I lived out of my backpack in Africa for a couple weeks and as soon as I came back home I got rid of almost everything I owned. It felt so freeing and wonderful to have such a simple life :)
I am a baby boomer and retired and downsizing is essential for this season of our lives. Wish i learned that earlier!! You whipper snappers are so cute and in a good place!! Blessings to you both!!
I am in the middle of clearing out my basement, and am feeling overwhelmed. This was exactly the "Hell, YEAAAAAAAH!" I needed. Thanks so much, you two. : )
When I want to buy something, I have to ask myself, why do I want this? Does it preform more than one task? If I were to be offered this item instead of money for my work, would I still want it? Most of the time it goes back on the shelf.
Yeah, I'm still in the process of downsizing, so I find that the thought of adding to my clutter is really 😝 (I even resented buying Xmas presents last year cos I'm now living in quite a small space and the thought of adding to that for even a short time was annoying) but I've lost so much weight that pants have been falling off and I've (resentfully) had to buy more (this is annoying cos I'm STILL losing weight so I didn't WANT to buy more clothes until I was done and I know that my new clothes will have limited usage) so what I'm buying right now is cheap and I've discovered the value of drawstring pants! Lol. Happily the tucked in look is in right now so I get to extend the life of my tops without looking like I'm pregnant and no one really notices that I'm wearing clothes several sizes too large 🙄
awesome video guys, i just found your channel as my wife and i are in the process of purging our home of all the stuff. we have 3 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats 6 chickens and my wifes dad living with us..... as we tried to compare to others we realized our situation was much different especially because our kids are all 5 and under.... so my wife and i coined a new term..... minimalish!! and for those that dont think kids are capable of doing this i would say they are even more willing and flexible if they see the parents doing it. all the kids just consolidated their toys down to a 16x16x16 cube. i just hope this comment helps someone or encourages someone going through a similar process. keep up the great videos+
In september I'm leaving on a hitchhiking trip from Quebec to BC, and then all along the USA west coast, and then going into Mexico for 3 months and Guatemala for 5 months. It is going to be very hard for me to leave behind all my clothes and other stuff that "made me happy" while living in my apartment, but I know it's just temporary happiness. Thank you for these good tips!
That sounds AMAZING! What an adventure!! You will probably forget about the stuff you left behind within a week. It's funny how we think all this stuff means so much to us and then once you don't see it for a while, you forget about it. That's what I've found. It feels so good to live out of a small bag or suitcase for months. You realize how little you need to make you happy and comfortable.
exactly!! Actually that's what happened to me when I left in 2015 for 1 year in Latin America. I only had my backpack and I totally forgot about all the stuff (like, MOUNTAINS of stuff!!!) that I had back home. Of course I can't hide it was nice to find it once more and have more than 2 outfits to wear, but nothing beats being a minimalist and traveling :) :)
It's folks like you guys and my new travel buddies that I feel are slowly opening my eyes and changing my perspective on minimalism which I'm finding fascinating as not too long ago before I got into travel, I was literally a tech hoarder. After watching this, I'm now thinking about selling a bunch of collector's tech that I have lying around in order to give myself some much needed extra funds for my round the world trip in October. Experiences are slowly starting to trump possessions for me
Yes Matt! I love hearing this. I've found that I have way less anxiety and feel less overwhelmed having less. I feel like so much more space has opened up mentally and physically. It's so good.
Kristen Sarah it's so weird how things like travel and opening yourself up to others' perspectives and idealisms makes you have a better personal perspective on the world 😄
I love the tip about "you do you", you're completely right about labels. As soon as you say you're a vegan, or a minimalist, it seems like everyone is trying to catch you out. We're in the process of relocating to Scotland, so I am definitely going through a minimising process at the moment. It feels so good to get rid of things we don't need any more.
One of the best tips I heard of was addressing the fear of but what if I get rid of this and I need a dehydrator in 6 months. You can always buy or borrow another one! Or stuff that you're unsure of, put it in a halfway home, like a box in the coat closet or garage. I've got some jeans and shirts in a laundry basket that I've had sitting in this halfway home for 4 months and don't think about them, I haven't missed them. I'll donate them to the women's shelter this weekend.
I honestly feel so amazing every time I get rid of a bunch of stuff. I haven't done it in a while. Now after watching this I feel that itch to go do it! Great video!
Excellent, informative video! Straightforward, practical and common-sense. Since I retired to FL, downsizing has been an exhausting yet exhilarating journey. 80% of my crap GONE! (My packrat husband is even purging some of his stuff). For me, the key to success is the "perpetual purge". It is not a "one and done" process. I keep myself in check by reviewing and decluttering 2x year. You guys are great! I am watching your Airstream Reno now. Please, more videos!!!! SUBSCRIBED.
Thank you much. I have recently made the decision to downsize and ask myself what brings me both value and joy. Your's is only the second video I have watched and I am super grateful for your help and insight. Over the past several days I have gotten rid of a lot and love your categorization process. I am actually surprised how much I have gotten rid of already, but also find it easier than I thought it would be (I know everyone is on a different area of thinking). My downsizing is going to be super huge and over time. I have high ambitions to be able to fit my life inside a small RV or camper to be a full-timer. Anyway and again, I just wanted to say thank you so very much for taking time to not only give tips, but to encourage the process that it is possible... and to fill that lack of stuff with joy and value along the way ----- THANKS!
This is so inspiring and helpful! I am doing fieldwork all this year so everything I have with me for the year can fit in a couple of bags. It's been really eye-opening in terms of how little I really need and when I get back home I am going to have to reevaluate all the crap I have there. I will have to try your system!
I live in a 12 foot camper for 5 months of the year and have reduced my wardrobe and possessions to match the space. I have been living like this for 5 years now. It turned out to be easier then I thought it would be... if winters here weren't so dang cold here, you'd never get me out of my little camper!
WOW! I have been going through the downsizing process myself. My husband and I had a huge yard sale then donated EVERYTHING that was left to a young woman we know so she could use it or sell it to get money for her family. I gave away nearly every book I had in my extensive library. They were all Christian books and I gave them to a church and a pastor who could use them. My books that I really wanted to keep are on my Kindle. Paper is digitized, photos will be digitized this winter during the months we are stuck inside. More downsizing is in the planning and I have to say I am excited to have found your channel. I expect I will gain some new insight from you on other things I need to do. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing. Some tips are new to us and very helpful. We down sized our live last year and never felt so enlightened and fresh. And it gives us the freedom to travel all the time.
