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Think of your goals with minimalism. What does your ideal life look like once you’ve minimized? You want to focus on relationships and that’s a worthwhile and common reason, but I’d encourage you to get more specific, and also to consider the practical reasons as they pertain to your health and lifestyle.

To give you a personal example, I focused on three things: saving money and curbing the need to ‘buy, buy, buy’, being mobile and able to travel while taking the important things with me, and to stay organized.

I work weird hours and I need to move frequently for my job, I didn’t want the hassle of moving a bunch of stuff I didn’t really need - you know, the just in case things and the never been used things. Because I’m usually sleep deprived I get scatter brained, so not having a manageable amount of items means I can’t lose them. Instead of duplicates which I’d end up misplacing I just have one of (almost) everything, and if it’s not on me it’s in its ‘home’. No more frantically running around and leaving for work I’m the morning having already lost my patience because I couldn’t find my eye drops.

I have some free time so I’ll just write you a long story:

It’s taken me years, but the catalyst was that when I first moved out I lived with a roommate who wasn’t very clean and we developed a pest problem and lice - I know that lice are not caused by hygiene, but her disorganization and disregard meant she didn’t address the problem in an effective or timely manner. I moved out abruptly to a generous friend’s place. I had a large wardrobe I’d accumulated over adolescence and most of it was hang to dry/hand wash, I sanitized anything that was dryer friendly and I put the rest in garbage bags for 2 weeks. I retrieved a single hoodie 15 days later and guess what? I re-infested myself.

I have GAD so I was at my wit’s end, I put all of my clothes in the dryer and a lot of them shrunk or started falling apart. I’d been housesitting prior to my first official move so technically I’d moved three times over the course of 5 months. I couldn’t find any of my things, I never had time to unbox everything or put it away, and I realized that my copious amount of stuff was impeding my ability to enjoy or adjust to my new space. The possessions I hauled with me were actually preventing me from feeling at home!

So I began a long process of discarding old items, by giving them away or donating them whenever possible. I also lost weight, so my remaining clothes were no longer very functional. At first I bought a lot of new things but ended up donating them again pretty often, and I started asking myself these questions repeatedly: with the things I have now, how stressful would it be if I had to move again? Why am I continuing to bring new things into the house and why do I feel compelled to shop?

I realized that having lots of clothes that only served one purpose (formal, casual, winter) wasn’t compatible with my lifestyle. Because I travel so much, I need everything to be versatile and easily washed. I realized I was buying a lot of ‘aspirational’ items, things I was anticipating I would use or bought with the intention of changing my style in some way, but I didn’t have a clear direction.

When I purchase something now i think about whether I really need it or if I have something else that serves the purpose, that I’m forgetting about. I don’t ‘go shopping’, I buy items when I’ve clearly established a need for them, and I consider what I’ll wear it with, where I’ll wear it, how I need to care for it, and ultimately the room it takes up in a suitcase. I research before I buy. Every time I go to a store I know why I’m there before I enter. I might see a new version of something and think, “I’d like that, but it’s not urgent. The one I have right now is good enough, but if/when the time comes I’ll upgrade to this.” Because I choose my things carefully I’m always satisfied and don’t really feel temptation. Impulse buys never happen unless it’s a gift.

I’ve noticed I’ve become much more resourceful, this is a minor example but a few days ago I went to use a tote bag a friend had given me, and it’s got a clear window on one side that I wanted to cover. I took a scarf I had and tied it to both handles, and secured it with a hair clip so it’s covering the window. It sounds trivial but a solution like that probably wouldn’t have occurred to me before, I would just think ‘I’ll get another tote bag’. Now I can use my free one and it looks really cute.

Instead of trying to impress others I impress myself by solving problems effectively, when I decide not to buy something because I spot a pitfall I give myself an inner high five - I’ve totally changed the way I see my things and where I get my excitement from, but that mental change has taken almost three years. After the whole lice/weight loss fiasco I got to a point where I had less than a dozen items and almost all of them were from the men’s section of value village (I’m female). I’ve literally rebuilt from the ground up.

Financially I have found freedom because I own everything I need to own, I only need to spend money on things when I need to replace or mend something, so hardly ever. I’m able to live comfortably with very few items because I don’t need a large wardrobe right now, and if my work setting changes I have the money to invest in new pieces - no need to worry about ‘just in case’. Instead I can take time off of work and contribute to baby showers, I sent my mother and grandmother a gift for Mother’s Day as it’s the first time I’ve been out of my home province this time of year. I know those things aren’t unusual but I have a good fund to draw from to do so.

