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AMA

Im a minimalist

339 replies

Minimalist86 · 26/07/2026 16:54

Im a minimalist.
AMA.

OP posts:
SuziQuinto · 27/07/2026 11:09

I'm exactly the same as you, toiletries and cosmetics wise, I think having a sensitive skin precludes a lot of "skincare" type products. So for me it's baby soap and baby shampoo and Cetreben cream as well. The only thing I have on top of that is sunscreen.
A very minimalist routine, though!

Switherings · 27/07/2026 11:14

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 11:06

@Switherings I can tell you im not unhappy.
Im a very conten person very positive, i have a positive outlookon life. im not unhappy at all.
I dont judge people either if i do that i should judge myselve for judging them.

Fair enough, @Minimalist86. That's not how you're coming across on here, though. You come across as exhausted and defeated, as someone who finds the world so taxing they've decided to minimise their engagement with anything that isn't strictly necessary, and/or involves choice or effort.

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 11:21

Switherings · 27/07/2026 11:14

Fair enough, @Minimalist86. That's not how you're coming across on here, though. You come across as exhausted and defeated, as someone who finds the world so taxing they've decided to minimise their engagement with anything that isn't strictly necessary, and/or involves choice or effort.

Edited

You are intitled to your opinion i respect that.
But you are far from the truth.
Maybe you have some stuff going on and reading this thread as reflected that for you, or maybe its an insight that not all people live the same.
Maybe you want to change something but dont know what.
I understand that you cant get your head around it and thats okay.

OP posts:
6ate9 · 27/07/2026 11:42

Switherings · 27/07/2026 11:14

Fair enough, @Minimalist86. That's not how you're coming across on here, though. You come across as exhausted and defeated, as someone who finds the world so taxing they've decided to minimise their engagement with anything that isn't strictly necessary, and/or involves choice or effort.

Edited

The OP sounds like a very contented person to me. She knows how she wants to live her life and is doing it.

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 11:50

6ate9 · 27/07/2026 11:42

The OP sounds like a very contented person to me. She knows how she wants to live her life and is doing it.

Thank you for your comment.
Its hard for some people to understand, i get that but its not her fault maybe she has stuff going on right now.
Lets hope it gets better for her.

OP posts:
CardboardBoxesLily · 27/07/2026 11:53

Do you listen to/watch The Minimalists podcast on YouTube? Interested to hear your thoughts on it.

CardboardBoxesLily · 27/07/2026 11:55

What do you think of Marie Kondo’s books; The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy? And the concept of ‘spark joy’ if you’re familiar with it?

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 11:57

CardboardBoxesLily · 27/07/2026 11:53

Do you listen to/watch The Minimalists podcast on YouTube? Interested to hear your thoughts on it.

I`ve seen a few but id rather watch a film thb.
Some ive seen they box things away a store them to me its still there just in boxs.

OP posts:
Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 11:59

CardboardBoxesLily · 27/07/2026 11:55

What do you think of Marie Kondo’s books; The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy? And the concept of ‘spark joy’ if you’re familiar with it?

Ive never read any of her books i hear she gives thanks for thing before she bins them, maybe im wrong on that.
But if it works for her good for her.

OP posts:
NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 12:03

You said your sister is a minimalist? Does she have a similar amount of stuff to you? (I know the word minimalist isn’t a clearly defined amount of belongings)

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 12:04

Are your parents still clutterbugs? Do they visit you, and if so do they have an opinion on your amount of stuff?

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 12:07

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 12:03

You said your sister is a minimalist? Does she have a similar amount of stuff to you? (I know the word minimalist isn’t a clearly defined amount of belongings)

Similer the same but we have different styles.
She dose own a bike, she has plants i dont.

OP posts:
Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 12:08

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 12:04

Are your parents still clutterbugs? Do they visit you, and if so do they have an opinion on your amount of stuff?

My parents are no longer with us.
But when they did visit they never had a problem with how i lived.

