Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-that-matter-by-joshua-becker/
In Hong Kong where I was born and raised, public housing is 100 square feet per person. So a typical kitchen is tiny in comparison to one in the states. I follow a chef turned RUclipsr from Hong Kong, I swear he only owns one wok, one small pot, and one stock pot, yet he makes incredible dishes over and over. It's a good reminder that you don't need fancy tools to make good food.
👌🏼😆 Spent 6 months in HK and felt desperate in the kitchen because i couldn't find my daily tools! (garlic squeezer, peeling tool, cheese rape etc.) Instead, they had super charp knives that could be used to do everything! So i learned to use sharp knives and now prefer it!
”職人吹水” He does it only in Cantonese and film in usually one take. He shares lots of "secret technique" and history of Cantonese/HK cooking due to his experiences in the restaurant industry.
I love this question! I often use this same logic when I think I need to buy something- "What do I already own that I can I use instead ?" 95% of the time I usually already have something I can use.
Think I’ll add this to my wardrobe question. I kind of want to keep it all and see a use to all of it and then imagine a post apocalyptic life where I’d miss that warm jumper or sturdy boot. But now I can ask - what would I wear if I didn’t have it? The answer is easy, one of my other warm jumpers, sturdy boots, or waterproof jackets. I have plenty of them - all of them designed for long term wear. It’s ok for them to go, I won’t go without or get cold. Essentially I’m afraid of having unmet needs. That’s an eye opener.
I kept things stored for my fantasy self. It was just a dream. My fantasy self goes to fancy parties and weddings every week. My real self just needs a few special items and the rest is comfort over impractical. 🙂
I spent an hour last night in an area removing items I haven't much used in a year. After this video, I am now ready to go back through the same area and remove items I really don't "need". Oh! and my mother's favorite egg separator was her fingers. Thank you for another thought-provoking video.
I think my mother uses just the shell itself. There is the technique where you just switch the yolk from one half to the other until only the yolk is left. It’s hard to explain but I guess you know what I mean
@@nattojelly8349 Yes, I do the same thing even though I have an egg separator in my kitchen drawer! Too much trouble to get out the separator out of the drawer, but not too much trouble to keep it in the drawer. Dumb on my part, isn't it?! It will be going to Goodwill for someone who might actually use it. Diane
Yes! I just started thinking this with everything in my kitchen. Just donated a superb roasting pan that I've only used 2-3 times in 10 years. I looked at the huge, lovely, well made thing that works so well, and thought, yes, but I can also use my stone roasting pan. Not as perfect, but more versatile, and I use it fairly often. I was able to donate the roasting pan with the hope that someone will be thrilled to cook with it. I can make do with my other pan.
Joshua, how do you come up with this? Your videos are always so concise and profound. I appreciate the length too. Minimalist length video! Perfect for my shorter attention span!
Yes, asking a person who is drowning in clutter “do you need it” is pointless. The answer always will be yes. You need to do other questions. This “what would you use instead” is a great one. It provoke critical thinking.
I learned a cousin of this question from Dawn the Minimal Mom. She says "Can I live without this?" and it's so helpful for me. It does the same thing for me, I have to think of what I'd do if I didn't have it
I have been decluttering nonstop for over a year now. I did the "declutter 2021 items in 2021", played the decluttering game in May, June, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan and now into Feb. I got rid of thousands of items over the last year but starting to slow way down. I know there is progress to be made and you just gave me the way to do it. I have justified keeping many items because I actually use what I have however, asking myself the question you presented here changes my game. A BIG thank you!!!! Now I have the tool I have been searching to move forward in my progress!!!
That's a good one! Here are the questions I ask - can I sell this and give the funds to my animal charities? How many dogs and cats will it help that are suffering? Or if not sellable, can I donate it directly to a shelter where it will be used immediately and directly (blankets and towels, for example)? or do I need it to sit unused in my drawer? You can guess what the answer is, every time.
I love your videos, they are simple, concise and logical. I feel inspired to continue in this de cluttering journey every time I watch them, thank you.
Live in a small French, San Francisco apartment, and now a mountain cottage which we have done for years, and one learns about having items that do double duty. Which for us includes a Gustav Stickley recliner that reclines to make a single size bed for a guest. Or the old fashioned ironing board that is between two wall studs and is hidden away, but used as extra counter space as needed when cooking (laughing). Our French press for coffee is also used for teas, lemonade. Our Vitamix does the same work as a blender, food processor, juicer, mixer. Or our Lodge 5 quart cast iron double Dutch Oven and 3.2 quart cast iron combo cooker, whose lids double as skillets.. Our gas ovens pilot light provides the right temperature for dehydrating fruits, vegetables and homemade meat jerky.
This is a straight-forward approach to minimizing your possessions. Questioning if something is "needed" is very valuable as we are often not very grounded in what we actually "need." Needs are often confused with wants; this is a good question to move beyond wants and towards the minimalism that is grounded in needs. Many thanks for another great video!
My granny would laugh for hours if she knew that something like an egg separator exists. 92-year-old Italian granny who can trasform litterally anything into a delicious dinner 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Genius, what a great question to ask, I’m trying to get rid of unwanted stuff, I’ve just moved my elderly mother into a smaller flat, it’s been a task to go through what to keep and what to get rid of for her, so I’m doing it in our home because i don’t want my kids to face similar, Thankyou this will really help me and my husband x
Totally agree with the kitchen gadgets! My family is chinese, and we don't have any of these gadgets (i didn't even know an egg separater exists), but manage to do everything - separate eggs, break eggs, peel things, crush things, blend things - with just chopsticks and knives, and I remember seeing my parents and grandparents cooking the most varied and delicious chinese food, with just a couple of simple tools. It makes them not only more skilled, but also more creative cooks.
