Minimalism is more than just a style.

[@nvan6824]

While I do agree that minimalism is heavily trending in an aesthetic-heavy manner, I still think the movement helps force people to focus on the utility, durability, and multi-purpose functionality of articles. Great video and thanks for the insightful perspective on it.

[@sammyruncorn4165]

I Agree :).

[@tusharrajpurohit9071]

Yes, but it is just a trend and the benefits you name might just fade with the change in trend.

[@alexde1619]

I don’t agree with the statement that people from the lover class can’t practice minimalism. In many cases the fact that they have less money, doesn’t mean that they consume less, only that they consume lower quality goods. I think this philosophy would actually help many save the money. For example there are many students who combine minimalism and zero waste and therefore save a lot of money on the things they don’t need. Many people just don’t know they actually don’t need many things they are buying :)

[@kimhakl1469]

İ think both are true. They consume much less and low quality products. Especially in developing wolrd

[@zettaanderson946]

I agree

[@marlonelias]

I grew up in poverty, so I'm used to living with less and just necessities!.!.

[@angxianwei]

This can be one way of interpretation of minimalism. Best interpretation of minimalism for me is to see it as ways to remove unnecessary distractions in life in order to focus on more important things such as family or ambition. I also like to tie in the ancient philosophy of stoicism which promotes living a minimalistic lifestyle, practising occasional self deprivation and negative visualisation to strengthen ourselves and prepare for challenges of life. This is a practice against owning luxury items, even owning less items, and probably benefit the poor more than the rich. Most of the minimalism I see on media i feel more akin to advertising and marketing, just like labelling a high sugar granola bar “healthy”.

[@SeeNickView]

Thank you for mentioning this

[@guillermo.mserrano]

I have a friend who is the kind of minimalist the video describes. And it's not a choice he does: it's about the fact that he and his family need to be careful with spending and have become used to minimising wasteful stuff very effectively.

[@arvipascual79]

Beg to differ. It's not about buying more expensive things. It's about buying quality materials. If a need is in a cheap variety but has great quality, minimalism would encourage you to buy it than a more expensive, same quality one

[@sammyruncorn4165]

E.g second hand sometimes

[@SeeNickView]

And in general having more quality experiences, which may mean wearing a shirt manufactured in a fair trade way from organic plants grown as local to where you live as possible, or doing something you've never done before to gain perspective or push what you're capable of, etc.

[@TheFourthWinchester]

True. I've a t shirt which is 15 years old and I got it when I was in school and it still fits and the quality is still good even after all these years. I still use it. The tees I buy today are shyt.

[@Noname-xn5tl]

Not all of us are wealthy.

[@TheFourthWinchester]

@@Noname-xn5tl And you never will be if you keep buying fast fashion and useless electronic gadgets.

[@freebeerishere]

no one is forcing you to buy expensive things. minimalism is different for everyone. also what do you mean by “not what it used to be?” minimalism can be many things like an art form. i sort of understand what youre trying say, but when people choose to have minimal clothing or a minimal interior. it doesn’t mean that they do that for any other reason except for aesthetic purposes. yes it would be lovely if people chose to use minimalism to be for environmentally conscious. but thats not what minimalism strictly is. what im trying to say is that minimalism is multiple things, and it seems you grouped them all together.

[@cnay2983]

I'm not a minimalist but I own a lot less crap than most people. I tend to only own objects I use on a daily basis. I don't think that's minimalism; just being rational

[@astridpaulinasanchezcantu1654]

I think that’s minimalism

[@cicidiaries]

@@astridpaulinasanchezcantu1654 Yeah, that sounds pretty minimalist to me, although I think it's probably a bit of an exaggeration since I can think of a lot of important objects you don't use on a daily basis but are important nonetheless.

[@blank.9301]

C Nay so true

[@manuelpeters446]

If you own your own business like a bike repair shop and in that shop is hundreds of tools and bike parts that you use all the time, you can still claim to be a minimalist. It isn't about a specific quantity of possessions. It's about whether you use those items or if they are just cluttering your life.

[@manisha3971]

Owing only what necessary for living is minimal not less not more just enough.

[@user-km4yx6dq5p]

Minimalism is great. Reducing the amount of unnecessary things i buy have saved me so much money. My room is a lot tidier and easier to manage. The items i now own are genuinely stuff i use/need. I just feel so much more in control of my life now than before.