OP posts:
Cuppachuchu · 27/07/2026 12:21

I've really enjoyed reading this thread and "get" why minimalist living is attractive.
I think most people own a lot of stuff they either don't need or that has passed its usefulness but they still keep, just in case, or has some emotional link.
We are bombarded by marketing to buy and own the latest, best, new and improved blah blah blah. Resisting that is hard, and people are comforted emotionally or fulfilled by "stuff". Not necessarily things essential to life, just nice to have. Like "food noise". It's "stuff noise". I do try to ignore it, with limited success. It's like never being content, because there's always something more you need.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 12:30

Cuppachuchu · 27/07/2026 12:21

I've really enjoyed reading this thread and "get" why minimalist living is attractive.
I think most people own a lot of stuff they either don't need or that has passed its usefulness but they still keep, just in case, or has some emotional link.
We are bombarded by marketing to buy and own the latest, best, new and improved blah blah blah. Resisting that is hard, and people are comforted emotionally or fulfilled by "stuff". Not necessarily things essential to life, just nice to have. Like "food noise". It's "stuff noise". I do try to ignore it, with limited success. It's like never being content, because there's always something more you need.

I think you’ve described me very well here. I have been incredibly successful in stopping things coming in to my home, but getting the extra stuff out? Not so easy!

And I don’t notice my stuff, but going into someone else’s house and I immediately notice the amount of stuff they have and how much of it (because it’s not mine/my grandparent’s) is only fit for a car boot sale.

FMLpassthegin · 27/07/2026 12:37

I think you sound happy and contended and confident. You know what makes you happy and comfortable and what you need to feel good in your space and what feeds you and what doesn't. I think that is admirable. It is also much easier to do this without compromise given you choose to live alone and not to have children. Perhaps down to my ND side I envy having a space that would feel a) super easy/quick to clean, b) calming and c) difficult to lose things in! However, likely because I'm both ADHD and autistic one side of me dreams of this kind of space and the other side of me, the one that wins, is the opposite and I aquire stuff in multiples because I lose everything, I have object permanence issues so I also forget I have things or I panic that I will forget to buy them (so I'll buy stuff in quantities that I fear not having - ie dog food, loo roll, bin liners, keys, specs, washing tablets). I also am always taking up another hobby and I spend a lot of time outdoors coaching fitness or exercising or with my dog so I have an abundance of leads, harnesses, wellies, coats, rain coats, trainers etc. I have two kids and they have their hobbies and their own stuff. I also hate being cold and I hate not being 'cosy' and patterns and fabrics and cosy blankets and pictures and that sort of thing make me feel 'cosy'. But it's definitely a push pull thing where I long to be the person who only has what they needn. I have tonnes of clothes and shoes and books and dishes and crockery etc that I dont' need as well as stationary from old hobbies/business I've taken up and lost interest ibut struggle to throw/or give to charity because 'what if I put on weight/lose weight', or because the number of steps involved in sorting and bagging/boxing up and taking to the place has me exhausted before I've started adn I know I would end up with boxes and bags everywhere all over the house and in the car that sit for months not making it to the dump or the charity bins. I also think I buy clothes as part of my ND struggles to accept myself as I am and fear of being judged or excluded in a bid to feel like I fit in. I could choose to wear the same dress to every work event and every celebration or something but I think unlike you, I don't have that confidence. I also think I likely get a dopamine hit from purchasing 'just the right thing' or from 'feeling like I look nice'. I am very creative so that adds to the aquiring of things. But I also have huge sensory sensitivity so too much clutter kills me, too much stuff feels overwhelming. Too much noise, the wrong lighting all that. I need different textures and I need different mugs, different plates, different glasses for different things or they don't 'feel right' to me. We are all different. And I think that you follow through on what makes you happy is a wonderful thing. I don't think you sound at all unhappy I think you are following through on setting the boundaries in your life that you need to feel good and to me you sound as if you have a very good clear sense of self.

Empress13 · 27/07/2026 13:53

How old are you OP?

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 13:59

Empress13 · 27/07/2026 13:53

How old are you OP?

40 this december.

OP posts:
InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 27/07/2026 14:28

It’s funny that some posters describe OPs way of living as extreme and assume she has mental health issues and childhood trauma. All because she chooses not to have excessive material objects in her home.

It sounds like she has enough of what she needs - laptop for entertainment, somewhere to sit and sleep, sufficient clothing, kitchen appliances, food and toiletries, a rucksack for travel and her essential paperwork. Doesn’t sound like a prison camp or extreme to me.

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 14:34

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 27/07/2026 14:28

It’s funny that some posters describe OPs way of living as extreme and assume she has mental health issues and childhood trauma. All because she chooses not to have excessive material objects in her home.

It sounds like she has enough of what she needs - laptop for entertainment, somewhere to sit and sleep, sufficient clothing, kitchen appliances, food and toiletries, a rucksack for travel and her essential paperwork. Doesn’t sound like a prison camp or extreme to me.