I can think anything to death so one I would add is "Does this fit the life I want?" while sipping tea and enjoying the moment. I'm able to make more decisions without fatigue that way. Dropping down to that one question is really helpful if you're ready for a lifestyle/identity overhaul.
Thank you for being ad free! Your vlogs are peaceful and it would be bad if one of those loud commercials suddenly came on like what happens with other vlogs.
I have been watching/learning about minimalism for the past year, and this is definitely something new that I have not considered. I love it! Thank you!
Great advice ! You're one of my biggest inspirations Joshua .I've almost completed my families journey. We literally gave away thousands of items since 2017 .I'm not a complete minalmalist and I'm definitely not a maxilmalist anymore .We just kept our most beloved family possessions from my grandparents and uncles and aunt! I love the way we live now .I don't have to clean to clean anymore or remove tons of clutter .
We had been hauling around from move to move several expensive LaLique lead crystal vases given to my husband decades ago from his mother. I do not come from a home where we had many valuable tchotchkes so really did not find use for these vases. They were kept in a closet for fear of breaking or damaging. Silly. We were able to ‘offload’ them to my husbands daughter who was delighted to take them as she remembered them from her childhood. Win-win. It brings me joy to simplify our home and only keep the things we find useful as well as provide a good memory for family.
Great video Joshua - we are all swayed with ‘holiday’ items eg a plate for Santa’s cookies or a basket for Easter eggs - we are all sucked into wanting the perfect look. we need to look at items that serve multiple purposes - a basket for Easter could have added decoration that could change for Halloween , Valentine’s Day and even Christmas. I am going to be more intentional with what I keep as well as what I buy. Happy New Year
This is the lesson that got me to finish decluttering my kitchen drawers and cabinets. I cleared my countertops with another of Josh’s challenges earlier. I used the list by Mark Bittman, and this question by Josh and ended up with half the contents. That was a year & a half ago as I write this. I LOVE the results.
So amazing! I’d been justifying keeping things because it was an item that I used, but you’re so right. It’s given me the freedom to let go of so much more, thank you!
Hi Joshua - So true. I'm starting to declutter my kitchen and it's fabulous, and I know it's working because 1 month into it, the things I've already done are sustainable and look great. I'm now on to my pantry - I collected a lot of extra canned food in case covid took over (or something). I have 50 pounds of dried beans. I have found a food pantry and off they will go next week. Keep the great info coming and remember that you are helping a lot of folks, and we are thankful. Love PegEgg
If it's 50 pounds of one kind of bean for one person, that's not useable. But if you bought it at the start of Covid almost years ago and did still feed a family or had a pod of people, you ate with you could have become the best baked bean cook, bean soup maker, vegetarian bean burger maker, etc. Protein and fiber to keep so many people healthy. But you should not completely declutter a pantry! Have at least 3 months of long term storage food in case of economic hardship, weather somewhere that interferes with your ability to get fresh food, etc. And canned food stays good longer than the can indicates, though you should rotate through your food (new in the back, old in the front.) And keep things that don't need to be cooked even if it's something you prefer hot, like a can of ravioli in sauce. Make sure you buy food you like to eat because you are supposed to be eating the older stuff so you can add new stuff to the back of the pile. To me, 3 months of food is minimalism, I'd prefer 6. In my house we had both a job loss and empty shelves at the grocery store due to Covid at the same time but we didn't have to leave the house to still eat well! Since there was no interruption in electricity we also have the benefit of frozen meat and vegetables from the chest freezer, which even a single person should own since they make ones about as wide as a living room chair and a half and run off of very little electricity. They let you buy loss leaders in the meat department as well as marked down meat that is near it's sell by date, so it saves you more money than it costs. It keeps you with better vegetables than just the canned ones. We don't have to go out more than needed to buy anything for food right now that the pandemic is spiking again, though we do get a minimal order for fresh produce since it's available. Use powdered milk in your cooking to rotate that out. Have canned food that is a good protein source, like the Keystone canned meat Walmart sells, canned chicken, salmon, and tuna, though try to do this when there isn't supply chain issues. Don't buy things you don't know how to cook until you learn how to cook them. If you don't know how to make bread, don't buy fifty pounds of flour. But do learn to cook humbly if you don't know how. (Though if you're rich, go ahead and freeze some steaks, this isn't just about just getting by.) Experiment with brands before you get a lot of any thing. And you don't have to buy specialty emergency storage food. It's usually carb heavy and tastes terrible. My exception would be canned dried bell pepper bits because they rehydrate in 5 minutes and are huge flavor enhancers for canned pasta sauce, meatloaf, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Long term storage food is not clutter!
My husband & I are in our 70's. We appreciate that my son gives us consumable products for Christmas. We love receiving coffee pods, restaurant gift cards, & cookies to enjoy with our coffee. We have plenty of stuff already.
I receive them and I think that people pretending to give you things you don't want are rude. They know my lifestyle and my house, it's like give meat to a vegan!
Ok, it's time to get rid of my combination flame throwing dragster tracter lawn mower BBQ griller fertilizer spreader and moveable sprinkler with detachable hose reel and built in cup holders. I've been trying to perfect that thing and I just can't get it to cook a pizza properly, so I'll use our oven instead. Thanks for another inspiring talk.
While decluttering my kitchen, I discovered I had 5 loaf pans. I'll never bake 5 loaves of anything simultaneously. So I repurposed one of them to hold packets of rice in my pantry and two others to hold underwear in my dresser drawer. Three things I didn't have to buy, and three fewer things in my kitchen cupboads!
How about "who needs this more than I do?" and then give the stuff away? There's nothing wrong with owning two cloaks ... until you meet a man who has none. (Luke 3:11). I highly recommend "Through the Eye of a Needle" by Roger Hertzler, where he explores the biblical doctrine of non-accumulation.
