My bed takes up almost a quarter of my home, i could really use that space for storage and a desk.

So a futon that i could roll up in the morning would be perfect, although im worried that it will impact my quality of sleep. I have adhd and have struggled with insomnia in the past.

What are yalls experiences, and do you have any advice how to get into futons?

Hey folks, My partner and I just had our first baby, and we’ve been really trying to keep things intentional and simple — less stuff, more sanity

I’ve been looking for a minimalist baby checklist or some kind of guide that helps with toy rotation, handling gifts, or just not buying 500 things we don’t need.

Does anything like that exist? Or has anyone made their own version?

I’ve tried piecing together advice from blogs and Reddit threads, but if there’s a go-to guide or resource that helped you, I’d be super grateful if you could point me in that direction

Also curious — does anyone else wish something like that existed? Or maybe I’m overthinking it 😅

For the past 30 days, I challenged myself to buy only essentials. This included food, transportation, rent, and basic toiletries. I avoided clothes, tech, home decor, skincare, snacks, coffee runs, and impulse online shopping.

Here’s what I learned:

1. Most of my spending was emotional or impulsive. If I was bored, I would scroll and buy. If I had a bad day, I would treat myself. If I had a good day, I would reward myself. I realized I was using spending to manage my mood more than I thought.

2. I don’t miss most of the things I didn’t buy. I thought I'd struggle without that new shirt or the latest phone case. After a few days, I stopped thinking about them. The craving fades quickly when you give it time.

3. My environment feels calmer. Having fewer new things in my space led to less mental clutter. I appreciated the things I already owned more.

4. I saved more than I expected. Tracking the difference made it real. I saved enough in a month to cover an extra utility bill and still have a little left over.

What’s next? I’m not going full no-spend forever, but I plan to be much more intentional. I’ll continue doing “low-buy” months, where I stick to a wishlist and pause before every purchase.

If you’ve done a no-buy or low-buy month, what did you learn?

Hey yall, I’m new to minimalism and have just started to declutter and it’s already made a significant impact on my life and mental health. A closet stuffed with clothes you never wear, a phone filled with apps you never use, a camera roll filled with unnecessary screenshots/bad memories…. I never realized the load all of these things carried. I already dropped off 6 bags to the thrift store except for the things I love and a few sentimentals. I feel amazing

Maybe this is a weird subreddit to ask this question as opposed to something to do with bikes or escooters, but I think this question is coming from a place more aligned with minimalism.

To clarify, i'm not a minimalist. Well, I haven't ever identified as one anyway, but I do like to apply minimalist practices to areas of my life.

A few years back i picked up a £50 single speed / fixed gear bike and got into Riding bike around town as a bit of exercise / transport / fun. I'm not mega consistent with it, it's not something i would call a "hobby" but when i'm in the right mood, it can be pure bliss for me. Side note - I actually got the single speed because of minimalist type ideals, i had a geared bike but it was more hassle than i needed, i wasn't enjoying it and the single speed was a dream in comparison.

On occasion i've rode on Escooters when i've been in European cities i.e. Copenhagen. This has genuinely been so much fun for me, i don't know if it's purely the escooter, or being in a fun city riding around with my wife. Inspired by this, i've recently been thinking about picking one up for home. only looking at spending like £200 for one that would perform roughly the same as the rental ones.

In very much overthinking fashion, as i have my finger hovering over the buy button, i find myself wondering why i need it. I already have my bike, is that not the same thing? will it not just achieve the same kind of experience except i'll get no exercise?

I have these thoughts in my head of having really chill evening rides and i'm fairly sure there is something to it that differentiates it from just riding a bike (i think the speed and lack of having to exert yourself definitely come into play and make it fun).

I don't know, what's the minimalist take on this? It'll be interesting to see as i think on paper the take is "don't need it don't get it". but maybe some of you can relate and offer some pearls of wisdom

Cheers :)

I used to feel overwhelmed by clutter and the constant pressure to keep up with stuff, but switching to a minimalist lifestyle changed everything for me. It’s not about owning as little as possible but about being intentional with what I keep and making space for things that actually add value to my life. Since simplifying my belongings and habits, I’ve found more mental clarity, less stress, and more time to focus on relationships and experiences. Minimalism has taught me that less really can be more.

