The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

Is minimalism worth it? A journey to owning 100 items or less

Fox

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
Forum Sponsor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
690%
Aug 19, 2015
3,881
26,766
Europe
Since times are crazy enough I have decided to try something equally as crazy - owning 100 items or less.

Why?

- The idea of being able to pack everything in two suitcases and head wherever you want
- Being more mindful and avoiding lifestyle creep
- Owning what really matters rather than accumulating a ton of random stuff
- More time to focus on creating value for others and less detractions/stress
- Be able to quickly adjust lifestyle/location when needed to make the most of opportunities

32994

“I remember going into Steve’s house and he had almost no furniture in it.
He just had a picture of Einstein, whom he admired greatly, and he had a Tiffany lamp and a chair and a bed.
He just didn’t believe in having lots of things around but he was incredibly careful in what he selected.”



So with this in mind I am going to start a progress thread and try document what this is actually like.
I won't be trying to push "minimalism" either way - I am genuinely curious if it feels as good as all the hype says - or if it sucks!

I will try document everything here and share any benefits/negative aspects.
Also I am going to phase into this - nothing too crazy at first but if it feels right I will keep going.

I have broken it down into a few stages:
Stage #1: clothes
Stage #2: items
Stage #3: office/work gear
Stage #4: apps, software, information, and decisions
Stage #5: living set up (apartment, bank account, travel etc)

If all goes well I should be able to pack everything into my car/get on a plane and go live wherever I want this time next year (if travel is still a thing ha!).

A quick note: This is just an experiment for me and I don't judge in any way people buying as many things as they like/living whatever way they want.
I don't care too much for minimalism as some kinda movement - I just personally enjoy having less to worry about and more freedom/mobility in my life.

My goal is NOT to be obsessed with how many items I own but rather to live in a way that maximises what I value.
There are a lot of people who take this stuff way too far. My approach will be to try it out and see how it fits.

----

I started phase one today...

From this:

32995

To this:

32996


I put everything else in bags and if in 30 days I feel I want to keep going I will donate them all...

32997

This will probably be my approach for each phase - find the minimum amount of _____ type of item I want to keep and then test it for 30 days before removing.

So that is it for now. I will update as I go and let you know how things have been.

If you got any questions or want to jump in with your own thoughts please do.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
Since times are crazy enough I have decided to try something equally as crazy - owning 100 items or less.

Why?

- The idea of being able to pack everything in two suitcases and head wherever you want
- Being more mindful and avoiding lifestyle creep
- Owning what really matters rather than accumulating a ton of random stuff
- More time to focus on creating value for others and less detractions/stress
- Be able to quickly adjust lifestyle/location when needed to make the most of opportunities

View attachment 32994

“I remember going into Steve’s house and he had almost no furniture in it.
He just had a picture of Einstein, whom he admired greatly, and he had a Tiffany lamp and a chair and a bed.
He just didn’t believe in having lots of things around but he was incredibly careful in what he selected.”



So with this in mind I am going to start a progress thread and try document what this is actually like.
I won't be trying to push "minimalism" either way - I am genuinely curious if it feels as good as all the hype says - or if it sucks!

I will try document everything here and share any benefits/negative aspects.
Also I am going to phase into this - nothing too crazy at first but if it feels right I will keep going.

I have broken it down into a few stages:
Stage #1: clothes
Stage #2: items
Stage #3: office/work gear
Stage #4: apps, software, information, and decisions
Stage #5: living set up (apartment, bank account, travel etc)

If all goes well I should be able to pack everything into my car/get on a plane and go live wherever I want this time next year (if travel is still a thing ha!).

A quick note: This is just an experiment for me and I don't judge in any way people buying as many things as they like/living whatever way they want.
I don't care too much for minimalism as some kinda movement - I just personally enjoy having less to worry about and more freedom/mobility in my life.

My goal is NOT to be obsessed with how many items I own but rather to live in a way that maximises what I value.
There are a lot of people who take this stuff way too far. My approach will be to try it out and see how it fits.

----

I started phase one today...

From this:

View attachment 32995

To this:

View attachment 32996


I put everything else in bags and if in 30 days I feel I want to keep going I will donate them all...

View attachment 32997

This will probably be my approach for each phase - find the minimum amount of _____ type of item I want to keep and then test it for 30 days before removing.

So that is it for now. I will update as I go and let you know how things have been.

If you got any questions or want to jump in with your own thoughts please do.
I used to pride myself on being able to move in a car load, and I loved motorbike trips because you were really restricted in what you could take.

My line was (still is kinda) “If in doubt, throw it out.”

That all went out the window when I got married and had kids. Now it’s more “I can move in a lorry load.”

