Avoid Souvenirs | The Minimalists Ep. 404 

Do you purchase souvenirs while traveling?

My husband and I are from the UK, we had an incredible 3 week road trip around Arizona, Utah and Colorado. We travelled 3,500 miles and only had a small backpack each. We visited 10 National Parks and we collected a small National parks patch at each park or state park. It was a very intentional choice. It was a small amount of money, we enjoyed choosing the patch, we see each patch as a small piece of artwork, it took very little space in our packs and we have displayed the patches and it gives us joy to look at them😊

Hi guys! I became a minimalist 28 years ago when I left the United States to live in France in a studio apartment. Not having the space for stuff, I rarely buy souvenirs. However, wanting to change the knobs on my kitchen cabinets, I found colorful ceramic knobs in Cordoba Spain. I didn’t purchase them immediately but left the time to think it over and went back for them at the end of the day. I apply the principle of thinking it over to everything I buy and do. I have a small cat tattoo on my ankle (I love cats!). After researching a reliable boutique, I got the tattoo ten years ago on my 65th birthday. I love it as it is like always having a cat with me. Alas, many of the over-tattooing I see these days is like junk. As for buying clothes, when I buy an item, something in the closet has to go. Thank you for your podcast. Au revoir.

The best souvenir is stories and photographs ❤

As someone in recovery, TK's shout out brought me to tears. Appriciate you!

Quoting TK here😊"We have to deal with the consequences of our own evolution" and also "That was the best that you knew at the time" aaah sigh of relief 😊

Ever notice when traveling those clutter shops all look the same? Go to any garage sale or goodwill and you'll observe cast off souvenirs.

Malabama, you are so much fun! I love and appreciate your personality!. The best souvenir is stories and photographs .

The illusion of scarcity is extremely powerful, I’m not a minimalist, but I admire minimalism and hope to dabble one day. A hobby of mine is reselling things, and I’ve noticed the power of perceived scarcity especially at auctions, sometimes I buy things there, but most of the time I use auctions to sell things. Over the years I’ve refined how I decide how and what to sell at auction and it started with noticing that when a lot of one type of item was up for bids the room would go cold. For example, if an auction house had an entire pallet of records, nobody wanted them and the whole collection of literally tens of thousands of records would go for $5. Other times I’d see the auction house have a very small collection of just a handful would go for $20 or more. Same with comic books, coins, tools, art and so on. I now try to buy larger collections of things at very low $/unit and then sell at the auction in small groups for the illusion of scarcity and watch the bidding go crazy.

Be present while traveling and let your wonderful memories be your souvenirs. Take a video of what takes your breath away. You can make pics out of your video.

So agree with all of this. When I go to the beach on vacation, I never go shopping. We stay on beach as long as possible and enjoy the peace of the ocean

I've have noticed when travelling abroad that I do have a craving for buying something. Nowadays before travelling I collect a list of the needed things that I would buy even from my hometown. But when bought from abroad they come special - and souvenirs for myself. Normally the list includes stuff that works as a replacement of old existing one: cardican, something to the kitchen (spices, sauces etc.), new shampoo, a notebook etc. 😊

TK ❤🎉 People in Recovery are so EXTRAORDINARY ... as are you!! Thank u for the kind words. It 34:00 means priceless validation when the leaders I respect and am inspired by give public acknowledged compassion to my community 💯🫶

I buy ornaments on vacation that represents our trip. It’s a wonderful way to remember the trip and my child gets to remember too over the years.

I have a large unfinished tattoo on my thigh (painful). I could get it removed (also painful) but I decided to keep it as is as a life reminder that just because something seems like a good idea doesn't mean it IS a good idea. I consider this as a portable life lesson and I have grown to love it not for the art but for the lesson learned.

Thank you TK for recognizing the bravery of recovery. God bless you!

" the illusion of scarcity " ... bingo ! " scarcity is not a substitute for need !!! " ... I still dont need it just because it's rare...

