The Information Magazine

This year I have decided to be a minimalist. What exactly is that? Well, the term means not spending unnecessarily by reworking on my finances and avoiding the temptation of shopping at sales. Friends laughed when I disclosed my New Year resolution knowing jolly well that it is a challenge to stick to one’s budget. Well, I will prove them wrong.

How does this resolution come about? Well, I was packing some winter clothes last month when I realized that I had more than a dozen, some of which were not even worn and some of which had gone out of fashion. These took too much storage space and were also such a waste of money for the unworn clothes were deemed as unnecessary and were the result of impulsive spending at sales. Hence, I decide to keep my possessions to a minimal for this has many positive benefits. Firstly, I do not have to worry about storage space and when the time comes to move, there will be less hassle about getting rid of them. Monetary wise, I get to save a lot more by not buying what I don’t need.

Garage sales may be one way of getting rid of things you don’t need but it is not worth the effort in looking at logistics and renting benches and advertising. Gathering the necessary items for such sales outweighs the proceeds of the sale itself. So that defeats your purpose if you want to make money through garage sales. Alternatively, having an altruistic intent by giving away unwanted items to charity will result in a peace of mind by doing a good cause and also avoiding any logistic hassles of preparing for a garage sale.

So is it possible to be a minimalist? It actually is. Here’s how:

1)                  Avoid shopping malls.

Take up a hobby such as sports, writing and photography to avoid loitering in the malls. When meeting a friend for a meal, avoid adjourning to the malls to window shop. The chances of buying something you don’t need are high. I realize that I tend to shop unnecessarily when with friends. To avoid this, suggest meeting at places away from malls or closer to nature such as the park, the beach or the scenic river. Avoid the sale signs staring at your face when you happen to be in a mall and never step into the stores if you don’t intend to get anything necessary. Chances are that you will end up with one or two items that end up unworn.  

2)                  Leave your card at home

 If you need to be at the malls for any reason except shopping, leave your card at home and bring only what you need for the day. That will avoid any impulsive purchases that may end in waste.

3)            Consider first before making purchases

This method works for me and will definitely work for you. Recently, I was with a friend who was looking for a watch. We stumbled on a variety of Skagen watches that were perfect and had soft adjustable metallic straps. I was tempted to buy one with a mother-of-pearl inlay but despite the sales assistant’s and my friend’s assurance of how fitting the timepiece was for me, I was glad I listened to my inner voice that told me to go home and consider. On doing that, I had the opportunity to think and review my budget and my needs and wants. I discovered that I had four watches in my drawer, two of which I hardly used. I certainly didn’t need another one, no matter how beautiful it was. I was glad my good sense of judgement saved me US$138. I have used this technique many times in unplanned  shopping expeditions and I must say it worked really well.

Being a minimalist will also include clearing clutter and reducing one’s possessions to free up one’s space and mind. Creating a minimalist workspace and home is one way to invite positive vibes in your life.  It is necessary to figure what is necessary and how to be content with less. One way is to simplify one’s schedule, one’s work, and living a less stressful life.

It is easy to succumb to temptations. Hence, one needs to be disciplined enough to avoid them. I certainly will stick to the above-mentioned methods to uphold my resolution of being an urban minimalist. Well, being the strong-willed me, I am positive I can be one and mind you, sticking to the resolution will give me a sense of self-fulfillment and contentment. So, being the minimalist me starts from now. Do contact me for updates:)