Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
Today I’m pleased to feature Chelsea, who explains how her minimalist lifestyle is helping her achieve the financial freedom to pursue her dreams. Stop by her blog to read more.
Chelsea writes:
I grew up in a somewhat frugal household.
Frugal in the way that if it could possibly be useful, we didn’t throw it out.
A lot of things we did use (and therefore saved money on), but a lot of things we didn’t.
If old tennis shoes still fit and could be used for “dirty” activities like painting or working in mud, we kept them—even if that meant 3 pairs of old tennis shoes each. If we might ever wear an over-sized, ugly sweatshirt given to us by a relative for Christmas two years ago, it stayed in the back of our closet.
If we might still play with toys we’d outgrown or might want to pass them down to our children someday, they stayed.
I carried the same habits with me when I moved to college: it was astounding to me how much stuff I could fit into my half of a 10’ by 15’ dorm room… and how many books and T-shirts a person “needed.”
I never really realized how excessive my amounts of non-useful clothes were until I hung out in friends rooms and realized how fewer clothes they had than me, despite the fact that they dressed way better. (Key takeaway: quantity does not equal quality)
After college, I moved back home for a couple of months before setting off on a four-month international internship with just one suitcase.
At the time, I had no idea I would fall in love with the simplicity of life that was afforded to me by only having a limited number of things in my wardrobe and keeping my life small enough to move it from place to place on a whim.
It’s very financially freeing too: if I don’t absolutely need something, I don’t buy it. Plain and simple. I could say it’s because I’ve become so budget conscious and I’m super strict on my spending because I keep my end financial goals in mind, but it’s really because I don’t want the hassle of dealing with excess stuff when the time comes to move to a new place.
Money is used for housing, food, travel, health insurance, and that’s pretty much it. There’s the occasional gift to buy, but not spending money on new clothes just for the sake of having a fresher version of the same shirt and not buying things when I already have 1-2 things to fill that purpose has really helped me cut down my spending to the point that I’m able to save up and achieve huge life goals.
Not only have I started putting money away for retirement, but I’ve got an emergency fund and I’ve bought plane tickets to travel the world and see things most people only dream of. (Still traveling, too.)
I’ve got a long way to go… especially when it comes to getting all the stuff out of my childhood and teenage bedroom and learning how to deal with gifts people insist on giving, but overall I’m incredibly happy with the direction my life is taking now that there’s less clutter in it.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
FRANCINE, PLEASE POST AN UPDATE. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG SINCE YOU LAST POSTED ONE.
Dude, it’s her blog, she’ll write when she wants to. There’s no need to pester her for an update.
You already said that under . She’s busy, she has a child — enough already!
Someone removed the name of the previous posting. So, I meant to say, you already said that in the previous posting!
Chelsea, thanks for sharing your story. To earn the value of quality over quantity while so young is fantastic — I know I wish I’d learned that sooner! Wishing you safe, happy travels.
Thanks Alix!
Yes, I definitely feel blessed to have stumbled upon this lesson in my life – it’s really improved everything about living, from work, to relationships, and of course, travel.
Good for you Chelsea! I wish I had learned this when I was your age.
You go Chelsea!! Life has so much more meaning when lived minimally… good for you! And you’re a cutey to boot! If you ever decide to make a trip down under feel free to say g’day ;)
I can definitely relate to having things given to me by well meaning relatives. Once these things are in your home it’s very difficult to get rid of them, particularly if they were given to you by the type of people who want to see where you have put the thing when they come over to visit. I finally learnt that it is far easier to say ‘No thank you,’ at the beginning than to have to try and get rid of it afterwards. http://www.lifewrangling.com
So much easier living with less. In the 80’s I came across the “frugal zealot” books and never had much before due to a mother who hoarded. Always had savings, always enough. I can pack easily for a trip. came home Sunday from a cruise and left Monday for a week on the east coast. Just do a load of laundry and I’m ready to go.
Hm, I do think one should find a balance between decluttering things that are really not used or useful anymore and just tossing things out.
I try to use things until they cannot be mended anymore. If they are still good, I try to pass them on.
The question is, why does anyone need three pairs of tennis shoes?
Are two pairs too small, too worn (and if so, why are they kept then), too old-fashioned etc.?
I feel the “art” of re-using, mending, repairing, and “redefining” things until they are really broken or passed on has been getting lost and is slowly rediscovered.
We live in an age where “fashion” and “trends” are important words and it is easy to believe that everything out of fashion is old, shameful, useless.
Rediscovering that one CAN keep last years things and go on using them or even war your deceased grandmothers pullovers (which I do, because they fit me, and nobody notices ;-)) is to me an important step in minimalist living, because it spares you having re-buy these things.
Also, it helps you really appreciate the value of each things if you get into the habit of asking “do I still need this/ will I replace it/ can I still use this/ is it really broken/ can someone else still use this/ can I redefine its purpose?” etc.
I am getting rid of another pile of books. I discovered a series of books I’d never read from the 1930’s which I’ve been taking out of the library. Slowly, more is leaving. I am still passing on craft supplies as I find things I will never use.
I am giving away a stack of magazines I had picked up free at the library. I am wearing a shirt I was given over another shirt I was given and my jewelry is all second hand. My jeans are 10 years old. I try to make the least impact I can. My friend got a box of food at the food pantry and gave some to our friend who works at a fast food restaurant. I have a bag of razors and toothbrushes for the homeless shelter. My son is raising money for a food pantry in Chicago. I am ready to start another bag for Goodwill.
I have frequent shopper cards for two resale shops. I got some gorgeous art supplies for 50 cents and gave away 2 boxes of other things I didn’t use this year. None of my clothes are new. I get a lot given to me and lots of secondhand jewelry, too. I think it is sad how many clothes the average woman in the US has.