I'd love to be a minimalist, but l love my collections of CDs, DVD boxsets, books, and clothes too much.. I'm also addicted to thrift stores or charity shops as we call them here in 🇬🇧
I can relate to this. The hardest thing I ever had to deal with was clearing out my parents' house after my mother died. There was so much I couldn't bring myself to part with, which means I am now lumbered with multiple generations worth of stuff I really don't need. I sometimes think the best thing that could happen would be if a tornado were to strike my house when I am not there so I could take the insurance money and run.
@caulkins69 My mom died 11 years ago and this month I found a bin in the back of a closet with some things of hers that I had kept after she passed. Bits of costume jewelry, some art she had made, etc. I had completely forgotten about this stuff which made me realize I don’t need to keep it. Memories of my mom didn’t diminish over the years despite me not seeing those physical items until now. Time has made it easier to clear out those last few things. Taking some photos of your parents items before you part with them might also help should you feel the need in future to look back at them.
I struggle with hoarding tendencies as well. 2016 was my big year of declutter, but I still have the desire to own more than I know I can manage. It's tough.
I think it’s okay to collect and cherish things, because at the end of the day we are still physical beings in a physical world. Even the experience bit in the so-called “collect experiences not things” has a physical component to it i.e. Trees and flowers are physical, objects in a museum are physical, et cetera. But the lightbulb moment for me in your video is about how to let go before the things you cherish becomes a logistical burden in your home. You don’t necessarily need to keep all the physical representations of good experiences in order to keep the memory of it alive, but also keeping a little bit of it isn’t bad, even if it’s not a minimalist thing to do.
Great topic. Definitely something I've struggled with! Minimalism is such a personal journey to the point where you should decide the rules to fit your own lifestyle, not what randoms online say is minimalistic or not. That being said, finding your own set of rules can be just as hard as the declutter process. I think grouping items is the best to help deciding the rules and taking action. If you're passionate about books, then it's fine to have a collection because they are most likely bringing you lots of joy. If you don't care about physical media like DVDs or CDs because of streaming, then go ahead and declutter.
Great video Spencer. Can definitely relate to this. My big pacifiers are LEGO and Collectibles (Pop vinyls, Figures etc). The journalling aspect is really important. I did a deep dive into my triggers for pacifiers. The thing that became obvious was being bored. If I'm composing music or practicing horn (Trumpet and Horn) I'm less likely to jump onto Amazon etc. There's a sense of fulfilment in creating and bringing something that can benefit other people. If I sit idle I start to want to fill every single space. I really enjoy sitting in my studio and looking at the collectibles. But, I don't want it to be my main driver in life. Thanks again for a great video.
I think there is difference between hoarding and curating a collection. I collect video games (mostly PC). movies (VHS, DVD and BluRay). Every game in my collection is one I'm still willing to play and movies are only the ones I like. I also confine the movies to one room with a closet and same with games, when that space is full time to get rid of some things I don't like/want anymore. I also buy used mostly and have a budget. It's a matter of defining rules for yourself and sticking with them.
I can recommend the book, "Goodbye Things" if you haven't read or listened to it. I'm on my 4th read-through in the past 5 years and I always get something out of it. I'm not planning on ever becoming as much of a minimalist as the author, but it's the philosophy and introspection that I appreciate time and again. I also find that having a minimalist mindset, even if my home does not look like what you see online (I have a very "cottage" and cozy aesthetic), is something I value and it causes me to revisit areas that I once thought I was done decluttering. I'll find that I am ready to let something move on from my life because even though the item survived one round of a declutter, it may be that I wasn't ready to let something go, but presently find that I no longer value it as much: ie. I dust it more that I use it, or I no longer "need" the item around to represent my identity. The identity bit is a big one for so many of us. "I am a painter," (but I haven't painted anything in a year) - "Well, I was a painter. I was a painter for so long. I'm an artist. If I don't have all of my art supplies around me all the time, am I still and artist?" And then the "someday" thing comes up, or the amount of money that you spent on something, etc. I'm not saying one HAS to get rid of all their supplies. I'm just saying that our ideas we have about who we are (or were) are often propped up by the things we have around us and if we don't have those things, we can feel adrift. Like, can you be a reader without any books on your shelf? Of course you can, but our minds struggle with it anyway. So, it takes time. Minimalism is a journey, a mindset, not a perfect destination. To me, it's just a value of mine to regularly check myself: Do I have "enough"? Do I actually need or want all of this? Am I content?