I did a beeg purge in Dec. The garage was also cleared. Now I get what happened to you! Am now ready for the second wave. As more space opens up, we all are feeling lighter! Its def less to think about, clean & look after! Easier to find stuff n pack away. Now we can paint n rearrange house too. Mmm Garlic press! Ice cream scoops! Pizza cutters, I am coming for you. Great question, will help alot with 2nd wave. Thank you.
I ask myself, what do I really value and then ask what do I need to accomplish my goals (which are in line with my values). I need very few items to live intentionally and purposefully 😃🤓❤️😅
Great question! I think it will be very helpful to go further in my decluttering journey. As for the egg separator, I didn’t even know such thing existed ^^
I have one! (Pampered Chef) And now that I think about it, I always just crack the egg and separate the yolk using the shells. It’s faster than digging for the egg separator. I’ve got to sort through my utensil drawer now!
Many top chefs have said that all you really need in your kitchen is a quality set of basic pots and pans and a sharp set of knives. The rest is extra.
That's all that top chefs need. Most of us are not top chefs. And that's also if you don't have any disabilities that make using your hands difficult. We have a little cord pulled dicer we use for onions and without it out onions would go bad. And sharp knives involve knife sharpening which isn't a cheap service, depends on the quality of your knives, and/or you buying a good stone and learning how to do it. A small electric food processor is actually a better choice for many people. The easier your cooking is the less likely you are to buy premade food. Most of the time it only needs to be rinsed out.
This is brilliant! I have been trying to help my husband with his tool room. I have avoided doing it because he is very resistant to decluttering his tools and materials. But he asked for my help and I found myself using this question, especially with generic items like bucket. But I love the way you phrased it… My engineering husband will definitely appreciate efficiency with which you phrased this question
A great advice, thank you! OTOH never used anything to separate egg, only the egg shell. Now I need to get an egg separator (that I can get rid of later) 😀
This is great. This question is key to move forward when the first layer of decluttering doesn't feel enough and you find yourself making the same 'keep' decisions. Thank you !!
I bake and cook every day and I have never owned an egg separator. Just started doing some decluttering again. Started with my bedroom. Yes, it seems important to handle each item for some reason.
👍This question is especially useful when minimising someone’s wardrobe: “if you didn’t have this jacket/pair of trousers/shirt etc. what would you wear instead?”
KateKaden sent me to you. I love the concept of already having the solution without owning a specific tool. When basic camping with a tent you often discover how many options there really are to fix something.
I ask myself "when and why did this useful item cease to be useful to me"? I had kept that mandolin slicer for over a year since I sliced the end of my finger off. Answering the questions made it easy for me to donate it. 🥴🥺🙄
Yikes! Well, thanks to your comment, I'm gonna donate the one I haven't ever used, because I know I would do the same thing! Just the thought of it makes me shiver.
Really good advice and insights! Need to do another round of decluttering of kitchen and will ask the questions look at list you mentioned. The statement that you don’t need to keep it even if you use it is a challenge.
I love this Chanel! I am so inspired and helped by all of your guidance. My journey to decluttering is clear for me. I have made amazing progress! Thank you so much! I am well on my way to the perfect clean and decluttered home💗
When you've moved a lot and have to reduce to the minimum to get by even temporarily, you can definitely narrow down a lot in the kitchen. ... A single pot can replace rice cooker, slow cooker, egg cooker etc. When you temporarily live with less, you also realize the things that you DO use and prefer the ease with which they accomplish the task. Personally, I will not declutter my kettle or toaster, even though I could boil water in a pot or microwave and toast bread in a pan.
Nothing can replace my rice cooker. It is a Korean made one that keeps rice hot all day workout it burning or getting dry. Having cooked rice around for meals makes it so we're less likely to get take out since it goes with so many sauces and other things. We could do easier with a pour over coffee maker or a million other things than giving up the electric rice cooker. It's a staple item in kitchens in many Asian cultures for a reason. If yours was one that only made rice then shut off or burned the rice then maybe it's not important, but even one of those saved us a lot of money before we upgraded because rice is cheap and so many people have trouble cooking it on the stove (they treat it like pasta, draining the water, so gross.) If I didn't have a rice cooker I could use a pot, I can do it properly that way, but I know I wouldn't. Most of us could do laundry with a washboard, but we wouldn't. There are some appliances that pay for themselves. If there is inexpensive food you like and never cook you might need to consider if you actually should add something. Cooking at home is more minimalist than frozen dinners or take out.
@@MilwaukeeWoman fortunately I have no problem cooking rice but definitely some people who rarely cook rice OR need rice daily would have more use for a rice cooker. I keep the things I use daily, kettle and toaster mostly!
I get that. I won't declutter my handheld lemon juicer. It's huge, but I use it almost every day and I know what juicing lemons with a spoon is like! No thanks!
I’m sharing this video to my Facebook page. This is a time of year where we want to reevaluate our lives and belongings and Joshua is one of my favourites. People could learn so much from watching his videos.🥰
You are an inspiration in every way. Your tone of voice and speed of speech makes everything sound so calming and hence convincing. All that you say sounds like it’s from experience and hence all the more practical and achievable. Please keep going you have definitely had an amazing impact maybe even more than you are aware of! I hit a road block in my efforts to minimise when I gave away something very expensive that I was looking forward to using as after renovating as it did not fit my new redecoration- my husband took full advantage of my minimalistic mind set/efforts and ill advised me! I could have had it altered and used it…even though it wouldn’t have been perfect. I am sure this happens to a lot of people and was hoping you could do a video regarding this potential setback! It sounds childish and immature but it happened and I still regret giving it away!! Hoping to get back on track with your kind and calm advice- if you have any! Once again a heartfelt thank you for everything Stay blessed
I admire You very much and think You are a wonderful human being. Got to admit though, that I was stunned that there is a tool for seperating eggs even. That's about the first thing I learned as a kid on the kitchen and teached my kids in the kitchen, how to do that. That's a discovery, how lives even in western cultures still do differ apparently.
