Minimalism has become an upper-middle-class fad for young professionals. Most will fall off the wagon as they get older. I have seen it happen numerous times when the novelty of minimalism wears off and they realize that status is more important in their lives.

I have been a "minimalist" for 2 decades. I quoted minimalist because that word is subjective. Some people think owning one car is being a minimalist, while others believe a true minimalist would never own a car. I am more extreme than others, but am still far from being a complete minimalist.

I own a used vehicle that was paid for in cash. I live in a small studio apartment. I own one chair and one air mattress with no frame. I own one landline phone and one stereo, which are my only 2 forms of electronic entertainment. I own one plate, one fork, one spoon, one sharp knife, one drinking glass, one spatula, one large spoon, one large skillet and one large pot.

I own more clothes than I need. I do this to avoid having to wash them as often. I only do laundry once every 2 or 3 weeks. Since you always use the entire washer and dryer space, regardless of how many clothing items you own, it only makes sense to fill it completely.

Being a single man with no children, I see no point in owning more. Plus, should I ever have to move, I can be out of my apartment in less than 30 minutes, without having to rent a moving truck.

This probably explains why I am still single, since most women view me as an extremist, and would not want to be with someone who doesn't live a middle-class or above lifestyle. But I have my dog, and we are happy. We don't need money to have a good time. We spend most of our time going on walks or to the dog park. The other half of my recreational time is spent with family and friends.

I am extremely new to this concept of living but I love reading about other peoples experiences with minimalism.  I do not need any convincing to give up any of my 'things' but unfortunately my husband is not very open to the idea of downsizing.    

I guess owning nothing and being a quarter million in debt make me an extreme minimalist. Gotta long way just to get to nothing. Knew I'd be a hero in some field. jamie

Sorry about that, computer user error occured. The point I was trying to make is that Jason's quote is on traget with how I have been feeling. I still have quite a few possessions, I need to do some serious spring cleaning this year - but I have been trying to lighten my obligations a lot so my girl and I can do what we want to do. There is so much marketing done and it's so easy to fall for if you aren't aware of it. The less we have the less there is to break and fix or even maintain. The older simpler things are often easier to repair/rig and cost less to maintain. We are buying an old house in good condition and adding a wood stove for suppliment heating. There are so many 'free wood, pick up' ads here we could heat the place for free all winter if needed.

Jason Naas - "Minimalism should be a tool, not a cult...
I couldn't agree more. I've been whittling away at my possessions, obligations - and expectations - for nearly four years. Along the way, I've read nearly every blog post from the major 'minimalism' blogs that have come along. Some are very inspiring and affirming, but some are very clique-ish and cultish, as you say. I've found that just going my own way and avoiding the marketing yahoos posing as minimalists makes me a lot more comfortable.
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i just watched this ted talk by sean bonner about Neominimalism and the Rise of the Technomads
and thought i'd give you the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFmJ9y6svg&NR=1

This blog has inspired me to at least move towards minimalism. As I've tried living with less stuff I've realised how much stress stuff can cause. It's not obvious, health-destroying stress, but it all adds up in tiny amounts.

I've also realised how much money we waste on stuff, and am finding a lot more room in my budget to be doing more interesting things, like traveling.

Hey everyone,

My lady and I have done the same thing as Tynan. We sold everything, quit our jobs, and drove across the country in a 1985 Lesharo Winnebago we named Marty McFly. It is a little less reliable, but we enjoy the adventure. It tends to get us in all kinds of mischief besides what we bring upon ourselves. If anyone is interested check us out at
http://peteandkara.blogspot.com/

I found you through a Zen Habits tweet. This is one of the best pieces on minimalism I've read. I couldn't agree with you more.