Great video Spencer. There is the saying that you don't want the things you own to own you. Mindful purchasing seems to be the most sustainable mindset.
A comment on the "open-handed" approach: I think this mind-set makes sense, but it does have a pit-fall that you alluded to a bit when you mentioned the "one and done" expensive purchases. I took this approach for a while, and I ended up in a state of basically constantly trying to "optimize". I paid good money for a good laptop that served me well, then my needs changed a bit, and I sold it and bought a different, more optimal for the moment laptop. Same with camera gear, guitars, phones, etc. Granted, this cost less than just buying everything, but I still lost a fair bit of money to depreciation. I learned that I can't expect any of my possessions to be truly optimal at all times, and I don't need to coddle myself to the extent that I can't deal with things that have drawbacks with respect to my current needs. These items can make sense when I buy them, but I go in with the understanding that something better may come along or my needs may change, but that doesn't mean I need to sell the original item immediately. So, personally, when I buy anything like this, I go in with the expectation that any item should last me for a specific, minimum amount of time. Laptops or computers - at least 5 years before I can start to re-assess, ideally 7+ years. Phones, at least 3 years, ideally 5. Cameras, about 10 years. Lenses... as long as I have a compatible camera. Guitars... well honestly the ones I have now I expect to keep for decades or the rest of my life lol. But, you get the idea. This gives me some discipline around all this, so I stick with what I have without replacing it or buying more, truly give it a chance, and get my money's worth before I let myself fiddle again. As for video ideas - I think an apartment tour would be cool, tbh. I too live in a small apartment in Toronto, and it's always cool to see what people do with their spaces. Honestly I find small spaces to be a bit more interesting, as you have to be a bit more creative with them - both in terms of decorating and functionality. And they're just cozy AF
I couldn't ever be a minimalist but I do go through phases where I want to collect or buy something else, so sell a games console for instance I'm not using or do mind moving on. I'm doing this atm, selling home consoles to refocus my collecting area. Collecting for the Nintendo switch now, gameboy/advance and ds/3ds. Definitely makes me happy looking at the lovely box art 😊
I have been getting better with some of the hoarding tendencies, especially with watches. I love Casio watches and would love to have several dozen of them. They're so affordable, it's not really a financial risk to try them out, considering they cost about as much as a large fast food meal. But once the honeymoon period is over with a particular model, more often than not, I hardly wear it. I'm currently challenging myself by wearing only 1 Casio for the month of November. I've done this a few times and learned I didn't care for some watches as much as i thought, so I brought them to my local thrift shop. I still have way more than I need and plan on doing this with the other watches, as wel as other things i have accumulated.
That’s great to hear Jonathan! It’s good to reflect on what items are serving you and letting the others go. I have the same feeling as you’ve mentioned with the watches in regard to my clothing. In the past I’ve had over a dozen t-shirts, however I only regularly wore 3-4 of them. Better to just keep the things you really love and let the rest be enjoyed by someone else - its just noise otherwise 👍
Hi Spencer, this is a great video! Lots to think about in terms of my own relationship with collecting. I'd love to chat with you about all of this stuff someday! Cheers
Interesting that you spoke about this for me ive always been a thrift store / flea market / yardsale shopper and ive got a small apt filled with stuff some of wich i can resell i do have a way to but while i know i dont realy need 8 pairs of sneakers or 8 suit jackets that i didnt pay much for , i always think when i want to get rid of stuff i will try selling it or just donate back to the thrift store . The 2 i mostly shop at our for charity so theres that . I do enjoy listening to your videos so thank you ,
I am doing the same thing this week but already made two "mistakes". I bought 4 pieces of clothes for $4.99 each with the hopes of selling them for $20 each, I'd like to get more regular with selling things, but it takes time and I see vintage resellers seemingly buying more than they sell. The other mistake is I bought a 6 pack of wallet notebooks, but I ignored the solid color pack and went with a 3 color pack, now I want to get the same companies pens in each color to match. If I just bought one solid color (say black), I would have been happy with just buying a singe black pen of theirs. The struggle is real. lol With the cost of hosing these days, I do want to get to a lighter feel that I could move to a smaller place if need be without having to throw everything in the garbage at the last minute before a move.
Minimalism happens when you realize that the true cost of most things is 3-10x more than you thought and the benefit is half as much.