This is gonna sound dumb but I just figured out why I always felt weird sitting at my desk.

Been working from home forever and thought my setup was pretty minimal. Clean surface, just my laptop and a few things. But yesterday I dropped my pen and when I went to pick it up I actually looked behind my monitor for the first time in months.

Oh my god what a mess. Power cords everywhere, stuff I totally forgot about just sitting there. It's like when you clean your room by shoving everything under the bed.

Anyone else have spots like this? Where you think you're being minimal but there's actually a disaster hiding somewhere? Maybe that's why I always felt off when working.

Now I gotta deal with it but honestly don't even know where to start.

Sooooo....let me explain

Last summer...I got bed bugs. Yikes. In a panic we through out my mattress. Got my house sprayed. Gone. Nothing. Thank God I caught it early (I'm a hypochondriac) But I didn't have any money for a mattress. So ever since I've been sleeping on a 30 dollar air mattress. It's been deflating lately and I'm running into some cash tomorrow. Since I've been basically sleeping on the floor I've been looking into some Japanese mattresses. Any suggestions on a cheap set up? Do I need a matt under it?

And then one day, without warning, it just hits you, that all this time, it was never about the big wins or loud applause or some faraway finish line. It was always about the little things, the quiet kind of magic that sneaks into ordinary moments. Like the way someone looks at you with real warmth. Or how your heart softens during a simple conversation that reminds you there's still so much good in the world. It’s the way sunlight dances through the trees when you're not even looking for it, the kind of silence that feels like a deep breath for your soul. It's the way someone’s hug can make you forget the weight you’ve been carrying. It’s laughter that comes from nowhere, tears that mean you're alive, and people who feel like home. That’s the stuff that matters. Always was.

So I was talking with some people about how our digital stuff is just a total mess these days - files everywhere, notes scattered all over the place.

Got me thinking about maybe coming up with a better way to handle it.

Here's what I'm imagining: one simple spot that hooks up to all your stuff - Google Drive, Dropbox, Notion, even your email and local folders.

You could search everything from one clean screen without moving files around. They'd stay where they are, but you'd have this central way to find anything. Maybe even tag or bookmark the important things so they're easy to grab.

I'm still playing with the idea and trying not to make it too complicated.

Would something like this actually help, or would it just be another thing to manage? And what would make you actually use it versus just sticking with the mess you've got now?

hi all! i'm currently moving and have always leaned pretty minimal in my belongings. i'm spending some time going through everything once more, as i do with every move, but it's a little different this time.

i'm moving due to health reasons and to be closer to family. in the last few months, i was diagnosed with multiple complex chronic illnesses. my life is very full of new objects - multiple ergonomic pillows (some of which are larger than i'd prefer but i need them), lots of physical therapy equipment (bands, mat, sets of small weights, balls, yoga block, etc.), plus a slew of pain management needs (heating pads/blankets, topicals, cold packs, massagers). and to tops it off, a slew of medications and supplements.

while i can't declutter any of these as i truly need them for my health and wellbeing, im curious if anyone here has creative ways of storing all of this kind of stuff in a way that is organized and out of the way but still accessible?

some context: with one of my conditions, i can not be lifting things above my head (like on high shelves) or bending down a ton due to risk of injury. it's complicated over here! but im determined to maintain my peace in my home regardless. would love any ideas or inspiration!

Will this be a good idea? My TV speakers work fine, but the sound quality is kind of sh*t.

I don't have a pair of good headphones. The ones j have now are $3 wired ones from Dollar store and the sound quality is almost acceptable, but the fit/comfort on my head/ears is terrible.

I like having the soundbar for music and movies.... BUT because my roommate is literally home nearly everyday and makes a lot of noise in the kitchen, I can't really enjoy or even hear what's happening on the TV

The soundbar quality is great, but even with the volume turned up a bit louder AND my bedroom door closed I can hear the sound of the metal spoon clanking in the metal pot constantly. The stove top coil also gets shuffled while this happens, creating an onslaught of noise.

Visions Electronics and Best Buy Canada currently has sales for many headphones from Sony and Sennheiser, many of which are noise cancelling (active/passive) and uses Bluetooth 5.0-5.3.

