Soviet minimalism: forced and inventive 

I always look forward to your videos. Its a different cultural take to minimalism. I got tired of the popular vids that talk of minimalism but often they come from a point of so much privilege and excess. Your vids are relatable and brings calm to my day.

I grew up in Hungary in the 80's. At the end of the month we had baked potatoes for dinner many evenings in a row. My father and mother never presented the situation saying that we ran out of money. Instead they made a huge fun out of it, and I was convinced that baked potatoes are the tastiest food in the planet.

This was very interesting and I'd love to hear more stories about your parents apartment / history / your childhood

My grandmother, and my mom too, had just one or two fancy dresses each. These dresses were, however, made of quality material - wool and silk that my grand-aunt sent them from France. Both silk and wool were soft and delicate and surely should be washed carefully and as rarely as possible. So to make the dresses last longer my grandmother made them with removable cuffs and collars as these are parts of garments that get the most tear and wear. You could take them off, wash and stitch again and with time even make new and discard the worn out ones. Later on I learnt that this was a common practice. The dresses lasted decades and could be passed down to younger girls, even generations. They still look great.

Absolutely fascinating and interesting to see the connection between a “forced minimalism” and the current wave of “unforced minimalism” in many Western countries especially. So much to discuss, but well-thought-out, Ana! You’ve sparked more thought about what minimalism truly is. 🌺

I admire your stance towards your personal and national History. You neither romantizice nor condamn the past. Some minimalist fall into the trap of idealizing the past as a time where people where "free" of too much possessions. But it's never just black and white. I also appreciate your deep empathy for the long term consequences of growing up poor and in scarcity. Many western minimalists say "Just give away every thing." But it's not so easy for some one who grew up not knowing if they could repurchase an item.

Would really enjoy more stories of the past. When I was a child we didn't have a fridge so a box was kept outside on a marble slab to keep the milk cold. 🙂

I live in a country that was part of the Eastern Bloc. All the things in the video are quite familiar to me, but it's amazing how in just a few generations all this can be forgotten. We always complain about the quality of the food, but no one goes to their elderly parents outside the city to plant vegetables, for example. Everyone is complaining about inflation this winter, but no one is making pickles or other canned foods in the summer. The times before the 1990s were difficult, but we don't seem to have learned any lessons from them. We are so busy forgetting thоse times that we haven't even taken the good things from this era.

So interesting to hear all this and kinda compared with my own childhood here in France : I am a little older than you and was raised by my grandparents.I can recall some similar "stretched" minimalism/recyling/upcycling : my grandma would iron low heat some of the Christmas wrapping papers to re use the next years, and would cut the blank pages left in my school notebook at the end of the school year to make note blocks/shopping lists. She also had one of these home libraries (which she was so proud of !) with only like 1/2 of the books read ;) I do confirm that bidon means big can (and you spelled it well :) ) in French and my great grandma had one pretty similar to the one you show here ! Also it is kinda bittersweet to see what memories each of us as an adult can bring back to life from their childhood and pass on, some tiny parts of our country culture & history.

That was so interesting and I would love to see and hear more about your life growing up in Soviet Russia. Could we see the kitchen in your parents’ apartment? My grandma was an immigrant to the United States and survived the Great Depression as a young widow with two young daughters to care for by herself. For the rest of her life she was very frugal, mended everything to get the last bit of use out of it, and never threw anything away, and I was very much influenced by her.

As a child, I usually slept on the floor. I can remember maybe two times in my life prior to age 12 in which I was not relegated to a patch of floor in a living room, a closet, or I slept outside. Due to reasons I won't get into my dad got in trouble for it, so my dad took an old, dirty lawn chair, put our couch cushions into a dirty sleeping bag from some unknown source to use as a mattress, and that was my bed instead. I wound up having to wash the sleeping bag because it was filthy as well as my bedding because he had first tried to just put the bedding on the lawn chair and realized it was too obvious that it was a lawn chair. I also dragged the lawn chair outside to clean it and scrubbed the floor and wall that had gotten dirty from where the lawn chair and sleeping bag had left mud. Unfortunately, the couch cushions slid out of the sleeping bag like sausage out of a plastic roll and it caused me a lot of pain. In place of the couch cushions on the couch, my dad had put a thin mattress for a foldable couch bed. That mattress was very old and he never had a couch bed, so he probably got it out of the garbage, most of our furniture was someone else's garbage, hence the assumption. But that made the couch uncomfortable too. So, I took that mattress and put it on my lawn chair and put the couch cushions back after many weeks of debate and everyone hurting from the uncomfortable couch and my sliding pseudo-mattress situation. I figured it was okay if I was uncomfortable, but there was no sense in everyone being cranky. Then one of my brothers realized how much pain I was in and proposed that we alternate the use of that mattress so that none of us slept on it for too long. So, every two weeks it was switched. This went on for a while before my dad got a rusty foldable bed from a yard sale for me. It was my first "real bed." But, I must say, I thought the lawn chair solution was inventive, and I still find that story funny. But, now that I am well into adulthood and have tried various sleeping arrangements, I prefer to sleep on a thin mattress on the floor. That is what we are doing now. All of my personal furnishings are on the floor. I don't have much, but I don't want much either. And I never adapted to "traditional" furniture. But, then again, they are finding that sitting for too long in traditional furniture can cause problems too, so it isn't as bad culturally as they believed it was 25 years ago.

