Joshua and Ryan discuss the six questions they ask themselves before they purchase anything. Watch the full episode on Patreon: / theminimalists FREE MINIMALIST RULEBOOK: minimalists.com... #TheMinimalists
1) Who am I buying this for? 2) Will this add value to my life? 3) Can I afford it? 4) Is this the best use of this money? 5) What’s the actual cost? 6) Would the best version of me buy this?
When buying online I put items in my cart. And go back a day or 2 later and am able to determine if they are really necessary. When shopping at a store I put things in my cart walk around with them and reaccess before heading to the check out.
@@liddlekiddle1962 yup! It's a great way to find out what you impulse buy and a money saver. I loved their rules as well. Who are you buying this for? My fav.
I have just completed the Minimalist Challenge! Thank you so much for finally waking me up to myself & my spending habits at a ripe old age of 58! I wish you were around in my younger years! Love your work guys xxoo
It's probably been mentioned numerous times, but forcing yourself to "turn off" (sometimes literally) from social media and television will help cut down the urges to buy useless "stuff" or feel the pull towards getting that new car, new clothes, better phone, etc. It never ends!
Speaking of bags…last year I decided to get one. Wanted one in which I could fit tablet, book, pens, etc., that wouldn’t self-destruct like the last dozen. After several months I chose one on sale from Indigenous-owned company up North. Best decision ever. Will probably own & use this bag for life. It’s not fancy, but its so perfect for me. I took all the other bags I owned to charity. Very pleased with my decision to really THINK about my need/desire/budget/best option 👍.
Thank you! You just stopped me from buying a whole lot of clutter. Just purchased the item we needed and took off all of the other items that would've given me free shipping.
First thing I do after I feel anxious I tell myself "your worth is not determined by the amount of stuff you own, everything you need is already inside of you " and If I don't listen to my advice next thing I try to do is to leave my phone far away from me and go for a walk lastly if still this doesn't work I go and check my bank account and then I realize.. yup I don't need it ! Lately I've done some introspection and started thinking about what if I die now ? (Yes, quite dramatic I know, but it helps) if I die now how much inventory my family has to go through ?????!!!!! It's just stuff ! Plastic objects, paper objects, fabrics, etc... What am I missing about life when I focus on the wrong/impulsive path ? We all deserve peace of mind.
I completely agree. Especially about the concerns of my family having to deal with any crap I have after I die. I'm making sure they don't have to do that by just having what I need. No extra stuff for them to go through. I had to clear my grandparents house when they died and it was a big eye-opener. They didn't get rid of anything. Even clothes worn just once for a wedding in the 70's! It took a couple of months and a lot of emotional stress to complete the clearance. I never want my family to have to do that for me.
I recently helped a friend clean up her mom's house after her passing, and it made me realize how much 'stuff' we accumulate (i.e. clothes we no longer wear, kitchen items, etc.). I strive for a more minimalist lifestyle :)
I have been leading to a minimalist lifestyle over the last 5 years and words like this still help, wherever you are in your journey, it resonates at any point! Thank you
I really appreciate your work making us aware of what matters and what doesn't. My buying habits have certainly changed. With (almost) each purchase I also look at what my purchase does to the environment, to poeple and to the limited resources we are exploiting. So two more questions I have on my list are: What is it made of? And: Where does it come from? I also wanted to mention that I would love to hear a little more from Ryan. I'm sure he also has interesting viewpoints and stories. :-)
That is some great idea, i used to listen to the radio but stoped recently since it drives me crazy with all those silly /misleading programs, now i have a great alternative , thanks 🙏🥰
I think you could add more like 7) can I make it myself? 8) can I find a way to fix it/ are their alternatives to having to spend money on getting a new item / could I get it 2nd hand - just thinking the other day i wanted to get a deodorant but I have sensitive underarms so ended up Googling and making my own. I love it.
The total cost of an item also includes the impact on the planet and the workers paid low wages to make those things. I've never really had a problem with buying things but I find it hard when other people buy me things that I don't want or need and repeatedly ask after them! It makes me sad and frustrated that they've wasted their money and depleted the earth's resources, but despite repeatedly asking people not to buy me things, they still do. It's so engrained in society to show you care by buying things unfortunately.
I live in L.A. and bought a condo 2 years ago and put 40% down. I also locked in a 2.875% interest rate. I still have to make payments but I’m not a victim to rising rent prices.
