I came across these three tips on living with less via the NY Times Bucks blog post, You Probably Have Too Much Stuff.
1. Fewer choices are freeing.
2. If you have fewer things, make them good.
3. Sometimes you will not be prepared…and it’s okay.
Americans in particular like to be prepared for the worst-case-scenario, having separate cookie cutters for Christmas and Halloween. We seldom consider how negligible the consequences are when we run out of something or are unprepared. Nor do we consider how high the consequences are for being over-prepared: creating more money, space, upkeep and mental clutter.
I’ve been working toward applying these basic principles to my life this year, through my Love List goal Less in 2012. So far, we’ve had two garage sales and donated a large quantity of “stuff” to charity. There is a lot more to do, however.
Why exactly do you own what you own?
What could you get rid of and not miss?
Do I really still need that?
If I do buy this, will it last? Is it high quality?
If I end up not needing it any longer, what is the re-sale value? If it's not sellable, would a charity take it? If not, what kind of impact does throwing it out have on the environment?
I’m pretty confident these three questions will help you buy quality, needed things and have a minimal impact on the environment. None of these questions will work, though, if you aren’t completely honest with yourself.
Are you working toward a more minimalist lifestyle? If so, share your experience in the comments.