Minimalism for All: Why It's Not Just a Game for the Privileged
Are you someone who thinks that minimalism is just an aesthetic movement characterized by all-white everything in a large and mostly-empty room? Or maybe you think minimalism is a fad embraced by the privileged few. After all, how can you have "too much stuff" unless you have a high income?
You're not alone in that opinion. One of the characters in Liz Moore's engrossing novel The God of the Woods, encountering Henry David Thoreau's Walden* for the first time, thinks "Here was a rich person playing.... There were poor people far more resourceful and self-sufficient than he was; they just had the grace and self-awareness not to brag about it."
My mom grew up poor. She had plenty of knowledge and practical skills. But that didn't stop her from aspiring to the "American dream" of a big house, expensive cars, a high-end wardrobe, and a growing list of luxuries and experiences.
Earning a high income doesn't mean you don't outspend it, either. Minimalists like Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn admit that they once earned high salaries but still acquired huge debts.
* Maintaining a blog costs money, and I rely on reader support. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.
The counter-cultural choice
Minimalism isn't about owning a certain number of items. A minimalist doesn't have to live in a tiny house or be able to fit all their possessions in a backpack. If you're a minimalist, you can still have three kids, two cars, and a house in the suburbs. A minimalist might even have a comfortable net worth and donate a lot, plan to retire early, or have a large family.
Minimalism is a deliberate lifestyle choice that runs counter to our culture of ubiquitous advertising and ever-increasing consumption. It's a tool that helps us make intentional choices about what we bring into our lives.
Thoreau was aware of his comfortable "rich" life. His experiment at Walden Pond was a conscious choice to not only reduce his possessions, but to get back to the basics of living. Instead of drifting along with the rat-race of his time (the growth of cities, increasing railroad travel, machine-centered production), Thoreau wanted to take time to figure out what served him, and what would simply add to his stress, debt, and constant striving for more.
Author Jen Tota McGivney says
Thoreau pared down to the basics to learn what added to his life and what subtracted from it. If he could spend the bare minimum on what he needed, he could work the bare minimum to afford it. Then he could devote more time to what mattered to him: to write, study nature, advocate for abolition, and enjoy time with his family and neighbors.
Minimalism gives us the opportunity to embark on some experiments of our own so that we can pursue another kind of wealth than what our society places such value on.
Is it really that simple?
Maybe this sounds like something you'd like to pursue, and if so, welcome! This blog is a good place to learn more.
But while the ideals of minimalism are appealing, the practical application is a little more complex. Even decluttering can require some resources, such as free time to sort through belongings, transportation to donate or sell items, and possibly money to replace cheaper, less durable items with higher-quality, longer-lasting ones. And this is where questions of privilege arise.
For those struggling with finances, acquiring basic necessities can be a daily difficulty. Job insecurity, debt, illness, or other challenges can make it hard to survive from one paycheck to the next. The idea of voluntarily reducing possessions might seem impractical, and suggesting that someone in those circumstances do so could seem insensitive.
A person working multiple jobs just to make ends meet might feel that they don't have time to declutter, or that they can't afford to discard items that might be useful in the future, even if they don't currently need them. The same can be true for a family living on one not-very-generous salary. When my husband and I were in that situation, I stored clothes and toys that my older child had outgrown for when my younger child might be able to use them. We carefully coordinated the use of our one small car, because one was all we could afford to own and maintain. When my parents-in-law offered us a vintage oak dining table and a nearly-new mattress and box spring, we said "Yes, please!"
But I've noticed that unless they're truly at poverty level, the typical person collects plenty of things that go beyond the basics of survival. Whether from the Dollar Store, thrift shop, garage sales, swap meets, Facebook Marketplace, or things that other people have decluttered and left at the curb with a "Free Stuff" sign, it's not that hard to acquire new-to-you items on a regular basis. In a culture that has elevated shopping to entertainment, recreation, and a sort of "therapy," even those with slender means do it quite often.
Have you heard of Amazon Haul? It's a new section of Amazon that offers trendy, ultra-low-priced goods. It features extra discounts for larger purchases, which encourages a bigger "haul." It's a siren call for impulse shoppers who want to believe they're getting a fantastic deal on something they didn't even know they wanted until they saw it for sale.
Until we adopt a mindset of minimalism, it's really easy to spend more than we should on items that are merely cheap, "cute," or "nice to have." That $2 egg slicer may seem like a harmless, somewhat useful acquisition – and maybe it is. But buy enough $1 and $2 "steals" and accept enough free stuff, and before you know it you may have a lot more clutter than you realize.
The mindset that matters
I'm aware that our culture measures success by what we own and the freedom with which we spend money. Decluttering or downsizing might be perceived as a step in the wrong direction, leading to social stigma and a fear of missing out on the "good life." The counter-cultural mindset of minimalism can help you resist the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
Minimalism doesn't require deprivation or asceticism, and intentional spending is about more than the money you save. It's a worldview that helps you make the most of all of your resources.
Most importantly, a minimalist mindset lets you realize that you don't need to buy something to make yourself happy. This understanding is so significant I'll say it again: You don't need a purchase to improve your life. That's the opposite of what you'll hear from every store, influencer, and advertisement, but it's the truth we've somehow forgotten in our materialistic world.
When you realize that you can soothe your soul and boost your joy by walking through the park, laughing with a friend, dancing to your favorite tune, cuddling with your cat, or re-watching your favorite rom-com or action flick, you've gained a powerful, personal means of pampering yourself.
Related article: 15 Little Luxuries that Make Even a Minimalist Feel Rich
2 first steps
If you're interested in minimalism, here's what you should do first:
1. Remove one thing.
You can read all about it (I recommend my book Minimalist Basics), or watch a hundred YouTube videos, but the best way to learn is by doing. Find one thing you don't need and donate it. A piece of clothing, a serving dish, a camping lantern, a knickknack, a book. Whatever it is, find out what it's like to make a bit of space in your home, and get past the question of "where do I start." Then repeat.
2. Stop adding what you don't need.
The average American spends thousands of dollars each year on non-essentials, and we simply need to rein that in. Whether that means ignoring Amazon Haul, staying out of the Dollar Store and bypassing yard sales, or even skipping the candy, chips, and alcohol aisles in your grocery store, take steps to stop purchasing things that add clutter to your life. Create some questions and guidelines to help you decide what adds value and what doesn't.
Not just for the wealthy
Minimalism on a low income has its challenges, but it also has great rewards. When you declutter, you have less to clean, less to maintain, and less to lose. Decluttering returns two valuable and limited resources – time and energy. Time and energy to care for yourself and your family, to rest, to learn, or maybe even to earn more if you need to.
Fight against the scarcity mindset that says you'll never have enough, and develop an abundance mindset that believes you can make it, that God (or the universe) will take care of you, and that you have a lot to be thankful for.
What you should read next: How to Declutter When Your Income is Small
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