Thanks for video. A related question for things you think you want to keep is “Exactly what do I intend doing with this (and when)?” Minimalism a La GTD.
We had a number of gadgets in the kitchen that I reduced last summer because we don't cook like that or the gadget was too finicky. lol I had only one item that I had to repurchase because using my hands didn't have the desired result. Btw I've never owned an egg separator; I always use the egg shells to separate the yolks and the whites. :)
This thought process proves that the main reason people have problems with clutter is because of the obstacles in their own mind. (I know that’s the case with me)
Excellent questions….Living aboard vessels that through the years became larger and larger, I gathered many items that were unnecessary because I had space. Asking myself why I need three smart blender sticks last year helped me start this process of figuring out the answer to your question of “what would or could I use if I didn’t have this?” There is always something else that can be used including our hands!
So very helpful! Please help those of us who keep items solely for sentimental value. Example: knick knacks that I never use, but "that was Grandma's _____"
I love this. You just helped me declutter something. (Sheets of labels for the kitchen. What would I use if I didn't have these? Um, perhaps my beloved label maker!)
Thank you, the things I can get rid of. Crockpot- my pressure cooker(which I love) Is a slow cooker too. My smoothie maker- so full it doesn't hardly chop the ice. And the motor gets hot. I can use my Ninja blender. Current dishes- so I now can use the dishes my Mother in law gave me that are stored in the dishwasher. I'm sure I can go through my gadget draw again.
Why are you not using your dishwasher? It uses less water, electricity, and sanitizers your dishes better than you can ever do by hand. You are wasting Earth resources by not using it to wash dishes. If it's because you don't dirty many dishes, keep enough dishes so that you can run it when it gets full. People are so wrong about dishwashers, thinking they're doing something moral by hand washing when that's actually the less moral choice.
I do like that question as a de-clutter help. Re the separation of eggs: I saw John Torode, Masterchef judge, explain to child competitors that the quickest way of separation eggs is to crack the egg into a bowl, then lift out the yolk with your hand. The egg white slips through your fingers and the softness of your hand keeps the yolk intact. I use this method all the time. It's brilliant! G Ire
What if you can't stand raw egg on your hands? I use a spurtle that has slots. It lays across your cup or bowl to hold the egg yolk but is also used to scramble eggs & mix cake & scrape bowls.
I hit a wall decluttering T-shirts/Sweaters/Tops about 30% less,that re: T-shirts, Sweaters as I live in Canada's Maritimes near ocean where weather changes fast in 1 day, as a female I like bright colors and my spouse and I house several cats which is our life! Thanks
I tend to agree with Dana K. White that asking if I need something can lead to keeping things unnecessarily. I prefer to ask her decluttering questions, which happen to include the question you feature in this video.
Actually, I just asked the question in my mind for a lot of my possessions, and I got some real quick answers, so let's say goodbye to them right now. Amen
I love the new question. I thought my questions were good enough but I’m still surrounded by stuff. What would I use if I didn’t have it? Wow. Btw…I’m separating myself from my stupid egg separator.
I started getting rid of what I don't need. Success! Until another wall in my bedroom needed to have the drywall removed. NOW everything is my house has drywall dust on it. Even the things I was going to sell at a garage sale are filled with drywall dust. I give up.
Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that my new book, Things That Matter, is finally here. I put my heart into it, and I can’t wait to share it with you. You can pick up a copy at www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676394/things-that-matter-by-joshua-becker/
Mind blown! "Just because you use an item doesn't mean you need to keep it!" I will be looking at things differently now. Thank you!
me too
An item can have multiple uses. Mankind has lived without all the extra junk for millennium.
I agree!
Agree completely!!!
In Hong Kong where I was born and raised, public housing is 100 square feet per person. So a typical kitchen is tiny in comparison to one in the states. I follow a chef turned RUclipsr from Hong Kong, I swear he only owns one wok, one small pot, and one stock pot, yet he makes incredible dishes over and over. It's a good reminder that you don't need fancy tools to make good food.
Can you share the channel name?
👌🏼😆 Spent 6 months in HK and felt desperate in the kitchen because i couldn't find my daily tools! (garlic squeezer, peeling tool, cheese rape etc.)
Instead, they had super charp knives that could be used to do everything!
So i learned to use sharp knives and now prefer it!
”職人吹水” He does it only in Cantonese and film in usually one take. He shares lots of "secret technique" and history of Cantonese/HK cooking due to his experiences in the restaurant industry.
@@silverylotus can you share the link to his you tube
wow
Another useful question: Would you replace the item if you break or lose it? If not maybe you don’t need it.
That's a great question, one I've been using as I declutter the past couple of months.
Can you imagine the joy of having Joshua Becker as your friend and that he would be willing to help you declutter? My life’s problems solved.😂🥰
Lol YES!!!!!
I love this question! I often use this same logic when I think I need to buy something- "What do I already own that I can I use instead ?" 95% of the time I usually already have something I can use.
Think I’ll add this to my wardrobe question. I kind of want to keep it all and see a use to all of it and then imagine a post apocalyptic life where I’d miss that warm jumper or sturdy boot. But now I can ask - what would I wear if I didn’t have it? The answer is easy, one of my other warm jumpers, sturdy boots, or waterproof jackets. I have plenty of them - all of them designed for long term wear. It’s ok for them to go, I won’t go without or get cold. Essentially I’m afraid of having unmet needs. That’s an eye opener.
I kept things stored for my fantasy self.
It was just a dream. My fantasy self goes to fancy parties and weddings every week.
My real self just needs a few special items and the rest is comfort over impractical.
🙂
“Essentially I am afraid of having unmet needs.” Brilliant✨🎉😇 I so needed to receive that message. 🤗 Thank you!