My goal when I finally started rebuilding my wardrobe and overall collection of life tools was to reach a point where I had everything I needed, as I stated above, and only needed to maintain. That’s what I tell people if it ever comes up and it’s the honest answer, it’s also easy to understand and relate to.

I still like to have nice things, but instead of something just being trendy, I have items that are useful, aesthetically appealing, and over time they gain a sentimental aspect that I rarely ever developed before - when you use things often and have them for over a year you get that ‘favorite sweater’ feeling, only there’s just one sweater so it’s your favorite by default 😉I think it is important to value the things you have, you just have to value them for what they give/do for you, not because you think other people will value them.

This lifestyle/way of thought has been great fir me and my stress level. Just knowing where everything is has been a weight lifted. Not only do i not lose my keys, I know where my clothes are - drawer, laundry, on my body. I just have my shit together.

Hopefully reading this will be helpful.

TL/DR; https://www.amazon.ca/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308

Most "minimal" quartz watches have <10 USD movements in them so what you are paying for is fashion. These are the MVMT, Daniel Wellington, Nixon, Fossil, ect. You can buy them if you like the way they look, there is nothing wrong with that, but know they are built fairly cheaply and marked up to +$100 for no reason other than fashion. You can checkout DHGate and buy a fake DW watch for $7-12 from China that will be identical in quality to the actual DW watch, and could potentially even come from the same supplier! (not recommending, just commenting)

It really depends on what styles you like and how much you want to spend.

Watches I would recommend that are in my opinion minimal:

Casio Men's A158WA-1DF.
Its not super aesthetically minimal, but its ultra cheap, I think it is relatively stylish, impeccably reliable, easy to read, good features (light, alarm, stopwatch, long battery life). This watch got me through a year aboard a Nuclear Submarine and served me well as an alarm clock, stop watch, and time keeper. It dresses up and down very easily, and I wore it to dinner in foreign ports as well as in the engine room taking logs on equipment. I still have it in my rotation. At 33mm thick, with an 18mm band that tapers, this watch has a very low profile, minimal wrist presence. For 12 bucks you cant not want one.


Junkers Bauhaus
Much more expensive, especially for an entry level piece, but very well made. Mechanical, Japanese movement, built in Germany, certain to impress watch enthusiasts and normies alike. Its automatic, meaning it does not have a battery, and a mechanism winds the watch up due to the movement of your wrist throughout the day. This also means that if you dont wear it for a few days it can stop running, but all you need to do is give it a shake and set it again to get it going. There are some quarts models by Junkers that are cheaper, also even some models with Automatic Swiss movements, worth taking a look. Some cool features this watch has are the power meter, so know by how much the movement is wound as well as ability to perform as a 24hr watch for military time. Easily made a dress watch but good as an everyday casual watch as well. 41mm case, so it will wear very modern (ie large).

Sieko 5
This watch is not as minimal in the aesthetic sense, ie the face has more than just tick marks at each hour, and it has both day and date functions. It is another automatic, and I will argue that it is still pretty minimal. At ~50-60USD is is a perfect entry level choice for a first automatic/mechanical watch, and comes in several colors. Well made for the price. At 37mm it wears much smaller than most popular fashion watches (one of the reasons I recommend it as a minimal watch). It will suit you in both casual and fomal settings, and will appeal to both watch nerds and every day people. Not gaudy or pretentious like a Swiss made, gold piece, but it has some character and soul. I would recommend if you buy this watch to also pick up a band, as the one supplied from Sieko is uncomfortable and unattractive in my opinion. The watch will do well on a Nato band, or a light tan leather band (check out the amazon reviews user photos)


Casio Men's MQ24-7E
Another Casio, not as versatile since it is very casual, but undeniably minimal. Very similar to the watch worn by the Pope. If you want ultra cheap, reliable, and analog this is a good choice.

There are many, many other good choices out there. Good Luck, and I hope this helped!

I believe the term you are seeking is "Zero Waste" living, or something close to.

Researching a bit of "zero waste" living products may help you get started with some ideas! I find a lot of material on youtube about zero waste living and am dabbling into the reality of the lifestyle myself. I am not sure if you are a man or woman, or what kinds of products you do use in your bathroom (toiletries, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, etc.) But I figured I would offer a few of my favorite alternatives to common items that you may look into.

Safety razors. Disposable razors/plastic handles with replaceable heads are convenient, yet highly wasteful and overall expensive to maintain. There are lots of stainless steel safety razors on the market with the feature of removable blades (of which you replace and recycle once your current blade has fulfilled it's purpose). Safety razors range from about $25- $50 and can last up to a lifetime. The replaceable razor blades can be found for very cheap (their lifetime lasts according to your usage). Here are amazon links to exemplary items:

Safety Razor: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_boeIybWZE9JXX

Safety Razor Blade Replacements: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QY8QXM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_WoeIybSASAFBK

Homemade deodorant and/or natural sustainable deodorants: These can be tricky to get started with. Most commercial deodorants use aluminum to block your sweaty glands and completely block the process of perspiration. So, I urge you to take on natural deodorants with patience and give different methods a chance to work for themselves.

