A minimalist lives to the utmost with less. That's it.
If I'm being honest, even as a minimalist, sometimes there are things I want, things that I have an eye on acquiring, because I do need them. And sometimes, I don't even need it and still want it. And I still acquire it.
And guess what? It's okay to do that.
Just because you've decided to become more of a minimalist doesn't mean the "desire to acquire" will leave. Sometimes this desire takes time to fade away, and other times, it doesn't.
Or maybe it does fade for some things, like when you realize a Beanie Baby collection is probably not the best thing to keep, but still loving your shoe collection is. I mean, at least one of those collections gets used, right?
It's okay if your shoe collection doesn't become as minimal as you want it to be, or as someone else wants it to be. It's easy to assume that once you go minimalist, you'll just give up your desire for everything and become the minimalist of someone akin to a backpacker in Europe!
But that isn't the goal. The one who has the least isn't always the winner.
We're not all the same. We shouldn't all be the same. For some, a capsule wardrobe is their thing. For me, as a minimalist, I can't do it that way. I can't have that little to work with. And it's probably because I am fully immersed in a vintage clothing world (that I buy and sell and wear from). I have a small wardrobe, to be sure. It's smaller than my husband's! But it's by no means a capsule wardrobe. And that's okay.
All these ways are okay.
I've made my closet as minimal as possible, but I will always make room for a quality vintage wool winter sweater, or a perfect pair of worn-in vintage 501s, and shoes. Don't get me started on the shoes. I will always own more shoes than I can wear (but I do rotate through every pair throughout the year. There's just more than, say, the capsule wardrobe wearer would have... by like 30 pairs.)
But the caveat is knowing when to say no. While I will make room for a beautiful vintage '40s dress in my closet, I don't need 50 of them. I keep my items minimal, but have variation, and don't keep what I don't wear. It's as simple as that. And that's where the extra funds come in now for me.
The older I get, the more I yearn for less. And here's why:
Vacations: I realize that the things I buy can instead be directed toward places to go. I want experiences now! I want to travel, see things, meet more people, and immerse myself in cultures I know nothing about.
Family: Now that my two sons are married, eventually the grandkids will come. Maybe not now, but soon. I'd rather have funds to spend on them than myself. I'll be lucky to live another thirty years in this world. My kids have more than double that. I'd rather spend it on my kids, my parents, my siblings, family, and my future grandchildren.
Food: I went to brunch at a restaurant this last Sunday. We don't eat out a ton; we love to cook and stay home and make meals, but we probably eat out once a week. And this last week, it was brunch on a patio, with the perfect temperature and an adorable doodle dog staring at us a table away. It was perfect. And I want more of that.
The more I can spend on experiences, vacations, going to brunch on Sunday, the more alive I feel. Of course, buying a new pair of shoes can also make me feel alive, but what's the return on that investment? If it's a pair I'll wear over and over, and it's a quality pair of shoes I need, great. That'll work!
But if it's just to buy for the sake of buying, that is a royal waste of time and a poor use of my finances. Investing in a vacation with my husband or kids, or eating out with family, that's even better.
Minimalism comes in all shapes and sizes. Find what works best for you. Make it accustomed to your needs and desire for simplicity. Then figure out where you really want your money to go.
You may question that pair of shoes you impulsively bought, but you definitely won't regret dinner with your family at that perfect vacation spot. The goal of minimalism is freedom. So how much (or little) of it do you need to feel free?
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