I spent an hour last night in an area removing items I haven't much used in a year. After this video, I am now ready to go back through the same area and remove items I really don't "need". Oh! and my mother's favorite egg separator was her fingers. Thank you for another thought-provoking video.
That's what I kept thinking, use your fingers!
I think my mother uses just the shell itself. There is the technique where you just switch the yolk from one half to the other until only the yolk is left. It’s hard to explain but I guess you know what I mean
@@nattojelly8349 Yes, I do the same thing even though I have an egg separator in my kitchen drawer! Too much trouble to get out the separator out of the drawer, but not too much trouble to keep it in the drawer. Dumb on my part, isn't it?! It will be going to Goodwill for someone who might actually use it. Diane
@@nattojelly8349 I have never separated eggs another way. I'm not even sure that they sell egg separators in Germany.
Yes! I just started thinking this with everything in my kitchen. Just donated a superb roasting pan that I've only used 2-3 times in 10 years. I looked at the huge, lovely, well made thing that works so well, and thought, yes, but I can also use my stone roasting pan. Not as perfect, but more versatile, and I use it fairly often. I was able to donate the roasting pan with the hope that someone will be thrilled to cook with it. I can make do with my other pan.
Well done!! This video is very thought-provoking and a real game changer.
Joshua, how do you come up with this? Your videos are always so concise and profound. I appreciate the length too. Minimalist length video! Perfect for my shorter attention span!
Completely agree with you! I treasure the fact that his videos do not have "junk" in them but short, concise, and always to the point!
It's great! Even his videos are minimalist!! 😀
So true! That’s why I watch I always love to watch your videos Joshua 😊
Yes, asking a person who is drowning in clutter “do you need it” is pointless. The answer always will be yes. You need to do other questions. This “what would you use instead” is a great one. It provoke critical thinking.
My wrought iron pan is the very best
That wasn't the question. The big question was "What would I use if I didn't have it?"
I found it helpful to ask, Do I HAVE to keep this?! I, too, overwhelmed... So whatever helps to move it out!
I learned a cousin of this question from Dawn the Minimal Mom. She says "Can I live without this?" and it's so helpful for me. It does the same thing for me, I have to think of what I'd do if I didn't have it
I have been decluttering nonstop for over a year now. I did the "declutter 2021 items in 2021", played the decluttering game in May, June, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan and now into Feb. I got rid of thousands of items over the last year but starting to slow way down. I know there is progress to be made and you just gave me the way to do it. I have justified keeping many items because I actually use what I have however, asking myself the question you presented here changes my game. A BIG thank you!!!! Now I have the tool I have been searching to move forward in my progress!!!
That's a good one! Here are the questions I ask - can I sell this and give the funds to my animal charities? How many dogs and cats will it help that are suffering? Or if not sellable, can I donate it directly to a shelter where it will be used immediately and directly (blankets and towels, for example)? or do I need it to sit unused in my drawer? You can guess what the answer is, every time.
I love your videos, they are simple, concise and logical. I feel inspired to continue in this de cluttering journey every time I watch them, thank you.
I second that!
You’re so generous with your content and never cease to inspire us with something new all the time. Thank you!
Live in a small French, San Francisco apartment, and now a mountain cottage which we have done for years, and one learns about having items that do double duty. Which for us includes a Gustav Stickley recliner that reclines to make a single size bed for a guest. Or the old fashioned ironing board that is between two wall studs and is hidden away, but used as extra counter space as needed when cooking (laughing).
Our French press for coffee is also used for teas, lemonade. Our Vitamix does the same work as a blender, food processor, juicer, mixer. Or our Lodge
5 quart cast iron double Dutch Oven and 3.2 quart cast iron combo cooker, whose lids double as skillets.. Our gas ovens pilot light provides the right temperature for dehydrating fruits, vegetables and homemade meat jerky.
This is a straight-forward approach to minimizing your possessions. Questioning if something is "needed" is very valuable as we are often not very grounded in what we actually "need." Needs are often confused with wants; this is a good question to move beyond wants and towards the minimalism that is grounded in needs. Many thanks for another great video!
My granny would laugh for hours if she knew that something like an egg separator exists. 92-year-old Italian granny who can trasform litterally anything into a delicious dinner 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yep an egg separator is a ridiculous superfluous item for sure.
Genius, what a great question to ask, I’m trying to get rid of unwanted stuff, I’ve just moved my elderly mother into a smaller flat, it’s been a task to go through what to keep and what to get rid of for her, so I’m doing it in our home because i don’t want my kids to face similar, Thankyou this will really help me and my husband x
Totally agree with the kitchen gadgets! My family is chinese, and we don't have any of these gadgets (i didn't even know an egg separater exists), but manage to do everything - separate eggs, break eggs, peel things, crush things, blend things - with just chopsticks and knives, and I remember seeing my parents and grandparents cooking the most varied and delicious chinese food, with just a couple of simple tools. It makes them not only more skilled, but also more creative cooks.
I can think anything to death so one I would add is "Does this fit the life I want?" while sipping tea and enjoying the moment. I'm able to make more decisions without fatigue that way. Dropping down to that one question is really helpful if you're ready for a lifestyle/identity overhaul.
Thank you for being ad free! Your vlogs are peaceful and it would be bad if one of those loud commercials suddenly came on like what happens with other vlogs.
I have been watching/learning about minimalism for the past year, and this is definitely something new that I have not considered. I love it! Thank you!
Great advice ! You're one of my biggest inspirations Joshua .I've almost completed my families journey. We literally gave away thousands of items since 2017 .I'm not a complete minalmalist and I'm definitely not a maxilmalist anymore .We just kept our most beloved family possessions from my grandparents and uncles and aunt! I love the way we live now .I don't have to clean to clean anymore or remove tons of clutter .