[@ZephyrusAsmodeus]

I've always seen it as both asthetic and functional, I made the effort of becoming minimalist a couple years ago and it wasn't down to some kind of status or need to show off, I hadn't actually thought about it in a social media influence kind of way until this video, but for me it's more personally connected with my upbringing, I lived with a family that bordered on that of hoarding, with poverty, religious piety and traditionalism combined with a lazy sense of parenthood that resulted in me, among three other siblings being surrounded by stuff. It's when I was forced out of the family circle when my parents split up that I was first left with nearly nothing to my name, my father had put our things into a storage unit and failed to pay for it as we lived with a family member and as a result I lost almost everything I had. Once I moved out on my own and the freedom to do and buy what I wanted passed, I realized that I didn't need to continue the cycle of buying things just because I could and it was convenient. And so when I moved for the second time, I kept things minimal. I agree that minimalism shouldn't be warped into this strange, consumer status symbol, it's entirely opposed to what minimalism is supposed to be, a comfortable, tidy and less consumer oriented way of life and living. It does promote value in the things you have, but that value isn't to be sought by price tags or name brands it should be from you, putting value into what you already have above replacing things and filling your home with things you really don't need.

[@graced4844]

you actually shouldn’t donate large quantities of clothes to thrift stores. they are overcrowding, so they end up overseas or in landfills. If you have business clothes, you can give them to dress for success. but if you wanted to avoid selling clothes for money, you could always sell them on a site like poshmark, where you can set your own price and sell them for cheap.

[@108nighthawk]

What is wrong if it goes overseas? It does not have that harsh an effect on the "emerging domestic production" of the third world nations they go to, and even so perhaps those people should be living a more minimalist lifestyle, reusing more and not producing. Additionally, their domestic markets would only be hurt if their clothes were inferior and too over-priced.

[@vivianloney8826]

@@108nighthawk their domestic markets are hurt because no one can compete with clothes that were given for free.

[@108nighthawk]

@@vivianloney8826 Okay and? The logical people would find a different, less competative market to work in or better yet they could make a product that people would be willing to pay more for (branding). Using "protective" trade policies inevitably hurts the whole domestic market because it forces people to buy inferior or more expensive products for the sake of helping a small part of the domestic market as a whole.

[@liasonlee1248]

I wore them till my clothes are full of holes and dirt, then I burn them all for fertilizers.

[@terrasamiddha7024]

We can do this guys. For our life and the earth. 1. Less consumption. 2. Live minimalist and simplicity. 3. Reuse what we buy. 4. Being childfree or marriage free. 5. Share this video and this advice to everyone. May you all live happily.

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

Sorry, I don't agree with your definition of minimalism. Minimalism taught me about values, frugality, sharing, community, buying second hand, buying only things I need, low waste living and so much more. Portraying it as something elitist or a stylistic choice is very misleading in my opinion. Of course there may be some people who might see it that way, but I am sure those are the absolut minority.

[@hcjensen989]

Ya I really don't understand where he's coming from either. Sure there might be some people to whom minimalism is the way he describes, but I still feel like the vast majority of the movement, atleast now(this video is almost 2 years old), is focused on exactly what he's saying the movement should be.

[@indrikis2528]

I think he meant that people portray it as something elitist and as a style. I don't think that was his message. There are people and creators that focus a lot more on the aesthetic side and he was just trying to explain how minimalism actually has a lot more depth to it, it is more than just a style (it is in the title even). So you got the complete opposite idea of what he was trying to say.

[@JanNiediek]

I think portraing it as he did helps preventing other people to go in a similar direction. But the fact is, that there are people and especially big internet personalities who are doing it in a way and who can misslead new people who wanna join the movement.

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

@@indrikis2528 He changed the title of the video. At the time I wrote my comment, the video was called something like "my problem with minimalism". He probably noticed that this was a misleading title, hence my original comment.

[@ccassidy9090]

@TheCrashingToaster This is not virtue signalling. Minimalism started as a social and politcal movement against consumer culture. Companies using the "less but better" fake minimalism to sell things is literally the opposite of that. This is not just his definition of minimalism. Not everything has to be political, but minimalism is.

[@jenavevesnowolf13]

Poor people can absolutely benefit from minimalism. Not as a fad or style, but just as a way to optimize the little they "can" have. It will look way different for poor than for rich, but that should be fine. Just shop at thrift shops and go to your local swap shop for items. Rich people throw away and donate wonderful things that poor people can and should take advantage of.

[@magpie913]

Your comment automatically made me imagine a scene where a rich person drops peaces of bread from a high table and a poor person eats them. We all have the same obligations towards our planet no matter the amount of money we have. Reach people are not exempted from this obligations. What I mean by this is that buying tens of clothes and giving them away two months later in order to buy others and in the maine time remain "minimalist" is not a way to fight consumerism. Why not demand the same things from everybody?