You can make your own, in a glass jar with ingredients that are less harmful to your body and this may be the best method to find something that aligns with your own body chemistry. A typical recipe for homemade deodorant would be 1 part coconut oil to 1 part bicarbonate soda (baking soda). BICARBONATE SODA MAY IRRITATE YOUR UNDERARMS. For the first couple weeks of usage, you may experience irritation of your glands purging the aluminum blockage and other toxins built up over time. Baking soda may also cause irritation to those who shave quite frequently, however I have found that applying this mixture at least 30 minutes after I shaved armpits in the shower, that I am less likely to get slight itchiness, if any at all. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY IF THIS METHOD IS NOT TOLERABLE FOR YOU.

If you are not keen on the idea of slathering on some good old homemade, Hippie salve, then Piperwai AND Schmidt's are popular brands with minimal packaging that seem to work for majority of people. These two products still contain bicarbonate soda, but will save you the convenience of not making your own. There are plenty of zero waste options that do not contain bicarbonate soda, but I have found luck with this formula and haven't looked beyond to seek anything else. Again, youtube is a good resource for finding such.

Piperwai Deodorant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SM7IGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FweIyb6Z2E2RM

Schmidt's Deodorant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018K3HD62/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fxeIybH035978

As for soaps, there are many wonderful body, face, and hair soaps available on the market today. Investing in simple bars with paper packaging or reusable storage may be the best option for avoiding excess packaging. There are lots of options available either on Etsy, at your city Whole Foods, or there are usually natural soap options that can be found quite locally at farmers markets and such hopefully in your hometown. Personal preference will go into certain decision making with soaps but bars are usually the best way to avoid said packaging.

Hopefully this offered a small bit of help and information to help you get started in your journey towards minimalism and green-thumb consciousness! Good luck!

I think smartphones are only minimal if you consider minimalism as fundamentally about physical object ownership. Smartphones are made to be addictive (see https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/1591847788) and also to require constant updates. The fact that owning one for 3.5 years seems crazy is a testament to this (I had the same feature slider phone from 2010 or so until 2017, dropped it down two flights of stairs onto concrete and got it water damaged multiple times before it broke). To me it makes more sense to just have a phone, a notebook/sketchbook, a camera, an mp3 player a kindle/book. These things will weigh something like 1.5 pounds total and be able to fit in a tiny bag, do what they do better than a smartphone does, be modular, more easily replaceable (i.e. you can replace an mp3 player or phone or alarm clock on its own without having to replace the rest of those things), more customizable, flexible, and reliable (obviously a paper sketchbook is significantly better for sketching than an iphone is). Of course it depends on the persons situation but for me this is an important point. A benefit of minimalism for me is having fewer things overall but making sure to have things I really want to use that do their job well and help further my goals. In this sense, although its technically possible to read a book on an iphone, I can't imagine someone who loves to read doing all of or even most of their reading on one. Where smartphones *excel* instead of get by is addictive social media apps, games, and gps.

The one and only place that smartphones win is maps, and even then a little foresight goes a long way, also forces you to actually talk to people which is both easy and fun.

I despise big bulky bed frames. When I was deciding if I was okay with floor sleeping I started sleeping on the floor to see if it was comfortable. I did this for a while and made my decision about getting rid of the bed. I found that I'm comfortable floor sleeping if there's carpet but not if it's hard flooring. You also want to take into account if you are comfortable having sex on the floor, possibly having company stay over, or relaxing on the floor as well. In the end I did keep my bed, and I went with a sturdy, but very practical bed frame. This frame doesn't require a box, and it folds for easy moving. I paired it with a foam hybrid mattress that's easy to move when i move. The frame is definitely not necessary if you live in a house, but I got it for my cargo van. I love that your entire wardrobe can slide under the bed in bins. Zinus 14 Inch SmartBase Mattress Foundation / Platform Bed Frame / Box Spring Replacement / Quiet Noise-Free / Maximum Under-bed Storage https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MIUM20/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Rjw5AbT0MG17D

I have a trifold foam one that I bought on Amazon, and it was much cheaper and far more comfortable than the "stuffed ones", like the one in the picture.

