Minimalism does not mean traveling aimlessly. I'm a minimalist but I buy in bulk, I do my own remodel, cook my own food. But my home is modern and zen without any clutter. You have to store and organize things very well. A cluttered home is a cluttered mind.
I think the different here is extreme minimalism vs. a few steps back from there. The ladder I think is probably a good point to be at for optimal wealth building.
I think there is a happy medium with this BTB. There are some things that are more beneficial to just have, tools, kitchen utensils, etc. A minimalist can also buy items used, including tools, then sell them after they are done using them, possibly profiting if not at least breaking even.
I like your videos but in my opinion this one is not even describing what minimalism is. your describing extreme minimalism which is less common than what you explain.
Yes. You are talking more about people like the MInimalists and some RUclipsrs that are all about aesthetics. There are a lot of more moderate ones that are also giving lots of good advice on saving money and building wealth by using minimalism as a tool.
I think you're misrepresenting minimalism here, or maybe I don't know enough about it. But I consider myself to be one. And for me, it's all about not having/buying stuff that I don't need. I don't have a lot of clothes, and only buy new ones when I need them. Obviously I don't have just one pair of pants or anything, but I don't have piles of clothes that I never use. And I don't have many gadgets, and my phone is crappier than yours! It's not even a smartphone. And I definitely buy in bulk when it comes to food, this saves money. And I have a well equipped kitchen. I practically never eat out. I make my own food, it's both cheaper and healthier. I own tools to fix things that breaks, but not the advanced stuff. For me, minimalism and wealth building go hand in hand. Because for every dollar not wasted buying something I don't need, I can invest it in something that generates money. While the wealth builder in your example might buy something that he might not need. Oh and suddenly needing to buy something to drink was a silly example. I usually carry a bottle of water if I'm out for a long time, or I just go into a restroom and drink some water from the fossett. It's free. Then again, I know I can do just fine for a long time without water. I recently walked 5 hours, and didn't eat or drink anything during this time. I could have stopped many times and bought something, but I didn't, because I knew I'd make it home where food and drink was waiting. But maybe I'm not the typical minimalist.
I agree minimalism to the extend of having 10,000 items is great for savings. However, minimalism to having a total of 100 items or less will really eat into building wealth. So here I am talking about that level of minimalism that you see shows about and online articles of living with very few items. So we're actually in agreement.
I agree with Astillion. I think BTB is misrepresenting minimalism here. He seems to make an assumption that a minimalist uses all the stuff a normal household would have and has to buy it because they don't have it. But the point of minimalism is that they won't need it if it is not essential. Even extreme minimalists only have what is essential. Minimalists basically trim all the fluff and extra away. And what is not spent on mindless consumerism can be put away in savings/investments. What is not spent on maintaining, say, the space to house extra heaters and and kitchen appliances that are only used every so often (and thus not essential), this too can be used to build wealth. I really get a lot from what BTB puts in his videos, but on this one, I don't think it was though out completely. A bunch of straw man arguements without a clear understanding of what he is arguing against.
I agree, I think BTB is misinterpreting what leading a minimalist life is like. It's not actually about the number of things you own or have. I think BTB have just taken the meaning in the literal sense in the most extreme way.
Love your videos. You're absolutely right on this matter. I didn't think to look at the comparisons. Thank you for clarifying this. I always admire minimalism but can not be one because I do need my kitchen tools, building tools, and just in case an item breaks or malfunctions items. I garden too & use tools there. Thank you for this video.
yeah BTB isn't representing minimalist well or at least as i define it. i consider myself a minimalist and i like nice things and buy in bulk - especially toilet paper haha. i dont like clutter or having things that i dont use. for me, i get attached to my items, and as a way to show that it is special to me, i dont buy things just becuz they are newer or cooler. at the same time, i try to have a mindset, where if i had to, i can let go of all my possessions and start new. this not only gives me mental freedom, but allows me to be more humble and nicer - still a work in process tho :)
While minimalism is often linked with being frugal, it really isn't the same. Not having much doesn't mean you are saving money, as you stated, because living in the moment and supplying our needs from the immediate environment is expensive. One of the main points of being frugal is to "beat the system" by not spending any more than we need to, and minimalism can mean overpaying for just about everything. I think minimalism is more of a psychological state than a financial approach, as it is not that effective in saving overall, although it does help. Another great video. I know these are helping to get people to think about their habits.
You seem to come down on minimalist and therefore you over looked one very important point. You measure wealth in dollars where the minimalist measures wealth in time. Time really is the only asset that we have and that we tend to waste with trying to build wealth. Personally, I like being a minimalist in most areas of my life while watching closely where I can easily earn a few dollars through savings, but not to build wealth but to enjoy the time I have on this planet.
I do seems that way but I should have been more clear that I was comparing with extreme minimalists. I actually think being a regular minimalist, say 1000 items level, is a great way to build wealth. But why build wealth when you do not have any? It's to buy your freedom so that you can have more time via financial independence. I think there's agreement here in general but perhaps the video is easily misunderstood.
i dont agree on this vid.Minimalism isnt about having no stuff at all. Its about having the most usefull stuff. A minimalist also saves. Does not go out and eat or not so often. Tries an buy toilet parts from a second hand source.if possible also fixes their own car.i think your a minimalist cause you think of all choices you make.
I welcome the move towards the age of access(aka sharing economy), where items don't have to be owned, but can be shared between peers. For instance, if you notice the humidity levels in your home are high, you can use an app to find a nearby neighbour who is willing to share his dehumidifier with you for a small fee. This gives you access to the object without having to pay the full purchase price or suffer the hassle of having to store the item. I think these apps already exist, they just haven't gone mainstream yet.
These are some great points, although I think you are representing the minimalist that you would find on TV or on the news (someone living in the extreme) rather than what most minimalists live. Which, I believe these extreme minimalists are the ones getting the most press, yet don't believe they represent the majority. A year ago, I set out to build my own Tiny House. This has forced me to be more intentional about consumerism. I spend a fraction of what I did before, because going down this path and taking the big leap to go small has forced me to spend less and invest more. In response to each of your points, this is how I live my life (which I believe is representative of the majority of minimalists): 1. I buy in bulk with other minimalist friends or family, or use bargain stores like grocery outlet. 2. I have my own appliances in my Tiny House - blender, toaster, oven, fridge, stove, rice cooker...which enable me to make virtually any dish I'd like. 3. My house is in the country on my in-laws property where they have parts for everything including a box of toilet parts. 4. I borrow tools from my father-in-law and I have bought several nice tools in the process of building the house which we both use. 5. Most of my 'just in case' items I have gotten rid of did not have much value and were items I would likely never use. Some of them were broken objects that I had already purchased the replacement, and others were little knickknacks that I should have let go of a long time ago. 6. I buy duplicates of some items where it is cost effective, yet items where it is unlikely I will use soon or ever I only buy in single quantities. 7. I have an iPhone 6s Plus I bought from a friend for an amazing price which I don't plan to upgrade any time soon. 8. Even though I'm a minimalist, I tend to overpack. For example, I bring my Jetboil on long trips so I can boil water and make my own coffee instead of spending $$$ at Starbucks. 9. I have a very efficient mini-split AC and heat as well as a small space heater and fan. Overall, being a minimalist for me is both a very freeing way to live, and has many economical upsides that outweigh the few downsides.
actually minimalism has built more wealth and person grow in my life then ever before. I buy only what I need. I practice giving which you call throwing away. I believe there is more happiness in giving then receiving.
I must've didn't make my point clear in that I was talking more about extreme minimalism. Think less than 100 items level. For normal minimalism, I think it's a great way to build wealth and probably the most optimal way. I do not consider giving things away as throwing away. Throwing away is putting it in the garbage where giving it away is to give it to someone else who will use it.
I thought I had watched enough of your videos but this one was also very helpful. I am definitely not just cheap who likes to save . I'm glad to hear I am a wealth builder. Once my mother began to receive a pension and social security she cut back on traveling and loved to go to the dollar store. She saved $100,000 in 6 years.