Just found your videos through sorelle’s channel and I’m literally obsessed!! I’ve been binge watching you for a few hours now hahah thank you so much for being so inspiring and putting out all this gold content for us
Thank YOU for this lovely comment. First of all, welcome to the Hopscotch the Globe Tribe. There are many incredible people here to connect with. And thank u for watching and for your lovely compliments. It makes us feel really good and we look forward to creating more content you can look forward to. - Kristen xoxo
Aww guys I really enjoyed this video!!! I'm currently going through a similar transition - I feel so weighed down by my possessions and know I need to get rid of them in order to get a little more clarity. Some great tips in here, please make more minimalism videos :)
Hi Kristen i just found your channel after the airstream video! i'm still in high school but i have been a minimalist for years and DREAMED of living in an airstream/tinyhouse. I love your style and your travel videos and you have inspired me so much to live happily!!! this year i have the oportunity to travel to France! Please continue making videos and i wish you luck on your future travels!!!!!!!!
I really liked that last point, i was gonna comment about how labeling yourself as minimalist or vegan or anything like that pressures people into different 'camps' within those ideologies when in the end, people do that for the sake of self-improvement
I think labeling allows people to feel like they are part of something bigger, like they are part of the in-crowd. But it can really set you up for failure and disappointment I think. I say do what makes you happy and healthy, without the labels.
never live your life for someone else or society. just follow local laws and live to your desire. life is too short and you are never coming back. this is it. i am amazed at how much people buy junk to show off on instagram or have so much to worry about when it comes to possessions.
I am in the process of sizing down to 120sf, but I have land. It is exciting. My color chart is Muted Autumn, and I am making a more dramatic color change, and since it is small, I can change again. Staying in my color family for years, makes that easy, everything goes together, but a wide range of colors.
Exactly how I feel too. Thanks for sharing!! I've been doing this for over a year. Just donated five bags of stuff today. It feels great to free up space and donate to great charities. I also sent two gadget devices to amazon for credit and I'll use the credit to buy groceries and not stuff. I plan on keeping my townhouse but never crowding the rooms with stuff. Just people and fun.
That's so funny, I actually posted 2 videos about minimalism recently, one of them giving tips to go minimalist! Becoming a minimalist was one of the best decisions I ever took :)
Primary: differentiating ‘want’ from ‘need’; also, downtime to learn / ready / study / write to become more self-sufficient. Always honing, always refining. Thank you.
I just had this video recommended and I love you guys! New sub! We are in Ottawa and have been doing KonMari decluttering at our house. I feel like we've finally started to turn the tide with our stuff instead of just keeping our heads above water. Now we have the space to start making some big decisions we'd been putting off. I love that you guys came up with your own way to downsize that was customized to your stuff and your life.
+The Not Busy Life that's so awesome to hear! Would love to know how it was recommended to you? Through RUclips? Doesn't it feel amazing to downsize? It's so important to just do what feels right to you instead of how you think you should do it. I'm really happy for you.
A friend actually mentioned the book to me, but then I didn't listen. Months later I got the book from the library. We'd actually moved from our 2 story 3 bedroom house into a duplex with us in a 2 bedroom and a one bedroom apartment upstairs to rent out. So we'd already downsized our space, but not really our stuff. Now that we're downsizing our stuff, we're looking to move to a smaller space. Talked with the city today about converting our garage into a tiny house. Looking promising! I love seeing success stories like yours. It's really motivating!
This video is ON POINT! I've adopted a minimalist lifestyle over the past 2 years or so, and it's been nothing but amazing! I honestly don't even remember the stuff I've gotten rid of and don't miss a thing. I find myself even downsizing more and more as I narrow into what I truly value in my life. Yes experiences, and spending time with friends and family are so much more important than stuff. :) Great video!
when I went to university I lived in a very small room so I could only take a selection of things from home. This experience made me realise what possessions I actually needed and what things I did not need because I wasn't missing them. I enjoyed watching this video you gave some good advise!
This is so good! I'm about to move into my own van to live out of and going through similar steps that you did. I held a huge yard sale and sold 95% of my belongings, been selling stuff on eBay, donating to friends and family, and now I have exactly what I want/need and am excited to start living life on the road with less stuff and more space for experiences. :) Thank you for making these videos and sharing it with us all. I'm glad I found your channel.
I love you two so much!! One of the reasons I love traveling and traveling light, is because I like living out of my suitcase. I guess I just have to find a way to live out of my suitcase but like, at home too haha
I found this incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for posting! I already went through one phase of downsizing which mostly consisted of cleaning out my closet and I'm wanting to go through a 2nd more hardcore phase since I'm packing a lot of things up for storage while I take some time to live on the road sort of speak. There's a lot I don't want to get rid of but after having to downsize once and go through some rough patches in life, I realize I'm holding onto a lot of things I don't use or don't need. This was super helpful for me to continue to the next step. My favorite part was towards the end when Kristen said not to compare yourself to others and make up your own rules! I would rather empty out most of my closet and keep all my books, even if they take up more space. I also love the advice of keeping your favorite articles of clothes. Ive been in that same spot so often where I don't know what to wear and seem to always gravitate towards the same t-shirts etc. Thanks Again!
The main reason I started downsizing was because I started college a few years back. Moving back and forth and spending time packing and deciding what youll need when you leave for a few months is mentally and physically exhausting. It's so much easier to have less belongings so everything fits in the car and you can just throw it in and go.
I learn so much from minimalist every time. I love the one thing can't be done until another and another. That is my nemesis. I am so tired of my hubby trying to manage me and my mess. But for me not to deal w it at all is wrong. So I have a things that do them selves and things like dishes, just toss them in the dish washer. And laundry just put it in the wash or dry. Those are the easy ones. Focusing on one big project a week is my way of overcoming my mountain. If it is the one thing can't be done till another. I need to write it on a list put all the steps needed and do the beginning one and mark it off till I get to the end one. Like I want to paint the ceiling but I need to get the paint supplies. So get the supplies and have them ready for the project. Then when the time is to do is there will be nothing standing in the way. I'm on a mission.