I still like having only two pairs of jeans though!
 

Visionary96

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
180%
Oct 23, 2018
123
221
Torquay, United Kingdom
I too have slowly been getting rid of all my stuff for a few years now. It was really hard at first but after a few months or even weeks, you forgot you even had certain things in the first place. Owning even 4 pairs of trainers would be over the top for me now.

Backpacking around Australia with everything you need in one bag definitely helped reinforce the idea that less is better. I don't think I can ever go back to owning 'stuff'.

Excited to see your thoughts on this lifestyle change Fox.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
D

Deleted78083

Guest
Yeah, when i feel bad, i throw stuff away, always feel better afterwards.

You think you own stuff but the stuff ends up owning you.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Johnny boy

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
621%
May 9, 2017
2,929
18,175
27
Washington State
Consumerism is focusing on things

Minimalism is focusing on things

I am not focusing on having as little things as possible. I try to ignore it altogether. It’s not the focus whatsoever.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Bruno Calisso

Contributor
Read Fastlane!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
160%
Mar 26, 2019
57
91
30
Portugal
I too have been reducing my stuff in the last years inspired by minimalism and it's benefits, just make sure to not become a fundamentalist about it, some guys go too far to the non sense point of sleeping in the floor and selling everything they have.
 

Odysseus M Jones

[B...{r<°∆°>}--O--{<°∆°>k}...E]
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
X MODERATED X
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
170%
Feb 2, 2020
916
1,559
60
Imagine everyone does that
Suddenly the economy grinds to a halt

Anyway, you don't have a tux, what do you wear after 6pm? :playful:

*edit*
You all owe it to global prosperity to buy as much as you can
Now get those black credit cards out and spend spend spend
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
Minimalism is focusing on things
I prefer to focus on the space than the things.

I’ll clear my wardrobes so there’s more hanging space, clear my bookshelves so there’s more space between the books, (try to) clear my project list so there’s more space to breathe.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
D

DeletedUser0287

Guest
Since times are crazy enough I have decided to try something equally as crazy - owning 100 items or less.

Why?

- The idea of being able to pack everything in two suitcases and head wherever you want
- Being more mindful and avoiding lifestyle creep
- Owning what really matters rather than accumulating a ton of random stuff
- More time to focus on creating value for others and less detractions/stress
- Be able to quickly adjust lifestyle/location when needed to make the most of opportunities

View attachment 32994

“I remember going into Steve’s house and he had almost no furniture in it.
He just had a picture of Einstein, whom he admired greatly, and he had a Tiffany lamp and a chair and a bed.
He just didn’t believe in having lots of things around but he was incredibly careful in what he selected.”



So with this in mind I am going to start a progress thread and try document what this is actually like.
I won't be trying to push "minimalism" either way - I am genuinely curious if it feels as good as all the hype says - or if it sucks!

I will try document everything here and share any benefits/negative aspects.
Also I am going to phase into this - nothing too crazy at first but if it feels right I will keep going.

I have broken it down into a few stages:
Stage #1: clothes
Stage #2: items
Stage #3: office/work gear
Stage #4: apps, software, information, and decisions
Stage #5: living set up (apartment, bank account, travel etc)

If all goes well I should be able to pack everything into my car/get on a plane and go live wherever I want this time next year (if travel is still a thing ha!).

A quick note: This is just an experiment for me and I don't judge in any way people buying as many things as they like/living whatever way they want.
I don't care too much for minimalism as some kinda movement - I just personally enjoy having less to worry about and more freedom/mobility in my life.

My goal is NOT to be obsessed with how many items I own but rather to live in a way that maximises what I value.
There are a lot of people who take this stuff way too far. My approach will be to try it out and see how it fits.

----

I started phase one today...

From this:

View attachment 32995

To this:

View attachment 32996


I put everything else in bags and if in 30 days I feel I want to keep going I will donate them all...

View attachment 32997

This will probably be my approach for each phase - find the minimum amount of _____ type of item I want to keep and then test it for 30 days before removing.

So that is it for now. I will update as I go and let you know how things have been.

If you got any questions or want to jump in with your own thoughts please do.

Why not sell, instead of donate? Or is the stuff too used? For this minimalism to work you gotta go BIFL then.
 

Fox

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
Forum Sponsor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
690%
Aug 19, 2015
3,881
26,766
Europe
I too have been reducing my stuff in the last years inspired by minimalism and it's benefits, just make sure to not become a fundamentalist about it, some guys go too far to the non sense point of sleeping in the floor and selling everything they have.

Ya exactly. I just want to be able to travel where I want without having to be worrying about a bunch of stuff.
 