I'm not a minimalist but I don't think the single-purpose kitchen tools like lemon spray, pit takers, slicers, garlic press, etc. are very necessary. My kitchen is bare, but with my simple set of knives and a few other utensils, I can still make most of the dishes I want. Maybe 5% of the time I cannot make something complicated, instead of buying more tools, I can just substitute the ingredients, or improvise a way to prepare it with what I have.
A lot of tools are not necessary I agree. It depends how much usage you get out of it that makes it worth it or not. If you use a garlic press daily then I think you really should own one.
As a minimalist, there's only one thing I buy in bulk, wholefoods like nuts and seeds. Minimalism isn't about numbers.I have enough things to cover up what I need.It helped me alot in saving money.I don't buy what's in fashion trend, I just buy (usually from Thrift shops because I usually find good comfy clothes there) clothes that are functional and comfy.Minimalism simply helped me to reduce what I consume (which is unnecessary/excess stuff) I'm a student and still have lots to learn but minimalism just made my life way easier and happier because truly, less stuff is more happiness 😍 less clutter by the wayyy.
this is a great video. i am a wealth builder. i buy quality items and use them up. i have every kitchen item i need to prepare my own meals, coffees and smoothies. i generally buy everything that lasts and just have a few good pieces of clothing bc i am committed like that. not all jeans and tops are the same. if i like it, im gonna wear it up.
A minimalist is adaptable. Which is a huge advantage in the modern world. You have to recognize this since unstable economic and financial situations necessitate it. A combination of both is best. Wealth building with adaptability is key.
I considered myself a minimalist for a little bit until I realized that no, I am just frugal. For some, minimalist is a fancy word for frugal. For others, it is as you say. I fixed a toilet and a bathroom fan this week. It is so satisfying to learn how to fix things on my own. Saves so much money and feels so independent.
Very interesting. Thank you for this video. I honestly have never given this topic much thought. I envy the minimalist for their clean living, but I own a center heater and a space heater for the reasons you list. Sometimes I feel like a packrat, but good to know I'm actually a wealth builder.
Extreme minimalism is what costs money. Some argue being slightly minimalist is probably the best for wealth building. A point I did not talk about in this video.
Great comparison and I agree there are those minimalist/spartanist that may take it too far to where they are using up more money than saving. I've watched and read a few vlogs/blogs on minimalists who are in that happy medium where they are getting rid of excess items but keeping things that are still useful. I've also read that certain cities have a type of business where locals can rent or borrow rarely used tools if they need something for a temporary fix.
I think perhaps 1000 items is a bit better rather than 100, lol. Strange thing I do is I just buy the tool and keep it. One of my vid I bought a 36" torque wrench for putting on the engine pulley. Maybe I'll need a huge torque wrench again one day lol!
Great video, brought some insight to this new lifestyle that seems to be trending more and more on RUclips. You're right, to have minimal items you must have the means to purchase things as you need them. Not always the best option.
It appears minimalism comes and goes as a fad. One have to realize it's pretty impractical for most to be extreme minimalist but works as a great motivator and case study.
Hey man... Minimalists are allowed to have reusable water bottles and commuter bags. Minimalists are allowed to buy in bulk, (but don't buy items that aren't necessary.) My family has a costco membership and as a family of four we sometimes get the 2 big milk gallon and 2 loafs of bread deal, along with toilet paper. Bread, milk, eggs, toilet paper, and vehicle gas are the minimalist shopping list for your typical families at Costco. Sometimes toiletries, but honestly my family has like a 3 year supply of sensodyne toothpaste by now so we don't really buy that anymore either. We rarely buy clothes now because we have pretty much all the clothes we need, unless we need to replace quicker worn down items like socks and underwear. Both my brother and I are pretty much fully grown, so we only buy clothes when they wear out/get too ratty looking. Costco is a great store for people with more than one child at young and still-growing age though, because it gives them the ability to save on multiple items if they need them. But yeah, minimalism will look different for someone who also wants to build wealth depending on their family situation and the region they live. You don't gotta own 100 items or less to be a minimalist. I think of it more as only owning items or multiples of things that you use the most frequently, in order to make an efficient use of your property and space, and no multiples of, or even renting the items you only use once or twice a year. Like for me, Multiples are acceptable for: Makeup (sometimes I like different colors of the same type of item), clothes, undergarments, consumable toiletries so I have a small back stock. (like 2 or 3 dental floss containers.) Multiples that would not make sense for me: Yard tools, (like multiple rakes and hammers. UGH. My family is guilty of this. It only makes sense if all of us are cleaning the yard at the same time, which literally never happens anymore.) decorative platewares, Kitchen appliances, (coffee grinder/blender/coffeemaker/electric mixers/toaster/cream whipper.) Home cleaning tools: Vacuum cleaner/iron/clothes steamer/sewing machine/dusting cloths. Basically anything that has a set function and takes up a considerable amount of space in a small apartment would not be appropriate to have a multiple of, and it's good to think of multi-use functions for the things you currently have before buying a new thing.
I think the disconnect here is that extreme minimalist is not building wealth as fast as possible due to not being able to buy in bulk and keep things for spares as needed. Extreme minimalist means you only own a total of 100 items or so.
Then I guess I'm not a minimalist. I just subscribe to using restraint as a shopper. I more often say to myself. "I don't need this." So, I curate (carefully select) what I buy. Some foods I now but by the case as long as it doesn't come in plastic packaging.
I enjoy buying things like another other person. Minimalism here refers to extreme minimalism which reduces things you own to 30-100 items. Something that will cause you to spend more since buying in bulk is out of the question.
Love all your videos, but this one completely missed the mark. Complete misunderstanding of minimalism which lead you to extremely flawed logic. Ironically, I consider you a minimalist based on what you talk about in your other videos(spending habits, not buying what you don’t need,etc). You are a huge minimalist in the eyes of the majority of Americans.
BeatTheBush extreme minimalism does not represent minimalism in the slightest. It’s mostly morally righteous crap. They represent a very small subset of minimalism and you can’t use them to stereotype and criticize minimalism. It’s shows a lack of understanding on what minimalism is actually about. It’s like me making a video criticizing financial independence movement because there’s a few people who live on 10k a year and deprive there spouse, kids, and themselves of basic things in life. A person making that argument is not making valid argument, they are just showing there lack of understanding on what financial independence is actually about. The person in my example has nothing to do with financial independence and are not following its core principles, they do not represent financial independence. Much in the same way the people you are describing have nothing to do with minimalism.
I use to be a hard core minimalist but its unrealistic for me because I am also a DIY and a prepper. I think it's good to have a balance of a minimalist, a prepper, and a DIY person.
I'm a minimalist, but I don't subscribe to the 100 items, or the 30 piece wardrobe etc. I don't do plumbing etc. we call the plumber. The 30 piece wardrobe makes absolutely no sense, those 30 items are going to be worn frequently, washed frequently, spilled on frequently, sweated in frequently, and will look worn out very quickly no matter the quality. I have about 45 items/ season, not including shoes, coats, accessories, or undies. I also add one or two more pieces per year, slacks or a top and send still very decent looking pieces to the local charity shop. For me, minimalism is being thoughtful about what you buy, buying the best quality, and deciding what your "enough" is. It's also being thoughtful about the people in your life, your community, your job, your time, and money. It's having a rich, full life without a lot of excess stuff or being overwhelmed and stressed.
I consider myself more of a "simplist" than a minimalist, but I see there are many misconceptions. Most minimalists I watch decide to live in a peaceful and serene way by getting rid of excess stuff and keeping what you really love and find useful, with the purpose of having time, money and energy for meaningful things. This can mean something different for everyone. For someone living in a tiny studio apartment, they may avoid extra furniture or bulk groceries. For a family with kids, that could be having only necessary clothes to do less laundry, buying in bulk and owning efficient cleaning supplies to minimize their lifestyle. Also, you can be minimalist and only buy luxury items, which would not be frugal. So yes, while minimalism does not equal building wealth, it can totally go hand in hand. I'm very interested in minimalism and I like using the concept as a tool to work on different aspects of my life, rather than making it part of my identity.