Love this!! I've slowly been getting rid of the things in life that don't give me joy. Including clothes, decorations, toxic people Ect. It feels good to only have the things you value and love!! Thanks for some extra trips!!
We are going to be going full time in an rv sometime in the future so this is our next step we have 30 years of stuff to go through. thanks for sharing this video.
After backpacking Europe for 5 weeks this summer and living out of a backpack for the most part - coming home to a bedroom full of stuff was just so overwhelming, I felt like I was just swimming in stuff and still sort of feel that way. There is tons of stuff that I need to get rid of and sell but now I almost get more of a high from getting rid of stuff than from getting it! Ps I'm Canadian/Toronto based myself - where were you guys selling stuff? Just on kijiji?
I also utilized Rubbermaid Tubs to organize my belongings. I started to downsize my material belongings several years ago - I started by eliminating clothing that I didn't even wear or even like, so I wasn't even sure why I was holding onto them; that emptied half of my closet and an entire drawer in my dresser. After that, I began labeling large zip lock bags as to things like, bills, greeting cards, birthday cards, contact cards, maps, etc. And then I'd go through those zip locks and throw out things that were expired or no longer pertinent. Books was next and I gave away lots of those, keeping only several personal novels I read every year, my encyclopedias, science books, and college textbooks. I got rid of so many things that I actually moved into my living room space and both bedrooms are completely empty. I'm still organizing and getting rid of things, especially once I realize I haven't looked at something for over several years :)
I love you guys! You guys are so real and seeing the clips on how much you had in the beginning and you being able to get rid of it all was so inspiring!
Amazing video guys.. Currently we are in transit to our new home..and we pack enuff for 6 months as we are staying in a room. It is a real challenge but it's so easy to get dress Coz like you mention. . all our stuffs are our favourites. Hugs from Singapore!
Great video guys! I love your tips. I'm planning to move out of state next year from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom apartment. Your ideas will surely help. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your help... I appreciate how quick this video is.. so many other youtubers who talk way to much with their story of the day... but you guys rocked this video.. thanks so much!!!
We''ve recently started minimising our home as we are fed up of stuff. We love our small house and don't want to outgrow it with endless amounts of products. We are using KonMari to start with but its a slow process with a 1 year old in tow and a business to run!
I like when you guys said make up your own damn rules. We all put labels on ourselves and compare ourselves to others when we should be making up our own rules and using great inspiration like this video to give us ideas on what works best for each of us. Great video! :)
I recently lost my mother and my sister (three weeks apart) and it has been very traumatic for my family to sort through their stuff. As much as we love them (to the moon and back) we have felt the intense burden of cleaning out my mother's apartment (hours and hours of work for several people in the family) and now my brother-in-law is facing downsizing the very full home, garage and garden/yard he shared with my sister for decades. It really is a kindness to do as much of that sorting, evaluating, digitizing, discarding, and minimizing as you can before you die. Pro tip: set a timer and focus on one area at a time. If things are a real mess, focus on taking out as much garbage & recycling as you can in order to clear a space to work and get to the good stuff. Pick up one thing at a time and ask yourself: is it possible that someone in the family would value/treasure this? If the answer is yes, put it in a box and worry about final sorting later. If the answer is no and it's a serviceable item, put it either in a donate box or a "to sell" box. You end up with these initial sorting categories: keep (at the very least keep it for now), garbage, recycling, sell, donate. The donate I divide into "books for the library and/or library sale" and "donate to a charity store" (e.g. Salvation Army or Goodwill). Once you get the donate, recycling, and garbage category items out of the way, it's much easier to manage the remaining items.
TIP: I challenge myself 1-3 times a week to aim to spend $0 in the entire day, So I use things like coffee grounds I bought during grocery shopping a few days earlier that cost $10, instead of spending $5 on a single coffee in a coffee shop, plus this way I can have two coffees on tough mornings. This can be applied to food too, buy groceries that last a week and make your meals, so many of us spend $20-$30 a day on meals (3 meals X approx. $10) when $30 could buy you enough protein and vegetables to make 5-6 salads etc. 😊
Hi guys! I just downsized and found the process more gruesome than any tubers talked about. However, i did develop my own style based on needs and given my life transitions will find the "second cull" much much easier in every way. After having done it..i think it is a skill that can be developed with practice. Agree the upsides are wonderful 🎉
Thanks!!! This was so helpful! I my husband and I are moving from our 1200 sq ft home to a little fixer upper condo with *our 3 year old & 1 year old boys!* I was finding it much easier to purge my stuff than theirs because of sentiment- but your rules really applied well with their belongings too! Appreciate you sharing :)
My dream is to become a minimalist one day, to only own the things that add value. What stuck out to me the most was going to the store and having that want to buy more then coming home, storing it and forgetting what I bought. I def need to downsize my closet!! Thank you for your chill carefree vibes :)
We are so glad you found some inspiration in this video. Just start small. Going through your things and tossing one thing away each day for 30 days is a great place to start!
One thing I did with the kids is to allow them a box of things that would disappear temporarily (under my bed lol) for a set time and if they really missed something from there then they could go get it... It helped with all those "maybe" items when they are old enough that you don't feel that you can just sort thing for them... Just a thought... That and give yourself grace... not everything has to be perfect the first time round... We moved 2 and a half years ago from one country to another and thought we really needed what we took. Fast forwards 2 years and I have thrown out at least 50 percent at the very least, of what we took along but I have to remind myself that at the time we really made an effort and we didn't have the life experience that those 2 years brought so we did our very best we what we knew then and that is all that matters... Just my 2 cents.
An alternative to tossing a lot.....Some clothing and electronics can be recycled that aren't in good enough condition to sell at goodwill, etc also some they sell to salvage that can fix/ repair items to sell.
