Living a Minimalistic Lifestyle
@Masihi (4413)
Canada
June 5, 2011 6:49pm CST
Part of my debt-reduction plan is to learn how to live a minimalistic life, less stuff to deal with, more in tune with Mother Nature and her resources. I really do like this idea, and this video I'm going to post at the end of this posting will show you a family who has decided to live in a $15k home with a land plot payment of $145 per month, business right on their property, 320 square feet, and yes, living a minimalistic lifestyle. I think this is truly a good idea, and yes it'll take some getting used to, but man, their house is smaller than our flat!!! I really like the idea of vertical storage space as well, especially since I'm visually impaired, and that way I can quickly see where things are because they'd be right in front of me in plain view. We as a family are spending more and more time outside our flat nowadays, and I want to get my kids more used to the outdoors anyway.
I also like the concept of politeness and more interaction between family members, where they're in each others' way more often than not, they learn how to politely say "excuse me, please" instead of "move over!!!!" which happens a lot in our family, haha.
Anyway, here's the video I'm referring to, this is actually a serious consideration of mine, been for a long time but it does seem like a route that I'd like to do especially if the kids are older. http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/01/video-family-lives-in-320-square-foot-shotgun-shack/
1 person likes this
7 responses
@marguicha (222364)
• Chile
6 Jun 11
Your post and the video were very interesting. I´m sure many of us live with a lot more than what we need. At hard times, we cannot pay our luxuries and get depressed and don´t know what to do. This family seems to live happily with their small house. I live alone and my house is a lot bigger than that one. Many times I feel that the housework is too much for me and I´m thinking of giving away a lot of the things I have and don´t need. I was talking today with a friend who came for a visit about how I´d like to move to a smaller house not so far away from everything.
Thanks for sharing your find!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222364)
• Chile
6 Jun 11
I would not mind a very small house if it had a nice sunny plot for veggies. I have been eating from my lettuce for 3 days now. YUMMY!!!
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
My husband loves gardening, and that's the first thing we'd do is to plant a veggie garden. I'd be growing tomatoes and strawberries, for sure.
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
I think that little house is nice and cozy, and knowing me, and my dislike for housework combined with my vision problem, I'd be so relieved to not have to do as much housework as I fo for our flat.
@amango83 (50)
• United States
6 Jun 11
I think that this is a great idea! I don't think I am brave enough to try it out. Although, I am moving soon and so have been throwing a lot of stuff away. It is quite liberating to get rid of unnecessary clutter. Good luck with this endeavor. I am interested to hear more as you progress :)
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
Hehe, we're not moving into a place like that but it's defintiely something I'd seriously consider if it were just Hubby and I, after our kids move out. I do like the minimalistic lifestyle, though.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
6 Jun 11
Wow, I have had to do this before being my mom had 8 children..but it not always as easy as one would think on the kids it can cause alot of issues having someone on your space or face all the time. Kids need their space or they will end up like me dysfunctional..lol
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
Ya, i know our kids constantly fight like cats and dogs over the tiniest little thing, grrr!
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
Wow, that's a small space for a family. I want to minimize and cut back but I think I'd prefer to stay in our apartment.
The politeness is great, though.
1 person likes this
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
Yes, I'd probably rather stay in our flat as well, but would like to do another thorough downsizing on our stuff like I did last year.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
6 Jun 11
I could not live in a house that small, but I have known others who could. I do agree that we need less stuff than we tend to accumulate. I did realize that probably in their workshop next door are the kinds of things that fill my house up. Projects to do or sort through would all be over there and that helps them keep things pared down.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
Last year I was able to get rid of the equivelant of 2 truck loads of either junk, extra stuff, or rubbish from my flat, and I'm looking for ways to give up more items. I suppose it all depends on your perspective, and your "feel-that-you-need" way of thinking. I was really materialistic at first, but in time, I think I can live in this type of place.
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
That is a nice change to escape the modern technologies, they really take up a lot of our time away from family and - well, basically people in general. Now computers and cell phones have turned into toys more than important communication and computing devices.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
6 Jun 11
Yes living in a minimalistic life can take some adjusting but if one is determined one can succeed nicely. Some will of course not and or have a difficult time at first. But if one is determined and or forced to one simply adapts.
Good manners is usually the best in any type of lifestyle but it certainly does make for a happier living arrangement where there are perhaps space constraints.
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@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
It's amazing how people can adapt to their surroundings, but yes, it does depend on their perspective on life as well. Since I was disabled all my life, it's really easy for me to adapt to my situations because I always have to figure out ways to accomadate how to accomplish things like sighted people can.