This is what I have, though you can get the queen sized one as well I'm pretty sure:

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Floor-Tri-Fold-Density-Pounds/dp/B004SOQGVQ/ref=sr_1_14?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501046867&sr=1-14&keywords=trifold+foam+shikibuton


I'm not even exaggerating when I say it's the most comfortable bed I've had, and my previous bed was some $900. Just look at the reviews. Before buying this foam one, I had purchased one of the "stuffed" roll up ones, that was about $300.... I regretted it, wasn't comfortable. I purchased the foam one directly after.

The only thing I can think to complain about is that the material it is made of doesn't feel amazing on the skin, but obviously you're supposed to put a sheet over it, so that's not an issue.

For college, I think it depends on your living situation. Are you in a dorm, your own apartment, what? Speaking from experience, I've never lost out on a sexual opportunity from using a floor mattress, but then again I don't bring the girl to my room first thing. I usually don't even bring them to my room until they are displaying obvious interest, like us making out. If they comment on it as we go there, I just say tell them it's an fancy traditional Japanese bed, ha.

I've never had complaints about it beyond that, but obviously you just have to make sure that the area in the room is clean. It's one thing to have a floor mattress in a clean room, and another to have it in a room with mess on the floor. So think about that.

this book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, is surprisingly good -- kooky, but good (she anthropomorphizes objects a lot, but's kind delightful) -- and her main goal, as it turns out, is to support and encourage you to get rid of your things. category by category she convinces you that you never use it or even look at it, so why do you have it? highly recommended:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering/dp/1607747308

also some excellent and simple organizational ideas that don't require buying organizers

Chum's Wallet A slide out place for your most used credit card. Transparency for your ID. Key ring for your keys. And most importantly for me, zippers for your coins. I only grab this (which I hang on a 3M Command Hook) + cell phone on my way out the door in the morning. I used this to replace a Dash 2.0 Minimalist wallet where even modest coin management was a bit of a chore. As an aside, and I travel a bit for business, for receipts, there's CamScanner.

I've long minimized coins by never carrying more than a dollar's worth, trying to turn it into as many quarters as possible (something I learned from my father). If something is $1.28, and all you have is a 10 dollar bill and change, pay $10.28 if you have it, $10.03 if you don't, getting back three quarters. If something is $5.74, pay $5.74, or in lieu of that, $5.24. If you have a lot, many grocers will allow you to turn any amount of coins into gift cards. Then there is tipping. The easiest thing of all is to pay everything with Visa. Every automatic bill paid (like Utilities, Phone, Internet, Water) is one less transaction you have to fuss with, and all your expenses get tracked and turned into pretty charts in places like Mint.com besides. At the end of the month, I enter a value and press a button to automatically transfer it from my bank account to the credit card company.

So I bought this one: Rolling Bed JFM-36080 Black-60inch Queen Size Japanese Mattresses https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EEMH3Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_O7fxCbK30QNAT

All the way back in 2014. I proceeded to use it daily for at least 2-3 years. First directly on a tile floor then on a frame. Then it was used for an actual futon frame for a little while. Then I lent it to a friend to use as a primary mattress. And now it is sitting back on a carpeted floor as a guest bed situation.

I will say first off that it has paid its dues and really needs to be retired now. The padding is going to get compressed over time. Served me very well for a long time. When I was moving I just rolled it up and tied it off with the connected tied and threw it in my vehicle and I was good to go. That being said there were definitely some issues.

Take this as you will, but as a single guy, bringing ladies back to your thin mattress on the floor does not impress anyone. You can and probably will get some criticisms thrown your way. Although actually worked better than heavy foam mattresses.

If you purchase a frame and put it on there, it very much upgrades the whole look and depending on what you use may be indistinguishable from a regular mattress. Just be careful to avoid frames with thin wooden slats, get a totally flat board underneath. If you put your weight down on a specific part of your futon you can snap those slats (ask me how I know). I’m not sure if the built in cover was removable or washable, but I always used a fitted sheet and washed that and it worked just fine.

If I had to rock it as my primary again, I would probably build a simple wooden platform to lift it. Something like this: http://www.lifestylesfurniture.com/assets/images/2012_astrid_nohd_lg.jpg

All in all I was happy with it and if life brought me back to using it, I wouldn’t have much to complain about. Hope that helped. Feel free to ask any questions.

This is very common, but I found Marie Kondo's book to be very helpful. I appreciate the joy that the item gave me, and the special times etc, but I don't physically need to hang onto it.

This is a great book on the topic for people interested.

Really popular in the startup scene, guess it's good to know what your up against. Or use it for good :)

> Zinus SmartBase off Amazon

Their video made me laugh. I love what they show you can store under it. :) Hehe

My newest ideas to build my own bed frame by creating a vinyl coated aircraft cable mesh. I can't find anyone else online who has tried it, so it makes me more excited to do it. If it works I'll have to post pictures to Pinterest.

