Thread: Minimalist Living

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Living minimally is the best way IMO if you can do it. Try using the "3 second rule". Pick something up and if you can't figure out within 3 seconds whether you NEED to keep it, throw it out without question.

that's a bit hardcore.. but what i do.. i put stuff i don't often use in storage.. i date everything.. if 6 months passes without touching it.. it gets donated or given away.. i've narrowed myself down to a small wardrobe, a laptop, telephone, camera, and a rather large toiletry kit.. i do have a few things in storage that i have no plans of ever getting rid of.. such as family heirlooms and other items of sentimental value..

Originally Posted by Utopian

Having grown up on a farm, I learned to never throw anything away. Unfortunately I have continued to live that way ever since.

I'm getting a new chance at minimalistic living in 9 days though, as I will be leaving my house, and my wife, and moving to Baltimore to start a new job. I'm moving into two small rooms advertised as an artists studio in the top of a row house. There is no kitchen, no sink, and no bathroom! I have obtained permission to install a sink and to use a bathroom on a lower floor, but all I will be taking with me will be honing and restoration supplies, a dorm size fridge, a crockpot, a rice cooker, and a bread machine. I'm going to be buying a futon (traditional plain old nothing but cotton batting) tomorrow and my decor will consist of that futon and a honing table. Minimal living will consist of work, cooking/eating, sleeping, and razors!

You've pretty much described my life since April.... Luckily, I'm close enough to drive home every weekend, but I'm really enjoying this minimalist existence.

I guess I'm in the middle somewhere...

Ya gotta have a good knife, gun w/ammo and matches... Everything else is worthless w/o those...

It seems each time I get rid of "stuff"... I end up getting more "stuff"...

Originally Posted by Utopian

Having grown up on a farm, I learned to never throw anything away. Unfortunately I have continued to live that way ever since.

I'm getting a new chance at minimalistic living in 9 days though, as I will be leaving my house, and my wife, and moving to Baltimore to start a new job. I'm moving into two small rooms advertised as an artists studio in the top of a row house. There is no kitchen, no sink, and no bathroom! I have obtained permission to install a sink and to use a bathroom on a lower floor, but all I will be taking with me will be honing and restoration supplies, a dorm size fridge, a crockpot, a rice cooker, and a bread machine. I'm going to be buying a futon (traditional plain old nothing but cotton batting) tomorrow and my decor will consist of that futon and a honing table. Minimal living will consist of work, cooking/eating, sleeping, and razors!

Best of luck to you, Ron. No bathroom? In all seriousness, I'd recommend going to a paint section of a home store and buy an empty gallon or even half gallon plastic handled paint container with screw top lid. Use it as your portable urinal. That would get old very fast if you had to leave your apt every time you had to take a whiz.

Yeah, minimalist. We've been going through our stuff and giving away a bunch of stuff we know we don't need. We're setting toward a course close to bare necessities. Although I did just buy a $40 pepper mill a few minutes ago. But that counts as a necessity in my book.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

No bathroom? In all seriousness, I'd recommend going to a paint section of a home store and buy an empty gallon or even half gallon plastic handled paint container with screw top lid. Use it as your portable urinal. That would get old very fast if you had to leave your apt every time you had to take a whiz.

Chris L

Or you could go this route:

Flushable Loo 400, Camping Accessories, Reliance Products, Flushable Loo Portable Toilet Push Action Pump Comfortable Seat No Clog Clean Up Design Start Up Double Doodie Waste Bag Manual at Sportsman's Guide or

Hunter's Loo Toilet, Camo, Accessories at Sportsman's Guide

Once upon a time, I was able to carry everything I owned
in a backpack...then it was a duffle strapped on the back
of a motorcycle...then it was a pick-up truck...then it was
a moving van...

Now, 45 years later...with 2 serious hobbies, a house,
a plantation, a wife, 3 kids, and all the maintenance tools
required to sustain all that...I'd be lucky to get it all in a
40ft cargo container!

I often wonder if all that "stuff" is necessary.

Utopian, I don't envy you, but I do actually long for the
"old days".

Good luck to you!

Paul

Thanks all.. I think I may try and get the wife to do a combination of Philadelph and V's settings and if she can't think of a need for it in 3 seconds box it up.. if the box sits for a couple months we will get rid of it.

Luckily she is now shaving with a DE so all the soaps, creams and brushes will be staying. She did ask me if I needed all the straights I have been working on since I only use 1 right now.. so we will see how that goes.

I suppose it's all relative to our surroundings and expectations. I think that what would be minimalist living to many folk in the USA would be seen as a life of wealth and luxury to much of the world's population.
Even in the UK, compared to say 40-50 years ago, we seem to waste huge amounts of cash, resources and food. We buy lots of stuff that we really don't need. Greed plays a huge part.
I think sooner rather than later, minimalist living will be forced upon a lot more of us whether we like it or not. We can't compete with people getting by on a lot less.

Agreed. For me, minimalism is BUYING and acquiring less, not throwing away things that still might be of use 5 years from now. I have a lot of tools and materials that sit for a long time but I still intend to make use of them.

Then again, if we had a lot less stuff, including a house, then there would be no reason for my wife to stay behind when I move.

i think it's important to note.. i don't throw things away.. i give things to people who will use them.. i explain to them that if they ever stop using what i give them.. to pass it on to someone else..

it's also very important to minimize waste.. emissions being a big one.. getting rid of my vehicle was a huge step.. but in doing so.. i've eliminated the cost of fuel, insurance, parking fees, and maintenance.. it's also helped me cut down on wasted food while grocery shopping.. i now only purchase what is needed for the next few meals.. nothing ever has the opportunity to go to waste.

a public transportation pass in los angeles runs $75 monthly.

now if only i could cut down on the amount of money i spend on booze.