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Do you live a minimalist lifestyle?

I'm in the process of condensing all my belongings down to a single suitcase and a box. It's surprisingly liberating.

by Anonymousreply 92September 22, 2020 10:15 PM

How old are you, OP? How much stuff are you getting rid of? Have you always been good about keeping your life clutter-free?

by Anonymousreply 1April 14, 2014 2:43 AM

I've been wanting to do this. All my belongings are in my bedroom and closet, but I'd like to get them down to 3 of those plastic ocntainers and a suitcase.

by Anonymousreply 2April 14, 2014 2:46 AM

It takes a lot of money to live in a van down by the river. But you need 10 years of your IRS documents.

by Anonymousreply 3April 14, 2014 2:47 AM

I need to do this myself, OP. I'm having to get a roommate to pay the bills and need to get rid of as much as I can.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

by Anonymousreply 4April 14, 2014 2:53 AM

One suitcase it too little, but yes having less stuff feels liberating.

by Anonymousreply 5April 14, 2014 2:55 AM

R1, I'm 25. I didn't have a ton of possessions before but I've been throwing away a lot of old clothes (I had about 3 suitcases worth even though I basically dress like Steve Jobs everyday) and paperwork. But given what I use on a daily basis, I really shouldn't own more than a suitcase and my laptop. I also rent a room in a house (it's cheaper) so I don't have my own furniture. I guess I'm not the best example of a former 'maximalist' but it feels good knowing I can fit everything I own in my subcompact.

by Anonymousreply 6April 14, 2014 2:56 AM

[quote]But you need 10 years of your IRS documents.

I thought it was seven years.

by Anonymousreply 7April 14, 2014 2:56 AM

[quote][R1], I'm 25.

When I was 25 I could fit everything I own into one suitcase, too. Sheesh.

by Anonymousreply 8April 14, 2014 2:59 AM

The OP is pretending to be homeless and thinks it's liberating.

What a pile of entitled clods this country is producing. They wouldn't recognize authentic experience if it ran over them like a semi.

by Anonymousreply 9April 14, 2014 3:02 AM

R9, did you miss the part where I said I'm renting? Who's pretending to be homeless?

by Anonymousreply 10April 14, 2014 3:04 AM

R8, R1: Well then you were doing much better at 25 than I am now.

by Anonymousreply 11April 14, 2014 3:05 AM

[quote][R8], [R1]: Well then you were doing much better at 25 than I am now.

Are you stupid? I said I had just as much belongings as you do when I was 25.

by Anonymousreply 12April 14, 2014 3:09 AM

*as many*

by Anonymousreply 13April 14, 2014 3:12 AM

Oh, fab.

Another poor person's thread.

by Anonymousreply 14April 14, 2014 3:13 AM

R12: And I said I'm in the PROCESS of condensing all my belongings down to a single suitcase and a box. I'm not done. A) Learn to read. B) I get that this is DL so the name of the game is to be as rude as possible but at least try to funny/witty or marginally helpful. Otherwise, fuck off.

by Anonymousreply 15April 14, 2014 3:24 AM

R14: Funny that you equate downsizing with poverty. I'm guessing you never learned logic at school?

by Anonymousreply 16April 14, 2014 3:25 AM

Exactly, R16. I look at the ads for high end housing, design and decorating and wonder where those people put all their stuff because there's not a knick-knack or as much as a small, loose piece of paper anywhere to be seen!

by Anonymousreply 17April 14, 2014 3:45 AM

Sweety, you may have reduced your belongings to a single suitcase and a box, but let me tell you, eventually, you'll need a shopping cart.

by Anonymousreply 18April 14, 2014 3:51 AM

Stop bitching.

by Anonymousreply 19April 14, 2014 4:03 AM

You are not funny, OP. Angry and stupid, yes; funny, no.

by Anonymousreply 20April 14, 2014 4:03 AM

Why does EVERYthing have to be met with contempt and suspicious? You can make a thread on nice diner and people will find some fault in that, and likely question if the diner even exists.

by Anonymousreply 21April 14, 2014 8:57 AM

That's the culture of the Datalounge. There are a million other websites that have a lot of kumbayah going on. Find one.

by Anonymousreply 22April 14, 2014 11:46 AM

No, I don't live a "lifestyle".

by Anonymousreply 23April 14, 2014 11:52 AM

[quote]I'm in the process of condensing all my belongings down to a single suitcase and a box. It's surprisingly liberating.