I was born in 1959. Growing up in the UK in the sixties, soda and beer bottles were returnable, string shopping bags were common and we had a camp bed which one of us children would sleep on when my grandmother came to stay. Supermarkets didn't exist yet. We went to the butcher or the fishmonger, greengrocer or grocer for food. Milk was delivered in glass bottles every morning, and empties were picked up and re-used. Of course we didn't have the shortages that people experienced in the Soviet Union. It was a time of prosperity in Britain. Everything starting changing in the seventies.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, there was no toilet paper so we cut newspapers into smaller bits and used them as needed. I still remember wrinkling the paper to soften it, and the print dye would smear my hands. Also the first item, the "hoping for a miracle" net bag is now sold at IKEA. You should check out some Etsy stores that sell Soviet stuff for huge amounts of money. Thanks for another wonderful video, Ana! Greetings from Estonia!

This video has touched me so much. I never thought of my childhood as minimalistic but I guess it was. My mother raised my sister and I on her own and money was tight.Some of the things or ways you’ve described are how I remember from growing up and I live in the US! My mother was “ minimalistic” due to her circumstances . Her favorite phrase when ask if I could have something not in our budget was “ can you eat it? If not you can’t have it! I never went to bed hungry,cold and had a roof over my head . As an adult I’ve been guilty of over compensating for my childhood .At 71 I’m finely realizing less is best.Thank you for this very thoughtful and well stated message. What are you saying when you end you videos? Blessings on you.

absolutely loved this episode and all your stories. I am a bit older than you and grew up in Switzerland. We had those bidons as well for milk. It was sold openly in cheese shops out of a milk churn. I remember swinging the bidon round in circles and marveling at the centrifugal force. The problem came ,when you wanted to stop. More than once did I have to return home with an empty bidon lol, I was not popular on those days. I wish milk was still sold in that way so we could do away with all the tetra detritus.

I’m old lol. As a child in 1960, we used to go in the back yard gather dandelion leaves. my grandmother made salad with it. My father made wine from dandelion flowers. It was free food!

I was born in 1987 in Estonia and I can relate in so many ways! My family is still owning a plot and we grow most of our vegetables, berries, fruits and potatos. We still collect our jars for jam making and pickling. Some of them are from the 1970s and my mom uses old glass milk bottles for juice preserving. I also grow onions in my windowsill ! Sadly I do not remember the kvas trucks, but during my visit to Belarus in 2013 I finally saw one! I think, that in some cases the transition to minimalism is easier for soviet children, because we are somewhat used, that in our childhood we had little stuff and we can value this. Thank you for a wonderful video and many greetings!

Sounds very much like how my parents were raised during the Great Depression here in the US in the 1930's. I'm looking for one of those bidon on Etsy, I love the enamelware. My mother used glass bars for storing many things. My mother cooked all our meals from scratch, and our family lived in the country and had a huge garden. My mother was an excellent canner. Mom and a neighbor lady would go to rummage sales (folks selling their items from their home), so used clothes were a normal thing. A that similar, I know my childhood couldn't hold a candle to the deprivation your experience. I look back on my childhood fondly, and think that so many people "need" to have things to feel good about themselves, so sad. I'm working to streamline and limit items in my home. Would enjoy more stories from your childhood.

That was so interesting! Compared to your situation, I grew up with abundance in Southern Germany. We were not rich, so we did the usual stuff like putting water in shampoo bottles to get all the soap out and buying and selling on the second-hand market. But we were never forced to get creative. I would love to hear more stories like this!

I always enjoy your videos Ana but this one was especially good. Even though I was born in the 1960’s in Canada, some 61 years ago, my countries true forced minimalists were those who were alive in the 1930s and early 1940s. I remember my parents stories of how their families would make ends meet. Both my parents grew up in poverty. My mothers story of how special oranges were to her is a story that always had great meaning to me. They were a scarcity and a special treat. Her mother would also make the peel into candy by simmering it in water with sugar added. How much we, especially North Americans, take for granted. I have always been grateful for everything I have as it can all be taken away in an instant.