Thank you i can say i have no mental health issues, and no childhood trauma.

OP posts:
NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 15:40

@FMLpassthegin I could choose to wear the same dress to every work event and every celebration or something but I think unlike you, I don't have that confidence

Just picking this sentence, there are some online challenges where people wear one dress for a year and accessorise it in different ways. If you start with a fairly versatile pattern and style, colour etc it looks amazing.

And there is always the Australian newsreader again…same suit for a year and no one noticed 🤣.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-30069564

Karl Stefanovic wearing the blue suit, holding a guitar

Australian TV host wears same suit for a year and nobody notices

An Australian TV presenter says he wore the same blue suit for 12 months as part of stunt to highlight sexism - nobody notices.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-30069564

SuziQuinto · 27/07/2026 15:41

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 27/07/2026 15:40

@FMLpassthegin I could choose to wear the same dress to every work event and every celebration or something but I think unlike you, I don't have that confidence

Just picking this sentence, there are some online challenges where people wear one dress for a year and accessorise it in different ways. If you start with a fairly versatile pattern and style, colour etc it looks amazing.

And there is always the Australian newsreader again…same suit for a year and no one noticed 🤣.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-30069564

That's because it's a man's dark suit!

Bubbletails · 27/07/2026 15:44

Switherings · 27/07/2026 11:14

Fair enough, @Minimalist86. That's not how you're coming across on here, though. You come across as exhausted and defeated, as someone who finds the world so taxing they've decided to minimise their engagement with anything that isn't strictly necessary, and/or involves choice or effort.

Edited

Lol you`re the one coming acrossed exhausted/ exhausting and defeted.
You have tried to be rude to OP, however her replys come back smooth and unbothered with your nonsense.
Infact op comes across calm content and not one reply as been rude to anyone.

Just because someone lives different to you, you dont like it.
If you need things and stuff to make you happy thats on you, op sounds like she has a nice quiet life, not needing this that and the other.

Op i have enjoyed reading your thread you have made some good points aswell, that makes me think what am i doing with a lot of things that i really dont need.
I have tones of clothes i dont wear, stuff just sitting around, books that never get read, loads of crap in the bathroom but i only use about 4 things.
Shoes, bags with bits and bobs in i dont even look at.
I have a lot of clutter and things that i really dont need,so over the weekend im going to have a clear out i have to get boxs first.
I also need to save more instead of spending just because something looks nice.

Can i ask do you own a tv.

Minimalist86 · 27/07/2026 15:48

Bubbletails · 27/07/2026 15:44

Lol you`re the one coming acrossed exhausted/ exhausting and defeted.
You have tried to be rude to OP, however her replys come back smooth and unbothered with your nonsense.
Infact op comes across calm content and not one reply as been rude to anyone.

Just because someone lives different to you, you dont like it.
If you need things and stuff to make you happy thats on you, op sounds like she has a nice quiet life, not needing this that and the other.

Op i have enjoyed reading your thread you have made some good points aswell, that makes me think what am i doing with a lot of things that i really dont need.
I have tones of clothes i dont wear, stuff just sitting around, books that never get read, loads of crap in the bathroom but i only use about 4 things.
Shoes, bags with bits and bobs in i dont even look at.
I have a lot of clutter and things that i really dont need,so over the weekend im going to have a clear out i have to get boxs first.
I also need to save more instead of spending just because something looks nice.

Can i ask do you own a tv.

No iv`e not own a TV in about 12 year.

OP posts:
Switherings · 27/07/2026 15:56

Bubbletails · 27/07/2026 15:44

Lol you`re the one coming acrossed exhausted/ exhausting and defeted.
You have tried to be rude to OP, however her replys come back smooth and unbothered with your nonsense.
Infact op comes across calm content and not one reply as been rude to anyone.

Just because someone lives different to you, you dont like it.
If you need things and stuff to make you happy thats on you, op sounds like she has a nice quiet life, not needing this that and the other.

Op i have enjoyed reading your thread you have made some good points aswell, that makes me think what am i doing with a lot of things that i really dont need.
I have tones of clothes i dont wear, stuff just sitting around, books that never get read, loads of crap in the bathroom but i only use about 4 things.
Shoes, bags with bits and bobs in i dont even look at.
I have a lot of clutter and things that i really dont need,so over the weekend im going to have a clear out i have to get boxs first.
I also need to save more instead of spending just because something looks nice.

Can i ask do you own a tv.

If you project any more strenuously, you risk turning yourself inside out.

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