What the fuck is point of condensing all your belongings down to a single suitcase and box? So you and Zelda can flit off to a decades' long run of staying in friends' villas and Ritz Hotels? So you can be a hobo and hop the southbound and eat beans from cans and trade tales with hobo confreres? So you can feel superior to people "weighed down" by their tables and chairs and houses?

I'm with R9 and think you anxious to shed things in the vain hope of acquiring some authentic experience.

It's a generation of people paralyzed by fear of TV shows about hoarders, unable to separate normal adult experience from severe mental disorders.

by Anonymousreply 24April 14, 2014 12:14 PM

So many people have storage units for all the shit they want to keep but probably don't even look at and or obviously use any longer. So they pay a monthly rental fee for it. I think OP is smart to want to downsize his life. Go in your closet and if you haven't worn something for the last year or two, pull it. You can donate it or sell it on eBay. Same with all the bric a brac that you've got in boxes or stored in the attic. If you don't want to go the eBay route have a garage sale or donate it to Salvation Army. Feels good to be rid of clutter. Your junk maybe somebody's treasure!?

by Anonymousreply 25April 14, 2014 12:16 PM

[quote] I'm with R9 and think you anxious to shed things in the vain hope of acquiring some authentic experience.

[quote] It's a generation of people paralyzed by fear of TV shows about hoarders, unable to separate normal adult experience from severe mental disorders.

Typical fat American mentality. MOAR MOAR MOAR!

America is bogged down in this gluttonous advertising consumptionist mentality that we MUST HAVE and NEED all of this bullshit.

I LOVE minimalists. We need what we need. But advertisers would love to make us think that we NEED more than we really do.

American culture is all about advertising and consumption, trying to convince us that we need things that we really don't need. That is the essence of capitalism.

The truth is that we don't need the majority of what we are TOLD we need, and hence the overabundance of useless CRAP in our lives.

Wake the fuck up, people. The only things we REALLY need are food, water, shelter, clothing, hygienes, and warmth. Anything else is just EXCESS.

by Anonymousreply 26April 14, 2014 1:20 PM

Trying doing this 20 years ago when your pron collection was magazines and VHS tapes!

by Anonymousreply 27April 14, 2014 1:31 PM

I just read a book by a British guy, he was a failed IT entrepreneur and switched to being an IT columnist. He figured out that, for the same price as the rent on his tiny flat in London plus utilities, he'd be able to live in upscale hotels anywhere in the world--apparently they all have a monthly rate and don't charge tax on it. All he needed was a laptop and good internet connection to do his job.

He pared down his belongings to the maximum size carry-on and provided a list in the book, 3-4 shirts, 3-4 tshirts, a pair of jeans, sports jacket, Converse sneakers, a toiletry kit. He was a writer and said no one expects writers to dress up.

It was an interesting read.

by Anonymousreply 28April 14, 2014 1:46 PM

Definitely not me. That sounds WAY too extreme. I'm all for decluttering but I love having a good basic set of cookingware, clothes for all 4 seasons, etc.

I think if you have a strong urge to purge yourself of all possessions, as a life-experience thing, go for it.

But you'll probably end up coming out the other side of it and having more stuff in the future.

by Anonymousreply 29April 14, 2014 1:50 PM

R28, what's the title of the book?

by Anonymousreply 30April 14, 2014 1:56 PM

[quote]I'm in the process of condensing all my belongings down to a single suitcase and a box. It's surprisingly liberating.

Know what else will hold all your belonging and be truly liberating?