I grew up in east Slovakia (Czechoslovakia then) in the 70-ties, 80-ties and early 90-ties before I left for USA in 1993. I absolutely relate to a lot of things you talked about. My mom still mends things, still make her own clothes sometimes. She is an amazing cook. She could cook a 5-star meal out of nothing. She thought me how to cook, needlepoint, crochet, knit and take care of the home. I feel I am better for it. I am glad I grew up with less. I know how to appreciate and be grateful for what I have. My mom said that America has not spoiled me too much :o) I am still a Slovak girl at heart. Thank you, my Friend for another great video. Keep them coming.

I watch your videos when I’m stressed and they instantly calm me down. My family ancestry is from Minsk, Bialystok and Georgia. Thank you for publishing such thoughtful content 💕

Thank you for sharing your childhood - stories with us! When I saw the mascara I had to smile: living in the Netherlands I had the same one es you! I was 14 years young, in 1965. Many greetings! Enny

Hi Anna I work in a library. Sometimes we have to purge books from our shelves to make room for new ones. Sadly, some of the books are 10 years old and the information in them is outdated, but they look absolutely new, as if they were printed the day before. Only the spine label has faded into a textless pale peach colour. Your take on minimalism sounds quite familiar. My grandparents during the Great Depression and World War II had a similar mindset and circumstance. Some things were simply unavailable and you had almost no luxuries. I enjoyed this lovely video, thank you for posting it.

‘Consumerist coma’ good description of continual accumulation. Very interesting to hear about lived experiences of the Soviet lifestyle

Thank you so much Ana for these insignts on "forced minimalism" and the new trend of minimalism. My mum grew up poor and she had te rely on creativity, she's a great seamstress, knitter and crocheter. My grandma used to make clothes out of other garments, and she could cook delicious meals with next to nothing and leftovers. Later my mum and dad tended to accumulate a lot of stuff because they had enough money to buy them. I think it's because they grew up in poverty. I'm far from being a minimalist but I've started a journey towards owning less "stuff" and being more mindful with my purchases. I have the exact same bag for groceries 🙂Thank you so much for sharing with us. Love from the South of France

I find preservation of that apartment fascinating. I really hope you tell us more stories about it. For me, as a mexican, was very difficult to know how soviet people lived, and obviously we were very influenced by the US propaganda. That’s why your testimony is very valuable and let us experience first hand what it was like. Growing up in Mexico in the 80s and 90s (just like you, I guess were the same age) minimalism was the way of life. Reusing, repurposing, passing down to others. It was just before this consumerism craze took over our society, and now doing those things is looked down upon, as a sign pf poverty or being stingy. Thank you for this video Ana. 🤗

Good Morning Ana & Ulysses xxx THANK YOU for another magical chat and as always for such wonderful insight. Looking back I realise that growing up "poor" was actually a blessing for me as it gave me the tools to survive in this world. I also realise that what I thought - or what I was told by the world - I did not grow up "poor" but rather had a simple down to earth life and yes at some point when I first left home and started earning my own money I really wasted so much on buying things that just made me want more things and it was never enough. Now I'm so much happier and at peace with my cats and books :) Wishing you and Ulysses a wonderful week ahead and THANK YOU for this wonderful magical channel xxx

I remember my mom having a mascara like you showed us. It was a red box and it was Maybeline. My grandparents came to the U.S. in the early 1900’s from Poland , and I remember how my grandmother preserved foods and treasured gifts she was given on holidays.

I am truly fascinated by your experiences in the past ,in Siberia! It's inspiring to learn how everything was used and reused and repurposed.I love how your family even used the shedding fur from your cat.Sooo cool! When I was a child,I lived in the country in a tiny house and my family had very little money and stores were quite a distance away.So we had to make do with what we had. You made a good point about having limited resources increases your creativity! Now there is so much at our fingertips...it actually decreases my creativity because I get overwhelmed at the choices.I really appreciate your channel, so a big THANKYOU from British Columbia, Canada.🥰

When the Berlin Wall fell, my ex husband and I built a house in the former DDR or GDR. We met lots of people living there and became friends. I loved to listen to their stories and how it was to grow up there. They were very down to earth people and I definitely preferred them to the sometimes pretentious west Germans. I also heard that word in German “Dacha” for the weekend houses. Those were good times. I love your channel! 💗🌸

Fascinating. You describe everything so well. I remember in Scotland in 1950s when tweed jackets and coats were completely worn out, we kept them until there was enough to cut into pieces about 5 x 1 inches and then we made a rag rug.