I can see where you are coming from with this topic. I think people started to twist the concept already. The idea is to declutter, to make peace with what you have, not keep wanting more, and etc. It's not all about throwing everything away. It's a way of thinking.....
It's a fine line indeed and extreme minimalist might have to buy things whenever needed vs. already having it somewhere. Then there is the space issue for having it already.
For me miminilisum is about minimising what I own based on what is most valuable to me this takes into account my expenses as well so I may sell a car if I have two but I would keep my tools to look after my first car or if I don't have tools I might use the money from the sale of the extra car to buy them to look after my first car. I think a lot of minimalists do get rid of things that they can use to save money but this example is a bit extreme
I think some sort of minimalistic mindset is always helpful, especially for someone who is smart and frugal like you. True, an extreme minimalist (those who make money by posting unrealistic lifestyle youtube video) is a NUTJOB. But being a Horder is even worse. To me, it's more like Minimalism = Simple Lifestyle.
I prefer eating out. I eat like once a day. And raising canes etc kind of food once a day will last me 30 days with 300$. When I do groceries, I spend 300$ and yet have to keep buying. Im inefficient, and hence minimalism helps me in that area. 😇. Great video.
I had to look up Raising Cane's is actually a fast food chicken place. There's also the health and cost aspect of eating out often. So $300/month for either fast food chicken or make your own food both costs the same to you. I contend, that if done correctly, you can probably use less than half of that for groceries per month.
Minimalist buy in Bulk. Just simplified. For example. I only wear black shirts and Jeans. I just have that outfit in bulk. Unless I'm a wealth builder. Idk i could be wrong
What you show here is basically a comparison of minimalism and frugality. Neither of which is synonymous with building wealth. They are both concepts, and their symptoms can vary. ;)
I am definitely a wealth builder plus maybe a pack rat :) I love tools and try to fix everything my self. Fun fact, I subscribed to your channel because of the convertible top window repair video several years ago I think. But I love most of your video on savings and finance. BTW, the iPhone SE is actually acceptabel price and has a very good camera by my standards. I am very satisfied with mine. And I also have a Canon point&shoot with better picture quality for vacation/travel.
Pack ratting is hard to shake. Of course, there are some things that must go so actively trying to to be minimalist is good. Oh! The window repair took way too long! lol. It does seem savings and finance vids are more popular so then I am looking to concentrate on those topics more. Right on about the iPhone SE. But see, you still need a point and shoot. =D
Hi BTB. What do you think of owning a fun 2 seats roadster vs. large cargo SUV? I'm replacing my car this year, and I found choosing vehicles is like choosing between minimalism/ wealth building. Does owning a sport car contradict with wealth building? Thank you.
In my mind, minimalism only means not having things that are not useful in your life. Those guys you referred to are extreme minimalists and don't represent most people who practice minimalism. In fact, from what I've seen of your videos, I would probably call you a minimalist. In my case, practicing minimalism saves me a lot of money and therefore, saves a lot of time that I would otherwise have to work for somebody else, rather than educating myself to improve my life. I don't need a car, along with fuel, insurance and other costs to get around, I have a bike for transportation and I own all of the tools that I need to maintain it. And those tools take up very little space in my backpack. I rarely eat out and I can cook pretty much anything using a cast iron skillet/dutch oven and one non-stick pan and a basic assortment of kitchen tools. I don't buy in bulk, it's pretty hard to buy in bulk when you don't drive, and I have no space for all that inventory, so I go to the store almost daily. By shopping daily, I can take advantage of manager's specials more often than I could if I shopped only weekly or bi-weekly. Basically, I see minimalism as asking yourself, "what do I really need to get things done?" Sorry to be so wordy, but these guys explain it well: www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/
No, if you aren't trying to be some kind of acsetic minamlisim just means only having the things you need not tons of crap. Look at what you use on a daily basis, that is what you need (keep sakes are ok like family photos) Look up six sigma protocol they use in industry same idea.
I don't think this represents minimalism. The goal of minimalism is to "minimize" ones outflow of money. For example, a minimalist wouldn't own an expensive car that requires expensive maintenance, but they would own a cheap car and also the tools for basic common repairs. The idea is to squash your expenses so you can "minimize" the amount you are required to work.
Minimalism is really to minimize having things in general. The minimalism I described in this video is more of extreme minimalism. The minimalism your described is the building wealth kind.
What's inconceivable for me is all these people who buy expensive phones like the iPhone7 because "it has a good camera". My phone was aprox $170 and my camera was on sale so I paid around $200. An iPhone7 starts at $650 and I can talk and text the same with my cheap samsung but I can take way better pictures because my camera has a real lense in it, it has no size constraints like the cameras in phones. Granted, an iPhone7 has better hardware and software than my phone but let's not forget, I don't want to be surgically attached to my phone, I use it the minimum time I need to.
Comparing a Samsung and iPhone will end up in a heated debate. So lets just say they each have their own merits. One can certainly do equivalent things on either phone with very little that is exclusive to each. An iPhone is a bit of a status symbol so when you do not only consider utility, it might be understood better. There are of course more important things to do with your money than loosing it in depreciation. Raising one's status is in itself a debatable topic as well. Should one do it or not?
I'm sorry I wasn't trying to ignite the Samsung vs iPhone debate, I was trying to compare cheap phones to expensive ones, you can use any of them to call your friends.
I am not a minimalist, but have followed this movement. For minimalists, they don't own houses or cars anyway, so DIY toolbox is not necessary. They eat raw foods, so preparation is quite quick and simple.
I Have been collecting coins since I was 7. Now since I don't have much interest for currency anymore, I have sold like 1/4 of it so far. I want to keep the special ones though.
Still want to hold on to a special few. I do like the ideal of just getting rid of some of the extra stuff you really do not need. I did find at one point that if you get rid of some things you may not want at the time, you might actually want later. It's rare but it happened to me.
Sometimes I just leave your videos on the background while doing something else (sorry), which got me thinking how well some of your videos would fit in a podcast format (audio only). Give it a thought, I would totally listen while on the train for example :)
Thanks for pointing this out. It just means my video quality needs to improve to warrant it to be a video rather than just voice. Somehow a podcast does not strike me as a medium I'm gravitating towards.
BeatTheBush you'll receive a different and wider audience, smart speakers have been really picking up sales since last Christmas and podcasts are really easy to listen to thru smart speakers. Not sure about the revenue generating potential thru advertisers though.
Thanks for this video! Minimalism is only a lifestyle for the folks who are already financial stable/independent, definitely not for a new college grad like me haha. :)
I guess if you start with very little, that's being minimalist as well. However, that comes from not having very little to choose to buy a few high quality items.
Beat The Bush is short for "Beat Around The Bushes" which means not getting to the point. Later on, it seemed appropriate to assume getting to the point of not getting to the point and you get Beat The Bush.
I know your purpose here is educational, but you're misrepresenting minimalism. There are different kinds of minimalists actually, and many definitions to it. It's individual. Not every minimalists go out, or own only 100 things. To each is his own :)
It is as everything costs so much. Cheaper in Asia must be due to their economy of scale while charging as low as they can. A skilled person can do it much faster than you trying to do it yourself.
there's not much savings when you buy in bulk in asia. People buy only what they need for a short period of time. In america I have to buy in bulk and use some of the items for a year long.
This seems like a really weird way to frame this, especially since you can be a minimalist in some aspects and still build wealth. You might not have the tools at hand to fix something, but you could always borrow them, which is minimalist in nature and saves money. You can not own a blender, but still cook your own food by chopping by hand. I don't own a rice cooker for example, since a regular pot cooks my rice every few days just as well, without being an extra appliance I purchased.
This is really pertaining to extreme minimalism. Interesting take on still making do with what you have. It really comes down to if you are indeed able to make do and sort of get creative at it.
I don't know, I always view minimalism as owning exactly what you need, and nothing more, at least in terms of items. In other words, waste not, want not. The whole eating out all the time thing and traveling about because you don't have a place to stay, sounds more like a back packing or couch surfing thing than a minimalist thing. I can see why it would be so appealing to a lot of young people as such. Minimalism on the other hand sounds more like owning that which only serves utility in your life, and not luxury. As in the example of a rice cooker being a specialized item that can easily be replaced by a more versatile pot.