[@jenavevesnowolf13]

@@magpie913 I feel the obligation is even higher on the rich. But individuals have to decide to care for the planet. I wish everyone respected the land the same. I was just writing from person experience. Poor people can (and as a poor person, I did) benefit from minimalism. And we should take advantage of what is available to us in our areas.

[@jameshumphrey9939]

there is no such thing as poor people or rich people just people a bit of an illusion then - cheers

[@jenavevesnowolf13]

@@jameshumphrey9939 It is more a conversation about resources than about people. Or rather what people choose to do with the resources available to them. People with less resources available to them can and should both take advantage of higher quality resources dropped off by people who no longer need those resources because they can provide even better quality resources. Lol so much more long winded than using poor and rich. But the argument can be made not using those words.

[@Steve-hi1db]

Totally agree

[@chrisshotwell4442]

There's minimalism as a design aesthetic, and minimalism as a lifestyle choice. You seem to be conflating the two in your video. Perhaps what you're reacting to is the prevalence of "style without substance" KZbin channels promoting a shallow, faddish form of minimalism, where the poster went out and replaced all their possessions with the latest, trendy "minimalist" furniture and vases. But I don't think they represent the majority of minimalists. I'm probably more representative of a typical minimalist: I live in an apartment with timeless, high-quality furnishings, many of which I got second-hand or received from family members. I don't have white walls, grey couches, or matching enameled end table sets, but I do live in an environment that is simple, uncluttered, and gives me space to focus on what is important to me, and I use pretty much everything I own on a regular basis. I'm careful about what I bring into my home, and I try and consider the environmental impact of what I buy, preferring used over new when practical. I also use things until they break - I'm typing this on a 7-year-old Macbook Air that I'll send back to recycle when it finally dies, I drive a 20-year old car with decent fuel economy, and I just re-soled a 5-year-old pair of leather hiking boots that should last a few more years if I'm lucky. Is it a privilege to be able to buy a $1100 Macbook Air or a pair of $350 hiking boots every 8 or 9 years? Sure, and I feel super lucky, but it's also pretty frugal compared to how a lot of people in America spend money, and I'm able to live on a pretty small budget despite having some pretty nice things.

[@gsimongear]

Another key part of minimalism: taking care of and repairing your things. Ever since learning to sew a few years back, it's amazing how many minor rips, tears, popped buttons, etc. can be easily repairing, instead of throwing out the clothing and buying new.

[@jwho4273]

I appreciate your thoughts but like others I'm not sure if I agree with you. The way I learned it is that there's minimalalism as an aesthetic and minimalism as a lifestyle. I agree that folks tend to focus on buying more expensive but arguably better quality stuff. The philosophy of behind it is thoughtful purchasing which in turn leads to less consumerist lifestyle.

[@calebchambers8002]

i appreciate this channel and how it has changed my point of view on what it means to be environmentally friendly, but I have to disagree with this. as a lower middle class teen, all around me I see people rushing to buy the newest things, the best phones, and the coolest tech. the people i see bragging about it, are also the people that cannot afford it, yet the rat race has forced them into the idea that more is better. for me, minimalism has been a great factor in helping me find what i actually enjoy owning, and what i owned for the sake of others. this does mean for me, having one or two pieces of clothing or tech that are in the higher price range, but it also allows me to see that owning a car isn't necessary, nor is getting every new thing that comes my way. In this way, minimalim has also guided me to being smarter with the food i eat, and has pushed me to healthier, more sustainable habits for me, and the environment around me.

[@WishingThePanda]

As a child I was far below the poverty line. Everything we bought was thrifted and I learned from a young age to care for and make repairs to what I had (sewing up holes and buttons etc.) You can still live a minimalist life style by taking care of what you have. A thrifted fast fashion pair of jeans can last 10 years if you care (or are desperate) enough. I've had the same primark crop top for 8 years and I wear it very frequently.

[@davidwave4]

Minimalism is, like most things, better when paired with ecosocialism.

[@josefmuller6070]

"Throw away perfectly good stuff and buy five pieces of bland grey furniture because its good that way" is the most stupid thing. When you wan't to not be consumerist, don't throw away anyting and buy less.

[@corujanova]

Thank you for the quality content!