Funny enough, I just today got delivered about $1500 worth of new furniture, which was my largest purchase this year so far. But it will all be paid off right away this month. And we have no car, much less a big truck which would have been necessary to rent to transport the furniture, so the delivery was a very nice service. And I bought the furniture after researching, measuring and thinking about each item many times, because I previously lived in a kind of perennial “packing party” situation for over a year, surrounded by too much stuff still in moving boxes which became rather annoying. I feel like the additional furniture, even though some of it technically is new “stuff to display and store stuff”, will soon enhance our daily living situation. We previously e.g. didn’t have a real dining table anymore. Or there was an old couch in a bedroom but no couch in a big living room, thus not using that room nearly as frequently as it should be used. Or no bathroom storage aside from clear boxes under a large kitchen-like countertop which looked too cluttered, while now a drawer can be mounted perfectly under that as if it were made for it, in order to house everything neatly. Or almost no bookshelves in the office, and everything looking disjointed. Now I can unpack all my belongings again, and truly decided e.g. which books and other items I want to keep around, and which ones I really didn’t miss and will likely never use again so they can leave the home for good.
Debt isn’t bad, it depends on the type of debt. I have school loans (helped me get the job I wanted), my house (will make me money with appreciation… hopefully), and my car (b/c that’s my chosen vice). I also finance big purchases like my expensive bed for my back injury. I had the cash but zero percent financing is free money. What did I do instead? I took what I would have spent and put it in a 2yr CD. Essentially, the company financing me allowed me to get a greater ROI on the money. Instead of me just handing them money, they handed me some too. Debt in and of itself is not bad. It’s the ROI of the debt that needs to be considered first and foremost.
When I buy things to add attention to myself. I do ask my self. What kind attention do I get ? and how does it come across? Is it alight with my values? How much a attention will this bring? Is it appropriate for all occasions? I like the attention I get when I am groomed and clean than what I have purchased. Buying a designer bag is a nice additional thing, but how I take care of myself speaks more.
I had the same situation with a circuit maker. Bought after months of wanting one, and then returned. I realized it wasn't worth the space, time, or money.
I’m getting a new condo and don’t have anything yet to put in it…I’m a recent minimalist convert. My godmother says I need to hire a decorator because I’ll be meeting new people and should make a good impression with my place. So will people think I’m weird if they walk in and I have no things? Or should I give in to her pressure to buy stuff so I will fit in or just not seem weird?
Everyone has complimented me more on a clean and simple home than I ever got when I had bookcases full of knick knacks and wall art everywhere. I think if you like your home and it's calming and feels good to you then that shows as authenticity to your guests. No need to own things to preform for guests
We’re big fans of SPACE--aesthetically and otherwise--as a sort of manifestation of visual stillness/silence. Museums tend to use space better than just about anyone, but they shouldn't have an embargo on the effective use of space. Unfortunately, we civilians often feel as though we must fill our personal spaces with nonessentials, likely because we’re uncomfortable with stillness/silence. If we can get comfortable with it, though, we can harness the power and calm that “free” space inherently brings with it. It’s not coincidence we sometimes call nature “open space.” Follow our side project, MINIMALISM LIFE, on Twitter for some beautiful SPACES.
Am from Nigeria Africa and in my country minimalism isn’t very popular, I watch you guys a lot and even the podcast with AO.. I would love to read your book can you send me a copy please. Also if I can get to talk with you guys it would really be crossing off an item in my bucket list ..PS: am 22 and being a minimalist down here is really a challenge thank you
This whole thing about buying things for validation or attention from others is unfortunately prevalent in today's society. It seems that the most important thing in life is asthetics, it doesn't matter that you might be a total asshole so long as you look good. Good morals and values have taken a back seat or even worst totally non-existent. It's a sad sad state to be in.
1) ¿Para quién compro esto? 2) ¿Agregará esto valor a mi vida? 3) ¿Me lo puedo permitir? 4) ¿Es este el mejor uso de este dinero? 5) ¿Cuál es el costo real? 6) ¿Compraría esto la mejor versión de mí?
This is almost like shaming people for what they buy. Sometimes we buy something with a logo because its good quality. Will I buy running shoes at the dollar store or get a professional help me for a good fit.
Terry Vermeylen, Seriously, name anything with a designer logo, I’d need to buy for “quality”, lol. 😆 Most items w/ logos are not of highest quality in my humble opinion.
With all due respect, no this isn't almost like shaming people, it's about the mentality behind it. Most people specially now a days buy things with logos Because of the logo, that quality thing is a bullshit excuse to continue feeding that beast of an ego which most have been feeding, and continue to feed. The whole logo thing is more because most people are too busy worrying and concerned about the idiotic concept of what others will think of you, letting others perception of yourself have a say in how you define whom you are.
Please give credit where credit is due, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” is from Proverbs chapter 22 verse 7, which is in the Bible. Saying “it’s been said for thousands of years” is just avoiding where the wisdom truly comes from which is from God. Saying this in love. Take care 🤍
Do the minimalists ever get jealous? I've noticed consumerism and jealousy seem to go hand in hand. How do you cope with other people's jealous ambition for you?