I don't know, I always view minimalism as owning exactly what you need, and nothing more, at least in terms of items. In other words, waste not, want not. The whole eating out all the time thing and traveling about because you don't have a place to stay, sounds more like a back packing or couch surfing thing than a minimalist thing. I can see why it would be so appealing to a lot of young people as such. Minimalism on the other hand sounds more like owning that which only serves utility in your life, and not luxury. As in the example of a rice cooker being a specialized item that can easily be replaced by a more versatile pot.
I don't know man. Have you tried how good the rice tastes from a proper rice cooker. It taste completely different and makes you want to just inhale the rice. So yes, carrying only 30-100 items with you is extreme minimalism indeed.
Don't think you understand the true essence of minimalism. You can be minimalist and a wealth builder. I practice minimalism and have a blender, toaster, etc. Minimalist don't just through money at things.
You qualified it as extreme minimalism at the beginning but didn't keep the reference. May want to add text where appropriate to keep the qualification throughout the video. Minimalism is a spectrum, since there's no authority on it it's up to the individual to decide with group critique.
What you told about minimalism is not minimalism my friend Minimalism is coming out of consumerism addiction, Minimalism is about living simple & sustainable lifestyle and become self reliant - i.e. make your own food & DIY You linked minimalism only with travelers with backpack and also you assume more stuff = more wealth Minimalism is based on zen and integral part of Japanese culture
Gotcha, yes I agree with that. It's definitely still smart to be "minimalist" in the sense that you don't buy a bunch of crap you don't need haha. But the point you made about plumbing is a really good one, I just had my water heater fail and instead of paying maybe $300 or more to a plumber, I went and bought $60 of parts and a special tool and did the work my self. Saved a ton! I can hold on to that tool for next time and it will only be like $50 to fix my water heater again.
You’re conflating travelers/nomads with minimalism. Also, I would argue minimalism is not about “immediate need” but needs overall. A minimalist is not going to throw away a reusable bottle because they can buy bottled water from a store. I don’t understand the assumption that s minimalist is going to have a great phone. Again, if you’re living a life based on evaluating your needs and tossing out what you don’t need, you wouldn’t go and spend extra money on something expensive. I would say extreme minimalism would include your spending. When I saw minimalist videos, it was all about removing clutter and living sustainability. Not all minimalists (or even extreme ones for that matter) are going to travel and not all travelers/nomads are minimalists. Another thing to point out is that those people who “travel aimlessly” are often traveling in places where it is very cheap to eat out. Overall, I feel your comparisons miss the mark. However, one thing to mention is that extreme minimalism might indeed look far removed from a “wealth builder,” but not in the ways you describe. An extreme minimalist might not need that much wealth and as a result, might not have the desire to build it. However, they will have the desire to reduce their spending, which is the strange irony of this video.
A lot of people are complaining about minimalism can build wealth. I want to point out I was referring to extreme minimalism throughout the video as in
I feel that you are generalising minimalism too much. Preparing home cooked food doesn't require a lot of the gadgets you mention like slicer, peeler as some of these can be done manually by simpler tools like a knife. Being a minimalist doesn't mean you eat out all the time or buy items for one-time usage. It means just buying things that add value to your life instead of compulsive consumption.
Oh ok. To me, minimalism is zen living like a sparsely furnished house. I actually have everything in my kitchen. But I have glass shelves inside the cabinets so I can see everything well organized. I do not have anything on my counters. Minimalism is about knowledge and efficiency and also aesthetic in your physical environment. As a minimalist, I believe that I build wealth pretty well compared to my peers who have lots of useless stuff.
I think by the time you have 1000s of items, you are not trapped into having not enough to do your own repairs nor does it prevent you from buying in bulk.
Hey, im studying to be a minimalism to be more success but dude youre telling minimalism is a very bad thing. What minimalism do is to minimize things but will do everything to save! Like learning new skills, mechanics, gardening, and etc. Minimalist can also have blender, slicer, coffee maker, etc. like you saying. Minimalism is simplifying your lifestyle. I can still have my income and be a minimalist. Same thing with wealth building. Do more with LESS. I like your videos and it helps me a lot but this eeeehhh 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽
It should be straight forward. Extreme minimalism causes you to buy more expensive one time things. It does not allow for bulk buying. Btw, this is extreme minimalism I'm talking about.
I believe this minimalist movement is a sign that we're becoming a third world country. This "movement" really took off when the markets crashed around 08. Many people were displaced and became homeless. Many of those people still have not recovered from the financial crisis of 08. Sadly, as we become a third world country the "minimalist" idea has become the new "norm".
I can see some are required to become minimalist after the crash but then that's coming from poverty. From what I can tell, minimalism comes from the other way where the person has the ability to buy a lot but chooses to not to.
Minimalism does not mean traveling aimlessly.
I'm a minimalist but I buy in bulk, I do my own remodel, cook my own food.
But my home is modern and zen without any clutter.
You have to store and organize things very well. A cluttered home is a cluttered mind.
I think the different here is extreme minimalism vs. a few steps back from there. The ladder I think is probably a good point to be at for optimal wealth building.
I think there is a happy medium with this BTB. There are some things that are more beneficial to just have, tools, kitchen utensils, etc. A minimalist can also buy items used, including tools, then sell them after they are done using them, possibly profiting if not at least breaking even.
I agree. I think one should really try to be minimal but not over do it to the point where it makes life more expensive or hard.
I actually have more tools than I want to admit that are 'one timers' lol. I guess I'm not siding on minimalism but rather a wanna be minimalist.
I like your videos but in my opinion this one is not even describing what minimalism is. your describing extreme minimalism which is less common than what you explain.
I agree with you, I was referring to extreme minimalism. I might have to redo the title.
Yes. You are talking more about people like the MInimalists and some RUclipsrs that are all about aesthetics. There are a lot of more moderate ones that are also giving lots of good advice on saving money and building wealth by using minimalism as a tool.
I think you're misrepresenting minimalism here, or maybe I don't know enough about it. But I consider myself to be one. And for me, it's all about not having/buying stuff that I don't need. I don't have a lot of clothes, and only buy new ones when I need them. Obviously I don't have just one pair of pants or anything, but I don't have piles of clothes that I never use. And I don't have many gadgets, and my phone is crappier than yours! It's not even a smartphone. And I definitely buy in bulk when it comes to food, this saves money. And I have a well equipped kitchen. I practically never eat out. I make my own food, it's both cheaper and healthier. I own tools to fix things that breaks, but not the advanced stuff.
For me, minimalism and wealth building go hand in hand. Because for every dollar not wasted buying something I don't need, I can invest it in something that generates money. While the wealth builder in your example might buy something that he might not need.
Oh and suddenly needing to buy something to drink was a silly example. I usually carry a bottle of water if I'm out for a long time, or I just go into a restroom and drink some water from the fossett. It's free. Then again, I know I can do just fine for a long time without water. I recently walked 5 hours, and didn't eat or drink anything during this time. I could have stopped many times and bought something, but I didn't, because I knew I'd make it home where food and drink was waiting.
But maybe I'm not the typical minimalist.
I agree minimalism to the extend of having 10,000 items is great for savings. However, minimalism to having a total of 100 items or less will really eat into building wealth.
So here I am talking about that level of minimalism that you see shows about and online articles of living with very few items. So we're actually in agreement.
I agree with Astillion. I think BTB is misrepresenting minimalism here. He seems to make an assumption that a minimalist uses all the stuff a normal household would have and has to buy it because they don't have it. But the point of minimalism is that they won't need it if it is not essential. Even extreme minimalists only have what is essential. Minimalists basically trim all the fluff and extra away.
And what is not spent on mindless consumerism can be put away in savings/investments. What is not spent on maintaining, say, the space to house extra heaters and and kitchen appliances that are only used every so often (and thus not essential), this too can be used to build wealth.
