I moved around a lot in the past 10 years of my life. Between the vast land of steppes and a gorgeous stretch of Tien Shan mountains, there lies my home, a town of Almaty. I grew up there and only moved twice in my life. Since I was 4 years old I lived in the same apartment with a gorgeous view of our mountains. Seasons would come and go, and I’d watch them from my window — turning green and then white, covered by snow.
I gave it all up to chase my dreams and come to Canada to pursue my studies at the University of Toronto. I was 18. The first year, I lived in a very nice dorm, and then every single year I moved from one apartment to another. Having roots nowhere, I had everywhere to go.
Renting as an international student was already hard, but moving all the time was painful. Sometimes, things didn’t work out with a roommate or lease was only for 1 year, or all my roommates went back home and I couldn’t afford to stay in a 2 bedroom condo in Downtown Toronto. I always lived near the campus, which was convenient but also expensive. Prices rose every year. The only way I could afford to live close to campus was because I shared my room. That is why I only lived with girls I knew from back home since we shared a similar lifestyle and habits and were going through the same international student experience. It was really fun. Until the dreadful move-out day would come.
Having roots nowhere, I had everywhere to go — Elif Shafak.
I clearly remember making decisions about whether I should invest in decorating my room and how much. I always wanted to hang up a beautifully framed picture, a polaroid photo wall with strings of lights. I wanted to buy fluffy pillows and a beautiful set of sheets from Urban Outfitters. But since I was a broke student and had no idea if I would even stay at that place, I didn’t want to make it extra hard for myself. I only bought the basics. And every move — I had to get rid of some things.
Material things give a temporary and false sense of comfort and validation
This nomadic way of life has taught me a few things about minimalism or essentialism. There is an emotional need for us to make our living space cozy — to be able to come back there, call it our home, and feel safe. I still have the same comforter and sheets which I bought from Sears when I was 18. I bought two frames for pictures of my family. I have my books. I always had trouble saying goodbye to my notebooks and books. I also had this yellow blanket my Father got me in my 1st year of university. The hardest things to let go were sentimental things. But the more you practice non-attachment to material things, the easier it will get and you will value other things in life like quality time spent with family, your art, or music. One thing I learned was, that material things give a temporary and false sense of comfort and validation but they only weigh us down in the long-run. The easiest way is not to fall into that trap in the first place and shop only for things that you need.
Here are some tips from someone who has moved 12 times in the past 8 years. If you are like me, someone who is on their self-improvement journey, or you want to become a minimalist or a nomad, start with getting rid of the following:
- Apparel — clothes, bags, shoes, coats. Decide whether your needs suit your lifestyle. If you are a nomad like me, who hasn’t found herself or a place to settle down yet, then prepare to say goodbye to this stuff. You won’t need most of it. So don’t waste your money buying trendy pieces of clothes. Invest only in basics and essentials. You don’t need to have 3 pairs of winter boots or 5 pairs of jeans. Also, consider your geographic location and climate. If you live in Canada — there is no point in buying lots of summer clothes. If you arrived here recently and are planning to live here for at least 5 years — buy a very solid, sturdy winter jacket and 1 pair of waterproof winter boots. After spending a lot of money on suede and leather shoes that got ruined by salt, I learned it the hard way. If you are a fashionista, be a smart one!
- Make-Up. I regret buying all this stuff that was marketed to me when I was a university student. “10 beauty essentials you need” OR “Every girl/guy has to have these skincare products”. It is horrible how they target young males and females who might be the most insecure and vulnerable. The truth is YOU DO NOT NEED ANY OF IT! You need to take care of yourself, but it doesn’t have to be expensive brands. Drugstore moisturizers and cleansers will do a great job. I tried expensive Sephora products and ruined my skin. Guess what worked for my eczema, sensitive skin? Dermatologists recommended simple skincare available in drugstores. If you use make-up, mini/travel sizes for products like blush or eyeshadow are useful since they last long. No point in getting a larger version. Save money, use smaller make-up products so you can actually finish them. It is easier to travel with!
- Books. I know. I love physical books too. But they are heavy. They are dusty. They take up a lot of space. If you are a nomad, you know that you have to be as light as you can. Donate or gift books you have and do not get tempted when you pass by your favorite used bookstore. Used books are so cheap, right? But don’t get fooled. All this extra weight will cost you later on. Borrow books from the library. Read from your computer [but it strains your vision]. I used my partner’s e-reader. They are light, portable, easy to use and you can have your entire library inside! That is freaking awesome. I was skeptical of e-readers until I tried one! Or also audiobooks. I listen to books when I am cleaning, cooking, or running.
- Furniture. This was really hard. When you rent in Toronto — most apartments or houses come empty, so you need to buy furniture. It is very excruciating for people like me. International students, new immigrants, seasonal workers, and so on. That was another lesson I learned — being comfortable with uncertainty. I was frustrated by this lack of furnished apartments [don’t even mention rent costs]. If you will spend at least 6 months here, I would recommend investing in a mattress [at least] and a bed frame. You don’t want bed bugs or an old mattress with someone’s backprint on it. Literally. A frame will cost about 200$ and a mattress around 250$. You can find something decent for $450. It is still very pricey but you can resell it later if you move. The rest of the furniture can be bought on websites like Kijiji, Craigslist, or found outside of houses and apartments! I have friends who scored excellent kitchen tables and chairs like that. I wouldn’t recommend picking up anything that has holstering on it but if it is wooden, plastic, or metal — clean and disinfect and you are good to go. Keep it simple: dining table, your desk, and a chair. Closets usually are in the apartment, but if you don’t have it — there are cheap closets or trendy hangers online! Some Japanese minimalists don’t even own a bed and sleep on a Tatami mat, which is very thin and can be carried anywhere. And they eat on the floor. That is extreme for me though.
- Speaking of eating! Cooking utensils. Again, buy only essentials. If you are a student or a new worker moving into the city, you don’t need to buy a full set of matching plates, forks, etc. Just get one or two pots. One pan. And plates and bowls. Those are cheap. I bought everything in a local dollar store and it had great quality. Like bamboo cutting boards, nice mugs, plates, bowls. I got a glass casserole for $3 and a blender for $18 from Walmart and used it for 2 years! Your friends might be selling their old toaster for $5. So look around and bargain. You can also visit Value Village. That way you are being sustainable and reducing waste. Don’t go crazy. Don’t get tempted by beautiful sets of dutch ovens or blenders or whatever. You’ll get there later in your life.
Suddenly, there was more space.
Keep your clutter to a minimum. Print less. Go digital. Shop less. Get reusable items and shopping bags. You will save money. I saved around $3500 this year by reducing shopping and eating out [which still happened this year, but like ⅓ of what I did]. Soon, your stuff will fit into 1 suitcase and then you’ll be feeling so light like a bird who can fly away to Bali or Mexico or Peru or Vietnam whenever she wants! The tips I provided are for someone who is transitioning to minimalism and nomadic style of life. It is also great for someone who lives in a small space. If you are a complete nomad, the kind of a backpacker, hitchhiker type, then you need to go more extreme.
Regardless of what your job or lifestyle is like, you will feel lighter, happier, and freer [if that is a word]. By letting some of these things go, I focused my attention on things like yoga, exercising, writing, painting, playing the piano. Suddenly, there was more space. I didn’t have to identify myself with what I have, but rather who I am and what I am doing in the present moment.
Disclaimer: Upon re-reading this article, I realized I do offer some products. I guess there is a certain trade-off. You do not actually need to buy any of this stuff. Do what works for your lifestyle, location and needs. Nothing in this post is sponsored and all opinions are my own.
