How a Minimalist Buys Stuff
So, if you’re interested in minimalism, I’m sure you’ve read TONS of stuff about how to get rid of things. There are so many methods (KonMari being a favorite of mine). But let’s be real. Even if you are a minimalist, you’re going to need to buy stuff at some point. How do you make sure you don’t end up with a house full of clutter again?
This can be a hard thing. Whether it’s because it is difficult to break years of habits, or you feel you have expectations to uphold around gifting holidays, or just because it’s an all new concept to you, buying selectively can be a learning process. It certainly has been for me.
I was thinking about this because last week I purchased two of my favorite temptations things - a book and yarn. These are two categories of items that I have definitely overconsumed in the past.
For most items, I can give myself a simple litmus test. Do I have a place this is going to go, and do I have a specific use for it? And finally, is it the ONE version of that thing I want in my home? So for example, if I am buying a flower pot because I need to repot my one plant that I can grow successfully, I will keep looking until I find the one that I know without a doubt that if that’s the only flower pot I am ever going to buy, I am going to be happy with my choice. I won’t buy just the first one that’s the right size and sort of OK. I encourage my daughter to do this, too - do you want this exact toy if it’s the only one you’re getting? Or is it just because this is the one in the store that is available? If you’re only getting one, you have to do some more prioritization to make sure you’re picking the one you’ll be happiest with long term. That isn’t always the first item in front of you.
But…. there are some categories where I will definitely not only be buying one. Books and yarn are two of those things. So what do you do when you can’t put such a stiff test to it?
I decided to put some rules around each one, specific to my own habits. You’re welcome to use these methods, too, but feel free to personalize!
For books, I always read the book from the library first. This can be tough. When a new release comes out and you wish you were reading it that first day, waiting on the holds list can be a little annoying. But I’ve found that I can sit with that discomfort and wait until I can read it for free. I will ONLY buy a book if I’ve read it from the library and know I will reread it. For me, this has to be an ultimate favorite, or something that’s more of a reference. Last week, I bought Bigger than Tiny, Smaller Than Average. This one counts as more of a reference book. I have checked it out from the library twice. It is my number one inspiration for my imaginary dream home. I love to flip through it, look at floor plans, and dream. If you haven’t checked this one out yet, you should. It’s gorgeous to look at and inspirational to see the way people have used their spaces and worked to make their homes energy efficient.
For yarn, I have to have a project already picked out, and a start date in mind. Not some nebulous future - like someday I would like to make this hat - but I would like to make this hat in the next two months. The pattern must already be decided so that I can buy the exact right amount of yarn. I need to have checked the stash and made sure there is nothing there that would work instead. I previously had an extensive habit of buying a yarn because it was pretty or because I was on vacation. This led to a closet full of yarn, and not enough of any one kind to make a project. I find it much harder to complete a project if I have the yarn first and have to search for a pattern. Suddenly, nothing seems good enough for that yarn. Or there isn’t enough of that yarn to do this great pattern. And there it sits. An obscene amount of yarn got removed from my house during my series of purges. All of it was purchased with good intentions, but without understanding how I really use yarn.
And lastly, I create one more hurdle for myself. If I want to buy either books or yarn - I must do it from a small business, preferably a local one. This is great for several reasons. It is obviously fantastic because it supports small businesses and local residents. It puts my money into the kind of stores I’d like to see - interesting independent ones. It also has another bonus for me - the closest locally owned bookstore and yarn shop are 30 minutes from my house. I have to go there with intention. I can’t say, “Oops, this fell into my cart” (either physically or digitally) because I would only be going there on purpose. This makes me wait to consider if it is really something I need before making the trip. It also means I can usually make a little day of it, walking through other shops or stopping for food at a local restaurant.
A few years ago, I went to a virtual session with Max Daniels. And one of the things she told us was to believe “the decision was already made.” In that context, she was talking about eating, but I think it’s applicable to almost anything. If you consider that the decision was already made, you don’t have to keep making the same decision every day. If these are my rules around books and yarn, the decision is already made. These are the criteria; this is what must be done. I also apply this to exercise, some pieces of work, and the concept of minimalism in general. The decision has been made to commit to these things already, so it must be done. It can really help with decision fatigue.
And those are the keys this minimalist uses to limit her acquisitions. I hope this is helpful! Feel free to drop in the comments what your best advice is!