Right! That is it, where are those 3 boxes. I'm a get me some minamilistic vibes up in herrerr - I don't normally talk like that just feeing super motivated after your rad video. Video suggestion: Did you go on that walk/programme that person offered? Would love to see camping life and random adventures that are not so planned out. Thanks for being awesome.
same here. i sort things to sell. stop buying fast fashion and small knick knaks .all those items that are unused i give as gift for christmas, bday or just random present. used item to donate. if shopping clothes is unavoidable ex. winter clothes. simple, functional and timeless design is my consideration. and i stop buying souvenirs i just take picture when traveling. if i have a small special items ex marathon medals i want to keep. i place it inside 1 box store it at moms house. hahaha
Great vid! You are so right - with each item I release I'm feeling lighter! Question, please: I have items like a set of Waterford crystal; fine china that is at least 50+ years old; a couple of Hummels, etc. I found a great place in town where I've been selling gold jewelry but not sure where to begin with these other items. Listing things online sounds like more trouble than it's worth. I do plan to check out local antique stores, consignment shops, stores that specialize in vintage items, etc. when the weather is a bit cooler (I live in FL) but just curious as to places you sold your items. On a side note: My first home was an Airstream trailer...heh! I lived there until I was three years old; my parents built a house in the suburbs. My grandparents on my father's side lived in their Airstream the majority of their lives until they retired to FL and purchased a condo. I don't have any memories about my parent's trailer but I have very fond memories of visiting my grandparents each weekend. I thought their home was so cool - compact and fun to sleep in a "nook" of sorts! Back to the Future!!!
That's so cool! Do you remember what year it was? It's like living in an adult fort. I just love it so much. I was suggest doing as you said you were going to do, bring your stuff to consignment and vintage shops. I would suggest doing in a bigger city as you may get more for it. Also, we sold some stuff online and it sold pretty quick. Try craigslist. That's what we used most of the time as well as Kijiji.
My parents purchased their Airstream in 1953 and my grandparents purchased theirs at least three years earlier and maybe even prior to that. Earlier this year someone was selling an Airstream trailer and had it parked on the side of a road I pass daily. Each time I saw it I thought of my grandparents.
This video has the BEST advice and tips on minimalism - thank you SO much! I am going to watch it again, and then I am going to watch your Airstream Renovation video. I recently retired after 39 years of teaching, and it is so freeing! Minimizing just seems like the natural next step in my life, so your video came to me at just the right time! Again, thanks!!!!
+Robyn McCarthy wow thank you so much Robyn! I'm really glad you find our tips helpful. It feels amazing to get rid of all the things causing clutter physically and mentally. Congrats on your retirement and all the best minimizing your life. It's very freeing
I have been watching you guys for years and love your videos. It is so great to see that you have embarked upon a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism changed my life for the better! Best of luck with your new home xxx
Hey guys! I just found your channel and I am so glad I did! Thank you so much I can't wait to watch more of your videos! I am going to go through my closet tonight and donate 5 items! Thanks again you are very inspiring.
Wow I just decluttered my stuff to minimum. I feel so much weight off my head and shoulders, heart. Thanks a lot for reminding me this!!! Holding on to things makes us feel nasty and clinging like a ghost.
I have gone though exactly that process over the last 3 years. ever since spliting with my ex. and everything you´ve said here is right. even down to the "6 months" thing. I´ve been meaning to make a video myself but there don´t seem much point as it would only be a repetition of this video. however whilst I soooo not bothered what others think, I have found my self sorta daring/challenging myself to be EVEN more minimalist. the further you go through it, the harder and harder it becomes. My current goal is to get EVERYTHING into x1 100L bag.
I am finding it is a process. It is very freeing and my house is more peaceful. After the first round, I found I would see things and purge again. It is hard to do it all at once. Thanks for your tips!
This video is AWESOME! You gave so many great tips, even for someone who has been working on downsizing for awhile. It was really inspiring to hear how much you had and that you downsized to an airstream. Thank you!
I just love this! Unfortunately, I take care of my mom so I can't really live the life I want live. As much as I want to be a minimalist I can't control all of the stuff my mom has/buys. Literally everything I own is in my room while Everything she owns is in the rest of the house...that's a lot of stuff. I wish I could travel like you guys too!
I just got ride of my apartment, and sold majority of my belongings to focus on my travels, and work. Great tips for those that have never downsized before!
Thanks y’all! This is by far the most practical and helpful video I’ve seen for getting started on minimalism that isn’t just a rehash of everything else. I’ve enjoyed your travel videos and look forward to more content like this. I’m honestly excited to purge my belongings after watching this!
Many of my clothes are too small. However, their timeless design keeps me from tossing them out. One day, I keep telling myself, I'll be smaller again. It's only 1, or 2, or 3 sizes! It's doable.
I lived out of my backpack in Africa for a couple weeks and as soon as I came back home I got rid of almost everything I owned. It felt so freeing and wonderful to have such a simple life :)
Laura Spoonire dang, i wish i should do that. I have so much stuff that i dont need.
So cool! I wish you were my backpack buddy🙌
I am a baby boomer and retired and downsizing is essential for this season of our lives. Wish i learned that earlier!! You whipper snappers are so cute and in a good place!! Blessings to you both!!
3+ years as a minimalist. My favorite is Quality over Quantity.
Love it!
I am in the middle of clearing out my basement, and am feeling overwhelmed. This was exactly the "Hell, YEAAAAAAAH!" I needed. Thanks so much, you two. : )
Yessss! Good luck. You got this!
When I want to buy something, I have to ask myself, why do I want this? Does it preform more than one task? If I were to be offered this item instead of money for my work, would I still want it? Most of the time it goes back on the shelf.
I love this! Such a great way to really rethink if you truly need/want something.