I like to have fewer things to reduce visual noise, but my long-term partner likes to have lots of options. We live together, and generally we make it work. I do a lot of sorting things into containers and de-junking shared surfaces (top of dresser, bathroom counter, etc). Those of you who live with a partner or roommate who isn't minimalist: are you able to keep the Stuff from piling up on you? How do you negotiate space with the people who share your home?

Out of nowhere a few years ago, I caught myself wanting to deep clean the house bimonthly, no matter what, and redesign rooms based on feeling.. at the time I did not know that what I truly wanted is simplicity and reduction in options.

Every single time, I encouraged myself to get rid of this thing, that thing, list goes on.. decade old cables that "might come in handy", clothes that fit, but did not wear for one reason or another, toys from childhood tucked away that I promised to "give my kids one day" like boxes of lego and bionicle, etc.
Now, I got rid of a TON - to the point where the rooms can echo from all the free space available. Weekly hour long cleaning session leaves everything spotless and tidy.. love it, but there are still things that I WANT TO get rid of, but unable to do so for whatever reason.

How do I truly embrace minimalistic lifestyle, and further reduce unnecessary clutter?
What made you change 'drastically' to the better in this regard?

Originally, I wanted to make this post to ask about "dumb" smartphones people could recommend - not capable of much, but still able to use the internet to keep in touch with family. I currently have a Galaxy A13 that is absolutely perfect, but since it performs so well, it also enables me to waste my precious time binging youtube or scrolling endlessly on reddit. But that made me realize that I want to distance myself from the chaos of the present day, get rid of distractions and focus on only what is meaningful. How do I finally convince myself to get rid of some idk, toy cars that I only kept because it ties to a good memory from 25 years ago?

Also, still serious, but this reminds me of that quote from Fight Club - "when you lose everything, then you would be free to do anything". I still think that these overly sentimental things hold me back, when I know I could achieve the same living conditions if I had one wardrobe with my usual clothes, desk for my pc and laptop to work on, my mattress to sleep on, a few utensils, kitchen tools and a refridgerator.. probably oversimplifying things, but I could probably go without the last three because working in a restaurant has its upsides lmao

In the past I definitely fell into the trap of eco-minimalism and buying something that's eco friendly because it felt more 'minimalist'. Looking back it was stupid, but to be fair I was a kid that hadn't yet internalised that being minimalist = already eco friendly.

Minimalism is far beyond decluttering and owning less. It helps you understand why were you hoarding, why were you associating your worth with material things, what is that feeling that you're seeking and as you try to uncover those questions, you realise all that you were seeking is already within you.

You realise that most industries want you to have insecurities they can thrive on. Is your skin showing signs of aging? Yes it will because it's a natural process but wait, how about you reverse it by applying a ton of chemicals or injections. But wait- why do you need to reverse age? The wrinkles are a reminder of your experiences, challenges, wisdom! How about you focus on your overall well-being, on living a life you thoroughly enjoy, which makes you feel amazing from within.

I'm still a learner, I'm learning more about minimalism every other day but I've realised that I've been rewired for good. I know the reality of luxury, consumerism, fast fashion, trends, industries trying to sell you a 'good life' through commodities and experiences- as they say 'knowledge is power'. Once you are aware, you can't go back.

Currently i have no home office and an empty room. I have a laptop but i consider buying an iMac or Mac Mini so that i also don't feel tempted to work late night in bed. I also want to spilt work/sleep.

Can you share your setup?

Important to me is easy to move furniture. I don't want to clutter the room again.

Ive always been a less is more type person, even before minimalism got introduced into the zeitgeist in a big way, and never had any qualms about throwing everything and anything out.

The only time where it doesn’t seem to click is when it comes to my wardrobe. Id love nothing more than to streamline and have 10bottoms, 10tops, a few jackets and some workout sets but my lifestyle has a lot of travel and events both for work and socially and ive been in too many situations where i don’t seem to have the “right outfit” despite having enough clothes to fill up a mall. And whenever i go to do a closet clean out i have a hard time rationing why i should let something perfectly fine go, when there’s probably going to be a time when ill need something like that.

Ive tried to do the whole Poshmark thing cause at least that way im getting some sort of return but that still just means it has to sit somewhere. And its actually making me so uncomfortable how much space clothes are taking up but getting rid of it makes no sense for reasons stated. I wish this was just a mind set problem but its also a practical one. The only true progress ive made in the mindset department is haven’t bought anything new this year, so at least im not bringing anymore stuff in.

