Moving from Materialistic to Minimalist
Here’s how I have embraced minimalism and my advice for those who may want to do the same.
A minimalist is someone who has a simple, uncluttered lifestyle. They don’t believe in owning things for the sake of owning things — they only keep what is truly important to them. Minimalists are often very organized and efficient and find satisfaction in pursuing meaningful relationships and experiences.
My journey to minimalize, declutter, retire early, and travel more of the world required some planning and proper execution. I did not just jump into the deep end all at once. Instead, it was a series of well-calculated baby steps.
Downsizing my home
Firstly— at a high-value point in the real estate market — I sold my sky loft in the downtown urban area where I had lived for almost thirty years. I positioned the net proceeds from the sale of the loft into retirement-focused investments — something I had experience with based on my long career in finance and retirement planning.
Then — after proper research — I moved into a brand-new upscale apartment complex in the wide-open space of suburbia. My new accommodations came with more first-class amenities than the building where my sky loft was located. The new place was less than half the size of my sky loft but just as comfortable — and the rent I pay is half of what my mortgage payment was.
Also important, the area surrounding the apartment complex has more services and attractions than what I had downtown. This includes a nearby full-service recreation center that I can walk to. At this location, I enjoy many social activities. I also can pursue my fitness program for free (under Medicare’s ‘Silver Sneakers’ program).
Detaching from things I no longer need in life
Next, I chose to have less stuff in my life by eliminating many of my possessions. I realized that a lot of the things I had accumulated I had not touched for several years.
Some of my stuff was no longer necessary for my future downsized life. Some of my stuff required ongoing expensive maintenance (cleaning, repair, insurance, etc.). Ultimately, I realized that the sheer accumulation of things had been a costly ‘attention’ drain on me.
So, to accomplish this significant ‘delete’ task, I handled and pondered each possession in my prior home and kept only those items that sparked good feelings. If it did not generate positive energy, then it was time to find a new home for it.
My decluttering process was partly inspired by the Swedish concept of ‘death cleaning,’ wherein one considers what will become of their belongings after their death.
Clothes were first to go. I essentially rounded them up, dumped them in a big pile, then went through them item by item and kept those that still seemed practical in my updated minimalist life. The rest I donated to Goodwill.
I will admit that the initial shock of this purging exercise was pretty painful. Getting rid of particular possessions was especially difficult. It was like yanking off a band-aid.
Books, for example, are essential to me. Nearly all my books acquired over several decades have had great meaning. I reluctantly decided to share most of my books with others by releasing them back into society through various methods — including donations to libraries.
I felt guilty about letting go of things because I had owned many of them for years — especially mementos from friends and family. But once I focused on what was important to me going forward, I began to feel much better. I ended up donating carloads of items to Goodwill and selling much of my furniture on Craigslist.
Spending less as a minimalist
The most significant chunk of my living expenses before minimalization related to my home — mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and other costs. With my new lifestyle, I now spend roughly half of what I used to pay annually — and my new budget now allows for more first-class travel.
The money I have saved by downsizing and decluttering has been impressive. I have trimmed costs and still maintain the life I want. I’m talking about cost savings on things like cutting cable TV and using a streaming subscription for half the price, and spending less each month when I dine out at restaurants. I buy new clothes less than twice a year. I only upgrade my smartphone and computer if they are entirely broken.
Now, I pay closer attention to where my money is going — and I regularly think about ways to reduce or eliminate stuff. Some categories of expense have increased — like travel. But other costs like home maintenance and ‘sport’ toys have decreased significantly. Those were my high-cost items in the past.
You don’t have to cut back on everything. The key is to admit what makes you happy and what doesn’t. For more perspective on this, you may want to read another of my articles on Medium: The Possessions We Covet and Amass
The principle of a “life minimalized” is about reevaluating priorities. I believe in spending appropriately on quality things that bring me lasting joy — and cutting out expenses for items that don’t.
My new minimalized lifestyle
To me, physical clutter now equates to mental clutter. Instead of feeling deprived or missing the things I had given away or sold, my new right-sized home feels cozy and welcoming.
Opting to downsize has provided me with a broader range of life choices and pursuits. I have no regrets about the decision to reduce. In many ways, I am a better person for doing so.
Minimalism has played a significant role in helping me enjoy retirement on my terms as I create a simpler life. Shedding possessions and responsibilities lessen stress enormously and contribute to better health. Practicing minimalism made my transition into retirement much easier.
If achieving better health while saving money doesn’t inspire those looking to their golden years, I don’t know what will. I have few regrets after downsizing, and I strongly encourage others to try it before retiring.
While many people focus on ‘money’ savings with minimalism, I also suggest considering its potential to save time. I’m talking about the time saved by not shopping for new possessions, from mental attention and time spent thinking of what you want to buy, and from not needing to clean or maintain the new possessions you don’t buy.
To embrace minimalism while preparing for retirement, it’s important to learn to be content with less. Remember, too, that it’s OK to move at your own speed. You might even join an online community of like-minded people for encouragement. You may find that minimalism can be incredibly liberating— more than you might have ever believed possible.
You have enough. You do enough. You are enough. So RELAX.
Materialistic things no longer impress me. But a person’s soul essence does. Remember some of the things that money can’t buy: Character, manners, morals, common sense, trust, class, respect, patience, integrity, and love.
A Manifesto for a simple life: Eat less. Move more. Buy less. Save more. Stress less. Laugh more. Feel blessed. Love more. Find a quiet spot every day and learn how to just BE.
Remember. No one will stand up at your funeral one day and say, “He owned a lot of really nice stuff.”
In closing, I offer a poem:
Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come, and it’s not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust. — Rose Milligan, 1998
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