A coffin.

by Anonymousreply 31April 14, 2014 2:02 PM

R31 = a WalMart heir, desperately trying to convince people that we need to buy buy buy!!!

by Anonymousreply 32April 14, 2014 2:06 PM

R28, that guy is living my dream. I would kill to live in hotels and they don't even need to be super upscale for my tastes. For what a lot of people pay in rent, they could easily live in a nice hotel that provides essentially free housecleaning, furniture, and a meal. Right now, my rent is too cheap to justify moving but I would it in a heartbeat otherwise.

by Anonymousreply 33April 14, 2014 3:33 PM

Re: IRS audits:

Q. How far back can the IRS go to audit my return?

A. Generally, the IRS can include returns filed within the last three years in an audit. Additional years can be added if a substantial error is identified. Generally, if a substantial error is identified, the IRS will not go back more than the last six years.

All records should be computerized, so there's no reason to keep hard copies.

by Anonymousreply 34April 14, 2014 3:51 PM

Oh, and it looks like the author is Paul Carr.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 35April 14, 2014 3:51 PM

You can scan all of your porn mags into your PC. I did this a few years ago with all of my porn magazines. Two decades of Black Inches, Latin Inches, Blueboys and Playgirls are now on one thumb drive.

by Anonymousreply 36April 14, 2014 4:09 PM

yes, it was Paul Carr and the title is The Upgrade. Another tactic was to rent a villa off-season when owners were willing to rent cheaply just to have someone living there for security. Then he turned around and invited his friends to come for brief stays for less than they'd pay for a hotel.

by Anonymousreply 37April 14, 2014 4:27 PM

[quote] Two decades of Black Inches, Latin Inches, Blueboys and Playgirls are now on one thumb drive.

The entire magazines or select photos? Also, I hope you made a backup copy of that thumb drive.

by Anonymousreply 38April 14, 2014 7:28 PM

Until I met my partner I did. Unfortunately 18 years of wedded bliss required collecting a lot of stuff.

by Anonymousreply 39April 14, 2014 7:36 PM

In my 20s and 30s I moved around so much and often in small apartments with minimal storage, so I tended not to accumulate too much stuff.

A few years ago I bought a house and I have every closet filled, plus stuff in the attic. I want to get rid of a lot of it, but it's overwhelming.

by Anonymousreply 40April 14, 2014 7:36 PM

All of a sudden, I want to get rid of CDs and books and dishes. Stop talking. All of you. Stop it, I say.

by Anonymousreply 41April 14, 2014 7:38 PM

R41, books have been a problem for me too. I love physical books but I tend to move a lot and they're a pain to lug around.

by Anonymousreply 42April 14, 2014 7:40 PM

I'd love to do this myself. I've collected too much shit over a lifespan of 40 years.

I will get rid of most of my shit this coming Easter. But I will keep my books.

by Anonymousreply 43April 14, 2014 7:42 PM

OP, what will you keep? Please tell us!

by Anonymousreply 44April 14, 2014 7:45 PM

I moved about 15 years ago and got rid of 1,000+ books. The only ones I missed were some cookbooks. I ended up buying some of them back.

by Anonymousreply 45April 14, 2014 7:55 PM

I moved to another city once with just a suitcase. Nothing in my apt. was worth anything (Salvatione Arme') and I sold my old car for a couple hundred.

I remember laying on my rooming house room's carpet and feeling like a blank chalkboard.

by Anonymousreply 46April 14, 2014 8:01 PM

Almost every photo (R38) except for the smaller pics in the phone sex ads. They are on my desktop hard drive. The thumb drive is the back up.

by Anonymousreply 47April 14, 2014 8:02 PM

EEK !

by Anonymousreply 48April 14, 2014 8:12 PM

i thought legally you only need 3 or 4 years of irs document? for anything?

by Anonymousreply 49April 14, 2014 8:16 PM

R44, I'm only keeping my clothes and a box full of camera stuff. I've also got a tripod which I suppose counts as a third item but...eh.

I also need to throw away a lot of clothes because I don't wear most of them. I'm mostly trying to downsize my gym wear to just 1-2 high quality workout shirts and pants. I've been using a lot of cotton T-shirts for working out and they just take up space.

by Anonymousreply 50April 14, 2014 8:17 PM

Oh, my ! Too many cotton shirts !

by Anonymousreply 51April 14, 2014 8:20 PM

[quote]I've been using a lot of cotton T-shirts for working out and they just take up space.