I really get a lot from what BTB puts in his videos, but on this one, I don't think it was though out completely. A bunch of straw man arguements without a clear understanding of what he is arguing against.
I agree, I think BTB is misinterpreting what leading a minimalist life is like. It's not actually about the number of things you own or have. I think BTB have just taken the meaning in the literal sense in the most extreme way.
Love your videos. You're absolutely right on this matter. I didn't think to look at the comparisons. Thank you for clarifying this. I always admire minimalism but can not be one because I do need my kitchen tools, building tools, and just in case an item breaks or malfunctions items. I garden too & use tools there. Thank you for this video.
yeah BTB isn't representing minimalist well or at least as i define it. i consider myself a minimalist and i like nice things and buy in bulk - especially toilet paper haha. i dont like clutter or having things that i dont use. for me, i get attached to my items, and as a way to show that it is special to me, i dont buy things just becuz they are newer or cooler. at the same time, i try to have a mindset, where if i had to, i can let go of all my possessions and start new. this not only gives me mental freedom, but allows me to be more humble and nicer - still a work in process tho :)
While minimalism is often linked with being frugal, it really isn't the same. Not having much doesn't mean you are saving money, as you stated, because living in the moment and supplying our needs from the immediate environment is expensive. One of the main points of being frugal is to "beat the system" by not spending any more than we need to, and minimalism can mean overpaying for just about everything. I think minimalism is more of a psychological state than a financial approach, as it is not that effective in saving overall, although it does help. Another great video. I know these are helping to get people to think about their habits.
I should have put 'extreme minimalism' in the thumbnail. Recreation minimalism does save money though.
You seem to come down on minimalist and therefore you over looked one very important point. You measure wealth in dollars where the minimalist measures wealth in time. Time really is the only asset that we have and that we tend to waste with trying to build wealth. Personally, I like being a minimalist in most areas of my life while watching closely where I can easily earn a few dollars through savings, but not to build wealth but to enjoy the time I have on this planet.
I do seems that way but I should have been more clear that I was comparing with extreme minimalists. I actually think being a regular minimalist, say 1000 items level, is a great way to build wealth. But why build wealth when you do not have any? It's to buy your freedom so that you can have more time via financial independence. I think there's agreement here in general but perhaps the video is easily misunderstood.
i dont agree on this vid.Minimalism isnt about having no stuff at all. Its about having the most usefull stuff.
A minimalist also saves. Does not go out and eat or not so often. Tries an buy toilet parts from a second hand source.if possible also fixes their own car.i think your a minimalist cause you think of all choices you make.
This is more about extreme minimalism so you'll have to watch this with that context in mind.
I hadn't thought about that, frances. Thanks for clarifying... even though you did say 100 items in the video lol. I do agree with you though joost.
You should do a video how to get cheap flights
More than just one like, seems like this there is demand on this. Thanks for your suggestion, noted.
Google flights is a great start, but there's other stuff obviously, such as how long in advance you should buy, etc. great topic, worth expanding.
Jason Yessss please!
I welcome the move towards the age of access(aka sharing economy), where items don't have to be owned, but can be shared between peers. For instance, if you notice the humidity levels in your home are high, you can use an app to find a nearby neighbour who is willing to share his dehumidifier with you for a small fee. This gives you access to the object without having to pay the full purchase price or suffer the hassle of having to store the item.
I think these apps already exist, they just haven't gone mainstream yet.
These are some great points, although I think you are representing the minimalist that you would find on TV or on the news (someone living in the extreme) rather than what most minimalists live. Which, I believe these extreme minimalists are the ones getting the most press, yet don't believe they represent the majority.
A year ago, I set out to build my own Tiny House. This has forced me to be more intentional about consumerism. I spend a fraction of what I did before, because going down this path and taking the big leap to go small has forced me to spend less and invest more.
In response to each of your points, this is how I live my life (which I believe is representative of the majority of minimalists):
1. I buy in bulk with other minimalist friends or family, or use bargain stores like grocery outlet.
2. I have my own appliances in my Tiny House - blender, toaster, oven, fridge, stove, rice cooker...which enable me to make virtually any dish I'd like.
3. My house is in the country on my in-laws property where they have parts for everything including a box of toilet parts.
4. I borrow tools from my father-in-law and I have bought several nice tools in the process of building the house which we both use.
5. Most of my 'just in case' items I have gotten rid of did not have much value and were items I would likely never use. Some of them were broken objects that I had already purchased the replacement, and others were little knickknacks that I should have let go of a long time ago.
6. I buy duplicates of some items where it is cost effective, yet items where it is unlikely I will use soon or ever I only buy in single quantities.
7. I have an iPhone 6s Plus I bought from a friend for an amazing price which I don't plan to upgrade any time soon.
8. Even though I'm a minimalist, I tend to overpack. For example, I bring my Jetboil on long trips so I can boil water and make my own coffee instead of spending $$$ at Starbucks.
9. I have a very efficient mini-split AC and heat as well as a small space heater and fan.
Overall, being a minimalist for me is both a very freeing way to live, and has many economical upsides that outweigh the few downsides.
Yup... this is exactly that. Targeted at extreme minimalism and not minimalism in general. So I guess we are in agreement.
actually minimalism has built more wealth and person grow in my life then ever before. I buy only what I need. I practice giving which you call throwing away. I believe there is more happiness in giving then receiving.
I must've didn't make my point clear in that I was talking more about extreme minimalism. Think less than 100 items level. For normal minimalism, I think it's a great way to build wealth and probably the most optimal way. I do not consider giving things away as throwing away. Throwing away is putting it in the garbage where giving it away is to give it to someone else who will use it.
I thought I had watched enough of your videos but this one was also very helpful. I am definitely not just cheap who likes to save . I'm glad to hear I am a wealth builder. Once my mother began to receive a pension and social security she cut back on traveling and loved to go to the dollar store. She saved $100,000 in 6 years.
=D I'm glad! This video talks about extreme minimalism not building wealth. Those with 100 items or less or so might make things hard to live.
I'm not a minimalist but I don't think the single-purpose kitchen tools like lemon spray, pit takers, slicers, garlic press, etc. are very necessary. My kitchen is bare, but with my simple set of knives and a few other utensils, I can still make most of the dishes I want. Maybe 5% of the time I cannot make something complicated, instead of buying more tools, I can just substitute the ingredients, or improvise a way to prepare it with what I have.
A lot of tools are not necessary I agree. It depends how much usage you get out of it that makes it worth it or not. If you use a garlic press daily then I think you really should own one.
As a minimalist, there's only one thing I buy in bulk, wholefoods like nuts and seeds. Minimalism isn't about numbers.I have enough things to cover up what I need.It helped me alot in saving money.I don't buy what's in fashion trend, I just buy (usually from Thrift shops because I usually find good comfy clothes there) clothes that are functional and comfy.Minimalism simply helped me to reduce what I consume (which is unnecessary/excess stuff)
I'm a student and still have lots to learn but minimalism just made my life way easier and happier because truly, less stuff is more happiness 😍 less clutter by the wayyy.
Minimalism does help. But extreme minimalism will cause you to spend more. I.e. going out to eat because you have no tools to make any food at all.
BeatTheBush yes , anything extreme is bad, I don't plan to throw away stuffs that is functional in my life :)
this is a great video. i am a wealth builder. i buy quality items and use them up. i have every kitchen item i need to prepare my own meals, coffees and smoothies. i generally buy everything that lasts and just have a few good pieces of clothing bc i am committed like that. not all jeans and tops are the same. if i like it, im gonna wear it up.
A minimalist is adaptable. Which is a huge advantage in the modern world. You have to recognize this since unstable economic and financial situations necessitate it. A combination of both is best. Wealth building with adaptability is key.
I considered myself a minimalist for a little bit until I realized that no, I am just frugal. For some, minimalist is a fancy word for frugal. For others, it is as you say. I fixed a toilet and a bathroom fan this week. It is so satisfying to learn how to fix things on my own. Saves so much money and feels so independent.
I have to add, minimalism as depicted in this video is referencing extreme minimalism. If you are just a casual minimalist, you can be pretty frugal.