Hi, Anna! Loved your video. My father was born in Spain in 1933 . In 1936 with the Civil War began a lean period. Already in the postwar years, when he was a boy of seven or eight years old, in the absence of shirts, his mother made him a white shirt collar with a bib and on top they used an overcoat or jacket that covered the lack of the rest of the shirt. It seemed that they wore a complete shirt underneath the jacket but it was not. It was a very common resource mothers used for children and young people. I' ve seen these half shirts named "pechera separable" are sold today in Amazon.

Childhood during 70's and 80's in Poland was the same :) The most craved items are clothes form the USA.

About potato weekend: I live in Denmark and every year the schools give children one week of vacation in October. Currently it is just known as autumn break, but it used to be called the potato break or potato vacation. When most people in Denmark were farmers, the kids also had to help out digging potatoes, so the schools just designated an entire week for it. Now most people buy their potatoes from the supermarket.

I remember how much newspapers were used as packaging for eggs, flour and sugar, as these items were never pre-packaged (you would ask the store-keeper to measure out how much you wanted). This was in 1960's/70's Spain, where I used to visit my Grandmother. She would even cut up newspapers into squares, for use as toilet paper (which you would never flush, of course)! I think a life spent in the 20th century (she was born in 1902), with wars, depression, and the post-Spanish Civil War made her naturally frugal and creative (as a seamstress, she knew how to fashion clothes, even dolls, out of any cloth or rag!).

Thank you for sharing this video Ana, it is really interesting. My son watched it with me, and I thought it was a great experience for him to learn what it was like growing up in those times. Growing up, my grandmother kept all her old dresses, and when she was finished wearing them, she made blankets out of them. She passed away years ago, and I have a blanket that is made from a patchwork of all her dresses. I will cherish it forever.❤

My Russian American mother would take her lipstick when it was below the rim of the tube and dig out some of it with a hair pin. There truly was nothing left when she threw it out. (I had cousins in Russia and I always notice how the little girls always had big bows in their hair. Even if their clothes were handed down from older siblings, they had these pretty, big bows. When families emigrated to the U.S., they kept up the tradition. It is actually very sweet).

Hello I from Honduras 🇭🇳 we grow up with the essential things .. We only have 2 seasons: winter is rainy and summer is not rainy. no snow we are lucky. but when I come to US consumerism, it begins. and accumulate things. now I'm a minimalist. I love it !! Have a great day

I grew up in Buenos Aires, inflation was always our enemy, we did exactly what you’re describing! Yes..we used those lovely bags to go to the bakery to get our daily bread, bidones were made out of glass to buy wine, when a baby was expected into our family the ants and grandmas would start knitting booties, little sweaters etc, it was a family affair! Yes…I remember my mom using that type of mascara, glass bottles were collected to bring to the grocer to redime for a full one otherwise you had to pay extra for the product (like a fine 😊) I have question for all of you watching this video…Am I the only one who loves to smell the inside of books? That particular book would have been a good one to smell! That’s why I love buying used books, I smell humidity, tabaco, perfumes and I really connect with the previous owner! That’s just me! ♥️♥️♥️

I love the bit about spring onions on rye bread with salt ♥️

Ohhh...so beautiful said...When i think about minimalisme i always think to myself " how did grandmother did it? " They all have so little and they where so creatief...! Thank you Ana...you have a wonderful mindset.😊

My grandparents lived in a small town in Mexico and they would get their milk from a man who would go street to street with a donkey that was carrying two metal containers, one on either side, filled with milk. Even after we moved to the United States, I remember my mother making us pillows from pieces of foam from old mattresses. The pillows were lumpy and not very comfortable, but we were grateful to have them. I believe that is what is missing from modern society…gratitude for what we have. Do what you can with what you’ve got wherever you are.

In a way, when we consider how much "trash" modern conveniences produce, we do well to look at the not so distant past for advice on how to live and be healthy on less. Ana, thank you for your insights into past and present. I'd love to learn what more treasures your parents' home holds. Also please speak more on gardening. I was a horticulturalist by trade and love to know how people grow/grew vegetables and flowers in other countries. Stay safe and well. 💖 ( As you can see, I'm not minimalist about words! 😉😄 )

Thank you, Ana for a wonderful, heart warming video. Thank you for sharing your precious memories and stories of your upbringing and culture with us. I watch this video and think - "how privileged she was to have such an empowering childhood". Capitalism leaves people disempowered, their personal power given over to other agencies to take care of them and those who choose not to follow the consumer route, ostracized and ridiculed. You have so many wonderful life skills and abilities; you are such a multi layered person...it is indeed a privilege for me to have the opportunity to share in these precious moments. Thank you.