Fox

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
Forum Sponsor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
690%
Aug 19, 2015
3,881
26,766
Europe
Consumerism is focusing on things

Minimalism is focusing on things

I am not focusing on having as little things as possible. I try to ignore it altogether. It’s not the focus whatsoever.

Huh? What’s wrong with being aware with how much stuff you own. It’s a pretty obvious thing when you travel a lot.

I think you missed the point altogether.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Fox

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
Forum Sponsor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
690%
Aug 19, 2015
3,881
26,766
Europe
Why not sell, instead of donate? Or is the stuff too used? For this minimalism to work you gotta go BIFL then.

With the clothes I’ll probably just give away. With the office stuff though I’ll most likely be selling some stuff.
 

Primeperiwinkle

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
320%
Nov 30, 2018
1,645
5,261
I love minimalism. I recently got me and my two kids down to two 49lb bags and a 20lb bag of legos. Yes, the legos are that important. lol. I also had a 67lb carryon roller full of books.. but.. someone told me I could live without them for six months while we traveled... humph.

Anyhoo..someday I wanna take classes so I can survive in the wilderness and meet missionaries in the jungle and write cool stories about them. I love traveling. (To be fair.. I also love whining and pouting about travel.)
 

Xavier X

Gold Contributor
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
261%
Jan 1, 2016
474
1,235
These United States
@Fox I remember doing this in 2017, when I decided to start traveling for extended periods.

Laid out all my clothes and shoes, and picked out a few dress shirts, a few t-shirts, 2 jeans, 2 shorts, one pair of sneakers, one pair of dress shoes. The remainder, many years worth of accumulated clothes and shoes went into bags, which I immediately went to donate.

Then I listed a bunch of stuff in the "Free Stuff" section of Craigslist. Had people popping in every day for about a week, to pick up free stuff. Beds, furniture, electronics, books and whatnot. I sold only very few things. And even those sold, I mean "sold."

For instance, my leather Safavieh sectional was about $2500 and still in decent condition. I let some family have it for $50 :smile:. They were so excited.

After all said and done, I had reduced everything down to a backpack and one suit case. Everything else was video production equipment, which I intended to store at a relative's house, along with the suitcase.

Only thing I travel with till this day is the backpack. Not even one of those big a$$ "backpacker" backpacks (as I'm not a backpacker in that sense). A nice mid-sized backpack that has a bit of an Inspector Gadget magic going on. It contains everything I actually need. Everything else for day to day living is available in the airbnbs I rent in different countries.

Personally, I wasn't even one to buy and gather a ton of useless shit. I was already living semi-minimally.
So yeah, I think it's a good idea for you to give it a shot. It will ultimately give you less to worry about, at least till you get married and have kids. Which is what I imagine will happen with me too.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

PizzaOnTheRoof

Moving Forward
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
220%
Jul 30, 2018
1,218
2,682
Texas
I love minimalism. I recently got me and my two kids down to two 49lb bags and a 20lb bag of legos. Yes, the legos are that important. lol. I also had a 67lb carryon roller full of books.. but.. someone told me I could live without them for six months while we traveled... humph.

Anyhoo..someday I wanna take classes so I can survive in the wilderness and meet missionaries in the jungle and write cool stories about them. I love traveling. (To be fair.. I also love whining and pouting about travel.)
As a kid I had about 4 giant plastic bins full of legos.

Either lego or I go.
 

sparechange

Platinum Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
161%
Nov 11, 2016
2,804
4,502
Canada (Vancouver)
How about the opposite of minimalism?

A journey to owning 100 supercars and more. Featuring @Xeon

Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Paganis & Buggattis
 

Xeon

All Cars Kneel Before Pagani.
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
191%
Sep 3, 2017
2,427
4,628
Singapore
How about the opposite of minimalism?

A journey to owning 100 supercars and more. Featuring @Xeon

Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Paganis & Buggattis


Nah, just 1 Pagani and Dan Bilzeran's sort of harem is enough for me.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Kak

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
493%
Jan 23, 2011
9,678
47,666
34
Texas
Not my thing, but appealing in some ways. We might go this route for a while if we do head out of country or to PR for act 20/22.

Thinking about pairs of jeans... I probably have 10. My closet has everything from junky tee shirts to legitimate formal wear. I own like 10 suits. 100 shirts. Easy.

Tools in the garage... Probably $30k worth.

Our home is fully furnished... Probably $120k worth.

We own 3 cars.

We have room for guests.

My wife puts up 5 Christmas trees every year.

My bookshelf or cigar collection alone would blow past the 100 item limit.