I'd love to be a minimalist, but l love my collections of CDs, DVD boxsets, books, and clothes too much.. I'm also addicted to thrift stores or charity shops as we call them here in 🇬🇧
I can relate to this. The hardest thing I ever had to deal with was clearing out my parents' house after my mother died. There was so much I couldn't bring myself to part with, which means I am now lumbered with multiple generations worth of stuff I really don't need. I sometimes think the best thing that could happen would be if a tornado were to strike my house when I am not there so I could take the insurance money and run.
@caulkins69 My mom died 11 years ago and this month I found a bin in the back of a closet with some things of hers that I had kept after she passed. Bits of costume jewelry, some art she had made, etc. I had completely forgotten about this stuff which made me realize I don’t need to keep it. Memories of my mom didn’t diminish over the years despite me not seeing those physical items until now. Time has made it easier to clear out those last few things. Taking some photos of your parents items before you part with them might also help should you feel the need in future to look back at them.
I struggle with hoarding tendencies as well. 2016 was my big year of declutter, but I still have the desire to own more than I know I can manage. It's tough.
I think it’s okay to collect and cherish things, because at the end of the day we are still physical beings in a physical world. Even the experience bit in the so-called “collect experiences not things” has a physical component to it i.e. Trees and flowers are physical, objects in a museum are physical, et cetera. But the lightbulb moment for me in your video is about how to let go before the things you cherish becomes a logistical burden in your home. You don’t necessarily need to keep all the physical representations of good experiences in order to keep the memory of it alive, but also keeping a little bit of it isn’t bad, even if it’s not a minimalist thing to do.
Great topic. Definitely something I've struggled with!
Minimalism is such a personal journey to the point where you should decide the rules to fit your own lifestyle, not what randoms online say is minimalistic or not.
That being said, finding your own set of rules can be just as hard as the declutter process. I think grouping items is the best to help deciding the rules and taking action. If you're passionate about books, then it's fine to have a collection because they are most likely bringing you lots of joy. If you don't care about physical media like DVDs or CDs because of streaming, then go ahead and declutter.
Great video Spencer. Can definitely relate to this. My big pacifiers are LEGO and Collectibles (Pop vinyls, Figures etc). The journalling aspect is really important. I did a deep dive into my triggers for pacifiers. The thing that became obvious was being bored. If I'm composing music or practicing horn (Trumpet and Horn) I'm less likely to jump onto Amazon etc. There's a sense of fulfilment in creating and bringing something that can benefit other people. If I sit idle I start to want to fill every single space. I really enjoy sitting in my studio and looking at the collectibles. But, I don't want it to be my main driver in life. Thanks again for a great video.
I think there is difference between hoarding and curating a collection. I collect video games (mostly PC). movies (VHS, DVD and BluRay). Every game in my collection is one I'm still willing to play and movies are only the ones I like. I also confine the movies to one room with a closet and same with games, when that space is full time to get rid of some things I don't like/want anymore. I also buy used mostly and have a budget. It's a matter of defining rules for yourself and sticking with them.
I can recommend the book, "Goodbye Things" if you haven't read or listened to it. I'm on my 4th read-through in the past 5 years and I always get something out of it. I'm not planning on ever becoming as much of a minimalist as the author, but it's the philosophy and introspection that I appreciate time and again. I also find that having a minimalist mindset, even if my home does not look like what you see online (I have a very "cottage" and cozy aesthetic), is something I value and it causes me to revisit areas that I once thought I was done decluttering. I'll find that I am ready to let something move on from my life because even though the item survived one round of a declutter, it may be that I wasn't ready to let something go, but presently find that I no longer value it as much: ie. I dust it more that I use it, or I no longer "need" the item around to represent my identity. The identity bit is a big one for so many of us. "I am a painter," (but I haven't painted anything in a year) - "Well, I was a painter. I was a painter for so long. I'm an artist. If I don't have all of my art supplies around me all the time, am I still and artist?" And then the "someday" thing comes up, or the amount of money that you spent on something, etc. I'm not saying one HAS to get rid of all their supplies. I'm just saying that our ideas we have about who we are (or were) are often propped up by the things we have around us and if we don't have those things, we can feel adrift. Like, can you be a reader without any books on your shelf? Of course you can, but our minds struggle with it anyway. So, it takes time. Minimalism is a journey, a mindset, not a perfect destination. To me, it's just a value of mine to regularly check myself: Do I have "enough"? Do I actually need or want all of this? Am I content?
Great video Spencer. There is the saying that you don't want the things you own to own you. Mindful purchasing seems to be the most sustainable mindset.
Very well said!
