The Cost of Minimalism

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Something that has occurred to me as I continue to strive for less and move towards my own standard of minimalism (which could accurately be described as “giving up hoarding”), is that I have slowly accepted and come to terms with the cost of minimalism.

motherhood & minimalism: the cost of minimalism - a great post on accepting that purging possessions is more about the state of mind than the financial state

An article that I read three or four years ago suggested that people do away with anything they are not using that would take less than half an hour or $20 to replace if they ended up needing it later.

This was such an absurd thought to me at the time, when $10 was my hourly take-home rate of pay after taxes. It seemed elitist and coming from someone who must have been in a different socio-economic category from myself; how could they not see how much $20 was to so many people? Did they not see how much that standard of minimalist lifestyle would add up financially?

However, with time, I’ve noticed that all of those things that we keep around — those things that would cost money if we needed to replace them — end up not being used, or could easily have something else function in their place. In saving myself the future potential $20, I find myself cluttering my space and holding onto items that I don’t need, or particularly want.

I’m just afraid to let them go because of the money that was once spent on them, and truly, because I’d rather spend that “replacement money” on something new. It’s not that I actually think I won’t have the money to replace the item, should the time come, I just would resent having to purchase a new spatula if I just got rid of 3 perfectly good ones three months previous in a minimalism purge.

There have already been several moments during this purge where I realize that I could have used something that I had just gotten rid of. Every time, I have this slight feeling of dread — why did I not predict that I could have used that? Why did I get rid of it? What else am I going to feel this way about? But I can honestly say, I haven’t gone out and replaced any of those things. I’ve figured out how to get the task done without that item.

It’s freeing actually. I got rid of a bunch of plastic and duplicate cooking utensils, opting instead for metal, wood, and silicone for spatulas, and fully intended to replace my “pasta spoon” with a metal version. That was over a year ago, and honestly, my multi-purpose wooden spoon does the job fine. I’d always grown up with a pasta spoon in the kitchen, so I never questioned its use or necessity.

There’s also the cost of purchasing something that does several (needed) functions, and getting rid of items that serve one purpose. That could be something as simple as getting rid of all of the variations of cookie cutters, or baking pans; or maybe it’s reducing to one or two types of household cleaners. For me, buying an external hard drive to upload all of my CDs, DVDs, and pictures onto has been a space and clutter saver, though I had to invest in the hard drive and purge these perfectly good CDs and DVDs that I had spent money on that I could not fully recover.

And that is a big mental hurdle. Getting rid of items that we spent “good money” on. Accepting that we spent money on something that we don’t need, didn’t need, and moving on to a new mentality about how we purchase items and spend our money. Placing more value on our space and time, rather than money.

Yes, there is the ability to purge via Craigslist, Kijiji, eBay, consignment shops, or your standard yard sale, but only if there is a deadline in place. Holding onto several boxes of things that have ads listed is just the same as not purging in the first place. We’re continuing to hold on to the perceived worth of the items and placing the perceived value of that over and above our current values. The money is spent and done. Our choices and habits will be different moving forward, so rather than focusing on “recuperating costs” we can focus on “avoiding the trap” the next time we go shopping.

The biggest cost of minimalism is mental, in letting go of the perceived value of items and preparing ourselves for the potential replacement costs of things we are getting rid of, or the costs of upgrading to smaller or better versions or systems.

Does it take more money to be minimalist?

Perhaps, but I don’t think so. I think it takes a more fluid and empowered attitude towards money to be minimalist, and that mentality is easier when money isn’t tight.

For me, having been frugal for years at once inhibited me from true minimalism, but it has also made the transition to minimalism easier. Having had practice “doing without” has allowed me to purge items and continue on like they don’t exist, and knowing how to make my money really stretch (and looking for those budgeting black holes) has given me the freedom and means to make those “investments” that help make the road to minimalism easier, and has empowered me to have less fear surrounding money. (P.S., I specifically purchased the external hard drive at Best Buy, so I could price match and get a further discount based on the cheaper price currently being offered on Amazon.)

It’s a process. The best advice or tips in the world will not help until we are emotionally prepared for a new lifestyle. I am still becoming aware of the attitudes that hold me back, and they are not easily dismissed; they have to be acknowledged, worked through, and have something intentional new put in their place to really move past them.

I still know that one of my biggest hurdles will be getting rid of things that involve a time-cost to replace, whether the items hypothetically save me time (if they ever get used) or actually purchasing the item again would involve a time investment – for example, the “gift shelf” (or “gift closet” for some) that hypothetically has us prepared for any gift-giving occasion, without having to go out to the store or risk looking ill-prepared and inconsiderate. (Don’t worry, I’ll purge that this year, too.)

 

What are your biggest mental hurdles when it comes to minimalism?

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17 Comments

  1. I agree that the hurdle of the money spent is the biggest. I have a much easier time giving up on things I’ve received as a gift, or as a “hand-me-down” than those I’ve bought. First of all, since I live in a tiny space, I keep rationalizing that getting rid of these things allows me to keep living here, saving me hundreds of dollars a month. I do first try to upcycle and give myself a time allowance to do so. If I haven’t found a “new purpose” (plastic utensils are great for child play, for example, or of course a craft) by that time I throw it out.

  2. I have found that my biggest obstacle for purging is not so much the time but the fact that I bought it with a purpose then and MAYBE one day soon I will use it.
    We live in a small, old ( almost 100 years old) where space is at a premium. I think I need to re evaluate and see if I really need to have a ‘pasta spoon’ and if I can do without. Thanks so much for this article.

  3. I love purging stuff. My problem is the time factor of going through it and then taking it away. I love the idea of learning to do without and being creative with finding “other” ways to get the job done. I so wish I had a “purging” buddy who could come over to my home and help me purge in a weekend. I could get rid of SO much, so quickly! One day…

  4. Really interesting and thought-provoking post. We moved into a smaller house in October 2013 and donated lots of stuff to local thrift stores. In my view, everything we keep has to earn the space it takes up. I don’t think I have replaced anything I got rid of.

    1. That’s awesome! I think too after throwing out lots of little things, everything comes under evaluation. Getting rid of 10 CDs takes up the same amount of room as a book or shirt — everything has to be considered.

  5. I was never a minimalist until we decided to sell our house and move into a small high rise. I actually enjoyed getting rid of so much “stuff” (although now that we have kids and moved into a house again, I notice the “stuff” accumulating again).

  6. You make some really good points here, thanks for such a though provoking post. I am a hoarder but I know I could do without lots of the things I’m hanging on to.

    Thanks for linking up with this week’s Fabulously Frugal linky, we’d love to see you again x x

  7. What a great idea when trying to purge! Our philosophy is if it is in storage, we don’t need it. Instead of putting things away in the attic or storing in the garage, we get rid of it. The only things in storage for us are out-of-season clothes and holiday decorations. People are amazed that we actually PARK in our garage and don’t use it for storage!

    1. Haha, it’s such a weird modern concept that we need “storage rooms” or “storage garages” — or really, a Western concept. My friends in Asia or Europe without closets probably think it’s the weirdest thing ever!

  8. this is something I deal with often!
    but these days I am starting to look at it as yes they cost me money but if I give them to charity shops it is helping someone.
    at times I keep the items and upcycle them to continue using them, or I give them away on freecycle so they at least get some use!
    #singleparentlinky

  9. Awesome post! I have only just this week marched off to the charity shop with a box of clothes straight out of my loft. I have no idea what was in it but I’d not been in it for 6 whole years so why on earth was I keeping it?! I was a completely different size back then anyway! Must force myself to clear something out again this week as I could quite easily become a hoarder.

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