaining

Living Room: Nope

Bathroom: Nope

Office: Playing on computers

Bedroom: Nope

Garage: Nope

Back Yard: Hanging Out

Front Yard: Nope

Guest Room: Nope

Reasons I don’t do what I want in the rooms I want to do them in:

Dining Room: Computers are in the way

Office: It smells like lizard and cat; no comfortable place to play on computers

Back Yard: Bugs

Goals:

Make Office not smell bad/be nice place to be on computers:

Add Screens to back porch.

Logic!

The Question in Minimalism

I’ve commented before on the increasingly popular activity of ranting against minimalism.  One writer calls it oppressive, another unsustainable.  My knee-jerk reaction to these comments is admittedly negative, perhaps because I remember spending three days jamming possessions into boxes when, as a 11-year-old, my family was forced to move from a large house to a tiny apartment due to my parents’ divorce.

The relief of knowing I can lose all my possessions and easily replace them all is a boon to me.

Anti-minimalists – because they aren’t just not minimalists but are public critics of the lifestyle – seem to be struck by terror that the minimalists are coming to take all their things away and force them to live with a single pea on their plate.  As shown in this graphic.  The horror.  They resist the fact that there is no Minimalist Inquisition arriving, and even hoarders are unlikely to be strapped to the rack and tortured until they deny their faith and take up the cross of minimalism.

While minimalists may practice decluttering or frugality religiously, it is, for the long-term minimalist, because these activities produce a greater sense of peace, prosperity, and even joy.  Nowhere is it written that, once minimalist, no person may ever purchase an extra pair of socks or eat a steak, though the self-righteous editorialist may decry him as heretical.

That said, I was struck by half a sentence in the single-pea article that made me view minimalism a little differently: “There’s an arrogance to today’s minimalism that presumes it provides an answer rather than, as originally intended, a question”.  The article goes on to (arrogantly) provide “the question” for the reader.  But the idea that minimalism is a question rather than an answer captivated me.

When I began self-identifying as a minimalist (long after my minimalist tendencies had taken hold), I found it annoying when minimalists would disclaim items they owned.  “I still have a TV,” some would say, or, “We eat out,” or, “I have a collection of lipstick.”  It was as if, by owning these items, the person was less valuable as a minimalist.  It seemed to me they were stating the obvious.  After all, nobody is ignorant enough to believe that all minimalists own only a single chair, or no furniture, are they?  Only a friendless minimalist is likely to be content without seating for guests.

The assumption seems to be that, when a person tells you she is a minimalist, the minimalist is ordering you to get rid of everything and live as a monk.

In Japan, I lived without a bed for two years not because I was a proudly sacrificial minimalist; I had never heard of minimalism.  Rather, it is culturally normal in Japan to sleep on a futon, fold it up and put it away every morning, as one might make a bed.  The act of placing the sleeping materials tidily out of the way was refreshing.  I “made my bed” daily in Japan because it reduced visual clutter, even though I wasn’t aware of the concept yet, and provided more space to live my life in until bedtime.

Back in the US, Lizard Boy and I have a bed.  Not only do we have a bed, we have a Sleep Number bed.  And we love it.  And yes, I am still a minimalist, not a Buddhist monk.

Why do I have a $3,000 bed?  For one thing, my husband and I like to sleep together, but do not like the same firmness of mattress.  For another, we saved our cash to be able to buy one, so by definition we were able to afford one.  In a way, sharing an adjustable bed instead of buying two separate beds is an act of minimalism, but minimalism was not the driving force in our decision.

So, what is this big question that minimalism is supposed to represent?  As the style of minimalist art was created by men and women who wanted to provide a new way of looking at art, the lifestyle of minimalism is about providing a new way of looking at life.  Minimalism is embodied in the question, “Should this be important to me?”  Sometimes, the answer is yes, and we keep the relationship, hobby, memorabilia, or $3,000 bed to share with our spouse.  Other times, like fearful and arrogant attitudes, the answer is no, and we shed those unimportant aspects of our lives and move forward with a feeling of freedom.

Saturday Short: Minimalist Giving

Give away something today, even if it is only a smile.

One Outfit to Rule Them All

You know those experiments that people try and other people go, “Ew, I could never do that”?  Well, I want to do one.  This has actually been brewing for a little while in my brain, and I know it makes me entirely weird, as a woman, to want to do this.

Earlier this year, I was on kickstarter.com when I came across the “Last Shirt on Earth” campaign. ( Why is it they always come out with cool stuff for guys first?)  But the idea of one shirt that you can wear forever was more than appealing to me.