Some Girl :) Great thinking
Might use this 😊
Yeah, I'm still in the process of downsizing, so I find that the thought of adding to my clutter is really 😝 (I even resented buying Xmas presents last year cos I'm now living in quite a small space and the thought of adding to that for even a short time was annoying) but I've lost so much weight that pants have been falling off and I've (resentfully) had to buy more (this is annoying cos I'm STILL losing weight so I didn't WANT to buy more clothes until I was done and I know that my new clothes will have limited usage) so what I'm buying right now is cheap and I've discovered the value of drawstring pants! Lol. Happily the tucked in look is in right now so I get to extend the life of my tops without looking like I'm pregnant and no one really notices that I'm wearing clothes several sizes too large 🙄
awesome video guys, i just found your channel as my wife and i are in the process of purging our home of all the stuff. we have 3 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats 6 chickens and my wifes dad living with us..... as we tried to compare to others we realized our situation was much different especially because our kids are all 5 and under.... so my wife and i coined a new term..... minimalish!! and for those that dont think kids are capable of doing this i would say they are even more willing and flexible if they see the parents doing it. all the kids just consolidated their toys down to a 16x16x16 cube. i just hope this comment helps someone or encourages someone going through a similar process. keep up the great videos+
In september I'm leaving on a hitchhiking trip from Quebec to BC, and then all along the USA west coast, and then going into Mexico for 3 months and Guatemala for 5 months. It is going to be very hard for me to leave behind all my clothes and other stuff that "made me happy" while living in my apartment, but I know it's just temporary happiness. Thank you for these good tips!
That sounds AMAZING! What an adventure!! You will probably forget about the stuff you left behind within a week. It's funny how we think all this stuff means so much to us and then once you don't see it for a while, you forget about it. That's what I've found. It feels so good to live out of a small bag or suitcase for months. You realize how little you need to make you happy and comfortable.
exactly!! Actually that's what happened to me when I left in 2015 for 1 year in Latin America. I only had my backpack and I totally forgot about all the stuff (like, MOUNTAINS of stuff!!!) that I had back home. Of course I can't hide it was nice to find it once more and have more than 2 outfits to wear, but nothing beats being a minimalist and traveling :) :)
holisticmaya I
If you need any help or advice I live on the West Coast USA! Feel free to reach out!
holisticmaya be safe and good luck
It's folks like you guys and my new travel buddies that I feel are slowly opening my eyes and changing my perspective on minimalism which I'm finding fascinating as not too long ago before I got into travel, I was literally a tech hoarder. After watching this, I'm now thinking about selling a bunch of collector's tech that I have lying around in order to give myself some much needed extra funds for my round the world trip in October. Experiences are slowly starting to trump possessions for me
You go Matt ;)
Finding Nour thanks Nour 😄
Yes Matt! I love hearing this. I've found that I have way less anxiety and feel less overwhelmed having less. I feel like so much more space has opened up mentally and physically. It's so good.
Kristen Sarah it's so weird how things like travel and opening yourself up to others' perspectives and idealisms makes you have a better personal perspective on the world 😄
Matthew Tasker ditto
I love the tip about "you do you", you're completely right about labels. As soon as you say you're a vegan, or a minimalist, it seems like everyone is trying to catch you out.
We're in the process of relocating to Scotland, so I am definitely going through a minimising process at the moment. It feels so good to get rid of things we don't need any more.
Decluttering = Mental freedom
And sometimes it works in reverse. I had to realise my mental freedom IN ORDER to start the process of downsizing
One of the best tips I heard of was addressing the fear of but what if I get rid of this and I need a dehydrator in 6 months. You can always buy or borrow another one! Or stuff that you're unsure of, put it in a halfway home, like a box in the coat closet or garage. I've got some jeans and shirts in a laundry basket that I've had sitting in this halfway home for 4 months and don't think about them, I haven't missed them. I'll donate them to the women's shelter this weekend.
I honestly feel so amazing every time I get rid of a bunch of stuff. I haven't done it in a while. Now after watching this I feel that itch to go do it! Great video!
Excellent, informative video! Straightforward, practical and common-sense. Since I retired to FL, downsizing has been an exhausting yet exhilarating journey. 80% of my crap GONE! (My packrat husband is even purging some of his stuff). For me, the key to success is the "perpetual purge". It is not a "one and done" process. I keep myself in check by reviewing and decluttering 2x year. You guys are great! I am watching your Airstream Reno now. Please, more videos!!!! SUBSCRIBED.
"Now I really value the space" That hit home...thanks:)
Thank you much. I have recently made the decision to downsize and ask myself what brings me both value and joy. Your's is only the second video I have watched and I am super grateful for your help and insight. Over the past several days I have gotten rid of a lot and love your categorization process. I am actually surprised how much I have gotten rid of already, but also find it easier than I thought it would be (I know everyone is on a different area of thinking). My downsizing is going to be super huge and over time. I have high ambitions to be able to fit my life inside a small RV or camper to be a full-timer. Anyway and again, I just wanted to say thank you so very much for taking time to not only give tips, but to encourage the process that it is possible... and to fill that lack of stuff with joy and value along the way ----- THANKS!
This is so inspiring and helpful! I am doing fieldwork all this year so everything I have with me for the year can fit in a couple of bags. It's been really eye-opening in terms of how little I really need and when I get back home I am going to have to reevaluate all the crap I have there. I will have to try your system!
I live in a 12 foot camper for 5 months of the year and have reduced my wardrobe and possessions to match the space. I have been living like this for 5 years now. It turned out to be easier then I thought it would be...
if winters here weren't so dang cold here, you'd never get me out of my little camper!
The reflection behind her looks like a white grand piano with the lid open.
WOW! I have been going through the downsizing process myself. My husband and I had a huge yard sale then donated EVERYTHING that was left to a young woman we know so she could use it or sell it to get money for her family. I gave away nearly every book I had in my extensive library. They were all Christian books and I gave them to a church and a pastor who could use them. My books that I really wanted to keep are on my Kindle. Paper is digitized, photos will be digitized this winter during the months we are stuck inside. More downsizing is in the planning and I have to say I am excited to have found your channel. I expect I will gain some new insight from you on other things I need to do. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing. Some tips are new to us and very helpful. We down sized our live last year and never felt so enlightened and fresh. And it gives us the freedom to travel all the time.
Just found your videos through sorelle’s channel and I’m literally obsessed!! I’ve been binge watching you for a few hours now hahah thank you so much for being so inspiring and putting out all this gold content for us
Thank YOU for this lovely comment. First of all, welcome to the Hopscotch the Globe Tribe. There are many incredible people here to connect with. And thank u for watching and for your lovely compliments. It makes us feel really good and we look forward to creating more content you can look forward to. - Kristen xoxo
Aww guys I really enjoyed this video!!! I'm currently going through a similar transition - I feel so weighed down by my possessions and know I need to get rid of them in order to get a little more clarity. Some great tips in here, please make more minimalism videos :)
Hi Kristen i just found your channel after the airstream video! i'm still in high school but i have been a minimalist for years and DREAMED of living in an airstream/tinyhouse. I love your style and your travel videos and you have inspired me so much to live happily!!! this year i have the oportunity to travel to France! Please continue making videos and i wish you luck on your future travels!!!!!!!!