I have more watches, cufflinks and guns than total possessions @Fox wants to own.

Yet, I hate mindless consumerism. I have never shopped for the sake of shopping. I’m honestly a convinced that I am a cheap a$$. But I’m living the billionaire life compared to some of y’all.

At least this minimalism thing is way better than dumpster diving and living in vans. :rofl:
 
Last edited:

AgainstAllOdds

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
647%
Dec 26, 2014
2,274
14,724
32
Chicago, IL
If all goes well I should be able to pack everything into my car/get on a plane and go live wherever I want this time next year (if travel is still a thing ha!).

I admire the experiment and don't mean to detract from what you're doing. Just wanted to make a comment that might help those that travel a lot.

One solution to attain the ability to "pack everything and go" is to have a travel bag filled with everything you need.

I have a suitcase that's dedicated just for travel. These are clothes that I specifically bought to put into the suitcase so I never have to deal with packing and unpacking.
  • 2 pairs of long pants
  • 9 pairs of underwear
  • 9 pairs of socks (9 is the key since you usually want to knock out laundry once a week... if you get tied up you're still good)
  • Shorts
  • Swim trunks
  • 5 polos
  • 4 t-shirts
  • 2 long sleeve shirts
  • Flip flops
  • Dress shoes
  • Sneakers
  • Toothbrush
  • Roll of toilet paper
And that's about it.

If I need to fly in two days then I'm not spending any time packing. I book the ticket and go. I don't spend any time thinking about what I need. I don't count if I forgot something. I just move.

After doing the nomad lifestyle, one thing I learned is similar to you: the less things you have the easier it is to move around.

That's why the list above is also just limited to a week's cycle. Basically just enough to not lug too much around but have enough for most occasions.

All the extra important stuff goes into a backpack - laptop, etc.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Olimac21

Silver Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
175%
Dec 3, 2015
545
954
31
Belo Horizonte, Brasil
Great idea Fox, I started doing this in 2017 and never looked back. It gives you:

-More focus.
-Clarity of mind.
-Overall sense of freedom.

I strongly recommend reading "Goodbye Things"-Fumio Sasaki to dig a bit deeper into why minimalism is worth pursuing.
 

pumpking

powered by coffee
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
115%
Sep 14, 2019
116
133
Boston, Massachusetts
Thanks for sharing your experiment here, I'll be following along out of curiosity.

For myself personally, as a married guy and father of two I have no real ambitions to cut down to Steve Jobs level minimalism but I do think it's an interesting thing to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing and/or tossing stuff. "Do I really need this?" type thinking.

Opinion mode on: I think minimalism is sort of a metaphorical truth. Much like how there is no truth to the notion that porcupines can shoot their quills, people who believe they can shoot them much less likely to experience injury from porcupines. Similarly most people probably can't or wont practice real minimalism, but if they believe they can they'll be far less likely to make useless purchases / have less junk in their house. :)
 

Strategery

Silver Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
299%
Jun 25, 2019
307
917
39
@Fox I've found the Konmari Method by Marie Kondo to be very useful in confronting my possessions. Basically you sort through your items by category in the order:

1.Clothes
2. Books
3. Documents
4. Kimono (miscellaneous)
5. Momentos/keepsakes

You physically hold each item and ask yourself if it 'sparks joy.' If it does, keep it, if not, donate/toss it. It may sound silly, but I like the idea that I only own things that I truly love.

I'm in the process of doing it now (half-way through), and I'm looking at my closet and thinking I could probably stand to do another round of Kondoing when I'm done!
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

alexkuzmov

Gold Contributor
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
130%
Sep 20, 2019
1,014
1,318
Bulgaria
I`m surprised at how many people actually enjoy what is portrayed to be "Minimalism".

IMO owning few items is anything BUT minimalistic.
The common theme in the thread is: Own less, easier to travel.
Well you might own less, but you consume more, no?
What about eating?
You dont produce any food if you dont own land or at least some sort of farm plot (terrace garden?).
Everything comes to you by trucks, cars, trains, ships etc.
Is that minimal? What part of it is minimal and not consumerist?
The eggs you had for breakfast came with 20kg of CO2 and who knows what else.
Is that minimal?
Whats more minimalistic? Having land with some chicks, going outisde to get a few eggs, or having X number of people raise chickens, collect eggs, inspect eggs, deliver eggs etc.

There is nothing minimalistic in owning few items while keeping your lifestyle at max consumerism.

For me, its all about owning proper items that minimize your impact.
I think thats the true meaning of minimalism.

And no, I dont consider myself a minimalist, and NO owning 3 pairs of jeans instead of 12, doesnt make you a minimalist either.
 