[@LeahandLevi]

1 year later and it's still applicable. I am hoping to make a video about this and I got a lot out of this one. 👍

[@PaxPirate]

Thank you so much for this video and for adressing a lot of little annoyances I have with a lot of minimalist youtubers. I often feel like the style that minimalism gets represented as, to me look very much like Scandinavian design - clean, clear, colored furniture with white walls and bright windows or light. And a LOT of white. Think fancy Ikea. I am no expert on styles, but I wish we could call the design style by design style names and not conflate it with a social movements for critical consumerism.

[@user-gu9yq5sj7c]

Then what would you call that simple design? Words can have multiple meanings.

[@ReasonableRadio]

bro idk if it's that deep. On a high or low budget, simplifying your lifestyle, trying not to buy as many things in total, letting go of things you don't really use; all of these things don't really cost money. Yes if you have a lot of money you can increase the aesthetic of it by buying designer things with simpler geometry. Ultimately it's a very vague set of ideas and it will probably save most people money. Of course companies will try to use the aesthetic to sell more expensive products if they can, but you can safely ignore them.

[@CLBOO6]

Yes I agree, the critics of minimalism are totally missing the points here.

[@expressI0N5]

I've been struggling with the understanding and the practice of minimalism for three years now. I feel that through my struggling, I don't think minimalism is about finding an answer at all. The state of awareness of being and living life is a continuous process that isn't limited to any one big concept whether it is aesthetics, environmentalism or even the idea of positivity.

[@AngeLstoCooLforU]

dude! your videos are eye-openers, i also appreciate your links to articles in the description

[@amysofia5783]

I consider myself a minimalist, not because my house is all white or my wardrobe is small (quite the contrary), but because I choose my purchases carefully. When I shop, I'm always asking myself "do I really need this? Do I already have something like this at home? Could I get this second hand somewhere or borrow it from someone instead?" I believe that part of the problem of consumerism is mindless shopping. By exercising your will, you start to put into perspective what's important or necessary.

[@camalama21]

I definitely agree with a lot of points here BUT I grew up in a family with not much money but where we lived was full of stuff. I had a friend whose mother was a hoarder and it was hard to walk through the house. While yes, some people are soo poor that the lack of things they possess really isn't a choice, however, both my family and the family of my friend didn't have a lot of money at all and our houses were full of unnecessary things. For my mom, we deduced that because she lacked material things growing up, she would just buy things now to (in a way) make up for not having a lot growing up--to assure herself that if she wants something she can now have it when before that wasn't the case, even if that wouldn't be the smartest financial decision for her because she is terrible at saving money. But that leads to so much clutter around the house I would spend hours by myself throwing out things we didn't have a use for. I think that for people that gravitate towards minimalism now that have the means to buy better quality things, I completely agree with that. Back in the day, you'd buy something of great quality that would last you your entire life. Now, "cheaper" items are much more readily available but they don't last. Prices also rise due to inflation. A great pair of shoes several years ago would be hiked up in price today. I completely support buying something that will last to avoid sending things to landfills repeatedly. While that might also induce a sense of superiority in some because of their high priced purchase, I feel that maybe a byproduct and not the point of the initial purchase. Also, perhaps getting into the habit of learning how to save for better quality items, lower-income especially, is where we should start with educating people on. The amount of low-quality things my mom used to buy and toss out was astronomical and a huge waste. So while you may think minimalism produces an elitest culture, I think it noble of anybody who is conscious of their environmental impact and seeks to reduce it. With more money, you're simply just more privy to certain things because money gives you the leisure to research and such. Poorer people work so much its hard to really focus on anything apart from working, paying bills, and also contributing to the consumerist culture given way by capitalism because they don't know any better.

[@beenasfarastodecidetouseve6733]

This video completely misses the class of folk, mostly from the economic center, which can benefit themselves and the world via minimalism.

[@EyeonU100]

I agree with the video, and many suposed minimalists are only atracted to the style of clean and tidy environment. I decide to be a minimalist almost 4 years ago and with the time by I’m always keeping to focus on the reasons that make me abandon the old consumerist me in order to stay really minimalist. The eco impact of the “new” me is smaller than the previous and this keeps me going everyday and in all of my choices. This video is very good to explain the theme and the incorrect path that someone could take… Cheers

[@PGBlanks]

My problem with the commercialisation of minimalism today is that it encourages people to throw out perfectly fine items (e.g. clothing, furniture) to then replace it with a more aesthetically pleasing item. Doesn’t the essence of minimalism entail maximising the value of what you have now?