My goal is a lightweight trundle bed frame on casters.

I have this particular trifold, I use it as extra padding for my shikibuton and they're both great. I'm a side sleeper, my husband a back sleeper. It's a great combo, very portable, and I even slept on this combo while pregnant. Very comfortable, highly recommend.

It depends on you. For me, Minimalism is a tool to helps me simplify my life and to focus on what is important by removing the "Things" that clutter my mind and my space. The "Things" could refer to physical things such as items that you don't need, things that you haven't used in a while, and the things that you hoard for no apparent reason. The "Things" could also refer to the amount of information you consume as well.

To ask "What is a minimalist Lifestyle?" one must ask "Why do you want to live a minimalist lifestyle?" Is it for financial reasons? Are you going to crisis? Are you moving? Always question the idea with "Why?" and once you have it, then try to simplify the "Things" around you that are holding you back.

Example: For me, I had credit card payments and medical bills to pay, and minimalism helped me minimize my spending habits, and focus on paying those bills. later on, I started questioning all my stuff, and started removing the things that I didn't need or didn't bring joy or value to my life anymore. It wasn't all sudden but it was all worth it.

Here are some wonderful sources that might give you an idea on minimalism:

• The Minimalists - Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus
  
  • *There is also a Podcast and Netflix special Called, "Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things"
    
• The More of Less - joshua Becker
  
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing - Marie Kondo
  
• Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism - Fumio Sasaki

I know right?! I've been reading Kondo Marie's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" and it's been helping me with the decluttering and putting away. And thank you, I fixed the links:

• /r/KonMari
  
  
• /r/Declutter
  
  
• /r/Hoarding
  
  And a bonus:
  
  
• /r/ICleanedMyRoom
  
  
• /r/RoomPorn
  
  
• /r/ScandinavianInterior
  
  
• /r/ufyh - Unfilth Your Habitat App - http://unfuckyourhabitat.tumblr.com/
  
  
• The follow up to KonMarie's original book - Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

You might want to consider a Japanese futon, which you can easily transport and even fold/roll up and put away during the day. J-Life seems to be a popular brand and they have a good variety of products so you can get a feel for what's available, but they sell far cheaper on Amazon and the quality difference is supposedly minimal. Here is one on Amazon for about $150 after shipping that is the size you want: Queen Size Traditional Japanese Floor Mattress. I just got the smaller size of that one and find it firm but very comfortable.

Ah, gotcha—it's a good question.

A few thoughts:

They exist but they're insanely expensive. Which is obviously prohibitive for most small shops. If I had to guess, I'd assume they're so expensive because they're essentially speciality products and because they need to be as good as a human, which isn't the easier thing in the world.

Pour over brewers are pretty affordable, which is part of the appeal for a lot of folks.

One of the benefits of pour over coffee is that you have a few minutes to chat with the barista as she brews the cup. You lose that with the machine.

I think I mentioned this someone above, but more expensive beans are used for pour over coffee than drip roast, so the savings from a machine would only be the time in labor and probably wouldn't make things at all that much cheaper.

One of the major benefits of pour over is that it's not prepared ahead of time, so there's only so much a machine could speed up the process.

And, finally, people tend to order pour over when they're planning to stay in the cafe for a bit and drip roast to go. There's not really a point to speeding up the process because people order pour over when they're already sticking around.

Seneca: Letters from a Stoic.
Short letters from Seneca, a wise Roman statesman and the tutor and political advisor of the Emperor Nero.

Really well written, poetic letters with many words of wisdom in them!

• It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
  
• A great fortune is a great slavery.
  
• Money, which ever since it began to be regarded with respect, has caused the ruin of the true honour of things; we become alternately merchants and merchandise, and we ask, not what a thing truly is, but what it costs

These are great, but I've recently moved onto the Chemex beaker because cleaning it is incredibly easy and it makes better iced coffee than any cold brew I've had.

So this is the one I currently have

http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Japanese-Futon-Mattresses-Meditaion/dp/B003VQNM2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422675432&sr=8-1&keywords=japanese+futon&pebp=1422675427760&peasin=B003VQNM2I

I've had back problems before and initially bought it for that reason, but now I have a hard time falling asleep on a traditional western bed. I'm a stomach and side sleeper. I think if you were a back sleeper the transition would be a lot easier. But I also learned that sleeping with another pillow for back support depending on your sleeping style was important too.

http://www.lumobodytech.com/2013/06/improve-your-posture-while-you-sleep/

I've had no problems with my back since switching and can honestly say I'll never go back. (no pun intended) IMO, pay the shipping and invest in the shikibuton. It's the best purchase decision I've made in a long time.