If you've been using these shirts, they don't just take up space. They're something you're using. Don't give up so much stuff you want to buy it back two weeks from now.

by Anonymousreply 52April 14, 2014 8:21 PM

R52, that's true but I see some guys in my gym that use those Under Armour-style workout shirts. I'm wondering if it would be better to just have a few of those instead of 20 cotton shirts. That way, I could rotate between them and even hand wash them during the week. Cotton holds a lot of moisture so I think the cotton shirts get dirtier quicker and they're not easy to handwash/dry. So I end up only being able to use it once before it goes in the hamper.

by Anonymousreply 53April 14, 2014 8:25 PM

OP, this is a joke, right?

by Anonymousreply 54April 14, 2014 8:40 PM

R54, no...Why do you ask?

by Anonymousreply 55April 14, 2014 8:46 PM

OP google Graham Hill. He's a bit self-righteous, and a millionaire from tree hugging, but he did create an amazing apartment with only about 500 square feet that basically allows him to do whatever he wants in a miminal style etc

by Anonymousreply 56April 14, 2014 8:48 PM

Because owning nothing more than what you can fit in a single suitcase and a box is extreme. You could star in an episode EXTREME UN-HOARDERS.

by Anonymousreply 57April 14, 2014 8:49 PM

R57, I see what you mean. I guess it depends on lifestyle. I don't have any furniture and I don't cook since my job provides meals (although I should probably start cooking) so I don't have a need for most things. The only things I use everyday at home are my clothes, toiletries, and my computer.

by Anonymousreply 58April 14, 2014 8:52 PM

Do you live in a studio apartment, R58?

by Anonymousreply 59April 14, 2014 8:54 PM

R59: No, I actually rent a room in a house since it's cheaper. I live in the Bay.

by Anonymousreply 60April 14, 2014 8:56 PM

Maybe you could stick your cotton T-shirts in a box and put it at the bottom of a closet, then buy the new shirts you spoke of, and see how it goes.

I got rid of stuff on three occasions, and there are moments when I wish I hadn't.

by Anonymousreply 61April 14, 2014 9:00 PM

I was a minimalist until I inherited large amounts of stuff suitable for eBay. My living room and a spare bedroom turned into a storage, sorting and shipping facility. It's been a bizarre experience, and not a comfortable one for an individual who really dislikes having too much 'stuff.'

And no, I won't donate it to Goodwill.

by Anonymousreply 62April 14, 2014 9:04 PM

No one cares if you prefer minimalism in your life as long as you have a maximalism cock

by Anonymousreply 63April 14, 2014 9:12 PM

R62, They call it hoarding.

by Anonymousreply 64April 14, 2014 9:25 PM

R50 To you and the rest of you, what about photographs?

What about heirlooms?

What about presents?

What about certificates?

What about trophies and medals?

What about gadgets, tools, utensils and electronic goods?

by Anonymousreply 65April 14, 2014 10:29 PM

[quote]To you and the rest of you, what about photographs?

I'm not into photographs. I've never documented my life in that manner. I also have a good memory.

[quote]What about heirlooms?

They're at my sister's house. My family was horrid when I came out, and we never reconciled. I couldn't care less.

[quote]What about presents?

Once I have them, they're mine to do with what I will. Most have been books, CDs, clothing, and I keep them just as I would any other book, CD, or article of clothing.

[quote]What about certificates?

What kind?

[quote]What about trophies and medals?

None to speak of.

[quote]What about gadgets, tools, utensils and electronic goods?

I have plenty of those. I'd need an exceptionally large suitcase and box for this stuff.

by Anonymousreply 66April 14, 2014 10:38 PM

I've thought about it, but I wouldn't be as severe as OP.

by Anonymousreply 67April 14, 2014 10:52 PM

R66 For winning things, completing a course, like that

by Anonymousreply 68April 14, 2014 11:10 PM

I have stuff like that in boxes I've moved around and never opened, R68.

by Anonymousreply 69April 14, 2014 11:12 PM

R69 Take a look at them a few times a year. Re-live those moments. Cherish them.

by Anonymousreply 70April 14, 2014 11:28 PM

BUMP!