We had been hauling around from move to move several expensive LaLique lead crystal vases given to my husband decades ago from his mother. I do not come from a home where we had many valuable tchotchkes so really did not find use for these vases. They were kept in a closet for fear of breaking or damaging. Silly. We were able to ‘offload’ them to my husbands daughter who was delighted to take them as she remembered them from her childhood. Win-win. It brings me joy to simplify our home and only keep the things we find useful as well as provide a good memory for family.
You could have enjoyed that nice gift for all these years. You have to risk breaking things. Your daughter is.
Your third question is a game changer when minimizing. It puts things in a different perspective…. Thank you 🙏
Great video Joshua - we are all swayed with ‘holiday’ items eg a plate for Santa’s cookies or a basket for Easter eggs - we are all sucked into wanting the perfect look. we need to look at items that serve multiple purposes - a basket for Easter could have added decoration that could change for Halloween , Valentine’s Day and even Christmas. I am going to be more intentional with what I keep as well as what I buy. Happy New Year
This is the lesson that got me to finish decluttering my kitchen drawers and cabinets.
I cleared my countertops with another of Josh’s challenges earlier.
I used the list by Mark Bittman, and this question by Josh and ended up with half the contents.
That was a year & a half ago as I write this. I LOVE the results.
So amazing! I’d been justifying keeping things because it was an item that I used, but you’re so right. It’s given me the freedom to let go of so much more, thank you!
Hi Joshua - So true. I'm starting to declutter my kitchen and it's fabulous, and I know it's working because 1 month into it, the things I've already done are sustainable and look great. I'm now on to my pantry - I collected a lot of extra canned food in case covid took over (or something). I have 50 pounds of dried beans. I have found a food pantry and off they will go next week. Keep the great info coming and remember that you are helping a lot of folks, and we are thankful. Love PegEgg
Yes he is! We have a lot of clutter! Joshua is the the most helpful of anyone regarding minimalism. I am never wasting my time watching his videos.
If it's 50 pounds of one kind of bean for one person, that's not useable. But if you bought it at the start of Covid almost years ago and did still feed a family or had a pod of people, you ate with you could have become the best baked bean cook, bean soup maker, vegetarian bean burger maker, etc. Protein and fiber to keep so many people healthy. But you should not completely declutter a pantry! Have at least 3 months of long term storage food in case of economic hardship, weather somewhere that interferes with your ability to get fresh food, etc. And canned food stays good longer than the can indicates, though you should rotate through your food (new in the back, old in the front.) And keep things that don't need to be cooked even if it's something you prefer hot, like a can of ravioli in sauce. Make sure you buy food you like to eat because you are supposed to be eating the older stuff so you can add new stuff to the back of the pile. To me, 3 months of food is minimalism, I'd prefer 6. In my house we had both a job loss and empty shelves at the grocery store due to Covid at the same time but we didn't have to leave the house to still eat well! Since there was no interruption in electricity we also have the benefit of frozen meat and vegetables from the chest freezer, which even a single person should own since they make ones about as wide as a living room chair and a half and run off of very little electricity. They let you buy loss leaders in the meat department as well as marked down meat that is near it's sell by date, so it saves you more money than it costs. It keeps you with better vegetables than just the canned ones. We don't have to go out more than needed to buy anything for food right now that the pandemic is spiking again, though we do get a minimal order for fresh produce since it's available. Use powdered milk in your cooking to rotate that out. Have canned food that is a good protein source, like the Keystone canned meat Walmart sells, canned chicken, salmon, and tuna, though try to do this when there isn't supply chain issues. Don't buy things you don't know how to cook until you learn how to cook them. If you don't know how to make bread, don't buy fifty pounds of flour. But do learn to cook humbly if you don't know how. (Though if you're rich, go ahead and freeze some steaks, this isn't just about just getting by.) Experiment with brands before you get a lot of any thing. And you don't have to buy specialty emergency storage food. It's usually carb heavy and tastes terrible. My exception would be canned dried bell pepper bits because they rehydrate in 5 minutes and are huge flavor enhancers for canned pasta sauce, meatloaf, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Long term storage food is not clutter!
The grey in his salt & pepper hair is so perfectly placed it looks like he has it professionally done. Outstanding!
Nature did it professionally :)
@@JoshuaBecker no I figured that. it's just so perfect!
When I see folks buying gadgets around the holidays, presumably as gifts, I'm glad I'm not the recipient.
My husband & I are in our 70's. We appreciate that my son gives us consumable products for Christmas. We love receiving coffee pods, restaurant gift cards, & cookies to enjoy with our coffee. We have plenty of stuff already.
I receive them and I think that people pretending to give you things you don't want are rude. They know my lifestyle and my house, it's like give meat to a vegan!
Ok, it's time to get rid of my combination flame throwing dragster tracter lawn mower BBQ griller fertilizer spreader and moveable sprinkler with detachable hose reel and built in cup holders. I've been trying to perfect that thing and I just can't get it to cook a pizza properly, so I'll use our oven instead. Thanks for another inspiring talk.
While decluttering my kitchen, I discovered I had 5 loaf pans. I'll never bake 5 loaves of anything simultaneously. So I repurposed one of them to hold packets of rice in my pantry and two others to hold underwear in my dresser drawer. Three things I didn't have to buy, and three fewer things in my kitchen cupboads!
Reuse if possible. So smart.
How about "who needs this more than I do?" and then give the stuff away? There's nothing wrong with owning two cloaks ... until you meet a man who has none. (Luke 3:11). I highly recommend "Through the Eye of a Needle" by Roger Hertzler, where he explores the biblical doctrine of non-accumulation.
I did a beeg purge in Dec. The garage was also cleared. Now I get what happened to you!
Am now ready for the second wave.
As more space opens up, we all are feeling lighter! Its def less to think about, clean & look after! Easier to find stuff n pack away. Now we can paint n rearrange house too.
Mmm Garlic press! Ice cream scoops! Pizza cutters, I am coming for you.
Great question, will help alot with 2nd wave. Thank you.