That's great, T.K....."Don't have to fear no mo." Lol!

Malabama, you are so much fun! I love and appreciate your personality!

Loved this!!! So beautifully explained! Thank you for sharing 🌟🌟🌟

I camp a lot and have decided to collect stickers to put on my cooler instead of cluttering my home!

Souvenirs = Gripping onto the PAST !!!.... 😢😮

I only buy something I can use. Like a luggage tag or I once bought a salt shaker from Jimmy Buffet's restaurant that said "last shaker of salt". I'm still using it my kitchen. I'm a knitter so I will buy local yarn.

Quoting Joshua here "Silence is the best explanation" well said. Alabamas singing very good haha!

Right message at the right time for me from both of you. It's not the fear of moving forward, it's the guilt and regret holding us back 🤯 And Stepping back to appreciate the vulnerability of exploring instead of leaning into the ocd perfectionism of a task. Really resonated

I like getting magnets when on a trip. They are small and inexpensive. My refrigerator door is a bit cluttered, but it is confined to that space.

You are ALWAYS missing out on SOMETHING. Exactly. Trade the FOMO for the JOMO!

I won a huge 3ft Chester the Cheetah at Cedar Point, had to carry it around with me the rest of the day 🐯

The best souvenirs are those created locally by artisans and the people who live in the place you are visiting, especially if you see them practicing their craft. I used to buy fridge magnets from all the cities I visited along with some of the experiences I took part in that eventually ended in a gift shop full of stuff that was "Made in China" so they didn't really have any value as far as having participated. I do have to admit that I have a box full of teeshirts from my experiences that no longer fit and I have yet to part with them.

Wonderful deep podcast 🙏

T.K.'S minimal maxim LOVE IT!

Pictures and the tiny free pins are our cruise souvenirs. We've gone on a 2 week cruise with a carry-on and a tote bag each. We're in our 70's. Tina, Al's wife

Happiest of simplicity to all ❤

I buy local honeys if carrying them home is viable. Then a taste of that trip carries on. Local producers are helped . And finally I love honey.

Yes, I have artwork from all around the world. I thoroughly enjoy it on a daily basis. The plus is supporting artists. No idea how I got half of these paintings home with me.🎨

Recently a family member bring my a lot of souvenir from her trip to Europe. I thank her, but I did not need any of those stuff. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I purchased a cast iron frying pan made in America dated 2020 with Rosie the Riveter on it to commemorate the historic year. It isn't often I buy anything anymore.

When I go somewhere special, I get a rock from the special place. Preferably a small beautiful rock.

I thought the documentary was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it all! So thank you guys for making it!. ... Glenda

The real question is : " Why do I FEEL like I might actually NEED this ? ( when the reality is that I don't really NEED it ) "

💚 Ryan. Minimalist internet. 😁

I personally like finding something in nature like a really cool rock with a fossil in it because it’s free and I can remember finding it during the adventure we were on.

I recalled a time back during my high school days and bought an ink pen of a man who takes off his clothes whenever I clicked it and many girls bought one from a mail order catalog. Boys bought ones with women on it. It was a way to get a riseout of our teachers. 😅

"Exit through the gift shop"

❤ pieta!

Ah yes the habit of regret. Guess what I regret living in regret for so long...so it's time to forget the regret and live a life aligned with my own values!

TK

🖤🖤🖤

I have to laugh when i see people buying souvenirs. 95% of them are made in China. Ok so i travel to Australia quite often and its ironic to watch Chinese tourists buying souvenirs. So yeah .... its all crap and it will end up in someone's garage sale. 😂😂😂

Minimizing the corruptions from our government

I love this show but i just cant stand the cackling from that girl. So distasteful. Its a shame because i think twice on clicking on these videos because of her.

Hence the number of people who purchase time-shares while on vacation...

The tattoo discussion also seems to align with marriage/divorce. Thoughts?

RYANS HEART IS NOT FULLY ON MINIMALIST SO HE'S GONE