R65

by Anonymousreply 71April 22, 2014 2:24 AM

Once read about a music journalist who got sick of the burden of his massive record hoard and went scorched earth (pre-eBay): everything was loaded into a skip outside his house to go wherever it would forever.

Time passed; after the relief of his clearance, regret seeped in, and he missed not having access to this track and that track, to that obscurity now unobtainable. Regret grew stronger: all that personal history had been idiotically thrown away.

He was moved to call the boss of the skip company in a forlorn bid maybe to find out what happened to his much-missed hoard. It turned out the skip boss had kept the entire record collection intact, and returned it. Clearly he knew all about shedders' remorse.

A worse case was another journalist making a huge move which involved shipping crates of lifetime possessions to another country. He lost Everything in transit. Most was irreplaceable; but the story concerned his painstaking effort at least to replicate his entire precious record collection, with the help of eBay, among others.

by Anonymousreply 72April 22, 2014 6:25 AM

I went minimalist when I moved to another country. I crammed the basics in three suitcases and four boxes. Living out of one suitcase is just impossible (I'm a woman so potentially need a few more bits and bobs than a man). I do periodically clean out my apartment and remove everything I don't use on a regular basis. I hate those hoarder shows but I do like the rule: if you haven't used something in the last 12 months throw it out.

by Anonymousreply 73April 22, 2014 11:52 AM

I poop in a bucket in my mini-house.

by Anonymousreply 74April 22, 2014 12:00 PM

Here's another tiny home. I think they're fucking awesome.

If it wasn't for all these ridiculous building codes and restrictions, many currently homeless people could actually find a decent place to live.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 75April 23, 2014 1:48 PM

OP, you are 5 years behind us.

by Anonymousreply 76April 23, 2014 1:51 PM

Timely thread. I have tens of thousands of books and magazines I want to dispose of, but I'm in no rush and want to get good dollar them. Porn and shelter magazines mostly. Anyone have advice on the best venue: ABE, Amazon or Ebay?

by Anonymousreply 77April 23, 2014 2:05 PM

I had a neighbor once in an apt. house and in his place there was nothing. Like one bowl, one pot, a spoon. A sort of mat on the floor. He was heavy into Buddhism and meditating.

He could have literally tossed everything into a dumpster and walked away.

by Anonymousreply 78April 23, 2014 8:09 PM

It helps that these days one can store thousands of books and music albums on laptop/digital devices, which makes getting rid of the physical clutter much easier.

So yes, now I can live practically anywherein the world, as long as it has good Internet connection and clean air.

by Anonymousreply 79April 23, 2014 8:40 PM

I am trying to do this, but it has been quite a process. I'm starting with clothing. I want to get my three stuffed closets down to one. I have purchased a lot of high end designer clothing over the years, that I have a hard time giving away for nothing, but much of it is dated. I just decided to bite the bullet one day, and start getting rid of stuff. My really high end stuff is going to the real real (they are giving away Neimans gift cards for your first consignment as well). The bulk of my stuff is going to various charities. I have already dropped off 9 garbage bags full of clothing, and it feels really good. My ultimate goal is to have less than 10 of each item (jeans, t shirts, dress shirts, dress pants, etc).

by Anonymousreply 80April 23, 2014 8:57 PM

The OP is poor and can't afford nice things.

by Anonymousreply 81April 23, 2014 9:28 PM

Good job, O.P.. I'm also in the process of liberation and de-cluttering after a long, miserable relationship and have also managed to stuff most of the shit into a single suit case. His legs were a bit long, so a hacksaw was invaluable.

by Anonymousreply 82April 23, 2014 9:45 PM

Be careful tossing stuff out.

A few years ago, we sold a huge Victorian house to move into a small condo, and we got rid of a lot of items.

Come to find out later that some of the antiques he inherited were quite valuable--we got rid of them b/c we prefer modern. I got rid of many books and now wish I had many of them back.

Also tossed a ton of dvd's and some bric a brac his Grandma had from the NY World's Fair and some old Hollywood stuff.