I ask myself, what do I really value and then ask what do I need to accomplish my goals (which are in line with my values). I need very few items to live intentionally and purposefully 😃🤓❤️😅
Great question! I think it will be very helpful to go further in my decluttering journey. As for the egg separator, I didn’t even know such thing existed ^^
I have one! (Pampered Chef) And now that I think about it, I always just crack the egg and separate the yolk using the shells. It’s faster than digging for the egg separator. I’ve got to sort through my utensil drawer now!
Very good ideas. Thinking outside the box is a real wake-up call for getting rid of those extra things that you don't need.
Many top chefs have said that all you really need in your kitchen is a quality set of basic pots and pans and a sharp set of knives. The rest is extra.
That's all that top chefs need. Most of us are not top chefs. And that's also if you don't have any disabilities that make using your hands difficult. We have a little cord pulled dicer we use for onions and without it out onions would go bad. And sharp knives involve knife sharpening which isn't a cheap service, depends on the quality of your knives, and/or you buying a good stone and learning how to do it. A small electric food processor is actually a better choice for many people. The easier your cooking is the less likely you are to buy premade food. Most of the time it only needs to be rinsed out.
This is brilliant! I have been trying to help my husband with his tool room. I have avoided doing it because he is very resistant to decluttering his tools and materials. But he asked for my help and I found myself using this question, especially with generic items like bucket. But I love the way you phrased it… My engineering husband will definitely appreciate efficiency with which you phrased this question
A great advice, thank you!
OTOH never used anything to separate egg, only the egg shell. Now I need to get an egg separator (that I can get rid of later) 😀
Loved this! Always on the ball with this man!
One that has been super helpful for me: "Do I want to manage this item?"
What would you use instead......very clever question!!! Thank you Joshua, the world Will become (more) Minimalist thanks to your precious help
We sold our historical 1982 Collectors Edition Corvet. We enjoyed it but we may need cash to share with others for food. Uncertain times.
This is great. This question is key to move forward when the first layer of decluttering doesn't feel enough and you find yourself making the same 'keep' decisions. Thank you !!
I bake and cook every day and I have never owned an egg separator. Just started doing some decluttering again. Started with my bedroom. Yes, it seems important to handle each item for some reason.
👍This question is especially useful when minimising someone’s wardrobe: “if you didn’t have this jacket/pair of trousers/shirt etc. what would you wear instead?”
Keep one tray. Not happy the design suits the occasion? Cover with silver foil or pretty tray doily 👍
And when you serve items that take two trays?
I like that third question I'm going to start using it and I bet it will help me to release a few things. Thank you
KateKaden sent me to you. I love the concept of already having the solution without owning a specific tool. When basic camping with a tent you often discover how many options there really are to fix something.
Joshua is amazing in helping one look at things from various perspectives.
Thanks Diana.
Ouch! This is such a great question, but definitely eye opening!!! thank you for another great, straight to the point video!!!
I ask myself "when and why did this useful item cease to be useful to me"? I had kept that mandolin slicer for over a year since I sliced the end of my finger off. Answering the questions made it easy for me to donate it. 🥴🥺🙄
Yikes! Well, thanks to your comment, I'm gonna donate the one I haven't ever used, because I know I would do the same thing! Just the thought of it makes me shiver.
I filled my weekly box for Goodwill. Thanks, Joshua.
Really good advice and insights! Need to do another round of decluttering of kitchen and will ask the questions look at list you mentioned. The statement that you don’t need to keep it even if you use it is a challenge.
Thank you! That’s a helpful question to ask myself before I’m about to buy something.
I love this Chanel! I am so inspired and helped by all of your guidance. My journey to decluttering is clear for me. I have made amazing progress! Thank you so much! I am well on my way to the perfect clean and decluttered home💗
When you've moved a lot and have to reduce to the minimum to get by even temporarily, you can definitely narrow down a lot in the kitchen. ... A single pot can replace rice cooker, slow cooker, egg cooker etc. When you temporarily live with less, you also realize the things that you DO use and prefer the ease with which they accomplish the task. Personally, I will not declutter my kettle or toaster, even though I could boil water in a pot or microwave and toast bread in a pan.
Nothing can replace my rice cooker. It is a Korean made one that keeps rice hot all day workout it burning or getting dry. Having cooked rice around for meals makes it so we're less likely to get take out since it goes with so many sauces and other things. We could do easier with a pour over coffee maker or a million other things than giving up the electric rice cooker. It's a staple item in kitchens in many Asian cultures for a reason. If yours was one that only made rice then shut off or burned the rice then maybe it's not important, but even one of those saved us a lot of money before we upgraded because rice is cheap and so many people have trouble cooking it on the stove (they treat it like pasta, draining the water, so gross.) If I didn't have a rice cooker I could use a pot, I can do it properly that way, but I know I wouldn't. Most of us could do laundry with a washboard, but we wouldn't. There are some appliances that pay for themselves. If there is inexpensive food you like and never cook you might need to consider if you actually should add something. Cooking at home is more minimalist than frozen dinners or take out.
@@MilwaukeeWoman fortunately I have no problem cooking rice but definitely some people who rarely cook rice OR need rice daily would have more use for a rice cooker. I keep the things I use daily, kettle and toaster mostly!
I get that. I won't declutter my handheld lemon juicer. It's huge, but I use it almost every day and I know what juicing lemons with a spoon is like! No thanks!
I’m sharing this video to my Facebook page. This is a time of year where we want to reevaluate our lives and belongings and Joshua is one of my favourites. People could learn so much from watching his videos.🥰
Your a great help
So glad you're finding these videos helpful Christine.
You are an inspiration in every way.
Your tone of voice and speed of speech makes everything sound so calming and hence convincing. All that you say sounds like it’s from experience and hence all the more practical and achievable. Please keep going you have definitely had an amazing impact maybe even more than you are aware of!
