Comments on: How Minimalism With a Family is Possible (& Life Changing!)

By: Chris Kramer

Chris Kramer — Tue, 29 May 2018 01:41:06 +0000

Great post, Katie!

While I’m not a parent, but a mere 25 year old man, I completely agree and it makes me reflect back to my childhood growing up. It’s interesting how when you start-off living a minimalist lifestyle, you realize how crazy it is how people can be so attached to the most unnecessary stuff! Although I’m not a parent (yet), I already know exactly how I will interact with my family. My partner and I are proud minimalists and, like you said, it’s definitely been a journey. Thanks again and keep it up with the insane value you’re providing!

By: Tamara

Tamara — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 19:01:40 +0000

This post really resonates with me!! I was inspired by Joshua Becker’s “ah ha” moment too. I worried about how be minimalist with kids too.
I love your Minimalist family quiz. It’s something we’ve sort of discussed but writing it down might be a way to better see where we are going. I also love your idea of having 1 bin of toys. We are going to try it!
Thanks for being such an inspiration!!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 21:51:09 +0000

In reply to Carmen. I found a solution a long time ago for magazines. My method is to go loosely through them and rip out all the “keep” stuff pages and recycle the rest. The pages can the go into a scrapbook and get glued in. I hope this helps you as you seem to be almost in love with dusting as much as I, haha!

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 10:59:40 +0000

I am sorry, but you are not a minimalist…

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:16:34 +0000

In reply to Mikayla.

Mikayla,

I know I’m not Katie, but I tried this tactic for a few Christmases and it worked pretty well. What I did was (at least for the more “major” presents – himalayan salt lamp, diffuser, air purifier, etc. (yes, an air purifier was on my Christmas list 🙂 ) I found a webpage where the one I wanted could be ordered from, then included the link on my wish list, specifying that that particular one was the one on my list. That way, the person buying it didn’t have to try to figure out which one to get, or risk getting the wrong one. I know that doesn’t work in all circumstances, but I found it to be helpful for me.

By: Katie - Wellness Mama

Katie - Wellness Mama — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:41:23 +0000

In reply to Daniel. If kids (and others) just rely on staple items, they're less likely to change clothes throughout the day which creates less use and therefore less laundry.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:48:02 +0000

I’ve never quite understood how having a capsule wardrobe reduces the amount of laundry you have to do.
For simplicity’s sake, let’s say you do laundry once a week. You’re going to wear 7 outfits for each time
you do laundry. How is that reduced if you go from a total of 30 outfits in your closet down to 7?

I do understand that a capsule wardrobe helps with decision fatigue in that you don’t have to look through
tons of clothes in your closet looking for something to wear. But the amount of laundry you have to do is the same. You’re still wearing the same amount of clothing over the course of a week.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:38:11 +0000

I found while trying to declutter, that as I made new, more healthy versions of toiletries, that the product in my bathroom has lost weight! Soap and bubble bath are the only things around my tub. This is because the more research I did, I found out you don’t need shampoo (no poo), or conditioner, etc. and the other components that come in plastic bottles to rob you of room. My family and I are now even trying to create anything we “need” so that when we are done with the object , it does not hurt so much to recycle and move on. This includes clothing, toiletries, fixed electronics, furnishings, etc. because the money you did not spend is earned and someone else you recycle to may give that “new” item it’s true worth!

By: Lena

Lena — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 01:54:05 +0000

In reply to Blythe. I love her podcasts!!!

By: Mikayla

Mikayla — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 14:10:50 +0000

Wellness Mama, you spoke of how Grandma buys (25) presents for your children. Any tips on how to deal with gifts that clutter and don’t add to your value? I find sometimes that even if I know someone is going to buy me a present (marriage, graduation, etc) and I ask for something specific, I may not get the thing I ask for and end up with something I won’t use. I don’t want to be ungrateful. Any suggestions or thoughts? Thank you!

By: Carmen

Carmen — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 12:29:16 +0000

I’d love to live in a minimalist home. My mother is a pack rat and getting rid of anything is like killing a family member. It doesn’t help that I have very rude neighbors who never miss an ocassion to gawk and laugh at the piles of boxes stack of magazines etc every time we open tge front door… The house itself is clean, but the effort it takes! To make things worse i can’t even get rid of my own things because all of hell breaks loose… Oh well, forgive my ranting, but the frustration of it all is getting to me.

By: MOMof8

MOMof8 — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 12:23:16 +0000

We are a homeschooling family of 10, and we are planning a big move in the coming months, so we have been cleaning out and decluttering A LOT! Wow, do we have a lot of books. And toys. And stuffed animals. I realized recently, when we went on vacation, how little we actually need to just be happy and together. I packed for all 10 of us in 2 suitcases for a week’s vacation (we had access to a washer and dryer), plus each kid had a backpack for personal items, a book to read, etc. It was great! Now we are planning an extended trip of 6 months, so I need to really give serious thought to what is essential for those months. Thank you for the inspiration.

By: Becky

Becky — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 11:43:20 +0000

Word of caution with electronic readers…….. when I was traveling globally for work, I could not carry enough books to keep me busy on 14 hour flights (I read a LOT and FAST)…. in comes an electronic reader. HOWEVER what I found was that when I read hardcover books and the same book on an e-reader, there were parts “missing” on the e-reader version….. I physically verified this and immediately stopped purchasing e-books. Now, whether this was an isolated incident or a more global issue, I’ve never returned to e-books and won’t. Something that comes in electronic form only is too easily changed or altered by a “well-meaning” person. While this may be acceptable in children’s books (or not), it’s not for me.

By: Ivailo

Ivailo — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 21:55:56 +0000

Thanks for the in-depth article. I really learned a lot!

By: Victoria

Victoria — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:40:54 +0000

I’m a minimalist and have read many articles and books on the topic but this is one of the most informative and easy to read articles I’ve ever seen. I’ll be sharing this with everyone I know.

By: Blythe

Blythe — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:37:01 +0000

Have you ever seen the blog aslobcomesclean.com or read her new book decluttering at the speed of life? I think it would be more up your alley after reading your post.

By: Jennay

Jennay — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 08:41:48 +0000

Regarding defined space for children… each one of my children has a “special box” that is off-limits from anyone cleaning out. If something is super important to them, they put it in there. They periodically go through it and cull items that aren’t special to them anymore, and add new items. We use a copy paper boxes (free from the copy/office supply store) for this, and they slide them under their beds.

By: Aaron Aukema

Aaron Aukema — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 01:42:06 +0000

Minimalism, another word for “the spirit of poverty”.

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 00:37:06 +0000

My husband and I are on a constant minimalism quest. It is so refreshing! It makes me love being home and the house can always be tidied fairly quickly (we have a 3yo and 4mo). I laughed at the question, what chore do you hate and can you get rid of something so as to eliminate the chore. I hate cleaning bathrooms but i don’t think I can get rid of the toilet!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 23:38:06 +0000

I’ve found Joshua Becker’s and Marie Kondo’s (to a lesser extent – mostly with jewelry and stuffed animals) books to be really helpful for me as well. I’ve gotten rid of 2 minivan loads of stuff in the last year, which is really good because I live in a single room, so there’s limited space, and I hope to get a dog at some point, so I want to be able to have as close to zero clutter as possible by the time that happens.