Very interesting. Thank you for this video. I honestly have never given this topic much thought. I envy the minimalist for their clean living, but I own a center heater and a space heater for the reasons you list. Sometimes I feel like a packrat, but good to know I'm actually a wealth builder.
Extreme minimalism is what costs money. Some argue being slightly minimalist is probably the best for wealth building. A point I did not talk about in this video.
Great comparison and I agree there are those minimalist/spartanist that may take it too far to where they are using up more money than saving. I've watched and read a few vlogs/blogs on minimalists who are in that happy medium where they are getting rid of excess items but keeping things that are still useful. I've also read that certain cities have a type of business where locals can rent or borrow rarely used tools if they need something for a temporary fix.
I think perhaps 1000 items is a bit better rather than 100, lol.
Strange thing I do is I just buy the tool and keep it. One of my vid I bought a 36" torque wrench for putting on the engine pulley. Maybe I'll need a huge torque wrench again one day lol!
Great video, brought some insight to this new lifestyle that seems to be trending more and more on RUclips. You're right, to have minimal items you must have the means to purchase things as you need them. Not always the best option.
It appears minimalism comes and goes as a fad. One have to realize it's pretty impractical for most to be extreme minimalist but works as a great motivator and case study.
Hey man...
Minimalists are allowed to have reusable water bottles and commuter bags.
Minimalists are allowed to buy in bulk, (but don't buy items that aren't necessary.) My family has a costco membership and as a family of four we sometimes get the 2 big milk gallon and 2 loafs of bread deal, along with toilet paper.
Bread, milk, eggs, toilet paper, and vehicle gas are the minimalist shopping list for your typical families at Costco. Sometimes toiletries, but honestly my family has like a 3 year supply of sensodyne toothpaste by now so we don't really buy that anymore either.
We rarely buy clothes now because we have pretty much all the clothes we need, unless we need to replace quicker worn down items like socks and underwear. Both my brother and I are pretty much fully grown, so we only buy clothes when they wear out/get too ratty looking. Costco is a great store for people with more than one child at young and still-growing age though, because it gives them the ability to save on multiple items if they need them.
But yeah, minimalism will look different for someone who also wants to build wealth depending on their family situation and the region they live. You don't gotta own 100 items or less to be a minimalist. I think of it more as only owning items or multiples of things that you use the most frequently, in order to make an efficient use of your property and space, and no multiples of, or even renting the items you only use once or twice a year.
Like for me,
Multiples are acceptable for:
Makeup (sometimes I like different colors of the same type of item), clothes, undergarments, consumable toiletries so I have a small back stock. (like 2 or 3 dental floss containers.)
Multiples that would not make sense for me:
Yard tools, (like multiple rakes and hammers. UGH. My family is guilty of this. It only makes sense if all of us are cleaning the yard at the same time, which literally never happens anymore.)
decorative platewares, Kitchen appliances, (coffee grinder/blender/coffeemaker/electric mixers/toaster/cream whipper.)
Home cleaning tools: Vacuum cleaner/iron/clothes steamer/sewing machine/dusting cloths.
Basically anything that has a set function and takes up a considerable amount of space in a small apartment would not be appropriate to have a multiple of, and it's good to think of multi-use functions for the things you currently have before buying a new thing.
I think the disconnect here is that extreme minimalist is not building wealth as fast as possible due to not being able to buy in bulk and keep things for spares as needed. Extreme minimalist means you only own a total of 100 items or so.
Then I guess I'm not a minimalist. I just subscribe to using restraint as a shopper. I more often say to myself. "I don't need this." So, I curate (carefully select) what I buy. Some foods I now but by the case as long as it doesn't come in plastic packaging.
I enjoy buying things like another other person. Minimalism here refers to extreme minimalism which reduces things you own to 30-100 items. Something that will cause you to spend more since buying in bulk is out of the question.
Best personal finance channel online!
Thanks! =D
Love all your videos, but this one completely missed the mark. Complete misunderstanding of minimalism which lead you to extremely flawed logic.
Ironically, I consider you a minimalist based on what you talk about in your other videos(spending habits, not buying what you don’t need,etc). You are a huge minimalist in the eyes of the majority of Americans.
*extreme minimalism.
BeatTheBush extreme minimalism does not represent minimalism in the slightest. It’s mostly morally righteous crap. They represent a very small subset of minimalism and you can’t use them to stereotype and criticize minimalism.
It’s shows a lack of understanding on what minimalism is actually about. It’s like me making a video criticizing financial independence movement because there’s a few people who live on 10k a year and deprive there spouse, kids, and themselves of basic things in life.
A person making that argument is not making valid argument, they are just showing there lack of understanding on what financial independence is actually about. The person in my example has nothing to do with financial independence and are not following its core principles, they do not represent financial independence. Much in the same way the people you are describing have nothing to do with minimalism.
I use to be a hard core minimalist but its unrealistic for me because I am also a DIY and a prepper. I think it's good to have a balance of a minimalist, a prepper, and a DIY person.
I'm a minimalist, but I don't subscribe to the 100 items, or the 30 piece wardrobe etc. I don't do plumbing etc. we call the plumber.
The 30 piece wardrobe makes absolutely no sense, those 30 items are going to be worn frequently, washed frequently, spilled on frequently, sweated in frequently, and will look worn out very quickly no matter the quality. I have about 45 items/ season, not including shoes, coats, accessories, or undies. I also add one or two more pieces per year, slacks or a top and send still very decent looking pieces to the local charity shop.
For me, minimalism is being thoughtful about what you buy, buying the best quality, and deciding what your "enough" is. It's also being thoughtful about the people in your life, your community, your job, your time, and money. It's having a rich, full life without a lot of excess stuff or being overwhelmed and stressed.
I consider myself more of a "simplist" than a minimalist, but I see there are many misconceptions. Most minimalists I watch decide to live in a peaceful and serene way by getting rid of excess stuff and keeping what you really love and find useful, with the purpose of having time, money and energy for meaningful things. This can mean something different for everyone. For someone living in a tiny studio apartment, they may avoid extra furniture or bulk groceries. For a family with kids, that could be having only necessary clothes to do less laundry, buying in bulk and owning efficient cleaning supplies to minimize their lifestyle.
Also, you can be minimalist and only buy luxury items, which would not be frugal.
So yes, while minimalism does not equal building wealth, it can totally go hand in hand.
I'm very interested in minimalism and I like using the concept as a tool to work on different aspects of my life, rather than making it part of my identity.
Just reducing your things to what is needed automatically reduces clutter and stress. It just feels right.
I can see where you are coming from with this topic. I think people started to twist the concept already. The idea is to declutter, to make peace with what you have, not keep wanting more, and etc. It's not all about throwing everything away. It's a way of thinking.....
Also getting rid of the stuff that you no longer need is part of it too. Not let it sit.
Very insightful. I am trying to figure out the right balance for myself.
It's a fine line indeed and extreme minimalist might have to buy things whenever needed vs. already having it somewhere. Then there is the space issue for having it already.
For me miminilisum is about minimising what I own based on what is most valuable to me this takes into account my expenses as well so I may sell a car if I have two but I would keep my tools to look after my first car or if I don't have tools I might use the money from the sale of the extra car to buy them to look after my first car.
I think a lot of minimalists do get rid of things that they can use to save money but this example is a bit extreme
Correct. This is really comparing to extreme minimalism.
I would definitely be a wealth builder, I'm an engineering student. It is really the difference between consumer and producer.
Ahh, I'm sure you meant 'net' consumer or 'net' producer. Although I think minimalism really focuses on consuming less as well.
I think some sort of minimalistic mindset is always helpful, especially for someone who is smart and frugal like you. True, an extreme minimalist (those who make money by posting unrealistic lifestyle youtube video) is a NUTJOB. But being a Horder is even worse. To me, it's more like Minimalism = Simple Lifestyle.
I prefer eating out. I eat like once a day. And raising canes etc kind of food once a day will last me 30 days with 300$. When I do groceries, I spend 300$ and yet have to keep buying. Im inefficient, and hence minimalism helps me in that area. 😇. Great video.