I hit a road block in my efforts to minimise when I gave away something very expensive that I was looking forward to using as after renovating as it did not fit my new redecoration- my husband took full advantage of my minimalistic mind set/efforts and ill advised me!
I could have had it altered and used it…even though it wouldn’t have been perfect.
I am sure this happens to a lot of people and was hoping you could do a video regarding this potential setback!
It sounds childish and immature but it happened and I still regret giving it away!!
Hoping to get back on track with your kind and calm advice- if you have any!
Once again a heartfelt thank you for everything Stay blessed
You solved the problem in a different way, didn’t you? That’s the video… there is always another way to solve the problem.
Hands down, This is my absolute favourite video of yours to date! 🧠💨💣
I realized this also. Thanks for your comment for confirmation. God bless!
I admire You very much and think You are a wonderful human being.
Got to admit though, that I was stunned that there is a tool for seperating eggs even. That's about the first thing I learned as a kid on the kitchen and teached my kids in the kitchen, how to do that. That's a discovery, how lives even in western cultures still do differ apparently.
Thanks for video. A related question for things you think you want to keep is “Exactly what do I intend doing with this (and when)?” Minimalism a La GTD.
Thanks, I have decluttered, but feel I still have too much. This really helped me to get over the next hurdle.
We had a number of gadgets in the kitchen that I reduced last summer because we don't cook like that or the gadget was too finicky. lol I had only one item that I had to repurchase because using my hands didn't have the desired result. Btw I've never owned an egg separator; I always use the egg shells to separate the yolks and the whites. :)
This thought process proves that the main reason people have problems with clutter is because of the obstacles in their own mind. (I know that’s the case with me)
Excellent questions….Living aboard vessels that through the years became larger and larger, I gathered many items that were unnecessary because I had space. Asking myself why I need three smart blender sticks last year helped me start this process of figuring out the answer to your question of “what would or could I use if I didn’t have this?” There is always something else that can be used including our hands!
NOT EVERYONE CAN USE THEIR HANDS
I like to ask myself if I would miss something if it were gone. 💜
So glad I watched this. I start Uncluttered tomorrow and this question will help greatly.
Hmm, how will i extract the yolk from the albumin? Sounds like 'separation anxiety' to me!
🤣🤣🤣
We always just went back and forth in the egg shell ;)
I just came here to say that you have great hair man.. props!
Thanks.
Josh, You are appreciated. Thanks for sharing this beautiful wisdom.
So very helpful!
Please help those of us who keep items solely for sentimental value. Example: knick knacks that I never use, but "that was Grandma's _____"
I love this. You just helped me declutter something. (Sheets of labels for the kitchen. What would I use if I didn't have these? Um, perhaps my beloved label maker!)
Thank you, the things I can get rid of.
Crockpot- my pressure cooker(which I love) Is a slow cooker too.
My smoothie maker- so full it doesn't hardly chop the ice. And the motor gets hot. I can use my Ninja blender.
Current dishes- so I now can use the dishes my Mother in law gave me that are stored in the dishwasher.
I'm sure I can go through my gadget draw again.
Why are you not using your dishwasher? It uses less water, electricity, and sanitizers your dishes better than you can ever do by hand. You are wasting Earth resources by not using it to wash dishes. If it's because you don't dirty many dishes, keep enough dishes so that you can run it when it gets full. People are so wrong about dishwashers, thinking they're doing something moral by hand washing when that's actually the less moral choice.
It also brings out that awesome quality of us: creativity!
Questions:
Do I need it?
Why do I have it?
What would I use if I didn't have it?
Thanks Josh for helping me get free.
Own LESS, Live More, thank you for the weekend im decluttering using your questions.
Loved the questions! I am looking at more and more items as not needed…thanks!
I do like that question as a de-clutter help. Re the separation of eggs: I saw John Torode, Masterchef judge, explain to child competitors that the quickest way of separation eggs is to crack the egg into a bowl, then lift out the yolk with your hand. The egg white slips through your fingers and the softness of your hand keeps the yolk intact. I use this method all the time. It's brilliant! G Ire
What if you can't stand raw egg on your hands? I use a spurtle that has slots. It lays across your cup or bowl to hold the egg yolk but is also used to scramble eggs & mix cake & scrape bowls.
I'm enjoyong ALL your videos and this info is extremely helpful. My home is soooo much better NOW! THANK YOU♥️
I hit a wall decluttering T-shirts/Sweaters/Tops about 30% less,that re: T-shirts, Sweaters as I live in Canada's Maritimes near ocean where weather changes fast in 1 day, as a female I like bright colors and my spouse and I house several cats which is our life! Thanks
Genius question! TFS 👍
🤯 Wow the egg 🥚 separator!!
Hahaha that's funny on the egg separator. Never knew this gadget existed. Just always used commom sense, no tools.
The best video. Love the questions. Needed to hear it today. Have been struggling to let go of items but fed up with the clutter
I tend to agree with Dana K. White that asking if I need something can lead to keeping things unnecessarily. I prefer to ask her decluttering questions, which happen to include the question you feature in this video.
This is so helpful thanks!
Thanks!! Great questions to ask!!
Awesome 👌.
Thank.
Stay Blessed.
Actually, I just asked the question in my mind for a lot of my possessions, and I got some real quick answers, so let's say goodbye to them right now. Amen
There are alternate ways to function with less. Great video.
Thanks for being trustworthy and helpful.
I love the new question. I thought my questions were good enough but I’m still surrounded by stuff.
What would I use if I didn’t have it? Wow.
Btw…I’m separating myself from my stupid egg separator.
I started getting rid of what I don't need. Success! Until another wall in my bedroom needed to have the drywall removed. NOW everything is my house has drywall dust on it. Even the things I was going to sell at a garage sale are filled with drywall dust. I give up.
Yes! We definitely need to declutter the kitchen