I bought these and I love them! Unlike other things they're reusable and they don't require any nailing to the wall or anything. Here's what the underside of my desk looks like thanks to them.

Read Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." It's about determining what items you own truly bring you joy. It's very helpful in eliminating the unnecessary.

I got one of these used for dirt cheap but I would have zero issue paying full price, it's been excellent. Great storage underneath and no squeaking or movement.

I recommend Marie Kondo's book: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308

Read and see if her philosophy resonates with you.

Pick up each item you own. If it doesn't give you joy, trash it.

It's been very helpful for me in de cluttering. I focusing on owning things I love that also have purpose.

http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Japanese-Futon-Mattresses-Meditaion/dp/B009EEMH3Q/ref=pd_sim_hg_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1H8SDHRH5YPDVE3YVCY2

That's the one I ended up with. Super comfortable!

I slept on one of these for a few months and loved it. I slept with it on a carpeted floor, and I made a point of rolling it up every morning and airing it out every weekend and had no problems with moisture or mold.

I've also just tossed that shikibuton on top of camping cots and found it totally comfortable. That would give you plenty of air under it.

Unfortunately, my husband is pretty insistent on a larger bed and insisted on a regular mattress as well.

Ive been sleeping on one of these trifold mattresses off and on for about three years. Theyre surprisingly comfortable with nothing else between them and the floor. The only issue is when I have someone over for the night (generally if I'm looking to hook up with someone I go over to their place so its not a huge issue... lol) I'm currently in the market to upgrade to a higher quality shikibuton, which can run pretty expensive for a nice onw but I think might be worth the investment.

I bought a Casio from Amazon which I really liked. Kind of way under your budget, but it works really well and looks way more expensive than it is.

I just bought a coffee table off Craigslist from a lady who works as a physician's assistant and lives in a really nice apartment downtown. She told me that she was reading this book and that she was getting rid of everything that she didn't absolutely love and moving into a studio apartment. Given her luxury apartment (and her job/lifestyle in general) I was really surprised and impressed.

Safety razor. The blades are like 15 bucks for 400 blades (pure metal) and the handle lasts forever. You can find the handles cheaper on eBay etc. Just boil them before using. But amazon will have them new too.

Edit: blades and handle .

I sleep on a shikibuton. I bought it about 6 months ago after becoming interested in Japanese futons. Because I didn't want to break the bank to purchase an authentic one, I settled for this one.

I fold it up every morning, fold my blanket, and set it and my buckwheat pillow on top of it and set it away in my room.

Before this I was using an old mattress that was in the spare room of my grandma's where I live. Being that my grandma isn't too interested in the idea of minimalism, my room becomes a very calming place for me when I head up to bed at night.

EDIT:
Just thought of this after I posted. I wish I would've realized the idea of minimalism before I moved out of my apartment. I was already on the side of have fewer possessions than most people, but I hadn't gotten to the point were I realized it and was able to fine tune it. I was basically a minimalist that didn't know it and therefore didn't put much thought into it.

Why even bother with furniture?

...but seriously, traditional japanese futons can save you space when you arent sleeping. Anything that folds up an away is pretty nice.

Thanks for sharing your story.

As far as book recommendations go: (Marie Kondo)[https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308] gets a lot of praise, although I haven't actually read her myself (There was an interesting episode of the Tim Ferris podcast featuring her that was some good listening, and I like the systematic approach to decluttering).

Slightly tangentially: stoic philosophy fits well with minimalism, with other related ideas about how to live. Both Seneca's Letters and Epictetus' Handbook are good introductions.

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor. ”
― Seneca

I recently purchased this bad boy.

The scan to Evernote feature is fantastic and I've been able to organize all of that important paperwork that seems to pile up so quickly. I recently moved to a different state and last night I scanned in my car insurance paperwork, renter's insurance, misc. receipts for large purchases, job paperwork, etc. Organizing things within Evernote is an entirely different discussion, but so far this has worked well for me.

I have a more monochrome themed outfit but this is a pretty affordable minimalist watch if you are looking for an everyday wear watch that you can beat up and wear in the rain.