[@athenadia4743]

It's funny, because I watch a lot of minimalist youtubers but somehow I've never heard of the idea that you should buy less but buy more "expensive." I'd argue that that's not what is being promoted by the minimalist community, but instead the idea that we don't need to have many things to be happy, in many different senses. This really makes people look at the value of an item for all it is, and that tends to make minimalists choose more wisely when it comes to shopping.

[@aphexart]

This is exactly what I was thinking, minimalism has been adopted by the rich to show of how even they can live with less, but even more expensive, unfortunately but that doesn't automatically mean better, long-lasting... Same with tiny houses, it has become a trend. It started out of necessity for ppl who couldn't afford anything more. Now tinyhaus builders advertise the houses sometimes as a poolhouse or second vacation/weekend house, which means it has become a trend for the rich, they probably think it's cute.

[@odedsayar4345]

I've read a piece about an element of 2nd hand that isn't often talked about. 2nd hand is also, counter-intuitively, less available for lower class ppl, since their success in life often relies on their ability to signal a higher class then they acually have, while higher-middle class ppl (and above) are the ones who can allow themselves to get used clothes, furniture or whatever since they already have an established access to those resources and their higher class is signaled in various other ways. That argument, of course, doesn't include those who have no choice but getting 2nd hand

[@Anarcath]

I am the ultimate minimalist. The last time I bought shoes was 7 years ago; clothes a decade ago. In my small home, I have only the very basics of furniture. I have no car. As a vegan I don’t participate in the consumption of meat, dairy and fish. I eat only once a day. I am a very poor person. I barely make ends meet. But maybe that’s the key. My poverty is not abject. It is wholesome. I’ve done my due diligence for this world. My conscience is clear. And I’ve taught my two children to follow in my footsteps.

[@brigiszb_art]

I'm so grateful this video. I hope more people will watch it and see that minimalism is not just a fashion style or having lack of furniture. Currently I'm trying to have a zero waste lifestyle which is also really hard, mainly due to the high price of conscious products.

[@FridgeMaan]

Minimalism to me has never been about buying the mos expensive stuff, but to not put your happiness in the hands of objects and live with more intension. Not "buying shit we don't need with money that isn't ours to impress people we don't like" is the D'Avellan version of minimalism that I most associate with the word today.

[@danielladner374]

I've always been super skeptical about buying expensive items that last longer. An article tried to convince me that it's better to buy 600$ bag/shoes/jacket that lasts 20 years than 50$ bag that lasts two years. I don't know why they think the 50$ bag only lasts one year. I've used my 50$ bag for 4 years now and it's fine. Maybe it looks a little frayed now, but it still functions. Same with my jacket and shoes. People have to remember that higher price does not mean higher quality. Maybe some high priced goods would last longer without damage, but the damage just affects the appearance.

[@sleepysartorialist]

I think this, perhaps unintentionally, obfuscates the fact that minimalism is a values based movement. Everything you’re talking about is what the core of the movement is. There will always be those who coopt something wholesome and loudly turn it into an aesthetic (hygge anyone?) but at the end of the day it’s about what is important to oneself.

[@kawaiidere1023]

I practice minimalism to max out how much I can get for my money. No buying multiples of clothing items, storing clothes instead of selling them unless they’re too small (in which case I either sell or donate them), buying based on what I want not what’s trendy or classy, etc. Thinking about what else I could use the money for before making a purchase. It’s my brand of minimalism and I love it

[@MichalSventek]

You missed the point completely

[@HeyItsMia]

great video! however, listening to many podcasts (especially the minimalists) about this topic I've found that minimalism isn't just about buying expensive things rather than cheaper belongings. It's about purchasing/keeping only the things that add true value to your life and that minimalism looks different for everyone :)

[@kalebrooks6833]

I’m currently building this clothing brand where I upcycle and combine 2 or more thrifted clothing pieces into 1 new piece. I hope I can do a little positive environmental impact this way.

[@davidperry4013]

I prefer Victorian decor and I will never replace them but, I will maintain them down to the tee to make sure they last for the rest of my life. The feeling of zen when taking care of victorian pieces with leather conditioner, furniture polish, granite cleaner, and microfiber cloths is very satisfying. After it's all down, just have a seat on my high wingback leather chair and relax.

[@MarinelliBrosPodcast]

There is one thing about true minimalism that both Liberals and Conservatives that is appealing, it saves money.

[@jameswoods5096]

I truly appreciate your videos, your editing, opinions, and your presentation of the data. They are all around great videos and this coming from a more conservative minded individual. A lot of your videos (especially the permaculture, fracking, and sustainability videos) have coincided with my studies as a architect grad student in Texas. Something that might interest you is rammed earth, CEB's and other alternative building materials. If you ever needed help with a video or research I would love to help.

