I don’t know how long I’ve stalled writing this post, but it’s been long enough because it’s been on my mind for the past few weeks (maybe even months) ever since I read a certain post from iskafan.
A lot of people spend carelessly, but there’s a group that try to live as minimalistic as they can in their spending, so much such that some people who don’t know might think they’re stingy. I think I touched a little about it mistakenly in thrifty which I wrote as an entry for Galen’s weekend experience prompt.
So I guess I’m writing this post to kind of explore minimalism, the different kinds of it, and to question where minimalists draw the line from minimalism to stinginess. Where that thin line minimalism transitions into stinginess is at.
By definition according to wikipedia, a minimalist lifestyle is “intentionally living with fewer possessions — focusing only on the ones you need”. Doesn’t this sound a lot like what you base your accusations of stinginess on? Sure sounds like it to me.
People practice minimalism mostly to help them cut down on their spending. The most common way is by buying only what you need. You could also replace having to buy hard copies of books for soft copies you can easily download online. This one is something I’m personally practicing right now. If you practice “buy quality and not quantity”, you’re practicing a minimalist lifestyle without even knowing it. Even as little as using reusable cups or spoons.
I’ve seen people accuse others of being stingy simply because they didn’t want to show off in their spending or because they didn’t want to buy something that everyone else thought they should have.
I’ve been in a few situations myself where people have called me stingy because I refuse to spend my money in a way they saw fit. People seem to forget that what is necessary to them might not be to you, and seeing that a minimalistic lifestyle cuts out what you don’t need, they just can’t seem to grasp that you’re practicing minimalism.
Truth is that people exhibit minimalism in different ways. The entire time I’ve been talking about it in this post, I’ve been writing from a financial angle. But there’s more to it. A minimalistic lifestyle doesn’t just help you get a hang of your spending.
Minimalism comes in different forms
The key thing about all forms of minimalist lifestyles is that all forms try to live on less of whatever is not necessary and making more room for what is. So it’s not entirely about living on less, but making more room for what is important. But “what is necessary and what is not” is what defines what type of minimalist a person is.
Aesthetic Minimalists consider aesthetics as the important prize and try as much as they can to achieve the best looks with the smallest effort, purchase or input. The try to achieve the “less is best” look. I don’t have much to do with this group as I’m not that involved with aesthetics. Lol
What I’m focusing most of this writing on though is the Essential Minimalist. When I hear the word minimalist, this is automatically what I assume is being referred to. This is the group I’ve been talking about from the start of this post - Essentials. I like to think I’m shaping myself into an essential as this group try to cut down on their expenses by only speeding on needs instead of wants, and that greatly improves their finances.
Stinginess on the other hand involves saving money at all costs, even at the cost of your own health and happiness. So to a certain extent, you might start to neglect even your needs, and this is contrary to what minimalism is about. Minimalism, especially essential minimalists ensures that their needs are covered. It is only extra and unnecessary stuff they cross out.
So I guess the thin line separating the two is on where your frugality ends - which should cover your needs.
Living a minimalist lifestyle is highly encouraged, but we need to watch it and not do it to the extreme of becoming cheap and stingy. Ensure that as you save, you don’t deny yourself of things that make you happy.
all images were taken by me and cover image was designed by me in canva
Stinginess is absolutely not minimalism. However I feel there are practical and unique minimalism that's mostly practised by individuals in their own way. For example, I try to reserve money for unforseen circumstances rather than buying what I might need in the present because I feel that the danger of not being able to take care of an emergency cost is bigger than attending to a need I might have at hand.
Yeah a key thing of minimalism is not spending impulsively, but calculating how that might affect your finance later. However, it’s still important to enjoy the present too, just being conscious of the extent to which you do it so that you don’t get lost in calculating for the future always.
Isn't that the point of living in general? I wouldn't say that this describes minimalism as it is something natural... Why would we buy things that we don't need? I know that many do it just to show off, to brag, or just to "show that they can", which is much worse than being a Scrooge... 😃 As always, the best thing is to be somewhere in the middle... Minimalist, but sharing things with others... ;)
I have picked this post on behalf of the @OurPick project which will be highlighted in the next post!
Haha yes, buying what you need is the main point, but I don’t think it’ll come as a surprise that many people buy things just because. Buying things on wants and not on needs. That’s not really a bad thing, until you just can’t seem to separate your needs from wants. Like you said, becoming an extremist who only spends on needs is not minimalism anymore either. Thanks for stopping by and for the support:)
Hey there!
You've touched on some good points.
Stinginess has nothing to do with minimalism.
👆 That's correct.
The minimalist concept of less is more can be understood when viewed as quality over quantity. Therefore, a minimalist can analyse all aspects of their lives to determine what is necessary; What serves a purpose, what brings joy, and what exactly they need, so hoarding does not come into play. When all those things are decided, they keep the essentials. However, minimalism is not focused on tangible possession, and health and a healthy holistic lifestyle are priorities with a focus on well-being, spiritual growth, and living in harmony with the environment.
Minimalists enjoy experiences over physical items. Those experiences are usually ones for personal development, such as exploring the world, learning about different cultures, and creating memories instead of collecting physical souvenirs.
Poverty or lack of money which inhibits one from purchasing the things they desire is also different from minimalism, and the main difference is "content". Poor people's mindset is that they need to have material things to make their lives better, whereas minimalists are content with very little becuase their happiness comes from within.
Great topic and minimalism has many layers and aspects involved:))
Thanks for your #KISS
I enjoyed it 😉
lips sealed
Okay I haven’t really thought of minimalism from the context of self-satisfaction and contentment before now, but I absolutely understand and agree with you. I guess being satisfied with what you have and not hoarding some bunch of unnecessary things count too.
Yes, in many ways.
Possession is one of the things foremost on people's minds when they think of minimalism, but there are so many other aspects.
I think being content, and happy from within are two important abilities that minimalists tend to have.
Those are great questions that you have though.
On another subject; Poverty (living without financial means) is also different from living a minimalist lifestyle. Many poor people crave to have all the materialistic things in the world thinking that it would make their lives better. That's one of the reasons why rags to riches seldom end up in a success story... simply because of the mindset:)
Yeah I think the wiki definition clearly points that out by saying “intentionally”. Poor people are not really living by minimalism because unlike minimalist, they can’t afford the things they’re living less on, so it’s not really a choice for them. If the narrative was different for them, they’d probably buy up everything they could get their hands on.
👆 You get the point completely 👏
100%
I think of stinginess as having an abundance of something and not sharing.
!LUV
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Yeah this is stinginess towards others. But you can be stingy to yourself too when you refuse to allow yourself enjoy what you have. The point of minimalism is not to deprive yourself of enjoyment, but to allow you focus on and enjoy the things you consider important.
@depressedfuckup, @ijat(1/3) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community |
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I like that you clearly differentiated minimalist living from stinginess. There are people who take this minimalist thing to a whole new level.
Getting essiential isn't a bad idea at all but when you're being stingy with even your own self, then there's a problem somewhere.
Yeah the important thing is to stay in the middle. Because extreme minimalism can lead to stinginess towards your own self. Thanks for passing by:)
Being stingy towards your own self is just ludicrous. Who would now eat your money....tch
I didn't pass by😅😅. I stopped😅
Lol whatever you did, thanks :)
It's a pleasure ✨
I love the concluding part, it narrates the difference between a minimalist and someone who is publishing themselves by ignoring their necessary needs.
Minimalism is not like that, they get the necessary things, I hope people will learn from this statement.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, this is a great masterpiece. You are amazing !!