In our zeal to downsize, we got rid of some good stuff.

by Anonymousreply 83April 24, 2014 1:48 AM

I think the appeal of minimalist lifestyles is that while it's nice to have nice things, you have to actually take care of that shit. And transport it, which gets to be a pain REALLY quickly. Since I've moved a lot in the last couple of years (and don't plan on being in my current spot very long), it's nice to be able to just pack up everything in my car and go in one trip.

by Anonymousreply 84April 24, 2014 1:59 AM

What do you do about furniture? Bed, sofa, tables?

by Anonymousreply 85April 24, 2014 2:07 AM

I have an 1100 sq. ft. condo, so there's not a lot of room, but it took me 15 years to finish furnishing the office/spare room. Basically, it took me a lifetime to furnish my 4 room (essentially) place, so I have no interest in clearing it out.

That all said, it is pretty sparsely decorated, and just about everything has some particular meaning for me.

Good luck downsizing, but I like having a home tailored to my lifestyle.

by Anonymousreply 86April 24, 2014 2:19 AM

OP, good for you! I gave up just about everything last year, because I realized that I didn't need just about everything I owned. I have felt so wonderfully free.

I'm lucky enough to live in a warm climate (well, almost every night is warm enough, with a couple of layers). My goal was to adopt an arboreal/foraging lifestyle that was aligned with our species true nature and roots. So at night I hang out in a park and have a three trees I sleep in - going from one to the other. I'm up high and no one can see me and it's like being on the edge of the savannah. And during the day I focus on enjoying myself and finding things to eat, and doing some grooming - fountains and pools are good for that. Food is easier to find than you might think.

It's not pristine, because I do head for soup kitchens and shelters when things get a little tight. And I admit that I have taken some stuff, but "in the jungle you follow jungle morality." I am pretty ethical, though. I don't hurt people and I don't take from anyone who can't afford it - mainly just the occasional pair of shoes (I do wear clothes, in case you're wondering!).

The main thing I am missing, though, is a close social group. Ideally and practically it would be best to have others in a small clan, but most of the people out here are not living the life for the reasons I am. They're usually kind of crazy.

I also cheat by spending time in libraries and coffee shops and some malls. Like on Wednesday nights I come to this coffee shop where they have community computers so I can check the news and do some posting. Information collection is a good thing and "natural" to the species.

And I'm a little concerned about mating. For this to work, if I can't find a clan, I will need a mate. That's a little hard because I'm mostly gay, but I could get it up for the good of the species and my long-term plans. I can just see living up in the trees with a kid, and raising it to be a free and natural spirit. It really can be a wonderful life if you let it - and get rid of your stuff.

Gotta go. Sharing time is up!

by Anonymousreply 87April 24, 2014 2:25 AM

r36 wins this thread! Wonder what he did with the old magazines?

by Anonymousreply 88April 24, 2014 2:37 AM

R84 Exactly! The amount of dusting, wiping and vacuuming....

Anyway, can you share us a picture, pleeeeeease???

by Anonymousreply 89April 24, 2014 2:37 AM

r62, I have the same experience as you. I have things that need to be sold crowding my apartment which used to be pristine. eBay selling and shipping is time consuming and rewarding although not having a storage facility or garage has made my house seem un home like.

by Anonymousreply 90April 24, 2014 2:38 AM

I am trying. I need to throw out more stuff

by Anonymousreply 91September 20, 2020 12:18 PM

R87 I admire your commitment and your ethic, as well as your ability to eschew the disconnected materialism of our age.

That said, please consider that any child you sire or raise shall be your responsibility and remain so until of age, whether or not the child agrees with your worldview and desires your lifestyle. If the child wants to integrate in the world as it is, sleep in a bed and play in a schoolyard and eat meals at a table and drive a car of his own, is it ethical to take away his opportunities to do so? What is more, keeping that child safe and healthy shall become your main province and your legal onus once he is born - could you ensure that with the life you have designed?

I say this with love, as someone who would on some levels like to live the way you do. To use myself as an example; my parents forced a life an inimicable upon me that brought depression to my door and turned me into someone I didn’t want to be. Don’t be like my folks, and don’t bring a child into the world for whom you cannot provide and to whom you cannot allow the same respect and freedom you have sought.

by Anonymousreply 92September 22, 2020 10:15 PM
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