This has been delightful! So much of these wonderful stories about frugality and creativity in all these details of life in the Soviet Union reminds me of the stories my mother told me about how they did things during the great Depression when she was growing up. I was very inspired when I wanted another doll, and she told me about children who had very little and they could use their imaginations and turn a root that they found into a doll! And that beautiful bidon is lovely! I often wish we still could go to the store and just refill our containers. Take care, and thank you for sharing your beautiful life!

Thank you for this video, Ana. It evokes lots of memories of the past. Our big family all living together in a Soviet apartment... We didn't have enough space and my uncle slept all his life on raskladushka. And he never complained. Another memory... On a day of getting his pension my grandpa ran to a grocery store with our avos'ka and I still remember long skinny chicken's feet sticking out of it. And then, my grandma and I span our dog's fur into yarns. Our Percy, the collie, had a nice soft and warm beige color undercoat, and my grandma knitted vests, socks, mittens and of course belts to protect from back pains. It was long ago but my mother still uses one of this belt. I know that some people even sold sacks with collie and newfoundland dog's fur on a flea market.

Your videos are absolutely beautiful, informative, and showing simple lifestyle that is so much more precious that the consumerism that now exists in the U.S., Canada and other places. Please make some videos about simple cooking and food that you eat. Thanks a million!🎈

I remember getting pocket money as a child for returning glass bottles to a collection point. Like you, we also used what we called ‘string’ bags and cloth bags for our shopping. Most dairy (cheese & butter) and meat products were wrapped in greaseproof paper and groceries came in cardboard packaging it tins and definitely no cellophane, cling film or and plastic substances. Vegetables were all sold loose, in season, and mostly had to be washed; no food was ever wasted or thrown away. If you didn’t finish your meal it would be represented to you next mealtime. Clothes were always repaired or upcycled and we were quite used to having ‘hand-me-down’ clothes from older siblings or cousins. We walked everywhere or caught public transport for longer distances. I never had a bike and my parents didn’t own a car. I don’t feel deprived by having lived this frugal childhood and I think it certainly helped shape my values.

I grew up very poor in the United States which is a different experience because people can have an over abundance right next to people with very little . I still have some old tea tins from a neighbor threw out when I was little. I used them to hold pencils, crayons, and erasers I found left behind by other kids at school. They still house art supplies in my small studio today. Our clothing was hand me downs or given to us in bags from local church groups. My bed at one time was some couch cushions sewn together. I still look at things as what else can this be used for? New things make me feel weird. I prefer things with a little bit of damage and repair but well cared for. Like my dresser set has pieces of veneer chipped off and I repaired it with leftover gold leaf dust from a painting.

Great video again! Thank you so much for doing them😊 I was sleeping on this rozkladanka when I was young. My dream was to have a normal bed. I even put boards on the side to make it look like one ( was so proud of this idea!) . I got finally sofabed from my grandmother. The thing was that until someone was pointing out the lack of stuff I have(or not cool enough), I wasn't bothered. I used my invention to make it closer to my dreams, the journey of creativity made me happy. We are still dreamers with my partner, we have enough, but dreaming big ( adventure, creativity). We couldn't buy a campervan as far too expensive,so we are converting one. Maybe not ideal, but it takes us to the same places. I sometimes struggle with those judgemental voices, but who can stop the real dreamers 😉

I love your videos Ana! You are a deep thinker and your content is very thought provoking for your viewers. I am an English woman living in the wilds of central Italy. We have been isolating as much as possible during the pandemic, and have found all sorts of ways of reusing common items. I loved your childhood stories and would really love to hear more. Thank you so much for your channel. 💜

I was born in 1951 in the U.K. and grew up in a working class household. We never went ‘short’ of anything, so I have never experienced the kind of shortages you describe. But, we were never wasteful, new clothes were bought when necessary and old ones were either handed down to friends or relatives or donated to church jumble sales ( like rummage sales ). Likewise food, it was never wasted and meals were cooked from scratch. Sweets were a treat and we had chores to do before we were given them. I’m lucky to have lived in the U.K. but the present economy is forcing minimalism into the lives of many including myself. Many of the videos on minimalism I have watched come from the very comfortable homes of western (mainly US) women who are using minimalism as a style rather than a necessity of life. ( and I mean no offence at all) I very much enjoy your videos dear Ana and hope you stay safe in these very difficult times. Hugs from the U.K. x

So interesting! I remember complaining when my mom cooked beans and cornbread. I later realized it was because they were economical and I was being rather spoiled. Now I love them, and I think they are also pretty healthy. I'm enjoying your videos very much. You have such a sweet nature. :)

Dear Anna, I like each of your videos. This video makes me feel nostalgic because I think that in this modern World we have forgotten of the real values and how happy humans can be with just the essential things to live. Kids nowadays dont appreciate their toys as they have lots of them. And the same happens as well with adults, we have a lot of everything, too much of everything. Thank you for this video, you've put a smile on my face.😊 Please keep posting your videos 🙏🏻. Best wishes from the South of Spain. Sonia

SPECIBA ! ... you're So Amazing , your channel is great !