[@OurChangingClimate]

Thanks man! I only have a little exposure to rammed earth and CEBs from the videos I've watched on earthships, but it's something that I want to learn more about. I'm definitely thinking about doing a video on sustainable architecture down the road so I'll hit you up if I have any questions! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@susannegerber7360]

Good point! I like the 'hype' around minimalism. Performing by the means of private possesions and private ownership can be questioned and there is a word for it. It is at least a narrow door out of the hermetic world of consumption and social distinction. You can say: "I do not need a private car. I like public transport and once in a while a taxi.". I mean it is possible and makes sense that that you quit the participation in all this crazyness around things and money. And since minimalism is no longer just a genre in contemporary art, there is communication about this. I am working on a list of priorities related to minimalism - things to accomplish and things to avoid. I think we should e.g. be aware, that there is more possitive impact if we avoid long distance flights than there is if we use package free make up or that living on the road in a van may have a minimalistic touch, but actually needs a lot of resources and so on.

[@sabrinamehereen]

snaps to you for talking about it 5 years earlier than all other people

[@alexp9963]

Great video, practicing minimalism and questioning why compared with having a minimalist aesthetic are two completely different things

[@notnygaard]

minimalism help me with my depression because I had so much stuff I'd never use or wear and it stressed me tf out

[@Juniperskeleton]

I wrote about exactly this last year, its good to see more people are catching on because it almost feels like minimalism = buying stuff, throwing it away when you dont need it, buying more stuff.

[@PotatoflakeJake]

I lived on the road for 5 years. I only had a backpack, sleeping bag, pad etc. I had just a few pieces of gear but man were they high quality. they were so good that I didn't have to get new ones. yes it was expensive but it was well worth it

[@emilyelizabeth7062]

Even though buying less things is not a choice for some people, most people are happier with less. My school taught about how stuff is not needed to be happy. And about how people in poor countries have less, they focus more on people and experiences. Although some people don’t have a choice, most people with less are still happier. Although it isn’t the case for all that is what is true for most people. Although I do agree with some of your points I think that this video didn’t need to be made as minimalism is not just something that has straightforward rules and you have to do it one way. Some minimalist decide to do things like get more expensive stuff because they can but it doesn’t necessary mean that either way is wrong. YOU need to realize that,

[@naheenisapoet69]

Not true about the expensive clothing thing, there are certain clothes with good quality that come cheap. For example you can look for organic clothes online that can be more affordable. And in a country like Bangladesh, things are sort of cheaper so we don't have to be expensive. And most people have a lot of clothes, some of which are great. So you dont have to throw away everything and buy new ones, you can just keep some, throwaway some

[@susango539]

Nice video. I love the idea of minimalism as an expression of consumer critique.

[@Segastar1]

This video kinda made me feel guilty cause I bought some new clothes for the year cause I've lost weight. Also finding shoes that fit me that don't cause me pain are hard to find. Most of the clothes over the years I bought were thrift store or clearance

[@mermaiddirector]

I'm so excited that you mentioned Chelsea Fagan. You two are my favorites to watch on KZbin.

[@thelightofthejedi9811]

also selling items can sometimes be better than donating as not every thrift store or organization you donate them to can sell the items and might just throw them away

[@kenhunt5153]

How many boxes are outside your door each day? What can you do with with the double bag of grated cheese from Costco? Can you park your cars in the garage? How many storage lockers do you have? A fridge in the garage? A freezer in the basement? A generator outside? Do you own the stuff or does it own you?

[@ManiaMusicChannel]

I am a minimalist, I buy less BUT when I buy, I buy cheap stuff too; things that I can afford and that I really need

[@tylerstacks4392]

I’m going to start practicing minimalism now

[@drishtisanger3899]

Keyword: ability to choose less This is so significant when it comes to understand the difference between an aesthetic motivation and what people can actually afford to furnish their homes or just how they live their lives. If I wanted a minimalistic style shelf from Ikea and a basic shelf, the basic but yet bulky shelf will cost significantly more than the former.

[@cammysmith7562]

I’m not rich and I been a minimalist all my life. If I need something I save even if it takes a year. Rather than buying a cheap jacket I’d save every penny for months and I bought a nearly £300 Barbour jacket with a £40 detachable hood. It’s lasted 15 years and is in great condition after being through hell. Barbour also offers repairs on all jackets no matter the state it’s in, they would rather remove a ripped sleeve and replace it with a new one than give you a new jacket you don’t need.