I had to look up Raising Cane's is actually a fast food chicken place. There's also the health and cost aspect of eating out often. So $300/month for either fast food chicken or make your own food both costs the same to you. I contend, that if done correctly, you can probably use less than half of that for groceries per month.
Agreed. But secret:🤐 I can't cook that well. I don't warn to burn my apartment. 😬. I made chicken a month ago. Took me 6 hours. 😂.
Minimalist buy in Bulk.
Just simplified.
For example. I only wear black shirts and Jeans. I just have that outfit in bulk.
Unless I'm a wealth builder. Idk i could be wrong
What you show here is basically a comparison of minimalism and frugality. Neither of which is synonymous with building wealth. They are both concepts, and their symptoms can vary. ;)
Extremely well thought out!
Thanks! =D
I am definitely a wealth builder plus maybe a pack rat :) I love tools and try to fix everything my self. Fun fact, I subscribed to your channel because of the convertible top window repair video several years ago I think. But I love most of your video on savings and finance.
BTW, the iPhone SE is actually acceptabel price and has a very good camera by my standards. I am very satisfied with mine. And I also have a Canon point&shoot with better picture quality for vacation/travel.
Pack ratting is hard to shake. Of course, there are some things that must go so actively trying to to be minimalist is good. Oh! The window repair took way too long! lol.
It does seem savings and finance vids are more popular so then I am looking to concentrate on those topics more.
Right on about the iPhone SE. But see, you still need a point and shoot. =D
Hi BTB. What do you think of owning a fun 2 seats roadster vs. large cargo SUV? I'm replacing my car this year, and I found choosing vehicles is like choosing between minimalism/ wealth building. Does owning a sport car contradict with wealth building? Thank you.
Great points. I'm wealth builder makes more sense in the long term.
Wealth building gives a solid financial background to help your life flourish.
i agree n i extend this comparison to credit card payments or leasing n especially buying fuel ....great comparison
Do you mean paying credit card payments is a form of minimalism?
In my mind, minimalism only means not having things that are not useful in your life. Those guys you referred to are extreme minimalists and don't represent most people who practice minimalism. In fact, from what I've seen of your videos, I would probably call you a minimalist.
In my case, practicing minimalism saves me a lot of money and therefore, saves a lot of time that I would otherwise have to work for somebody else, rather than educating myself to improve my life. I don't need a car, along with fuel, insurance and other costs to get around, I have a bike for transportation and I own all of the tools that I need to maintain it. And those tools take up very little space in my backpack. I rarely eat out and I can cook pretty much anything using a cast iron skillet/dutch oven and one non-stick pan and a basic assortment of kitchen tools. I don't buy in bulk, it's pretty hard to buy in bulk when you don't drive, and I have no space for all that inventory, so I go to the store almost daily. By shopping daily, I can take advantage of manager's specials more often than I could if I shopped only weekly or bi-weekly.
Basically, I see minimalism as asking yourself, "what do I really need to get things done?"
Sorry to be so wordy, but these guys explain it well:
www.theminimalists.com/minimalism/
Another great video. I've been working on balancing the two.
Too much minimalism is bad but then if you do not go too crazy with it then it does save you money.
One the best times of my life I lived in an apartment with little to nothing and so much freedom without all the possessions.
How interesting how having less means so much more sometimes.
No, if you aren't trying to be some kind of acsetic minamlisim just means only having the things you need not tons of crap. Look at what you use on a daily basis, that is what you need (keep sakes are ok like family photos) Look up six sigma protocol they use in industry same idea.
Ha! I like the relation to six sigma. I assume they keep the most used stuff closest and less often used thing farther away. Nice one!
living minimalism (buy thing that you need or eat), set your extra money aside then use that money to build wealth.
What if you need everything? Lol.
Hahahahaha! Can’t tell if you’re joking or being serious! This video is so funny and insightful at the same time! :DK
I don't think this represents minimalism. The goal of minimalism is to "minimize" ones outflow of money. For example, a minimalist wouldn't own an expensive car that requires expensive maintenance, but they would own a cheap car and also the tools for basic common repairs.
The idea is to squash your expenses so you can "minimize" the amount you are required to work.
Minimalism is really to minimize having things in general. The minimalism I described in this video is more of extreme minimalism. The minimalism your described is the building wealth kind.
What's inconceivable for me is all these people who buy expensive phones like the iPhone7 because "it has a good camera". My phone was aprox $170 and my camera was on sale so I paid around $200. An iPhone7 starts at $650 and I can talk and text the same with my cheap samsung but I can take way better pictures because my camera has a real lense in it, it has no size constraints like the cameras in phones.
Granted, an iPhone7 has better hardware and software than my phone but let's not forget, I don't want to be surgically attached to my phone, I use it the minimum time I need to.
Comparing a Samsung and iPhone will end up in a heated debate. So lets just say they each have their own merits. One can certainly do equivalent things on either phone with very little that is exclusive to each. An iPhone is a bit of a status symbol so when you do not only consider utility, it might be understood better.
There are of course more important things to do with your money than loosing it in depreciation. Raising one's status is in itself a debatable topic as well. Should one do it or not?
I'm sorry I wasn't trying to ignite the Samsung vs iPhone debate, I was trying to compare cheap phones to expensive ones, you can use any of them to call your friends.
Basic utility is the same. It'll be hard for me to find a thing one thing can do that another cannot.
I use a One plus 3T. It is one of the fastest phones around and is cheap. Flagship specs for low cost. The one plus 5 is coming out soon.
I follow your videos (most of them but not this one) Being minimalist doesn't mean you don't need to buy in bulk, you don't waste anything.
This was intended as extreme minimalism. Perhaps I should change the thumbnail.
the golden middle have everithing you need and keep it lean dispose things you never use
I am not a minimalist, but have followed this movement. For minimalists, they don't own houses or cars anyway, so DIY toolbox is not necessary. They eat raw foods, so preparation is quite quick and simple.
Interesting on the food prep part. I guess if they rent or live in hotels they don't need to fix anything themselves. It does get expensive though.
I imagine it takes a lot of capital to rent. The freedom that it brings is enticing though.
I Have been collecting coins since I was 7. Now since I don't have much interest for currency anymore, I have sold like 1/4 of it so far. I want to keep the special ones though.
Just something I wanted to say, about making >£20 a day
Still want to hold on to a special few. I do like the ideal of just getting rid of some of the extra stuff you really do not need. I did find at one point that if you get rid of some things you may not want at the time, you might actually want later. It's rare but it happened to me.
Sometimes I just leave your videos on the background while doing something else (sorry), which got me thinking how well some of your videos would fit in a podcast format (audio only). Give it a thought, I would totally listen while on the train for example :)
Thanks for pointing this out. It just means my video quality needs to improve to warrant it to be a video rather than just voice. Somehow a podcast does not strike me as a medium I'm gravitating towards.
BeatTheBush you'll receive a different and wider audience, smart speakers have been really picking up sales since last Christmas and podcasts are really easy to listen to thru smart speakers. Not sure about the revenue generating potential thru advertisers though.
so true!! Great video!
Thanks! =D Let me add, I talked about extreme minimalism in this video.
Thanks for this video! Minimalism is only a lifestyle for the folks who are already financial stable/independent, definitely not for a new college grad like me haha. :)
I guess if you start with very little, that's being minimalist as well. However, that comes from not having very little to choose to buy a few high quality items.
What made you name your Chanel Beat the bush?
I appreciate your insight and ideas . David Jenson Chicago
Beat The Bush is short for "Beat Around The Bushes" which means not getting to the point.
Later on, it seemed appropriate to assume getting to the point of not getting to the point and you get Beat The Bush.
I know your purpose here is educational, but you're misrepresenting minimalism. There are different kinds of minimalists actually, and many definitions to it. It's individual. Not every minimalists go out, or own only 100 things. To each is his own :)
This is talking about extreme minimalism. I strive to be a minimalism but just not extreme.
America is expensive place for minimalist.
In asia labor and food at restaurant is almost cheaper than if you would fix it your self.