While most people think they wear something different every day, the majority of Americans have a uniform.  For some people, it’s a T-shirt and jeans, for others, slacks and a button-up, and for others, a full suit.  I’m in the T-shirt and jeans category.  I have a friend who seems to wear a completely different, super-cute outfit every day, and while I admire that, I just know that’s not how I’m ever going to roll.  I am too busy playing Minecraft with Kiwi friends to spend that much time thinking about clothes.

If we wear the same type of clothing every day, why not just wear the same clothes?

“Eww, that’s so nasty!  What about germs and diseases and dirt and…”

I sit in an office all day.  Seriously.  All day.  Like, 10-hour days.  So how am I supposedly going to get dirty?  I shower in the morning, put on clean clothes, and change out of my "work clothes" in the evening, usually into some kind of lounge wear, unless I’m going somewhere with my husband, in which case I actually might dress up a little.  So why not wear the same jeans and T-shirt every day for a week?

Shocking fact #1: I wore the same shirt and sweater every day last week and nobody at work noticed.  Scary, right?

If you haven’t seen the phenomenal infographic showing Steve Jobs’ wardrobe progression from 1998 to 2011, try Googling ‘Steve Jobs wardrobe.’  As a guy who was worth over $10 Billion when he died, he had every right to wear the most expensive clothing, but chose to keep his focus free for his passion, instead of being concerned about how unique his daily outfit was.

I am not busting on people who make a concerted effort to wear a completely different outfit every day.  Jessi Arrington gave a great TED talk on shopping thrift stores and travelling with minimal items.  Here’s a girl who makes bolder fashion choices than 99% of the US population, and I admire her pursuing her passion.

It simply isn’t my passion.

Shocking fact #2: The idea of having only 6 items hanging in my closet makes me a little giddy.  In a happy way.

So here's the question: does the idea of wearing the same clothes every day freak you out?  Or does that seem like a welcome break from having to make a decision before your brain is functioning in the morning?

How We Should Live

Disclaimer: These are things I really like.  I think they are a better alternative to what they would replace.  I do not have science to back this up, just lots of stuff I’ve read and, in some cases, rubbed between my fingers.

We should live...

• On radiant heated floors – If you struggle with allergies, like Cat Girl, radiant heat is a super preventative way to avoid airborne allergens.  It also doesn’t dry out the air like forced air systems do.  Hurrah!  Did we mention no more cold-floor-on-feet?

• As minimalists – Less consumption, less distraction, more time for what matters.

• Debt-free – Having control over your money instead of pre-promising it to people who are not your friends is way more fun.  Trust me.

• On solar power – No pollution-producing power FTW.  Also, less noise pollution.  Boom.

• Clothed in bamboo – It’s super soft, it doesn’t require loads of pesticides, it requires less water than cotton, and is naturally antimicrobial, meaning you can wash it less and it will not stink.  Did I mention it’s super soft?

• Eating organic food – Sure, lots of people disagree with me on this one.  So maybe we should say some kinds of organic food.  But I certainly prefer the idea of not eating loads of chemicals in my veg.  Maybe it’s just me.

• With Kindness – The world lives by a “you show me yours and I’ll show you mine” philosophy on kindness.  Be the first one to smile.

• Generously – If you have surplus and see someone in need, pay it forward.

• Small, Slowly, Mindfully –Different words for the same concept.  When you don’t take things for granted, they always seem better.

The Longest Day

I work a 50-hour a week job.

Don’t get all judgey on me.  And yes, I’m still an avowed/evolved minimalist.  (I should talk about how I discovered and warped into a minimalist some day.)

Weirdly, right now I consider that I get to work 50 hours a week.  If you had asked me a year ago, or even a couple months ago, if I would consider working 50 hours a week, I would have laughed in your face.  And probably made a real jerk of myself in the process.

But things change, and with no debt and my husband working evenings, a 50-hour work week seems to make a lot of sense.  Even if I got home two hours sooner, I wouldn’t get to see him until 8 or 9 at night, so the extra time is a blessing.

Here’s why  working 50 hours a week works for me right now:

1. 

