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There’s an important part of minimalism, that maybe we don’t talk about enough: mindset. After about 10 years of minimalist living, the ‘not buying things I don’t need’ part of it has become easier and easier for me. And I think it’s because I’ve learned to want less. So in today’s video, I share with you how this happened, and how to live with less consumption (and save money in the process).
Lots of love,
🌼 Vera
VIDEO CHAPTERS
Minimalism and wanting less 0:00
Decrease exposure 1:53
Declutter 3:26
Delayed gratification 6:00
Shopping for image 7:51
Things that are not things 9:07
Sponsored break 9:58
The beauty of ‘less’ 11:18
The ‘why’ of more 12:30
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36 Comments
I enjoy things just looking at them in the stress… even with cakes, i feel satisfied just admiring them…
So true 😍
Totally agree with you.. all points totally true!
"the less you have, the less you want."
I desperately need to declutter again.. i haven't done a whole house one since 2019, due to covid.. now its time.
I have a canoe on my widh list since 3years.. but its just not the right time now.. i have saved for it and will get it when the time is right.
I follow Doctors on you tube and learn about how to clean the body and skin naturally from the inside out eg wash your face with hot and then really cold water.. this stimulates your body to make new skin and keeps your skin younger. etc.
I go fridge shopping 1x fortnight
Freezer shop 1x month and dry goods 1x every 3-4mths. Clothes inly to replace and only 2x year.. usually Autumn to Winter and Spring to Summer.
Thank you for this video, Vera. I have 1 and 3 very strong. For a while I´ve been writing about something I´d like to buy and think about it several days before buying decision. I have also limited storage in my flat so I think carefully what I buy, mostly spare parts for my hobbies: swimming, cycling and guitar playing. Now I have a safety margin for them all. I definitely have enough other clothes, maybe too much. But if I find something good which I know I´ll need many years and those good products wouldn´t necessary be available when I need a replacement, I´ll buy several. A swim goggles for example. It´s terrible pain to search something new that fits me, when my current model is out of production.
I remember being young, I wanted video games for the pretty pictures and stories they share. It got my mind thinking something different from the automaty of school/work.
Now older, I've cleared out some things that were nothing more than time wasters (or an excuse for procrastination), and now I have free time to learn practical things befitting my current lifestyle.
As my faith has increased, my wants have less of a pull. It's easy to fill that desire for physical things when my heart forgets it's already filled with Jesus. Temptations are real for sure. Much joy to you!!
I've been loving your videos I started minimalism this year and I have gotten rid of a lot of stuff but I have a shopping addiction still I have a problem with buying shoes and clothing I think everything's cool and I want it ha ha I have slowed down though because things aren't cheap anymore
Well your drink supposed to be on a table. Plants are deadly. The only thing I own are clothes.
One thing that I told my wife was that if she finds something she really wants in the store, pick it up and carry it around the store with you while you finish shopping. During this process you think about whether or not you really want/need it.
More often than not, she puts the item back.
Additionally, when on vacation I tell my family to look for things they think they would really want, remember where it's at, and leave the store/shop without buying it.
If they decide they really want it after a few more days of vacation, we'll go back for it.
This has lessoned the financial burden of vacations as most of the things they think they want is just an impulse buy.
Disclaimer: We have lost out on a few things that we truly wanted, but we don't accrue the chaff.
I'm a minimalist, and my wife is not. It can be challenging at times, but I think I have influenced her to be less materialistic, and she has influenced me to appreciate the little things more. In a way, I'd say we balance each other nicely.
You should do a video on how you do your make up. How long does it take. Maybe ways you keep it simple!
As a synthesizer nerd I often talk about what we call G.A.S. : Gear Acquisition Syndrome. The more videos I watch about the available music gear the less music I make as my mind is always occupied with making internal choices (even though I can not even afford most of them). I desperately needed some Vera-time to correct my wandering mind. Thank you lady.
❤️
I absolutely LOVE ❤❤ your color scheme. It is so relaxing for the mind.
One way I usually skip the urge to buy something is thinking: what is the probability that in a couple of months I will find something that I want more and is more expensive and then I will feel bad for having spent the money on this? I usually feel that the probability is high, and end up not buying anything, even if that "probability" doesn't come true.