Your outlook on life is amazing! Less possessions and more experiences. I aim to be more like you.
It's easy to get caught up in stuff. It makes us feel good, but only temporarily. That's what I've learned. Where experience last forever.
I really liked that last point, i was gonna comment about how labeling yourself as minimalist or vegan or anything like that pressures people into different 'camps' within those ideologies when in the end, people do that for the sake of self-improvement
I think labeling allows people to feel like they are part of something bigger, like they are part of the in-crowd. But it can really set you up for failure and disappointment I think. I say do what makes you happy and healthy, without the labels.
never live your life for someone else or society. just follow local laws and live to your desire. life is too short and you are never coming back. this is it. i am amazed at how much people buy junk to show off on instagram or have so much to worry about when it comes to possessions.
Great tips 👍🏼 Minimalism made my life much easier and more relaxed! I absolutely love having only the stuff I really need 😊
I am in the process of sizing down to 120sf, but I have land. It is exciting. My color chart is Muted Autumn, and I am making a more dramatic color change, and since it is small, I can change again. Staying in my color family for years, makes that easy, everything goes together, but a wide range of colors.
Exactly how I feel too. Thanks for sharing!! I've been doing this for over a year. Just donated five bags of stuff today. It feels great to free up space and donate to great charities. I also sent two gadget devices to amazon for credit and I'll use the credit to buy groceries and not stuff. I plan on keeping my townhouse but never crowding the rooms with stuff. Just people and fun.
That's so funny, I actually posted 2 videos about minimalism recently, one of them giving tips to go minimalist!
Becoming a minimalist was one of the best decisions I ever took :)
Nice!
Primary: differentiating ‘want’ from ‘need’; also, downtime to learn / ready / study / write to become more self-sufficient.
Always honing, always refining.
Thank you.
I just had this video recommended and I love you guys! New sub! We are in Ottawa and have been doing KonMari decluttering at our house. I feel like we've finally started to turn the tide with our stuff instead of just keeping our heads above water. Now we have the space to start making some big decisions we'd been putting off. I love that you guys came up with your own way to downsize that was customized to your stuff and your life.
+The Not Busy Life that's so awesome to hear! Would love to know how it was recommended to you? Through RUclips? Doesn't it feel amazing to downsize? It's so important to just do what feels right to you instead of how you think you should do it. I'm really happy for you.
A friend actually mentioned the book to me, but then I didn't listen. Months later I got the book from the library. We'd actually moved from our 2 story 3 bedroom house into a duplex with us in a 2 bedroom and a one bedroom apartment upstairs to rent out. So we'd already downsized our space, but not really our stuff. Now that we're downsizing our stuff, we're looking to move to a smaller space. Talked with the city today about converting our garage into a tiny house. Looking promising! I love seeing success stories like yours. It's really motivating!
this is by far the best and most helpful video! you just made me feel like I could do it.
This video is ON POINT! I've adopted a minimalist lifestyle over the past 2 years or so, and it's been nothing but amazing! I honestly don't even remember the stuff I've gotten rid of and don't miss a thing. I find myself even downsizing more and more as I narrow into what I truly value in my life. Yes experiences, and spending time with friends and family are so much more important than stuff. :) Great video!
I love the don't compare yourself part. Exactly. You do you boo
when I went to university I lived in a very small room so I could only take a selection of things from home. This experience made me realise what possessions I actually needed and what things I did not need because I wasn't missing them.
I enjoyed watching this video you gave some good advise!
This is so good! I'm about to move into my own van to live out of and going through similar steps that you did. I held a huge yard sale and sold 95% of my belongings, been selling stuff on eBay, donating to friends and family, and now I have exactly what I want/need and am excited to start living life on the road with less stuff and more space for experiences. :) Thank you for making these videos and sharing it with us all. I'm glad I found your channel.
Really admire you guys and what you're doing 😊 If you're ever in the Kingston area, please say hi!
I love this idea, I'm on the hunt to find things I can get rid of RIGHT NOW. Thank you!!! ❤❤
I actually really do love this!
I love you two so much!! One of the reasons I love traveling and traveling light, is because I like living out of my suitcase. I guess I just have to find a way to live out of my suitcase but like, at home too haha
I have to move to a smaller space. and I need to do this, trying harder now! my bedroom needs downsizing ,,,,thanks for the tips
I just love what you guys did! It is so inspirational
I found this incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for posting! I already went through one phase of downsizing which mostly consisted of cleaning out my closet and I'm wanting to go through a 2nd more hardcore phase since I'm packing a lot of things up for storage while I take some time to live on the road sort of speak. There's a lot I don't want to get rid of but after having to downsize once and go through some rough patches in life, I realize I'm holding onto a lot of things I don't use or don't need. This was super helpful for me to continue to the next step. My favorite part was towards the end when Kristen said not to compare yourself to others and make up your own rules! I would rather empty out most of my closet and keep all my books, even if they take up more space. I also love the advice of keeping your favorite articles of clothes. Ive been in that same spot so often where I don't know what to wear and seem to always gravitate towards the same t-shirts etc.
Thanks Again!
Great video!!!! I’m minimizing from a 4000+ colonial to a much smaller extended stay
Brilliant video. Thank you walking through your thought process.
The main reason I started downsizing was because I started college a few years back. Moving back and forth and spending time packing and deciding what youll need when you leave for a few months is mentally and physically exhausting. It's so much easier to have less belongings so everything fits in the car and you can just throw it in and go.
I learn so much from minimalist every time. I love the one thing can't be done until another and another. That is my nemesis. I am so tired of my hubby trying to manage me and my mess. But for me not to deal w it at all is wrong. So I have a things that do them selves and things like dishes, just toss them in the dish washer. And laundry just put it in the wash or dry. Those are the easy ones. Focusing on one big project a week is my way of overcoming my mountain. If it is the one thing can't be done till another. I need to write it on a list put all the steps needed and do the beginning one and mark it off till I get to the end one. Like I want to paint the ceiling but I need to get the paint supplies. So get the supplies and have them ready for the project. Then when the time is to do is there will be nothing standing in the way. I'm on a mission.
