Minimalism

I have written a few posts in the past about the benefits of minimalism.  I look at it from the viewpoint that it is good to keep clutter out of your home and avoid unnecessary purchases.  Keeping up with the Joneses is on one side of the pendulum and Minimalism is on the other side.  I think both are extreme, but if I had to choose I would choose less instead of more because it allows you more freedom and saves you money.  I think the real value with Minimalism is that PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT IT IS NOT THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY.  THEY ARE LETTING GO OF THEIR STUFF TO MAKE ROOM FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE. You don't need to get rid of everything except 100 things.  I also think that the minimalism movement will die down a bit and people will find a balance somewhere between.  You don't have to get rid of all your books and only go to the library to show that you can let go of material things.  There is nothing wrong with owning a few of your favorite books that you enjoy reading over and over.  I like my Jane Austen movies and I will keep them, even though they take up a little bit of shelf space (about 5 inches) because I enjoy watching them over and over and will continue to do so through the years.  But, I have donated the DVD's that I only have watched once and don't plan on watching again.  My donation to the library will give others a chance to see the movies without having to pay for them and if I decide at one point in the future that I want to watch one, I can just check out my old DVD from the library and watch it.  One of the Spendwisemoms, who just had a baby, doesn't have a washer and dryer where she lives.  So, being a minimalist and only keeping 7 outfits for her baby isn't the best idea.  Babies go through several outfits in a day sometimes, and since she has to go to a laundry mat, she doesn't want to be there every couple of days.  You have to find the right balance for your situation.  Read about other people's experience and gather information, but then make decisions for your family based on what is best for you, not what is best for someone else.  The less you have, the less time you spend cleaning, etc. as well as spending less money.  It just makes life easier.  We really don't need lots of stuff all over the house that we don't use.  Less time spent taking care of stuff means that you have more time for people or more time to do the things you want.  Each person has to find the right balance for themselves, and if you have more than 100 items I wouldn't sweat it!