I’ve been thinking about decluttering not just my space, but my life in general.
Curious to hear from guys who took the minimalist route: what did you gain (or lose) when you chose to live with less?
Men who started living with less, how has minimalism changed your life?
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I’ve been thinking about decluttering not just my space, but my life in general.
Curious to hear from guys who took the minimalist route: what did you gain (or lose) when you chose to live with less?
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Most guys I know are minimalist unless living with an SO.
Way less stress. Greater sense of wellbeing. More confidence when it comes to taking care of shit.
It’s so fucking amazing! I don’t have to worry about excess shit.
To me, for most things I own- if I don’t use it for 6 months, it’s gotta go.
Cut down to about 25 hours a week at a low stress job. Didn’t buy much. Lived frugally.
Huge plus was that daily I had little stress.
Huge downside was I knew I was probably gonna have to kill myself someday because it’s not a good retirement plan
I’d say it was my improved personal economy that allowed me to go more minimalist. Knowing you can afford to buy the thing you need if you ever have to makes it lots easier to give away, donate or throw out your old stuff.
I love it. When I got divorced, I took very little with me. Just a few furniture basics and some personal/sentimental stuff. It made me very intentional with what I bought to start life over, and I realized how little stuff I actually need. My life is clean, uncluttered, and simple. I’m so much happier.
Started with no girlfriend. That’s already 50% of living minimalistic. The house is also less decorated with stupid stuff. So that’s also a huge benefit. It makes my adhd symptoms much better with less (is more).
I just hoard shit elsewhere.
I cleaned out a bunch of camping gear I don’t use, only to buy more camping stuff.
Sold a car I didn’t use, bought another one.
As an IT guy, i wish I could declutter, but the IT gods won’t allow it. I cant even count the number of times iver thrown away a cable or adapter cos its old or useless and desperately needed it the next week
When I got divorced in my early 40s (2 kids, mortgage, the whole shebang), I restructured my life to have as few obligations as possible. Many years later I still live that way, and I strive for fewer obligations, because it’s a super peaceful way to live.
Well. I blew out all my credit cards and ended up having to claim bankruptcy after a nasty trip through a couple few rehabs. Looking at roughly $650 a month for 5 years to pay that off. Then after that I have some taxes to clean up once I can afford to do so! After all this I took it upon myself to take the initiative and quit alcohol and cocaine use. This helped me realistically afford to pay all my bills as well as keep my home. Very lucky of me. So at this point I smoke weed and use nicotine and cook nearly every meal to make ends meet. I have cancelled my home internet and don’t pay for cable so I save roughly $720 a year from internet alone. I’ve learned to be truly happy with myself and cherish the little things I love to keep me going. I don’t know what I would do without life’s only true beauty
Honestly, the more stuff I get rid of the better I feel.
It also makes moving a ton easier tbh.
The less I have, the more I realize how little I need.
I’m not anyone’s definition of serious minimalist. But before I moved this last time, I went full Marie Kondo and, with the exception of things like work clothes I have to have, got rid of anything I didn’t truly appreciate. I got rid of SO MUCH STUFF in every category.
I feel so much more peace and less stress. Think about this quote: “Everything you own comes with a silent to do list.” It might mean storing it, maintaining it, always putting it back when it’s taken out. Even just dusting it. Even if it’s not blatant, that to do list is there in the back of your mind. When you get rid of something, that to do list goes with it.
You will find peace, freedom and happiness a LOT faster and easier.
I’ve thrown out nearly everything I own to make an example for my wife and daughters. They didn’t follow or learn and filled the few new open spaces with more of their useless crap.
I’m considering moving to the shed.
Was told I had a few months to live about 5 years ago.
Divested everything to streamline the process for my wife.
Turns out by retiring and divesting everything, I got a whole lot healthier.
I got a low end car (always had nice cars before) and a few tools, but all the old possessions and pursuits don’t have much meaning anymore.
I am definitely better off without all the baggage
I have so much more money now. Downsized to a one bedroom, downgraded to a Camry, walk and bike everywhere within reason to not spend on gas, have the minimum kitchen supplies, don’t buy things unless I need them, shop for exactly what I plan on eating at Lidl, etc… I feel great and what I have feels like enough. Life is simple. Life is good!
I had to downsize heaps when I went travelling and I’ve been homeless in temporary accomodations since I stopped travelling.
I do prefer having only enough stuff to fit in my car and suitcase.
Easier to pack up and to keep tidy and clean. A tidy environment can help have a tidy mind
60M here……. my wife and I never really set out to be minimalist, but I have a job that requires constant moving. Because of this, we look at every purchase as “Is it worth hauling across the continent?”
We spent this last week trying to clean out a house my parents have lived in for 25 years….. they didn’t want to let anything go even tho they must down size significantly….. It was one of the most stressful times in both of our lives….them because they are “attached” to so much….. and us because the kids have to deal with it….. I am happy that my kids won’t have to deal with this…..
I never thought to much about being minimal is until this past week…… I remembered an old Buddhist saying I saw decades ago and took to heart
“Diving for pearls is easy. It is having them that is difficult”
words to live by
Because I had to move houses often as a kid I have this kind of mindset that I need to be able to pack my shit up quickly. If necessary, I could be packed up and ready to move in 3-4 hours. Maybe less, and I’ve lived at my current place for 7 years now.
I have stuff, but I regularly throw away everything I haven’t used in a bit that’s not an important document or the like. I also just don’t buy a lot of stuff. Most of my stuff could fit in a couple of boxes and the rest is furniture more or less.
I live in a big apartment where I only have my small bed and in some other room a desk and my computer. I’m free, I’m happy.
It gave me more space for new shit.