We originally started Mostly Mindful to encourage people to buy less, do more, and live sustainably in the city. And we're still doing that.
But as we barrel towards our sixties (yikes!), we’re starting to realize just how important it is to age with intention.
As Jane Fonda reminds us in her TEDx talk Life’s Third Act, we are living, on average today, 34 years longer than our great-grandparents did.
With that in mind, we’re embracing active aging as if our lives depend on it. Amongst other things, this means eschewing traditional creature comforts in favor of a furniture-free lifestyle.
We moved back to Canada, by self move, during Covid. So we decided to bring as little as possible with us. Once we finally got our house we had almost nothing. Should have left it at that. lol. The only place we could buy furniture from and get it delivered and in a timely manner was Ikea. And we would have to pay a fairly hefty delivery fee because we are somewhat rural. Diderot effect for sure! We ordered so many extra things that we really didn’t end up needing. And many things didn’t fit the space because we had only been in the house once for 15 minutes because of Covid rules. Now I have been trying to do this effect backwards. If I give away… what else that goes with it could also go. I find your channel both interesting and also personally challenging to rethink how I do things. Not just why I do them.
I have a mesh disc filter, that I bought pre made, within a mason jar ring so I just use that with the mason jar ring. Super easy to use. But I do find I get fewer sprouts per batch in the winter. I think it’s because of fewer winter sunlight hours here in Canada.
Now I'm feeling quite smug because I knew about the Diderot Effect! (Little things please me!) But yes - there is so much here in your video that I disagree with (I MEAN, "AGREE"). I think I may need to subscribe to this channel. While I'm no cyclist, I do try to be mindful, in many different ways. Nice to see the cat, too. I have 3 of them and they are the cost item (so to speak) in my life that brings most joy.
Did you mean to say "disagree," or is that a typo? We're hoping for the latter! 😁 We completely forgot to mention in the video how out of hand the Diderot Effect got wrt our kitty. Blankets, cushions, toys, bowls, the list goes on. 🤣
@@MostlyMindful LMAO! Oh, dear me! I meant to say "agree", as you correctly deduce! I'm so sorry for that, not like me. It was the middle of the night and I must have been more tired than I had realised! Yes, I can see how that might have happened with the kitty! I am presenting my posse with little offerings and gifts of special food quite often and they scorn me as often as not. Friends say that they would like to come back to life as one of my cats, and I can see why. When I was tightening the belt to get out of debt (hurrah!), it never crossed my mind to cut the quality of what THEY were eating! Only afterwards did I realise!
Oh, how many times I've been sucked into that darn Diderot! (Though I didn't know the name of it until now. Thanks!) The last time was just last year with a themed kitchen redo. Then I learned about having the right-sized (and LESS) furniture. So I am now redoing the rest of the apartment, BUT very intentionally. Your channel is motivating me to keep things simple with this redo, albeit with furniture. LOL
Wooohooo, hearing that you find our videos motivating is one of the best compliments. Thank you! Let us know how your intentional apartment makeover goes! 🙂
I didn’t know there was a name for it. But I certainly understand it now. Same thing happened when I wanted new love seats. Then I needed new throw blankets and seat covers (we have at too). Funny thing now is I don’t even like the new love seats. Watching your furniture free videos makes me want to sell at least one of them. The one I sit on is not comfortable 😢I’ve been sitting on the floor lately. Curious to know why you sold your apartment? Are you buying a new one?
How crazy that there's not only a name for it but that it became a thing so long ago. 🤔We sold it because it was too far from town (Cape Town City Bowl), and the complex was pretty noisy. It was mostly much younger people enjoying the party phase of their lives, whereas we're in the mediation phase of ours. 😄
It’s so easy to fall for the Diderot effect which goes hand in hand with overconsumption. It’s a constant battle to stay mindful in a system with these built-in steps to consume. Thanks for this video.
Can't relate. I usually take FOREVER to make a decision to buy something...and then...I search for a long time to find a deal! I love a good deal. That has taught me patience, and sometimes, after awhile, I just forgo buying it, make due with what I have, or do without. LOL! I am guilty of buying two of some things, if I love it, will definitely use it, and it is super duper cheap. I am not a minimalist. I do love my things, but I live a simple, quiet, slow life and will continue to de-clutter a little at a time. I also keep a box in a corner to put things in to donate. When it is semi-full, I take it to the drop off center. Love your content and seeing you two love on your cat. Take care.