It is as everything costs so much. Cheaper in Asia must be due to their economy of scale while charging as low as they can. A skilled person can do it much faster than you trying to do it yourself.
there's not much savings when you buy in bulk in asia.
People buy only what they need for a short period of time.
In america I have to buy in bulk and use some of the items for a year long.
This seems like a really weird way to frame this, especially since you can be a minimalist in some aspects and still build wealth. You might not have the tools at hand to fix something, but you could always borrow them, which is minimalist in nature and saves money. You can not own a blender, but still cook your own food by chopping by hand. I don't own a rice cooker for example, since a regular pot cooks my rice every few days just as well, without being an extra appliance I purchased.
This is really pertaining to extreme minimalism. Interesting take on still making do with what you have. It really comes down to if you are indeed able to make do and sort of get creative at it.
I don't know, I always view minimalism as owning exactly what you need, and nothing more, at least in terms of items. In other words, waste not, want not. The whole eating out all the time thing and traveling about because you don't have a place to stay, sounds more like a back packing or couch surfing thing than a minimalist thing. I can see why it would be so appealing to a lot of young people as such. Minimalism on the other hand sounds more like owning that which only serves utility in your life, and not luxury. As in the example of a rice cooker being a specialized item that can easily be replaced by a more versatile pot.
I don't know, I always view minimalism as owning exactly what you need, and nothing more, at least in terms of items. In other words, waste not, want not. The whole eating out all the time thing and traveling about because you don't have a place to stay, sounds more like a back packing or couch surfing thing than a minimalist thing. I can see why it would be so appealing to a lot of young people as such. Minimalism on the other hand sounds more like owning that which only serves utility in your life, and not luxury. As in the example of a rice cooker being a specialized item that can easily be replaced by a more versatile pot.
I don't know man. Have you tried how good the rice tastes from a proper rice cooker. It taste completely different and makes you want to just inhale the rice. So yes, carrying only 30-100 items with you is extreme minimalism indeed.
Don't think you understand the true essence of minimalism. You can be minimalist and a wealth builder. I practice minimalism and have a blender, toaster, etc. Minimalist don't just through money at things.
*Extreme minimalism.
A wealth builder would have a knife same as conscious minimalist - not a blender, etc
Hmmm... that's hard to say. If you blend a lot of stuff then it might be a time saver.
You qualified it as extreme minimalism at the beginning but didn't keep the reference. May want to add text where appropriate to keep the qualification throughout the video.
Minimalism is a spectrum, since there's no authority on it it's up to the individual to decide with group critique.
so for not having a kid also a minimalist?
What you told about minimalism is not minimalism my friend
Minimalism is coming out of consumerism addiction,
Minimalism is about living simple & sustainable lifestyle and become self reliant - i.e. make your own food & DIY
You linked minimalism only with travelers with backpack and also you assume more stuff = more wealth
Minimalism is based on zen and integral part of Japanese culture
Really great points, this makes me feel much better about not being a minimalist haha.
Just remember, I was referring to extreme minimalism in the video as like
Gotcha, yes I agree with that. It's definitely still smart to be "minimalist" in the sense that you don't buy a bunch of crap you don't need haha. But the point you made about plumbing is a really good one, I just had my water heater fail and instead of paying maybe $300 or more to a plumber, I went and bought $60 of parts and a special tool and did the work my self. Saved a ton! I can hold on to that tool for next time and it will only be like $50 to fix my water heater again.
You sure love garlic press. Several times in your videos, you listed garlic press as examples!
+Như Phương interestingly, I like the design but I don't use it that often.
Yeah, I mean it's an unusual item on top of anyone's head when they are trying to think of an example.
Anything that's made of metal and without rubber stuck on it tends to last very very long. =D
Fantastic video👍
Thanks!
As minimalist I borrow things. You save money and don't create clutter. btw great chanel
Great way to go of course. Builds community and great to exchange things. Sort of like trade where both parties benefit.
can you do a video on dividends. when do you have to buy shares in order to get the dividend for that quarter or month? and how much?
Huh, good idea. I was just thinking about that but didn't occur to do a video on it. Noted. =D
Interesting insight!
Thanks. BTW this was aimed at extreme minimalism. Something I left out of the thumbnail and title.
It's a right and wrong way to do everything.
Extreme minimalism seems too much just to be clear... 100 items or less in your life type of deal.
Awesome 👍
You’re conflating travelers/nomads with minimalism. Also, I would argue minimalism is not about “immediate need” but needs overall. A minimalist is not going to throw away a reusable bottle because they can buy bottled water from a store. I don’t understand the assumption that s minimalist is going to have a great phone. Again, if you’re living a life based on evaluating your needs and tossing out what you don’t need, you wouldn’t go and spend extra money on something expensive. I would say extreme minimalism would include your spending. When I saw minimalist videos, it was all about removing clutter and living sustainability. Not all minimalists (or even extreme ones for that matter) are going to travel and not all travelers/nomads are minimalists. Another thing to point out is that those people who “travel aimlessly” are often traveling in places where it is very cheap to eat out. Overall, I feel your comparisons miss the mark. However, one thing to mention is that extreme minimalism might indeed look far removed from a “wealth builder,” but not in the ways you describe. An extreme minimalist might not need that much wealth and as a result, might not have the desire to build it. However, they will have the desire to reduce their spending, which is the strange irony of this video.
Makes sense BTB.....
A lot of people are complaining about minimalism can build wealth. I want to point out I was referring to extreme minimalism throughout the video as in
Balance.
I feel that you are generalising minimalism too much. Preparing home cooked food doesn't require a lot of the gadgets you mention like slicer, peeler as some of these can be done manually by simpler tools like a knife. Being a minimalist doesn't mean you eat out all the time or buy items for one-time usage. It means just buying things that add value to your life instead of compulsive consumption.
This is intended for extreme minimalism. As in 100 total items in your life or less level.
your videos are awesome and informative. love it!
Flouting not flaunting.
I really meant "to show off" or flaunting.
Oh ok. To me, minimalism is zen living like a sparsely furnished house.
I actually have everything in my kitchen. But I have glass shelves inside the cabinets so I can see everything well organized. I do not have anything on my counters.
Minimalism is about knowledge and efficiency and also aesthetic in your physical environment. As a minimalist, I believe that I build wealth pretty well compared to my peers who have lots of useless stuff.
I think the distinction here is probably having too little or extreme minimalism will be costly. How many items do you think you have in total?
BeatTheBush, i have thousands of items, but you will not see them in if you come to my home. Minimalism is a lifestyle more than the number of items.
I think by the time you have 1000s of items, you are not trapped into having not enough to do your own repairs nor does it prevent you from buying in bulk.
No
Yes?
I just don't think you understand minimalism. It's about not having excess. It can greatly help you spend less money.
Hey, im studying to be a minimalism to be more success but dude youre telling minimalism is a very bad thing.
What minimalism do is to minimize things but will do everything to save! Like learning new skills, mechanics, gardening, and etc.
Minimalist can also have blender, slicer, coffee maker, etc. like you saying.
Minimalism is simplifying your lifestyle.
I can still have my income and be a minimalist. Same thing with wealth building.
Do more with LESS. I like your videos and it helps me a lot but this eeeehhh 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽
It should be straight forward. Extreme minimalism causes you to buy more expensive one time things. It does not allow for bulk buying. Btw, this is extreme minimalism I'm talking about.
BeatTheBush oh okay, sorry about that. Well I guess im still learning haha. Im still looking forward to your awesome lifestyle vids.
I believe this minimalist movement is a sign that we're becoming a third world country. This "movement" really took off when the markets crashed around 08. Many people were displaced and became homeless. Many of those people still have not recovered from the financial crisis of 08. Sadly, as we become a third world country the "minimalist" idea has become the new "norm".
I can see some are required to become minimalist after the crash but then that's coming from poverty. From what I can tell, minimalism comes from the other way where the person has the ability to buy a lot but chooses to not to.
Minimalism is a new form of frugality that was in our culture post depression in the mid 20th century around the late 1930’s/early 1940’s.