Love this!! I've slowly been getting rid of the things in life that don't give me joy. Including clothes, decorations, toxic people Ect. It feels good to only have the things you value and love!! Thanks for some extra trips!!
Great video! I agree that when you get rid of stuff you create space for experience.
thanks again guys for being an inspiration
We are going to be going full time in an rv sometime in the future so this is our next step we have 30 years of stuff to go through. thanks for sharing this video.
Thank you! Cleared out half my closet!
Love you guys so much!! Can’t wait to see what you do with your little baby in the road 💛
After backpacking Europe for 5 weeks this summer and living out of a backpack for the most part - coming home to a bedroom full of stuff was just so overwhelming, I felt like I was just swimming in stuff and still sort of feel that way. There is tons of stuff that I need to get rid of and sell but now I almost get more of a high from getting rid of stuff than from getting it! Ps I'm Canadian/Toronto based myself - where were you guys selling stuff? Just on kijiji?
Really useful tips. We are in the process of selling everything and moving to Nicaragua...so we are totally downsizing our life.
Oh what a great video. Yes I found this very helpful.
Thank you both for your tips.
I also utilized Rubbermaid Tubs to organize my belongings. I started to downsize my material belongings several years ago - I started by eliminating clothing that I didn't even wear or even like, so I wasn't even sure why I was holding onto them; that emptied half of my closet and an entire drawer in my dresser. After that, I began labeling large zip lock bags as to things like, bills, greeting cards, birthday cards, contact cards, maps, etc. And then I'd go through those zip locks and throw out things that were expired or no longer pertinent. Books was next and I gave away lots of those, keeping only several personal novels I read every year, my encyclopedias, science books, and college textbooks. I got rid of so many things that I actually moved into my living room space and both bedrooms are completely empty. I'm still organizing and getting rid of things, especially once I realize I haven't looked at something for over several years :)
I love you guys! You guys are so real and seeing the clips on how much you had in the beginning and you being able to get rid of it all was so inspiring!
Amazing video guys.. Currently we are in transit to our new home..and we pack enuff for 6 months as we are staying in a room. It is a real challenge but it's so easy to get dress Coz like you mention. . all our stuffs are our favourites. Hugs from Singapore!
Great video guys! I love your tips. I'm planning to move out of state next year from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom apartment. Your ideas will surely help. Thank you.
so helpful! im uploading a video soon about starting out with downsizing my closet
Thank you so much for your help... I appreciate how quick this video is.. so many other youtubers who talk way to much with their story of the day... but you guys rocked this video.. thanks so much!!!
We''ve recently started minimising our home as we are fed up of stuff. We love our small house and don't want to outgrow it with endless amounts of products. We are using KonMari to start with but its a slow process with a 1 year old in tow and a business to run!
I'm moving, so now is a good time, thanks for the tips
Very helpful tips, love your new home 😉😃.
I like when you guys said make up your own damn rules. We all put labels on ourselves and compare ourselves to others when we should be making up our own rules and using great inspiration like this video to give us ideas on what works best for each of us. Great video! :)
Marley Rose i loved that too. Im in a point in my life that I feel the same way😉
I recently lost my mother and my sister (three weeks apart) and it has been very traumatic for my family to sort through their stuff. As much as we love them (to the moon and back) we have felt the intense burden of cleaning out my mother's apartment (hours and hours of work for several people in the family) and now my brother-in-law is facing downsizing the very full home, garage and garden/yard he shared with my sister for decades. It really is a kindness to do as much of that sorting, evaluating, digitizing, discarding, and minimizing as you can before you die. Pro tip: set a timer and focus on one area at a time. If things are a real mess, focus on taking out as much garbage & recycling as you can in order to clear a space to work and get to the good stuff. Pick up one thing at a time and ask yourself: is it possible that someone in the family would value/treasure this? If the answer is yes, put it in a box and worry about final sorting later. If the answer is no and it's a serviceable item, put it either in a donate box or a "to sell" box. You end up with these initial sorting categories: keep (at the very least keep it for now), garbage, recycling, sell, donate. The donate I divide into "books for the library and/or library sale" and "donate to a charity store" (e.g. Salvation Army or Goodwill). Once you get the donate, recycling, and garbage category items out of the way, it's much easier to manage the remaining items.
TIP: I challenge myself 1-3 times a week to aim to spend $0 in the entire day, So I use things like coffee grounds I bought during grocery shopping a few days earlier that cost $10, instead of spending $5 on a single coffee in a coffee shop, plus this way I can have two coffees on tough mornings.
This can be applied to food too, buy groceries that last a week and make your meals, so many of us spend $20-$30 a day on meals (3 meals X approx. $10) when $30 could buy you enough protein and vegetables to make 5-6 salads etc. 😊
Hi guys! I just downsized and found the process more gruesome than any tubers talked about. However, i did develop my own style based on needs and given my life transitions will find the "second cull" much much easier in every way. After having done it..i think it is a skill that can be developed with practice. Agree the upsides are wonderful 🎉
Great tips guys! I try to do a clear out every few months and I am in the process of doing one right now. It's so hard, but trying!
Thanks!!! This was so helpful! I my husband and I are moving from our 1200 sq ft home to a little fixer upper condo with *our 3 year old & 1 year old boys!* I was finding it much easier to purge my stuff than theirs because of sentiment- but your rules really applied well with their belongings too! Appreciate you sharing :)
My dream is to become a minimalist one day, to only own the things that add value. What stuck out to me the most was going to the store and having that want to buy more then coming home, storing it and forgetting what I bought. I def need to downsize my closet!! Thank you for your chill carefree vibes :)
We are so glad you found some inspiration in this video. Just start small. Going through your things and tossing one thing away each day for 30 days is a great place to start!