I am wanting to buy a bike . I will need a helmet. I will need a basket or saddle bags. I will need a bell. If I really want to Diderot it to the utmost, I will need biker shorts and a matching top and a titanium lock. Don't worry! I am just proving your point. Looking forward to seeing your new abode!!❤
Ha ha ha! Yesterday we nearly got caught by the Body Shop's "buy three, pay for two" storewide special. Fortunately, we came to our senses and left with the one item we'd come for. 🙃
Oh yeah. I've experienced that! Fortunately I've gotten better about being more aware, even to the point of waiting to purchase things. (Like a regular washer, although I may break down and get one before winter) I chuckled when you talked about a coffee table! I have one that I've wanted to replace for the past 4 years. I'd like a small chest of drawers instead. I've seen a few but have been too frugal to buy them! LOL
Staying aware is definitely the way to avoid this trap! That, and adopting a frugal mindset. Seems like you're on top of both of those. We'll come to you for pointers if we feel ourselves slipping.😁
The bit about the laundry basket made me squirm as after eight years without one I bought one today! I just thought 'I'm not going to live another day with my laundry in a shopping bag!' Still, I don't think there are any accessories you can buy to go with a laundry basket. Or maybe I'm wrong on that?! Love your videos ladies:)
You're probably right that you can't accessorize a laundry basket, but here's the real reason we dislike them: They're a pain to keep clean. 🤦♀A bag you just toss in the washing machine with the dirty laundry. 😁 Thanks for the compliment, we're super happy to hear you enjoy our videos.
I bought a motorcycle, which then required helmets, protective gear, a tool set, saddlebags, and more. Incidentally, that purchase was what caused me to really think about every purchase and whether it was worth dealing with lol.
Before minimalism I moved to a bigger place and bought more and more furniture and decor as it felt so empty. Even visitors told me "there should be a shelf in that corner and a lamp over there". That's when I began to feel overwhelm daily. Luckily found minimalism a couple years later and I'm letting go step by step.
Hi ladies. I dont understand. The apartment where a lot of previous videos took place...the one without furniture...you've moved out? This video now?? Where is this? A garage??
That's really cool: Not a RU-vid designer show, but real life instead. 👍 The Diderot effect is terrible and lurks everywhere. For example, my fitness tracker had a charging cable but no matching power plug. I sold it again, it's too much data collection anyway. I can even move without a fitness tracker like that, yeah.
I have all my records and CDs (plus a few cassettes as well)! However I now recognise that I do have ‘enough’ in my wardrobe and in my home. I’ve been shopping at op shops for almost 40 years, but have slowed right down on bringing stuff in. I get more of a kick out of letting stuff go 🎉
@@MostlyMindful yes I still listen to my records and CDs. I bought a new cd the other day. There’s something so satisfying about putting a record or cd on. However I am ‘doubling up’ by having a music subscription too so I can listen to music in the car 😉😊
Yum! LOL! Thank-you. You make it look so easy. Ever try sunflower seed sprouts? Those were always my favorite at our farmer's market. BTW...you two look great. Healthy and happy.
Sprouting is really easy, especially if you stick to alfalfa and fenugreek. We LOVE sunflower sprouts but only ever buy them when we visit the market - growing them requires trays, soil, space, green thumbs, etc. 🙈🤓
Fabulous! I used to spread all the time and really need to get back to it. So tiring spendinh money on lettuce and have it go bad before the week's out. The salad you tucked into looked absolutely delicious! Could you tell me what you put in it please? If you know how to teleport I would love tasting one of your delicious-looking salads! LOL. Superior nutrition!!! Yummy.
Ha ha ha that would be cool if we could email you a salad to taste. I think that one had grated beetroot and carrot, lots of sprouts, avo, toasted sunflower seeds and a balsamic glaze.
Ha! Caught you two on the fly! Great sprouting tutorial 🌿. We’ve been sprouting Mung Beans. We use a large (1/2 gallon) glass jar. Cover the bottom with Mung Bean seeds and then Cover them with water to let soak overnight. Then drain and rinse twice daily for @5 days. The seed casings will eventually drop off, so we skim them out as we drain the sprouts. We cover the jar with a tea cloth and drain through our fingers since the seeds are bigger. Yields a wild amount of nutritious food for Pennie’s, and as you say they last in the fridge for a week. They’re also delicious cooked up In stir fry with other vegetables. Oh, Happy Day!! 😋😋 -V
Wonderful! I could easily get down, but getting back up was quite difficult. I'm looking forward to having more strength and coordination a month from now. 🙂
I grew up as a child of a depression child so scarcity was something to be feared and avoided at all costs. It wasn’t until I reached my 50’s that I understood how this was ingrained in my upbringing and that I don’t have to continue that cycle. Unfortunately I did raise my kids from that mentality and now my mission is to convince them that I was wrong. And I just wanted to say that I have noticed a significant “professionalism” in the quality of your videos! Better scripted, sound, editing-so good for you both for learning as you go! Proves we are never too old to learn new ways to be creative :)
Your kids are super fortunate to have you in their lives. How amazing that you can go back and tell them you've had a change of heart and here's a new way of looking at things. ❤️ Wow, thank you so much for the kind words. Making videos is a continuous learning curve. 🤓
I have been updating my living room. I have a beautiful new-to-me sofa. I have had on my list a new rug and a new chair. Thanks to you, I tried out sitting on cushions on the floor (I’m not ready to sit all the way on the floor yet…). I love it and will not buy a new chair. I did buy the new rug, and now my space is still comfy for guests and I am improving my posture and hip flexibility. And my cats are enjoying the sofa.