A comment on the "open-handed" approach: I think this mind-set makes sense, but it does have a pit-fall that you alluded to a bit when you mentioned the "one and done" expensive purchases. I took this approach for a while, and I ended up in a state of basically constantly trying to "optimize". I paid good money for a good laptop that served me well, then my needs changed a bit, and I sold it and bought a different, more optimal for the moment laptop. Same with camera gear, guitars, phones, etc. Granted, this cost less than just buying everything, but I still lost a fair bit of money to depreciation.
I learned that I can't expect any of my possessions to be truly optimal at all times, and I don't need to coddle myself to the extent that I can't deal with things that have drawbacks with respect to my current needs. These items can make sense when I buy them, but I go in with the understanding that something better may come along or my needs may change, but that doesn't mean I need to sell the original item immediately.
So, personally, when I buy anything like this, I go in with the expectation that any item should last me for a specific, minimum amount of time. Laptops or computers - at least 5 years before I can start to re-assess, ideally 7+ years. Phones, at least 3 years, ideally 5. Cameras, about 10 years. Lenses... as long as I have a compatible camera. Guitars... well honestly the ones I have now I expect to keep for decades or the rest of my life lol. But, you get the idea. This gives me some discipline around all this, so I stick with what I have without replacing it or buying more, truly give it a chance, and get my money's worth before I let myself fiddle again.
As for video ideas - I think an apartment tour would be cool, tbh. I too live in a small apartment in Toronto, and it's always cool to see what people do with their spaces. Honestly I find small spaces to be a bit more interesting, as you have to be a bit more creative with them - both in terms of decorating and functionality. And they're just cozy AF
I couldn't ever be a minimalist but I do go through phases where I want to collect or buy something else, so sell a games console for instance I'm not using or do mind moving on.
I'm doing this atm, selling home consoles to refocus my collecting area. Collecting for the Nintendo switch now, gameboy/advance and ds/3ds. Definitely makes me happy looking at the lovely box art 😊
I have been getting better with some of the hoarding tendencies, especially with watches. I love Casio watches and would love to have several dozen of them. They're so affordable, it's not really a financial risk to try them out, considering they cost about as much as a large fast food meal. But once the honeymoon period is over with a particular model, more often than not, I hardly wear it. I'm currently challenging myself by wearing only 1 Casio for the month of November. I've done this a few times and learned I didn't care for some watches as much as i thought, so I brought them to my local thrift shop. I still have way more than I need and plan on doing this with the other watches, as wel as other things i have accumulated.
That’s great to hear Jonathan! It’s good to reflect on what items are serving you and letting the others go. I have the same feeling as you’ve mentioned with the watches in regard to my clothing. In the past I’ve had over a dozen t-shirts, however I only regularly wore 3-4 of them. Better to just keep the things you really love and let the rest be enjoyed by someone else - its just noise otherwise 👍
Hi Spencer, this is a great video! Lots to think about in terms of my own relationship with collecting. I'd love to chat with you about all of this stuff someday! Cheers
Decluttering is the word you're looking for.
Interesting that you spoke about this for me ive always been a thrift store / flea market / yardsale shopper and ive got a small apt filled with stuff some of wich i can resell i do have a way to but while i know i dont realy need 8 pairs of sneakers or 8 suit jackets that i didnt pay much for , i always think when i want to get rid of stuff i will try selling it or just donate back to the thrift store . The 2 i mostly shop at our for charity so theres that . I do enjoy listening to your videos so thank you ,
I am doing the same thing this week but already made two "mistakes". I bought 4 pieces of clothes for $4.99 each with the hopes of selling them for $20 each, I'd like to get more regular with selling things, but it takes time and I see vintage resellers seemingly buying more than they sell. The other mistake is I bought a 6 pack of wallet notebooks, but I ignored the solid color pack and went with a 3 color pack, now I want to get the same companies pens in each color to match. If I just bought one solid color (say black), I would have been happy with just buying a singe black pen of theirs. The struggle is real. lol
With the cost of hosing these days, I do want to get to a lighter feel that I could move to a smaller place if need be without having to throw everything in the garbage at the last minute before a move.
Frankly, it's good to collect and appreciate things from time to time.
Get yourself that earthship!
Great video 📹 👍
Well, I do collect a lot of stuff
i cancelled all my new amazon orders while listening to this... thank you.
one big closet with all the stuff crammed into it... Job done.
On a serious note just donate it to the salvation army
Great video 📹 👍
Thanks buddy!
@spencers-adventures you're welcome 😊