   Overtime.  Duh.  Wouldn’t do it otherwise.  Extra money means I’m moving toward my goals faster.
2. The work.  I probably wouldn’t like it as much if I constantly had people demanding things of me.  In the job I’m currently working at, aka. temping, I am left fairly alone and trusted to get the things done for which I am responsible.
3. Minimal home responsibilities.  As a minimalist, I don’t have a ton of things to manage at home.  True, I should probably clean a little more than I do…”should.”  But if I don’t go home and do my laundry tonight it’s not the end of the world.  I’ll just wear the same thing tomorrow.
4. Learning time.  On my drive to and from work, as well as at work, I play podcasts that are uplifting and educational.  I turn my drive time from a nuisance to nutrition for my brain.
5. Focus.  I’m not working 50 hours a week because I am trying to pay off debt or improve a career.  I am working in a position that I’m enjoying and working extra to make more money for me, not debt.  This makes the work much more enjoyable than if I were focused on something arbitrary.

I know people who work 50, 60, or 70 hours and are just busy, not happy.  I don’t recommend that everyone work 50 hours a week. Happiness and a long work week are not mutually exclusive, though. When you are working because you want to and not because you have to, the whole story changes.

Besides, what else would I do?  Add another week to my monthly TV time?

A Month Of Clothes

There is a lot of talk around the minimalist community about clothes.  From what some would consider insanely tiny wardrobes to the philosophy that, if clothes is your passion, collect what you want; the only real consensus is that there isn’t one.

Many people struggle more with their closet than any other area of their house.  The truth is, balancing feeling confident in your clothes and keeping the list to a minimum can be tough.  So here are two lists, one for ladies and one for men, to give you an idea of a very real, and reasonable, way to have a new outfit for every day of the month without battling a bursting closet or feeling like you’re stuck in a rut.

Ladies’ Clothes List (48)
Outdoor Winter Coat Leather Jacket Casual Jacket/Hoodie Scarf Hat Gloves Warm Sweater Snow Boots	Swim & Sleep 2 Swimsuits Swim Cover-Up Summer Sleepwear Winter Sleepwear Slippers Bathrobe
Business (21 Outfits) 2 Skirts 2 Pants 5 Work-Appropriate Tops Blazer/Sweater Dress (Business Casual)	Casual/Weekends (10 Outfits) 1 Jeans 1 Shorts 2 Tank Tops 2 T-Shirts/Casual Tops Long-Sleeved Shirt
Loungewear Pair Yoga Pants/Comfortable Pants Loose Top	Shoes Running Shoes Casual Boots Sneakers/Casual Shoes Sandals/Flip-Flops Professional Flats Professional Heels Dress Shoes Work Shoes (mowing lawn, gardening, etc.)
Gym Pair Running Shorts Sweat-Wicking Top
Formal Cocktail Dress

Here’s a little explanation of what you’re seeing: if you are determined to wear a different outfit every day of the month, this gives you plenty of options.  With an average of 20 work days per month, four bottom pieces and five top pieces give you the perfect number to wear a different combination every day, and then start over again on the first of the next month.

Men’s Clothes List (45)
Outdoor Winter Coat Leather Jacket Casual Jacket/Hoodie Scarf Hat Gloves Warm Sweater Snow Boots	Swim & Sleep 2 Swimsuits Summer Sleepwear Winter Sleepwear Slippers/House Shoes Bathrobe
Business (20 Outfits) 3 Pants 5 Shirts (+5 Ties if Required) Suit Blazer/Sportcoat	Casual/Weekends (10 Outfits) 1 Jeans 1 Shorts 4 T-Shirts Long-Sleeved Shirt
Loungewear Comfortable Pants Comfortable Top	Shoes Formal Dress Shoes (Black) Casual Dress Shoes (Black) Casual Dress Shoes (Brown) Sneakers/Casual Shoes Running Shoes Sandals Boots (Work or Casual)
Gym Running Shorts Sweat-Wicking Shirt
Formal Tuxedo (Optional)

Granted, this list won’t be perfect for everyone.  If you are at the gym five days a week, you might want to beef up your workout wardrobe.  If you aren’t accustomed to formal events every month, you might forego the tuxedo and rent as required.  Ladies, it makes sense to have at least one cocktail dress, or LBD, in your closet for those unexpected events, and a business-casual dress works for a date or to mix up the work regime.

You may have been surprised to notice that there are only three more items in the ladies’ section than men’s.  Those, specifically, are the business-casual dress, a pair of casual high or low boots, and a swimsuit cover-up, each of which, obviously, could be foregone altogether.  We tend to think men’s and women’s wardrobes are extremely different but, realistically, we both have the same number of arms and legs, and wear very similar clothing pieces.

A note on swimsuits: you might think one is plenty, but if you are traveling, especially on vacation, it is far more comfortable to have a fresh swimsuit each morning, or even after meals, to hit the beach or the pool again.  While you could argue that one, or five, is the correct number, two is the basic necessity for being dry before you get into the water.