[@logangarcia]

All my clothes are from thrift stores, all my furniture is white or grey and it has no designs on it. I’ve liked it this way since I was little :)

[@Fausto_moh]

as someone thats trying to head towards a more minimal life style this does really open your eyes to a degree.

[@CeoLogJM]

the only real thing I got of minimalism is that it is anti-clutter, adopting the simple philosophy of a monestary.

[@Tom-xy9gb]

Living with less gave me peace of mind. No money struggles. I just have to work to meet my needs. I dont have to work 9-5 for 6 days a week. I only work 3 days to meet my needs. Give me 4 days off with my family and time for myself.

[@griggiorouge]

Every trend is either commoditized or dies.

[@antoni.o6537]

this was amazing, such a gentle way to explain minimalism to others

[@zumabbar]

doing my part to boost the recommendation algorithm!

[@TheContrariann]

All your videos are AWESOME as F man ! These are all the things I care !

[@alexwr]

How does the idea of 'affording to live with less' even make sense? I've heard people say it, but I've never heard anybody explain it properly. If there is less, it doesn't cost as much, therefore it is something everyone can put into practice, regardless of financial or class status.

[@poppyasher]

Think of it this way: a minimalist aesthetic asks you to give away your excesses that you don't use. Your extra clothes, items, blankets. Ideally you'll have a nice clear curated pallet of items that all look cohesive. But sometimes extra isn't extra, it's BACKUP. Some people can afford to buy the things they need as they need them.For others it's vital to hoard "excess" because you never know the day you'll need it. Or maybe a friend or family member will. I have a closet bursting with old towels. It's not pretty and perhaps I should get rid of some, but when a friend needed help moving those towels came in handy as furniture padding. Or rags. I had an unused dresser inherited from my grandfather I didn't have a need for. I could have sold it. But then I took up sewing as a hobby and suddenly I had a TON of scrap fabric and hey that dresser worked great for storage. So some people can't afford to get rid of stuff they don't need now, lest they need it in the future. That's counter to minimalism, but in line with eco-conscious living.

[@henryfleischer404]

@@poppyasher This makes me think of my parents bookshelves. Back when they were poor they would sell books when times were hard, and buy books when they had extra money. Now that we are upper middle class, we have piles of books. It always seemed strange to me when I'd go to a friend's house and not see full bookshelves. Also, I don't see how keeping something is hurting the environment, especially if it's something like rags.

[@andremenor2576]

>criticizes minimalism as elitist capitalist lifestyle >counters it with anti consumption lifestyle Real politics have little room for lifestyle idpol. Let people wear what they want and eat what they want, and actually organize the working class if you really want to fight capitalism

[@jgr_lilli_]

Instagram minimalism has nothing to do with minimalism. It isn't "buying less", it's taking pictures of your grey couch and white walls while blah-ing about sustainability and ecological responsibility.

[@elainaculpepper959]

Totally agree that the trendiness of it is a little hypocritical, but thankfully the positives of it could be a better sense of unity between the upper and lower classes. Poor people look up to wealthy, abundant individuals as an unrealistic goal for their own lives, but now that their influencers are promoting buying less, I can imagine someone close to the bottom of the social tier would feel less shame in their financial state. Granted, as you said, the wealthy are still influencing financially struggling individuals to purchase expensive stuff to make up the difference, but I'm hoping that this is step 1 to a societal shift away from elitism.

[@nigeltaylor1176]

Minimalism is a art movement, minimalism (emphasis on lower case) is a lifestyle

[@zayavothz413]

Thank you

[@docsanti8971]

Never tought about minimalism in that way. You´re right.

[@Bianca-el3is]

Really good video. Just wanted to point out that people often sell their used clothes in order to make sure they go to a new home rather than going through the system of a charity/thrift store. The large majority of donated clothes end up in land fill

[@kaitlinkrupp7332]

Hey man! Totally dig your channel and your videos. You've done a great job educating me and your videography is clean and enhances your content. On this particular one, I have some constructive criticism: can't minimalism be both a political and an artistic choice? You seem to be saying that they're mutually exclusive. I think there's room for a discussion on choosing minimalism for both reasons in your solutions section of the video. I also noticed that several of the "bad" minimalism examples were excerpts of female creators' work. I'm sure you didn't mean to do that, but it's a little weird. I can't help but get the impression that you're putting down the feminine artistic side of minimalism in order to raise up the more masculine, political element. I know you show men's shoes as an example in one point, but it's def outweighed by the multiple female examples. I'm sure you didn't mean to do this. Please, when you make your awesome videos in the future, be more mindful of the way the content is gendered. Thank you.