I searched a lot for such a wallet and had luck with Chums Surfshort Wallet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CK2EFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_JAqSyb237S9V8

Not the slimmest you could find but it's functional and secure with two zippers and importantly it has an integral keychain and a pocket for such keys. For me it's a must since I can use one Tile to find both my keys and the wallet (and because I still struggle with clutter I search for it quite often)

I'll post the link below. I got my current bed in 2014 and I think it's a little too soft. Sometimes I had some mild back pains and I randomly found myself tossing and turning a lot. Then I tried various floor sleeping set ups but they were all too hard on my pressure points. This futon feels like the perfect medium. Day #2 I naturally slept in longer than I have in months. So far I've only rolled it up and hit it for maintenance but it has maintained 100% of the shape so far.

https://www.amazon.com/Futon-Furniture-Traditional-Japanese-Mattresses/dp/B003VQNM2I/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1473880232&sr=1-1&keywords=japanese+futon

I've owned a Casio MQ24-1E for awhile now, brilliant watch. Cheap, too.

Minimalist philosophy is vague, so here are some books that cover a few areas. No one agrees on what the philosophy means so some will take issue with each of these I'm sure.

Contemporary Minimalism: Goodbye, Things

Getting Rid of Stuff: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Traditional (somewhat related): Walden

Design (again, not perfect match, but similar): Wabi-Sabi

Do it yourself guide: Clear one area (desk, countertop, bed side table) then enjoy the emptiness. That'll give you enough of a taste to explore more.

edit: typos

I used one if these for a year. Really comfy, and because it rolls up it’s perfect for a small room.

I'm working on a similar project to cut down space with my CDs, but I think it could apply to DVDs as well. I've done it in two steps. Initially I got rid of the jewel cases and put my CDs in Case Logic binders. My local waste management company recycles old jewel cases, but I have to take them in and they charge a fee. After about six binders I realized that I don't need those either, so I donated them to Goodwill. I regret buying binders. I am now sleeving my CDs (booklet, CD and tray card) in these. I then store them in Lekman boxes which fit along side my vinyl on Expedit (recently renamed Kallax) shelves.

It's difficult to reconcile a hobby like music (my main collection is vinyl but I also have a lot of CDs & cassettes) with minimalism, but I keep it organized and use the 'one in, one out' rule when acquiring new music.

This is really good advice-- helps a LOT to spend the time in advance to find furniture that fits exactly.

If you have the time, read this:
https://smile.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511398978&sr=8-1&keywords=the+life+changing+magic+of+tidying+up

Will really to reduce the trauma of throwing stuff out

For those of you who are interested in this:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

I've been looking into 'card phones' like this that only text and call, and are the size of credit cards. Maybe this would work for you?

Marie Kondo's book is inspiring.

This. I bought one recently and it's nice to have something that folds up and can be stored away.

Seneca's Letters from a Stoic is a great philosophy book that has many suggestions on how to live a simple and fulfilling life. It was written ~2000 years ago, but it still blows me away at how relevant the material is to today. Here's the translation I have read: http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Penguin-Classics-Lucius-Annaeus/dp/0140442103

too small bruh, I got one like this

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-DVDW-320-Capacity-Classic/dp/B0002Y6CVA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404382320&sr=8-2&keywords=cd+wallet+300

Would you mind posting photos of your sleeping situation? I have been considering doing this for a long time, and now that I have a new place in a new city, I may take the plunge. I'm on an air mattress right now.
I've been looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SOQGVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_ssKNzbH1AZRHZ
But I also considered getting a buckwheat hull mattress that is self-assembling pods filled with hulls. It's about as much as a normal bed costs. OR something like this, which is a combo of a roll out mat with buckwheat hulls inside: https://openyoureyesbedding.com

I've had this for a few years and like it.

I have thick facial hair, so for me it lasts about 4-5 shaves comfortably, but I can stretch it to a few more. But I never feel the need to, because a 100-pack from Astra or Derby runs about $10, which is about $0.09 a blade. Whereas the typical Gillette blades cost a little over $3 each even on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Brand-Shikibuton-density-resilient-Folding/dp/B004SOQGVQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417750960&sr=8-1&keywords=shikibuton

It is very comfortable and if you're worried about the floor sucking away body heat you can put a camp pad or anything else as another layer of insulation. I've slept on a shikibuton for over a year and I don't ever want to buy a bed again.

https://www.amazon.com/freewell-Student-Version-Smartphone-Cellphone/dp/B00UWT5DM4 $20 on amazon.

Then you're fucking retarded. You'd be better off just giving your money away.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-MQ24-7E-Black-Casual-Watch/dp/B00065FWR0/ref=sr_1_6?s=apparel&srs=5477689011&ie=UTF8&qid=1417835716&sr=1-6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEST-FASHION-DALAS-WHITE-DIAL-MEN-QUARTZ-WRIST-WATCH-THIN-PU-LEATHER-CLOCK-T256-/251245252251?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item3a7f624e9b

It's actually "essential" that I eliminate my smartphone & social media. The more I learn about the brain science of app developers stimulating the reward centers of the brain over and over (dopamine), making us chemically addicted to likes, tweets, invites, etc -- that is NOT essential.