Visionary96

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
180%
Oct 23, 2018
123
221
Torquay, United Kingdom
I`m surprised at how many people actually enjoy what is portrayed to be "Minimalism".

IMO owning few items is anything BUT minimalistic.
The common theme in the thread is: Own less, easier to travel.
Well you might own less, but you consume more, no?
What about eating?
You dont produce any food if you dont own land or at least some sort of farm plot (terrace garden?).
Everything comes to you by trucks, cars, trains, ships etc.
Is that minimal? What part of it is minimal and not consumerist?
The eggs you had for breakfast came with 20kg of CO2 and who knows what else.
Is that minimal?
Whats more minimalistic? Having land with some chicks, going outisde to get a few eggs, or having X number of people raise chickens, collect eggs, inspect eggs, deliver eggs etc.

There is nothing minimalistic in owning few items while keeping your lifestyle at max consumerism.

For me, its all about owning proper items that minimize your impact.
I think thats the true meaning of minimalism.

And no, I dont consider myself a minimalist, and NO owning 3 pairs of jeans instead of 12, doesnt make you a minimalist either.

It really doesn't need to go as deep as this and the ethical reasons you listed were not a focus point in Fox's post. It's just about keeping what's essential, not cluttering your life with pointless junk and taking part in disciplined decision-making.
 

Visionary96

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
180%
Oct 23, 2018
123
221
Torquay, United Kingdom
Fox, if you happen to look for something to transport them essentials around, this I think is a perfect choice for this sort of lifestyle. You can get models up to 100 litres capacity, but I think 70 hits the sweet spot for the essentials. North Face 'Base Camp' duffel bags. Osprey and Patagonia also make REALLY good bags.

33008
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Xavier X

Gold Contributor
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
261%
Jan 1, 2016
474
1,235
These United States
I`m surprised at how many people actually enjoy what is portrayed to be "Minimalism".

IMO owning few items is anything BUT minimalistic.
The common theme in the thread is: Own less, easier to travel.
Well you might own less, but you consume more, no?
What about eating?
You dont produce any food if you dont own land or at least some sort of farm plot (terrace garden?).
Everything comes to you by trucks, cars, trains, ships etc.
Is that minimal? What part of it is minimal and not consumerist?
The eggs you had for breakfast came with 20kg of CO2 and who knows what else.
Is that minimal?
Whats more minimalistic? Having land with some chicks, going outisde to get a few eggs, or having X number of people raise chickens, collect eggs, inspect eggs, deliver eggs etc.

There is nothing minimalistic in owning few items while keeping your lifestyle at max consumerism.

For me, its all about owning proper items that minimize your impact.
I think thats the true meaning of minimalism.

And no, I dont consider myself a minimalist, and NO owning 3 pairs of jeans instead of 12, doesnt make you a minimalist either.

Your post sounds defensive.

I doubt most of the people here are minimizing their possessions for some particularly hippy sentiment. Or some "save the world" thing, or whatever.

Personally, the driving force for giving up all my stuff was so I could travel extensively and not have to worry about them. And also, while traveling I don't have to drag around large suitcases filled with a bunch of clothes and random stuff I don't really need. As is, I love that I never have to check-in my bag.

The airbnbs I rent for a few months per country are nice places that have everything I need. When I'm done with that country, I leave all that stuff behind and go.

I'm happy to use it, but it's neither a physical nor mental burden on me. I don't own it and don't care to either.
There's no one size fits all to anything in life. We all do what we believe works best for us, and maximizes our happiness and productivity.
 

Choate

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
243%
Mar 25, 2014
640
1,557
Boston
I think the bigger picture of minimalism is worth pursuing; an arbitrary number, like 100 possessions, is less so. That could actually be a trap. It could be a good starting point, but it is gaming the philosophy to a point where you create an artificial "feel good" moment of success when it goes beyond that. Minimalism is more than just your physical possessions; it is your digital ones, your email inbox, your subscriptions to content, your consumption habits, the people in your life, etc.

My goal is NOT to be obsessed with how many items I own but rather to live in a way that maximises what I value.

I think this is the way.

At some point, you run out of things you should cut out from your life and stabilize your possessions and lifestyle, and the goal becomes to limit adding new things - reinforcing your ability to say no.

Possessions are a good start. Also keep in mind the food you buy and keep in your fridge, the books you buy (who here has owned a book for more than a few months without finishing it... or even starting it?), the little habits that randomly eat away 15 minutes to an hour of your time for no good reason.

I definitely buy into minimalism. Some form of it definitely plays an integral role into creating and maintaining a fastlane lifestyle that so many of us seek.
 

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

Latest Posts

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top