Why Become A Minimalist?

My personal answer is so that I do not end up in the place where my parents are right now. Both of them are at an age where retirement becomes an option. Sadly, even though they were always high income earners, they do not have enough resources to retire comfortably. The truth is that to do so at this time would require a drastic decrease in their standard of living. It is a shame considering all those years of high productivity.

The people are no different then the majority of society (at least western society). We live in a culture which promotes consumerism. Every 10 minutes we see ads on television telling us that we need to spend money on ABC product. People buy into this. The mainstream knows that it can influence behavior. Mercedes, Tiffany, and Rolex sell the idea of a dream life. Sadly, for most, the only thing that comes with their products is debt.

It is a fact that we, as a nation, consume way too much of everything. Americans are by far the worst but the Europeans and Japanese are gaining quickly. The new mantra is spend to success. Even the President of the United States stated that "we will spend our way our of this recession". That mindset goes against every common sense financial concept. Unfortunately, many of the American public is also trying to do the same thing.

Getting by on less is a fundamental concept that is going to salvage this country. The truth is that most people make more than enough money to live on. Overall, it is not a problem with the revenue generated but, rather, the money spent. As we can see with my parents, they made a ton of money while retaining very little.

Having a minimalist mindset to me means moving my life in the direction of total freedom. I do not need to be a slave to the banks, auto finance company, or big box retailers. Nor are my values and beliefs implemented by Madison Avenue. I am free to live as I see fit. Part of this process is taking control of my spending and reducing it down to the barest minimum. Many will think this is being cheap. I look at it as being smart.

Back in January, I was able to 'cut the cord' to my television set. Cable tv went out the window in my house. The monthly savings is $60 a month. This equates to a $720 yearly savings or over $3500 in the course of 5 years. Many will think this a small number but, before taxes, one would need to earn almost $6000 to bring home the amount needed to pay the cable bill. Are you that entertained by what you see on television? I decided I was not.

Freedom is something that most talk about but few have. We are slaves to all the stuff we have in life. Those who find ways to cut back before necessity sets in are able to realize the freedom associated with having this mindset. While everyone else is worried, a minimalist knows he or she will excel no matter what happens. When one needs very little, that individual is immune to the 'slavery' concept that society promotes. Instead, one is able to adapt without tremendous effort to whatever comes along. This is the entire concept that attracted me to this way of life.

My new found outlook is for me to own and run my life as opposed to having that done by the things in it.