An iphone for minimalists is a flip phone that only has SMS.



Being chemically addicted to a cute, slightly radioactive screen is not essential - it's getting your brain hijacked. (sources here and here and especially here if you're interested.)


My tech EDC right now is an iphone SE and a macbook air. I use an internet blocker as much as possible and I'm still tweaking RescueTime to optimize how much time I'm wasting on the net. I killed twitter last month, the detox was a bitch and I'm giving myself until the end of this weekend to kill reddit.

Might not be quite minimalist for some but I think it strikes a good balance - the Dopp Regatta 88.

Here is his new book on Amazon. Not many reviews but it seems to be well-rated so far.

Here is the portable model: http://www.amazon.com/Fujitsu-ScanSnap-Instant-Sheet-Fed-Document/dp/B008HBFADQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373395709&sr=8-2&keywords=snapscan

This book kind of changed my life

Tidy up with Tidying Up.

I too am starting to change my lifestyle! I've been getting rid of a bunch of stuff on my own but just recently started reading this book - > http://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308

I have this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006MIUM20/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1 with an 8 inch memory foam mattress.

This book was the tipping point for me https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308

https://smile.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-ONE-WRAP-Management-Self-Gripping/dp/B001E1Y5O6/ref=smi_se_mit_rcol_smi_2537928482?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&pldnCmp=rcol&pldnCrt=my-impact

100 pack

Read [The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up] (https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308)

Fumio Sasaki, the man featured in the article and videos has a book about minimalism which is receiving an English-language release in April. It's called Goodbye Things: The New Japanese Minimalism.

this book

I've also always wanted to try one of these out.

Casio's been making minimal watches right, in my opinion, for a while now.

Here's a minimal costing one

Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch Chef's Knife

I found that via toppp.com.

https://www.amazon.com/Futon-Furniture-Traditional-Japanese-Mattresses/dp/B003VQNM2I

How about this?

Casio Casual.

Japanese/Korean ones tend to be thinner and more easily folded. North American ones are thick because people here are used to a thick mattress and so are pretty difficult to fold. Or as people have said, you can force a N Amer one into a fold but it leaves a crease.
examples: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003VQNM2I/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/
https://www.google.ca/search?q=shikibuton&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjl6t2I7N_UAhVl5IMKHfBiBD8Q_AUICigB&biw=1327&bih=780

I'm with you on not wanting my phone in the bedroom. If I have it charging on my nightstand, I always reach for it first thing in the morning and burn through 30 minutes on twitter.

I use a Philips wake-up light (specifically, this one, but they have cheaper models). The display dims in dark light so it isn't bothersome. It also simulates a sunrise that I find wakes me up gently even before the alarm sound goes off. You get two different alarm settings for different schedules, and it doesn't go off unless you set it.

If that's outside your budget, I'm sure almost any basic alarm clock will do.

Used to carry a Dash. When it wore out, I really decided I missed a place to store my coins because they'd fall out every now and then. The Chums wallet has two zippered pockets as well as a quick access pocket, a keyring so there's less one thing to grab, and is less than half the price of a Dash to boot.

I use a dawn simulator. It's my bedside lamp and my alarm clock. Waking up to gradual light is so much nicer than sudden noise too.

I have this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-HF3520-Wake-Up-Colored-Simulation/dp/B0093162RM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484020413&sr=8-1&keywords=dawn+simulator

It has sound options too if you need that. I don't, I'm very light sensitive.

I like the aesthetic, but the price is ridiculous for what it is. This is a fairly close Casio and is under $10.

Not OP, but I can respond to you! I have had my Philip Wake Up Light since January. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0093162RM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1473490784&sr=8-1&keywords=philip+wake+up+light&pi=SY200_QL40

Sorry for the ugly link, I don't quite know how to make pretty Reddit links, but that is I believe the one that I have.

I absolutely adore the clock. It not only simulates sunrise, but it is able to simulate sunset, which I find relaxing at night. I do feel like it helps wake me up more refreshed. I think my favorite thing though is that it fades the melody and light in softly so that it doesn't give me a panic attack when I wake up. I struggle with cell phone alarms. I have severe anxiety and a number of other issues, and the loud sudden sound of most cellphone alarms scares me too badly.

Velcro cable ties.

Set aside an evening, put on a podcast or audiobook, and go through everything. Wind it exactly how you want it then slap one or two cable ties on it and put it in a box if it's loose or tuck it behind somewhere if it's live.

I have a lot of loose odds and ends for computer stuff and I fought with spagettification for years until I got a hold of the Velcro ties.