My grandmother grew up during the depression. When a shirt was worn our, she made quilt squares out of the pieces that were usable. She took buttons off of old shirts and aged them to reuse, and she would always carefully package food leftover in a glass jar with a lid leaving it on the top of the garbage can so if someone was hungry they could use it.

Hello Ana ! It was a great pleasure to listen to you about some old customs. The trend come back, in France, I usually use what we call here "un filet" for shopping fruits and vegetables (like a fish net), identical to your avoska (and still made in France ;)). To do a lot with few is a source of creativity and ressourcefullness, and contribute nowdays to stay sober in a consumerism word. Older generations are strong inspiration. Take care ! Morgane

Thank you for sharing 😊 grettings from Austria!

Hello Ana. Thank you for sharing another video 😊. I like what you said: "the less you have, the more creative you become". Have a good weekend 👋 P.S. you reached almost 20k 🥳

My sister was born in 1942 in Poland. When she was a teenager she visited her friend whose parents were quite well off. The friend's mother asked my sister what would she like to have for supper. My sister replied: a bread with butter, please. The friend's mother continued asking: but what would you like your sandwich with? My sister didn't understand the question because a bread with butter or bread sprinkled with water and sugar was the usual supper in our home. I'm 68, live in Canada and can afford any food I like but my favourite are still boiled potatoes with sour cream, or fried bread. Happy New Year to you, and all the readers:)

Mum had a similar mascara in the 70's, in Australia. Our house and belongings were pretty basic. I made things out of old cereal boxes, old match boxes and did collage, which I still enjoy as an adult. And I drew all the time. I still enjoy illustration and collage, mixed media art, so, yeah it's a skill that I love that has stayed with me because I had to make my own entertainment growing up. Loved your nostalgic video, thank you

Ana, you have a wonderful storytelling ability. Your videos are so filled with amazing information. It makes me want to learn so much more about Siberia. Do you have any recommendations of literature that would tell the story of early Soviet life? I am english speaking from the USA. I have also been thinking of you with the current world tensions, hope that you are well and continue to be so.

I love the "bring your own container" system and no disposable dishes. I wish we could go back to that.

Thank you for this video! It made me very nostalgic. I was born in Communist Poland, and I can remember the creativity that a lack of resources inspired. "The less you own the more creative your mind becomes." Yes! I have often thought this, and in some ways I miss that creativity. There is a beauty in that creativity and in the way people appreciate the things they own and take care of them and share them.

I found this channel today and I love it already. I shared this video on my Facebook. I liked it very much. Nowadays, where minimalism is popping up everywhere, we can look to you and first hand experiences, lol. I think it is wonderful, that you are letting us know of your experiences. It is like a living history. I grew up in Germany, with my dad german and my mom greek. I was born in 1965. My dad was the oldest of 7 children and he had to go to work and bring home the money. His younger brothers then could go to university and become teachers. But my dad went to Egypt for 5 years with his firm as well. He met my mom there and got married. I remember our family beeing not exactly poor, but struggling with all kinds of things. My mom was a seemstress and she would make all of our clothes. She would cut my sisters and my hair too. We looked like some page from a medieval time, haha. My mom cooked all the time. Greek, arabien and german foods. We used to pickle a lot of things as well, and once a year the extended family would buy a whole pig and devide it up for freezing. We would make preserves as well. When my mom sewed us toys, they were stuffed with left over fabric scraps that she collected. If we begged for a Barbie doll, she would get us the cheap version and make clothes for the dolls. She would also crochet these big dresses for our dolls. A lot of greek women would crochet doll dresses in those times back in the 70s. We would also have our drinks in glass bottles. We had a soda-man come to the house once a week, where one could buy whole cases of sparkling sodas, beer or mineral water. These soda/beer trucks still exist nowadays. Much more to tell, but it is getting too long. Blessings from Schurwald Forest, Germany.

Definitely tell more stories about your parents apartment or how you grew up. So interesting . Nothing like how I grew up in the US. Minimalism was not even a subject or a thought, and I was brought up in a middle class suburban home.

What a terrific and informative vlog! That mascara box!!! And using your pets fur for knitting items. I just adore your videos, Ana… thank you.