Thankyou
Always love your videos
I use a variant of the 30-day list. If I want something that isn't an absolute survival purchase, it goes on my 30-day list. If it is above $50 it goes into my 60-day list and above $100 goes into the 90-day list. You'd be surprised at how many things gets dropped off the list. In addition it gives you time to figure a way to do it so you don't need the item or find something cheaper or free to take care of it. When shopping I only buy what's on my list. If I see something else I like, it gets added to the next trip's list ( most of these get dropped by the time I make the new list as well).
hmmm certain things give your home "sfeer",like plants, plus i allwayscollected stuff
I like number 1 – decrease exposure because the less you see people haul products the less you’ll want things. Also if we didn’t know a product exists we wouldn’t buy it. As I was growing up, I didn’t know stuff like home decor and name brand stuff existed. I only get the necessities like school supplies, backpack, and clothing which is what I needed only. Only learn about makeup, home decor, and name brand clothing because of all the exposure on YouTube.
Comment for the algorithm 🙂
Exposure definitely is a big deal! Sometimes I wish I lived in a small village again rather than in a capital city. I want less furniture. Specifically, I don't want a sofa but it came with the place and I tried selling and then gifting it but nobody wanted it. So now the only option is to throw it away and that feels wasteful because it is still useable and also I fear that people think I'm weird for not having a sofa in my living room.
I want to purge my house of all the things my fantasy self acquired. Do we play board games? Absolutely but we only use about 5-6 of the 20+ games we have. My niece and I no longer craft but I have several totes full of supplies. These are some easy areas where I could get stuff I need to manage out of the house.
Hi Vera,
I missed watch your video. I was on a cruise had such a lovely time. I got a special buy one get one free. I took my old parents Dad 82 and Mom 81 married 62 years never been on cruise they shame loved it so much they cried of happinness when we got home and told me and my husband thank you.
Im catching watching your video now back home.
You are correct. There was a channel that I used to watch about level up. She will talk about manners, ethics, clothes. I stopped watching. Bcs, I started to buy what was no must for me. Since, I stopped I no longer have the urge and I have a goal to save and travel. I tell myself the more clothes the less il travel😃
Here in BC Canada, Nordstrom is closing down and having a huge sale. My husband asked if I wanted to buy anything or take a look. I said that I had everything I could ever want.
I've been working on decluttering and heading towards minimalism. I still have a LONG way to go but my top goal this year is to only have what I need and love in my home.
Thank you so much for your videos 😆😆😆😊 you've been such a big help and inspiration ❤️
😍
Very helpful video. I'm working on being more intentional with my money and not spending money on the little things that I don't really need.
I had a great delayed gratification moment this winter season. I needed a new jacket, I own 1 winter jacket but I needed one for specific weather conditions. I found jacket I really liked already in October, but patiently waited until February to buy, because I knew sales will come and the price will go down by a lot. Which happened, so I got the jacket like with 50% discount 😀
Enjoy ur videos but please upload to podcasts 😀
1st tip I rather do this – make a list of all brands and particular product they are famous for because every brand doesnt give all great products and then I tend to try 1 product , every 3 months
In this active lifestyle where you constantly come in touch with brands products people keep asking what you use – we feel exploring , have information , at the same time explore slowly
Only while travelling or so … use a product as a product as it's not good for environment as well
Thanks as always
Hi! I know it's going to sound weird, but where did you get that gray dresser behind you? It's really pretty! By the way, this is my 1st time here. I really enjoyed your video! I just subscribed to your channel.
Absolutely agree with Vera.
For me, decrease exposure does wonders.
During the pandemic, I would watch A LOT of perfume videos – day and night. Those couple of years, I spent too much money on perfume. 💸
I realized this as I was doing my numbers and decided to stop watching perfume videos to stop the temptation and it worked beautifully.
Now, I’m focused on using up everything I’ve purchased. 😅
When I feel the urge to shop, I pull out my kindle and find free books to buy on there. Stops me from spending money on items I don't truly need. Mainly junk food 😊
Hi! I have to ask you where did you buy the dresser behind you? I love that gray color. I love your videos, by the way!❤
"practice waiting" lmfao — try poverty.
I want to have less sewing supplies and fabric. (I sew and make about 50% of my wardrobe…but it's very easy to have too much of a good thing! When I have "too much" I find it stifles my creativity and it quickly becomes a burden.) I am trying to evaluate what I have and trying to see what tools I don't really use (even if they're cool), and what fabrics I really want to make into clothes I'll wear. It's taking me time… but I think what you said in the video that when we declutter it helps to not acquire more because it's hard to declutter and recognize what money was lost in the process. Thanks for the video! Very helpful tips. (Now…to go declutter some more fabrics…) 🙂
Very, thank you so much for your honesty about reasons for wanting and worries about not having enough.
I agree that it can be helpfull for us, to go deeper into your needs – and fears.
And to, kind and mindfully, embrace what we find, so we can guide yourselves towards better ways, healthier lifes, more gratitudes and the genuine feeling of happiness, of being and having enough.
Thank you for sharing 🙏