After eighteen months at my new job I have kept more money in the bank than I did after six years at my last job. And by the way, my salary was higher at my last job. So how did I do that? Well, because I live a minimalist’s lifestyle.
The advantages of living a minimalist lifestyle are numerous, and not parting with one’s money is just part of it. When I tried to keep up with the Jones’ I had visions of gold plated walls and a house full of toys. Maybe not so elaborate, but point made. When I played the role of a high consumer I had expectations of what my home looked like, what I drove, and how many toys I could own. But after a while of living minimal, or at least kinda minimal, those types of expectations fade away.
After a while I didn’t dream of that super custom Harley, or that 43 foot RV, or that super cottage on 80 acres. Even now if I won the lottery I don’t think that I would want any of these things. After living minimal I realized that there is more to life than possessions, and that nobody really cares if you have stuff.
My opening line mentioned that it took me eighteen months, but, in fact, it actually took less than one year to surpass my checking account savings. As a percentage, my savings were six times greater what they were before. What could you do when you save six times what you are saving now? Of course every situation is different, so some may save two-fold, while others may save ten-fold.
They say that it takes two weeks to break a habit. If you can stop doing something for two weeks you’ll have a greater chance of stopping doing it forever. They’re not talking about addictions, like smoking, but more like habits of biting your nails.. Unfortunately, embracing minimalism is more like smoking than biting nails. After a while you will realize that those things that you needed before, you just don’t crave any longer. And if you do crave them, you are much more equipped to deal with it.
I have a friend that is currently minimizing. She has reduced so much and I am so proud of her. But she is struggling with getting rid of clothes. She is at the point where she thinks that she has gotten rid of too much and now she wants to start replacing. It’s not that she needs more clothes, but she just hasn’t kicked the habit long enough to be able to deal with the cravings or to learn healthier options. Basically, she is going through withdrawals.
Living minimal truly changes your thoughts about life and consumerism. Go embrace your inner minimal.
I would love to hear your story about minimalism. Please comment below and share.
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