One thing I did with the kids is to allow them a box of things that would disappear temporarily (under my bed lol) for a set time and if they really missed something from there then they could go get it... It helped with all those "maybe" items when they are old enough that you don't feel that you can just sort thing for them... Just a thought... That and give yourself grace... not everything has to be perfect the first time round... We moved 2 and a half years ago from one country to another and thought we really needed what we took. Fast forwards 2 years and I have thrown out at least 50 percent at the very least, of what we took along but I have to remind myself that at the time we really made an effort and we didn't have the life experience that those 2 years brought so we did our very best we what we knew then and that is all that matters... Just my 2 cents.
An alternative to tossing a lot.....Some clothing and electronics can be recycled that aren't in good enough condition to sell at goodwill, etc also some they sell to salvage that can fix/ repair items to sell.
Right! That is it, where are those 3 boxes. I'm a get me some minamilistic vibes up in herrerr - I don't normally talk like that just feeing super motivated after your rad video. Video suggestion: Did you go on that walk/programme that person offered? Would love to see camping life and random adventures that are not so planned out. Thanks for being awesome.
same here. i sort things to sell. stop buying fast fashion and small knick knaks .all those items that are unused i give as gift for christmas, bday or just random present. used item to donate. if shopping clothes is unavoidable ex. winter clothes. simple, functional and timeless design is my consideration. and i stop buying souvenirs i just take picture when traveling. if i have a small special items ex marathon medals i want to keep. i place it inside 1 box store it at moms house. hahaha
I'm going to do this today. Going to get my bins!!!
What a great breakdown!!!
Glad you enjoyed it.
I really like your video! Excellent, makes so much sense.
Great vid! You are so right - with each item I release I'm feeling lighter! Question, please: I have items like a set of Waterford crystal; fine china that is at least 50+ years old; a couple of Hummels, etc. I found a great place in town where I've been selling gold jewelry but not sure where to begin with these other items. Listing things online sounds like more trouble than it's worth. I do plan to check out local antique stores, consignment shops, stores that specialize in vintage items, etc. when the weather is a bit cooler (I live in FL) but just curious as to places you sold your items.
On a side note: My first home was an Airstream trailer...heh! I lived there until I was three years old; my parents built a house in the suburbs. My grandparents on my father's side lived in their Airstream the majority of their lives until they retired to FL and purchased a condo. I don't have any memories about my parent's trailer but I have very fond memories of visiting my grandparents each weekend. I thought their home was so cool - compact and fun to sleep in a "nook" of sorts! Back to the Future!!!
That's so cool! Do you remember what year it was? It's like living in an adult fort. I just love it so much. I was suggest doing as you said you were going to do, bring your stuff to consignment and vintage shops. I would suggest doing in a bigger city as you may get more for it. Also, we sold some stuff online and it sold pretty quick. Try craigslist. That's what we used most of the time as well as Kijiji.
My parents purchased their Airstream in 1953 and my grandparents purchased theirs at least three years earlier and maybe even prior to that. Earlier this year someone was selling an Airstream trailer and had it parked on the side of a road I pass daily. Each time I saw it I thought of my grandparents.
Thanks for the inspiration! You two rock!
This video has the BEST advice and tips on minimalism - thank you SO much! I am going to watch it again, and then I am going to watch your Airstream Renovation video. I recently retired after 39 years of teaching, and it is so freeing! Minimizing just seems like the natural next step in my life, so your video came to me at just the right time! Again, thanks!!!!
+Robyn McCarthy wow thank you so much Robyn! I'm really glad you find our tips helpful. It feels amazing to get rid of all the things causing clutter physically and mentally. Congrats on your retirement and all the best minimizing your life. It's very freeing
I have been watching you guys for years and love your videos. It is so great to see that you have embarked upon a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism changed my life for the better! Best of luck with your new home xxx
I came her from Hey Nadine. You guys are the best! Thanks for all your content!!!!🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Hey guys! I just found your channel and I am so glad I did! Thank you so much I can't wait to watch more of your videos! I am going to go through my closet tonight and donate 5 items! Thanks again you are very inspiring.
Wow I just decluttered my stuff to minimum. I feel so much weight off my head and shoulders, heart. Thanks a lot for reminding me this!!! Holding on to things makes us feel nasty and clinging like a ghost.
Very good advice that can help others trying to down size, whether they are moving into an rv or just getting organized. Good job, thank you...
+Linda Royal you are very welcome!
I have gone though exactly that process over the last 3 years. ever since spliting with my ex. and everything you´ve said here is right. even down to the "6 months" thing. I´ve been meaning to make a video myself but there don´t seem much point as it would only be a repetition of this video. however whilst I soooo not bothered what others think, I have found my self sorta daring/challenging myself to be EVEN more minimalist. the further you go through it, the harder and harder it becomes. My current goal is to get EVERYTHING into x1 100L bag.
I am finding it is a process. It is very freeing and my house is more peaceful. After the first round, I found I would see things and purge again. It is hard to do it all at once. Thanks for your tips!
This video is AWESOME! You gave so many great tips, even for someone who has been working on downsizing for awhile. It was really inspiring to hear how much you had and that you downsized to an airstream. Thank you!
Great video :) I'm going to try this
I'm in the middle of purging my stuff, so this video is really helping. Thanks.
Just found your channel and
have subscribed. Interesting
and great tips. Thanks.
I just love this! Unfortunately, I take care of my mom so I can't really live the life I want live. As much as I want to be a minimalist I can't control all of the stuff my mom has/buys. Literally everything I own is in my room while Everything she owns is in the rest of the house...that's a lot of stuff. I wish I could travel like you guys too!
Really cool! Thanks !
great points
thanks!
I just got ride of my apartment, and sold majority of my belongings to focus on my travels, and work. Great tips for those that have never downsized before!
The less I have the more happy I become. I don't think about what I want or need but now what can do or experience.
Thanks y’all! This is by far the most practical and helpful video I’ve seen for getting started on minimalism that isn’t just a rehash of everything else. I’ve enjoyed your travel videos and look forward to more content like this. I’m honestly excited to purge my belongings after watching this!
Many of my clothes are too small. However, their timeless design keeps me from tossing them out. One day, I keep telling myself, I'll be smaller again. It's only 1, or 2, or 3 sizes! It's doable.
edie828 think about others enjoying the clothes instead. Embrace your now body!!!