We need to buy expensive insurance to ensure we can replace our things. We build higher walls to keep it safe and better cupboards and storage units to store it all in. And as soon as we've done all of that then it's time for an upgrade.
YOU ALREADY HAVE WHAT YOU NEED
Believe it or not we need very little to survive. Sure it's great to have a drawer dedicated to socks and the collection of fragrances but the reality is a toothbrush bar of soap and some clean clothes can see you through a lot.There's no need to go that minimalist but when you really look at it most items in our homes are non-essential and most of us have duplicates of many items. Now you can hire out the tool you might need get a hold of a trailer or a car through an app and even rent a snappy outfit or a window box of growing vegetables.
There is little to no reason to have to own anything anymore but before you start looking at what you can rent take stock of what's already in your possession and you'll be surprised how much you already have. Even a student starting out has appliances out of convenience more than out of need.
LESS STUFF MEANS MORE SPACE
It’s a simple math but the less you have the more space you free out. That space in your kitchen to cook up a storm, more room on your dining room table to host friends, a place in your garage to invent something new.It's wonderful the things you can do with space. But the best spaces advise you are space in your mind. You don't need to remember to change additional water filters, change the extra batteries or when the next service is on each device.
You won't be wondering whether the warranty has run out or how to make space to store your device indoors for winter. All this mind noise is erased when you simply own less and then you can focus on the things that fulfill you.
HAVING STUFF TAKES TIME
There's more to owning something than just taking it home. Research ahead of buying something and then know how and where to store it safely. This often means you need to buy cases, hangers or a whole cupboard and then assemble at home.Then there's the routine maintenance and upkeep. Next is the time it takes to keep track of all the stuff you own. Ever spent an hours searching through your stuff for a gadget you know you bought for this exact moment but have no idea where you put it. This might be a good time to consider if your stuff is saving you time or wasting your time.
YOU CAN BECOME A SLAVE TO YOUR STUFF
The cost of owning something doesn't end when you purchase it. There are some maintenance and upkeep costs. Then there are upgrades and accessories plus insurance.Before you know it just keeping your stuff is draining you of more monthly income than you're spending on your social life. It's easy to end up being owned by your stuff. They become your biggest task maker.
ONCE THE CLUTTER IS GONE, IT KEEPS YOU FROM GOING BACKWARDS
When you see every pair of shoes you own laid out nicely instead of piled up in chaos and your cupboard. You'll find that you have the shoes you need when you need them. You'll be more aware of what you own and less likely to want to go back to the clutter again.So when you find yourself browsing new shoes you'll probably think twice before buying them because you'll know that you have something quite similar already. The other advantage of everything having its own place is when you add something new you'll be forced to ditch something old to make a room for it. So you will be less likely to let the clutter creep back in.
LESS STUFF LEAVES THEN YOU ARE MORE MOBILE
If you're going for a new adventure ask yourself if you could really pick up and go even if an opportunity to relocate presented itself or does packing up your belongings fill you with dread. People with less stuff are more agile and can relocate and set up shop wherever they find themselves.They're more resourceful to make local connections to find the tools, team or equipment they need because they are used to borrowing, hiring and working together. Owning less is more than just a living with less. It's a mindset to make the most of what you have and find ways to resource yourself with what you need by working with other people.
To get yourself one step closer to geolocation freedom why not start downsizing your closet and perhaps reducing how many lotions and potions you keep in your bathroom cabinet and to work on it from there.
We all have a good percentage of clothes we don't fit into anymore and never truly did. And then we have the regret purchases. If we had just paused for a moment in the midst of buying mayhem it's highly unlikely we would have half the stuff we have in our cupboard. That cash could have been sitting in your bank account this whole time.
LIQUIDITY IS THE EQUIVALENT OF FREEDOM
If you look at your closet right now and do a quick calculation how many thousands of dollars are sitting in there that's your hard-earned cash going out of fashion in the cupboard.We all have a good percentage of clothes we don't fit into anymore and never truly did. And then we have the regret purchases. If we had just paused for a moment in the midst of buying mayhem it's highly unlikely we would have half the stuff we have in our cupboard. That cash could have been sitting in your bank account this whole time.
It could be invested it could be savings for a trip or it could be the freedom to ditch the job you hate and pursue your dream. Money buys you security and most importantly opportunity and opportunity is true freedom. Without money our choices are limited. So next time you consider buying more stuff think if it's actually worth more than a security and freedom you could have otherwise.
Since the year 2000, fashion production has doubled globally. Compared to 2000 we only keep our clothes half as long meaning there's a ton of clothing being dumped every year. The normal American discards around 81 pounds of clothes each year. One of the most shocking stats few of us know is that washing clothes release tons of microfibers into the oceans. Every year the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles worth of microfibers enter the oceans from washing machines annually. This includes the washing in the manufacturing process.
Since the year 2000, fashion production has doubled globally. Compared to 2000 we only keep our clothes half as long meaning there's a ton of clothing being dumped every year. The normal American discards around 81 pounds of clothes each year. One of the most shocking stats few of us know is that washing clothes release tons of microfibers into the oceans. Every year the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles worth of microfibers enter the oceans from washing machines annually. This includes the washing in the manufacturing process.