I have an ultra minimalist washing sponge-cloth from Soviet times that I found in an old house that I lived in. It is an old fishing net that was used as a fence for sheep. Now I´m using it to exfoliate my skin. This 3rd-hand sponge is the best I have ever had and probably will last a lifetime or more as it has no signs of breaking. I dont miss those occupation times back but how did they make things that last forever in Soviet Union? 😃😃

We had large gardens and grew all ours vegetables and some fruits. The lip stick story reminded me of melting down all our small pieces of soap so that we would have a larger one when it cooled.

I’m so fascinated by your way of story-telling. And I am learning so much about a place and time I’ve never known before. Thank you!!

This was wonderful! My mother had clothes for many years and she took good care of them. I used to resent her telling me I had too much money to spend even when I had very little money. However, for decades now I have loved not owning too many possessions as I feel suffocated by them. It's too much responsibility. Currently, I have some childhood books and artwork belonging to my two adult daughters, but I wish they would take these things since I don't have space in my apartment, and I become stressed just being responsible for too many possessions. So, I love your videos since they align with my own sentiments and intentions. I would like to feel free to just move anywhere without having to think about my stuff...

My parents grew up in the Soviet Union (my mum was in your town and my dad grew up in another town in the same oblast) and we moved abroad when I was little. I bought some avos'kas from IKEA (of all places!) and to her it was so strange that we were going back to these ways of life that she had growing up. While obviously she sees that the reason is because we're trying to be better for the environment, the avos'kas reminded her of this lack of single use resources that was everywhere around her growing up. We did have the bag of plastic bags with some of them being reserved as the nice bags to be used for special occasions.

You are a very centered , beautiful, intelligent girl . You tell things honestly and yet with compassion . Many countries have known this kind of lifestyle fraught with deprivation or unavailability of things . But most such societies have tried to cope and overcome admirably in those days (some do it even now …) … that’s the indomitable human spirit … But now the time has come to take a serious look at the pitfalls of consumerism which has become a global threat to our Ecosystem … More youngsters like you are a sign of HOPE ….🙏🏼

Hello, Ana. I would love to see a tour of the apartment, like the ones you've done of your own.

I live in Canada (Quebec) and I have an avos' ka too! My one is red. The zero waste movement brought them back in fashion here. They also use it in France, no surprise the one you own come from there. " Bidon " is the right french word for your metal vessel. I am amazed by the creativity soviet people had. The cat-dog hair spinning story blew my mind!

I am deeply moved each time I watch your vlogs. You are so intelligent, real & kind. Thank you for the insights into your fascinating life and country. I'm on the other side of the world but you show us so clearly people are people, all members of the same human race. Be kind to one another people of the world. Much love & peace to you, from Austin, Texas.

Very interesting as always. Where I grew up I can remember the woman folk cutting down old clothes and remaking them for children. In our town there were some mills that made very beautiful wool and many ladies made and re-made garments from it. It was just too nice to throw out. Otherwise my family generally lived in typical American super abundance, and didn’t do much that was frugal. Now I am very poor and my roommate and I are learning thrift and trying to do without many things do we can pay for food and heating fuel. I have also become obsessed with minimizing my impact on the environment, eliminating plastic, etc. It looks like your channel is growing very fast, congratulations!

This video really brought back some memories from my childhood... I was born in Hungary in the 80s so I still remember a lot of objects and habits my great-grandmother and my grandparents had. For example I remember yellow and red avos'ka bags that we had and used every Saturday when going to the vegetable market... I forgot the name so I have to ask my grandmother what it's called. :) I also remember my great-grandmother always mending our clothes - even the socks that had huge holes on their soles! (She did an amazing job by the way!) Another thing that's very familiar: making pickles, jams and other preserves - and I don't know of anybody who has ever bought a glass jar for this, we always just reuse them to this day. :) Your videos are always so interesting and mindful, I just love watching them. Thank you for sharing!

Ana! Great video and keep them coming. I love your smile and authenticity. My parents were growing up during the soviet occupation of Poland. And I can relate to every single point of your video. Even in their late life, of joy and plenty my mom used to repurpose old socks or undies to produce new pieces of clothing. Wonderful times growing up with frugal parents 😊

Thank you so much Ana. That was also a throwback to my childhood. I'm your age and am from Eastern Germany. My mum would take off the labels from the inside of clothes (the one in the neck) donated from the West, and put them on the outside of DIYed items to make them look cooler. Like from Levi's, Wrangler etc. 😄

My mother learned how to use crochet to turn wool fabric cut on the bias into area rugs. My family lived in semi rural Oregon where the men tended to wear wool plaid shirts. Many a passerby met my mother putting her mark on their shirts for that day it was no longer serviceable to the wearer. She covered the cold cement and tile floors in our home and others. This started in the late forties and continued to the mid seventies. My favorite was in our living room, a circular rug 16 feet in diameter mostly red.