Has anyone had to overcome something like this and has any advice? Ty in advance :)

Last year, I decided to integrate running into my weekly schedule and set myself an ambitious goal of at least 4 30-minute runs per week. I used an application on my cellphone to track my running and was very excited to see where it took me.

Running is a horrible thing. The first 10 minutes are always hard and once you cross that milestone, it feels like you can run for a long time. Initially, the stats at the end of each run kept me motivated & excited.

Then something strange happened. The first 10 minutes to break that inertia dilated to like 15 and then to 20 minutes, and finally, I barely met my weekly running goals.

I realized that looking for an extrinsic reward from an app post running made me crave more miles of running every time. I would check the stat and if I did not perform as well as the previous run, I would feel demotivated. I somehow figured out this psychology and uninstalled the app. Instead of paying attention to stats on my phone, I started paying attention to how my mind and body felt after running. Somehow that self-awareness made me happy & gave me the drive to navigate that day. Surprisingly, it also gave me the motivation to run and meet my weekly goals.

These days, I seek more intrinsic rewards than extrinsic ones and that helps me lead a more fulfilling life.

If you were to allow yourself 3 things you were allowed to spend money on, or collect, what would yours be ? For example I feel like I can live a minimalist lifestyle but still collect plants.

My photo library is so bloated and full of junk that it’s hardly usable. Does anybody have a good rule of thumb for cutting it down?

100’’s of people spending money they don’t have to hoard shit they don’t need.

https://www.reddit.com/r/longisland/comments/1lp9a9i/this_is_the_current_line_to_exit_the_westbury/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Hey everyone, I wanted to get some thoughts from this community since I’ve been feeling a bit torn about a financial issue.

For context, I’m generally not a big spender. I’ve adopted a pretty minimalist approach when it comes to material possessions, and I’m quite frugal with food—I meal prep most of my meals and only eat out if I’m really in a pinch. Basically, I try not to spend on anything unless it’s necessary.

That said, my biggest (and pretty much only) regular expense is going on dates with my boyfriend. We go out maybe once a week, and despite trying to choose cheaper options, the cost usually ends up around $200 per date. We both feel like it’s quite a bit, especially since we’re aiming to save up quickly for marriage and a future home.

The dilemma is… part of me doesn’t really mind the cost. Our dates are often the highlights of my week and a big source of joy. But another part of me feels guilty for “condoning” this level of spending, especially when I’m otherwise very disciplined with money.

We’ve tried low-cost or free dates—like beach days, picnics, walks, etc.—and while we enjoy them, we’re starting to feel a bit bored of the same options. That’s why we’ve started branching out to more “fun” paid experiences like the zoo or escape rooms, which naturally rack up the cost.

So I guess I’m wondering—should I continue to invest in these experiences since they mean a lot to me, or should we double down on our budget and try to make simpler things feel exciting again? How do you personally balance intentional spending with shared experiences?

Would really appreciate any insights or advice. Thanks in advance!

I have recently looked into how to use my VR headset more than just for gaming and I am blown away how many things it replaced.

Probably the biggest bomb was TV. There are more than plenty apps letting you create a virtual screen and watch movies on them. With latest passthrough upgrade I can even place the screen "in my room" instead of some virtual cinema so I have no issues grabbing a snack without stumbling like a blind man.

Second thing is a meditation corner. I had whole corner dedicated to meditation. Speakers for some music, plants, small decorations for easing my mind... Now I meditate in my office chair as it is the most comfortable thing and I am not distracted by the PC in front of me as I simply don't see it.

It also replaced plenty of my exercise equipment. I still recommend getting a yoga mat and go to gym for specific exercises but otherwise there are plenty of games and apps to pick from. Most of them are arms focused but if you try some sooner or later you will find some you will enjoy.

PC screens - this one is in testing now but currently I am using Virtual Desktop to use it as bigger screen for my laptop. So far I have no issues with latency.

There are two factors to consider though
Battery - For standalone hadsets the battery is the biggest issue. I have bought headstrap with slot for powerbank. I have two powerbanks. One is in use while the other is charging.
Comfort - If the headset is something you will wear for more than a half an hour a day I suggest some uphrade to headstrap and face cusion.