A new video! 🎉🎉🎉 I’m recovering from a bit of a crunch up (that left my Achilles all bent out of shape-but still attached, so no complaints on my end 😂) and realized another hidden benefit to minimalism--less stuff to maneuver around with a cane 🤪 😂 Keep having fun. It’s a blessing to watch. 🙏🕉️
Ooooh sorry for the injury - sending healing vibes from Cape Town. ❤️ There are always benefits if we look for them and less stuff to navigate with a cane is definitely one! 🌻😃
Lots of food for thought ⬆. Home Economics is grossly underrated. Besides a semester course in high school (many 🌒 ago), I learned thrift from my husband. He often told me how his mother stretched each drachma his father made into THREE. Knowing what to say “No” to enables us to say “Yes” when it matters. Thanks for another insightful video 💕 -V
Hmmm. That sounds a lot like "live below your means core". LOL. Something I've been doing for more than three decades! Same premise/ideals. Keep what you really love and use and get rid of the fluff! This month, I was able to slash my grocery bill in half, because of generous gardeners who shared their bounty. I used the peaches, sweetcorn, zuchinni and red onion, along with herbs and garlic from my garden to make a flatbread pizza, with homemade vegan mozzarella. Yum! Easily the best pizza I've ever had in my life. So good in fact, I'm having it again tonight!
Wow that pizza sounds so delish! You're right though, there's nothing new here. I guess we can thank the TikTok generation for reminding us of what we already know. 🤣 (It was a fun video to take, even if we were just saying the same old thing.) 😬
Not silly at all! 😬 Interestingly, South African homes are mostly not warm or well-insulated, so we spend a lot of money of electric or gas heaters. Currently we have an econo wall heater (something like this econohome.net/products/wall-mount-space-heater-panel). We also use hot water bottles at night. 😎
there is nothing wrong with having lots of records/cds. My housemate has 500 cds that are quite valuable to him. they are neatly contained in a large cd shelf unit, he also has 750 books on various subjects which he treasures, carefully sorted and neatly shelved.
100%. Everyone is different. We were being a little tongue in cheek in the video, but we do understand that for some people, those things are important. Does your housemate listen to the CDs and read the books? 😬🤔
Greetings again from Australia! Loved this video, so much so that Im thinking of downsizing my book colkection. I have so many books and most probably wont read them again so its time to say goodbye. Thinking of a few other areas that I can declutter. Very inspiring thankyou! Hope Miles is going well. You two are amazing.
Aaaaah thank you for the kind words! ❤️🌻 Wrt your books, if you're not reading them then parting with them makes perfect sense. There are plenty of people who'd love to read them. Your local library would probably love them too.
@MostlyMindful Absolutely. We have a book shed here and plenty of op shops that take books which is great. That way other people can get joy out of reading them.
Greetings again from Australia! Loved this clip. I too am debt free and love it so much. Ive been working on ways to save money lately (without forgoing dining out now and again, one of my favourite things to do). Ive been doing this by numerous ways and loving it. Ive always enjoyed a frugal life style but Ive never felt like I missed out on anything. The cost of living is so high atm, especially food and petrol so I'm concentrating on cutting back in these two areas. Love the bloopers as usual.
Hello Aussie pal! There's fun to be had in frugal living, isn't there? It's not all hard work and deprivation. We're also officially debt free again since selling our apartment! 🥳
@MostlyMindful That's fantastic! Isn't being debt free the greatest feeling in the world. It's amazing. Congratulations to the both of you! It's a relief to be debt free.
This is great...I'm blessed enough to live in the mountains in the summer and by the lake in the winter (where it's warm). I try and do day trips as much as possible. I love that you consider the cat's needs. We only have grand fuzzies now so unless we are babysitting, which we do often with the dog in the summer, we are free to go. We try and do 1 major trip/year, 2 smaller trips/year but at least 2/day trips/week (newly retired because we are frugal). It's the day trips that keep you sane on a daily basis. I'm seriously considering the Camino...I hope we all get a chance to do that. You two are lovely...thanks for sharing.
You've got to find adventure where you can - especially if you have life constraints (like a kitty). You're super fortunate to be able to alternate between the mountains and the lake. We hope to try our hand at vanlife in the future so we can enjoy different places. Thanks for stopping by. 😎🌻