Ana, you are such a gifted storyteller. This episode was absolutely fascinating. I would love to hear more about what it was like growing up in Soviet Russia. You have a beautiful spirit and thank you for everything you share with us in your videos!!!!

My new favorite youtube channel💕 greeting from south america Chile ☺️

Yes please share with us your parents apartment. It seems so interesting. I feel so fortunate to have found your channel and am learning so much about life in Siberia, and Russia. Thank you.

Thankyou for sharing this life. My mum was a Russian living in Australia. She would send clothes to Russia.

I remember most of this well from my childhood in the GDR and still today I collect every single glass jar and use it for multiple stuff in the household instead of other (plastic) containers 😊 And I've learned never to waste any food, that went right into my DNA when I was young.

Hi Ana, thank you for your story. I would love to hear more please. My mother also had the same type of mascara, i remember it so well. We used to make our own face masks and shampoo. Also melted down our lipstick. Matches were also used to make earbuds with cotton wool. I am in the process of decluttering and trying to live a more minimalist life, to free up some time for more creativity and calm. Thank you once again, i really appreciate your stories, i think when we grow up and become older, we remember all these experiences a little more clearly. Loved the snow sprinkling over the building. Thank you so much Gale.

I love your stories; they are so calming & interesting. I enjoy learning about different cultures, & while some things/ideas are unique, many are universal, such as a desire for an uncluttered life - mentally & physically! Have a blessed day! 😀❤️

I hope you will use more of your inherited Soviet treasures and not-treasures in videos before you declutter them. You are a great teacher and it is very interesting to learn about these times and places from you! Also it will save the stories and (visual memories of the) objects for the future, so that this knowledge and experience can be passed on ❤️ My late grandfather fled from Czechoslovakia in the late 1940's. I have never before been able to read or learn about Russia without a lingering feeling of prejudice, but this is changing through watching your videos and learning more on my own! I feel like I can connect to you on the human level and exchange stories, and I'm really happy with this experience ☺️

This was fascinating, Ana. Your early years of enforced minimaliam are such a contrast to the recent style-based minimalism of well-off societies (bare white walls, black clothes). Most of us don't truly value our stuff because it is so easily replaceable.

Посмотрела видео с ностальгией, хотя не хотела бы вернуться ни к поездкам на картошку, ни к донашиванию несимпатичных мне вещей) Спасибо за уютный ролик!

I really enjoyed hearing about your family and their minimalism. Loved your "potato jacket" quite chic!! Thank you for sharing.

Ana, I love your sense of minimalism, so authentic, so sincere and heartfelt, so essential. Sometimes, minimalism as portrayed online feels trendy and coming from entitlement. I deeply relate to your version as I was raised working poor and live with a small income. Even so, like you, I find my life to be rich and satisfying. Thanks for sharing so fully. I appreciate seeing glimpses of your life.

So interesting, thank you so much for enlightening us. 🌟

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences during the Soviet Union time. It reminded me much of my post war childhood in Hamburg during the 50ies. We also had "milk cans", metal containers, which we took to special small shops which only sold milk. They pumped the milk out of a machine into the milk can. When I visited my relatives in Peta in the 90ies, we also got the milk from an old lady with felt boots, sitting behind a cart. From that time I remember something that was so confusing for me. My aunt would send me to buy some groceries (in Peta). But for my life, I couldn't find any shop. I hadn't realized that the goods were not exhibited and that I had to look for the sign "magazin". If I remember properly, only the bookshop on Nevsky exhibited books. My in Russia born mother was also extremely creative with the little we had after the war. For example, she made me a doll bed out of a wooden cradle that had held some oranges. Her motto was, "you can do anything if you want to". It was very empowering for me as a daughter.

Yes, more stories please Ana. I grew up on a farm in Australia, the youngest of 6 children, so everything I owned was handed down from my siblings or other people and most books came from a library. We had a couple of cows for milk and a wonderful cream separator, a magical machine, so that we had thick cream from which my mother made butter.

I love the history that is in this house, please do keep giving us more stories about the the house and your family history.

I really love the part where you said the less you own the more creative your mind becomes, that's such a valuable lesson that's lost in the chase for comfort. I want to recommend you one of my all time favorite pieces of cinema, a Korean movie called Castaway to the Moon. Forced minimalism helped me excel in my first two years of collage. I didn't know back then this but Movie and Theatre set design was a quite expensive and wasteful class where we had to buy expensive balsa wood and other supplies to make dioramas that turned useless after the teacher graded them. I ended up proudly working with trash, leftovers and honestly any nice twigs or rocks that crossed my path. I send you all the best from another post communist country with a lot of cats that are also named Pușa :D

I love you and your channel!! Thank you so much for brightening our days with great content!❤️🙏