In America's society "the bigger the better." Ever since we were born, it has been ingrained into our minds that owning a large house, a nice car, and a lot of money means you have a happier life. When someone doesn't own a nice house they are frowned upon. If someone chooses to travel before going to college, they are frowned upon. I used to volunteer to help feed the homeless, and let me tell you, I met some of the most grateful and happiest human beings. Even though they didn't have much money or a roof over their heads, they were all thankful to be alive. How about we, as a society, start living by the saying "less is more." Here are tips on living a minimalist life.
1. Cut down on the wardrobe.
Yes, a lot of people judge others based on the clothing they wear and the brands they can afford. But did you know that 80 percent of the time we only wear 20 percent of the clothing we have in our closet? By going through your closet and donating the items you don't wear anymore, you can take a big step toward living a more minimalist life. A few weeks ago I went through my closet and got rid of a ton of clothes I didn't wear anymore. If you aren't quite sure how to go about doing this, there is a website called Capsules that will help you minimize the clothing in your closet. This website allows you to focus on basic pieces that can be put together with other accessories to create various outfits. I used it and it is very beneficial in getting rid of a lot of clothing.
2. Living Space
I'm unsure if you have heard about "tiny homes" and how these portable houses are sweeping the nation. People are beginning to downsize. Instead of living in a 2000 sq. ft. home, families are moving into a 400 sq. ft. house on wheels. A smaller space allows less room for clutter, therefore only giving you enough room to fit the essentials that you may actually need. It is my dream to live in a tiny home and be able to park it in beautiful places around the country, but since tiny homes can cost around $40,000, I think I will stick to a small apartment for now.
3. Eliminate negative people from your life.
Creating a more minimalist life doesn't only apply to physical items you own. This can also apply to relationships with the people around you. First of all, it is unhealthy to have toxic relationships in your life. Sorry, but having an overly dramatic friend is not a normal thing. Eliminating the people in your life that you find to be holding you back is a great way to create a more minimalist mindset. It allows you to be a more positive and less stressful person, which is something a lot of people strive for but may not realize.
4. Observe what your money is going toward.
If there is a certain bill in your life that you find to be way too expensive, maybe try and find ways to minimize that bill. If there is an issue with a possession you own that may not be getting fixed, find a way to eliminate the issue. For example, if you have a car that keeps breaking down, causing you to continue to maintain it, it may be time for you to rethink owning this car and possibly sell it. Sometimes it is more beneficial to buy a new car rather than keep draining money into an old one with problems.
5. Experiences > things.
I don't really know what else to say about this except for one thing: not everything needs to be posted on social media. Live in the moment.
