I used to own a lot of things that I would not use or wear before cutting the cord of emotional attachment and letting them go. Over the past years, since I’m attempting to live more self-sustainable, I’ve learned to rather collect memories than stuff. There, however, was one bigger indulgent that I had recently. I’ve visited Paris. It was to meet with my dear friends on their honeymoon as I was unable to attend their wedding. The short few days of old friends in combination with a new environment filled me up with positive energy like nothing else could.
We were renovating the kitchen at the time and having expenses related to the trip made me spend less money on the appliances. Looking back on it now, I’m happy for things playing out the way they did. I really didn’t need a new fridge and oven when the old ones still work perfectly.
It moreover made me realize that most of us should spend less money on clothes, shoes, and gadgets. We can instead invest more in terms of time and money, in social experiences. For instance, in travels that could be as long as around the world or short as the hike to the nearby hill with a pretty view. What drives us forward is not of materialistic nature, it is rather quality time spent with good friends.
Define yourself less by the stuff you have, and more by the stuff that you do.
What I’m proposing is not to start your life over in a minimalist fashion, but to re-evaluate what matters most. Until recently, I was guilty of leading a lifestyle that entailed lots of materialistic things. It is good to allow yourself to have a splurge or two. I, for example, love books and I think that there’s never one too many pairs of quality yoga pants. But I do encourage you to borrow things whenever you can. Especially things that you use only once in a while or not even that. There has grown so many libraries of things recently where you can also learn how to master certain skills, which I find a fabulous idea.
I started by giving away or selling things that I would definitely not wear or use. I owned many clothes that still looked great but just wouldn’t make me feel the part, and things that never served their purpose. I get it, there might be deep emotional attachments to some things and you just can’t let them go. However, there might be a lot of others that you simply don’t use and all they do is collect dust. So, re-evaluate, upcycle, or make someone else a proud owner of your dust collecting things.
Do you consider how badly do you really need something before buying it? You might be more of an impulsive customer. Will you wear the new dress? Eat the foods before the date of use runs out? How will the environment greet something once I let it go? These are all things I started to account for recently and it made a huge difference in my wish list and consequently on my account.
I’ve participated in a local clothing exchange lately. And not only there have been DIY workshops and local cuisine to accompany it, but I got rid of excess clothes and received a few new items that freshened up my wardrobe, just in time for summer. With absolutely no money spent. How fabulous, right? There are probably similar events in your area also or you could easily organize them with your friends.
I am fully aware that there are still a million other things where I tend to overspend and could do better. But one step at the time. And I’m proud of being able to say no to certain things that might look fabulous at first sight, but I know won’t serve their purpose in the long run.