[@skom714]

yeah ive also noticed how much this brushed over the societal pressure women are under to present sufficiently femininely, it really is for some of us a radical thing to like, have a wardrobe of 30 items or not using any makeup or hair products. while men can own one suit and nobody bats an eye, it's impossible for women in western society to have the same outfit for wedding, funeral and a job interview without facing some level of backlash and not every one of us is willing to face it. i think the concept of buying less of higher quality is a way to have a socially acceptable way of practicing minimalism while preserving the mainstream ideas of femininity. it would be much more interesting to see a criticism of how much mainstream minimalists are clinging to capitalism and creating content mostly for middle class, when it can be a great resource to start a conversation about how, for example, meaningless consumption is keeping capitalism alive

[@shikharpriyadarshi3537]

I think GenZ is going to be really good at making 'sustainable-living' choices. Millennials however are a little caught up in society still

[@aaron___6014]

It's an identity and hobby for wealthy people.

[@maddylim4108]

At 2:39, does that hand holding the phone have an extra finger?

[@Larry21924]

This content is pioneering; akin to a book that broke new ground in its genre. "The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide" by Matthew Cove

[@bascal133]

If you have clothes you don't want anymore it is better to sell them than to donate them, when you donate them you're just adding an extra step because now THEY have to sell them and if they are unable it still goes to the same landfill.

[@zbynekcodykolacek]

I know so many Americans storing their stuff in storage, the trend transferred to Europe too, recently. I never understand those folks, spending money and sitting on stuff that very likely they will never ever use.?!

[@cotoorell]

Loved the line: "Radical, Environmental, and Political acts"

[@pinkelephant4591]

Totally agree.

[@glm4054]

As a single 52 y.o. woman in America with limited funds, I do this naturally ❣️❣️❣️🇺🇲🇺🇲💔💔💔🗡️🗡️👍👼🌈🌠🌠🌠

[@CarlitoFluito]

First of all, congratulations for the great work! Second please, make a video about freeganism and its techniques (how to reduce food waste by direct action, e.g. dumpster-diving)

[@foscorsohil8940]

Lol you've enraged the minimlism fanboys and fangirls. And i totally agree with you. People portray minimlism as something only rich can do and a stylistic trend which is nonsense. Minimlism is just minimising your every single need and ending consumerism.

[@tompson4587]

Me and my friends always have seen minimalism as consuming less.

[@iceberg1660]

I love how the transitions of this video are also minimalistic. To me, minimalism is a concept of art, neatness, and health fused as one.

[@longnewton1]

I think we should not focus on terms. The idea is what matters and what we all need to do, is focus on having just enough. Instead of buying the biggest house you can (barely) afford, buy the smallest house you can live reasonably comfortably in. Have just enough clothes and buy the ones built to last and so on. For those living in poverty, who therefore don’t have enough, we need to increase their incomes until they do - perhaps via a guaranteed living income. While those with too much or more than enough, they need to reduce their consumption. If the term minimalism has been highjacked, let’s use another term.

[@longnewton1]

Some years ago I gave up a high paid corporate job, moved into a small bungalow with my wife and dog and we only buy what we need. It does help that I hate shopping anyway. But I am much happier, less stressed about work and bills (when you are better off, you still tend to spend beyond your means) and also healthier. So focusing on minimalism, living lightly or whatever you call can increase your wellbeing accepting that this does mean those with not enough do need more.

[@ethanjohn7638]

Thanks for this! I wholeheartedly agree.

[@Gruesome420]

I think it might be better to sell your clothes at a cheap price so you know it goes to a person and not a landfill, or donate to an organization that is low on clothing donations. Or perhaps find someone who can use the clothing to rework into something different that will be put to use.

[@santiagopazfigueroa8288]

austerity is the word you are searching for

[@CLBOO6]

I think the critics of minimalism misinterpret better quality with expensive items. They also tend to focus so much about the buying aspects when minimalism focus more on owning less and owning exactly what you need. I think you've totally missed the point about minimalism. Also, I do wanna know which Minimalist influencers talk about buying expensive items? Most minimalists that I watch, read about, and listen to, are promoting to stop buying, DECLUTTERING most of the times, not shopping expensive items. When they did their home tour, their homes didn't made up of expensive stuff, just old stuff they own since before practising minimalism.

[@emiki6]

Anti-consumerism is very close to minimalism.

[@the360gaming5]

Cool video