The Unintentional Minimalist

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Minimalism is becoming kind of…dare I say it…trendy. People are embracing it and have become interested in decluttering, simple living, and making space for what matters to them. I used to never really give the idea of minimalism much thought until several people started labeling me as one.

At 17 years old I got a job at a restaurant cleaning tables. Like many teenagers, I thought about all the things I wanted to buy: movies, video games, books, clothes, concerts, and lots of drive-through junk food (my past obsession with Taco Bell knew no boundaries).

Being an almost graduated senior at the time, a few looks at college tuition prices made me keep my savings account mostly untouched.  Every two weeks when I got my paycheck from the minimum-wage job, I would keep the majority of it in my bank account and give myself a small allowance for food.

I watched as all the other seniors continued to spend their money on mindless things. It was always a running joke to publicly say how little each of them had in their bank accounts. I would laugh nervously alongside them and purposely downplay how much I had in my account.

Many of the people in my class, whether they had jobs or not, had gotten cars back in sophomore or junior year. Their parents footing the bill. I didn’t get my first until midway through senior year after I had saved $2,300 to purchase a used Ford Focus with 131K miles.

I loved and valued the little red car so much. When I went off to college, I packed everything I needed into the backseat and drove to campus. Big U-Haul trailers surrounded me at every turn. It was puzzling to see people carrying several boxes out of trailers and into dorm rooms (the rooms were so tiny, how did they fit it all in??)

I knew my living situation would shift ever so often so I made the choice to pair down all of my stuff. I didn’t have the time or money to cart around a bunch of things. An actual mattress and bed frame? Nah, a sleeping bag would work. A dresser and night stand? I just got something foldable instead.

I made sure everything was small and easily transportable. Throughout college I rarely ever slept on an actual bed. Mattresses were too expensive and a hassle to move.

Whenever people came into my room/apartment, a sudden look of shock would wash over their face. People didn’t understand why I didn’t have decorated walls or furniture. Only a few boxes and small printed out pieces of paper along with my sleeping bag occupied the space. I was content with it and didn’t think much of it besides the fact that it made moving a whole lot easier and cheaper.

“Wow, you have so little stuff. You must be a minimalist!” was repeated over and over in varying ways.

All of my childhood and high school relics along with other stuff were kept in a few different boxes. They’ve been in those boxes since 2012, only be opened from time to time when I look through the stuff.

The habit of paring down to the essentials has stuck with me. For the past five years I’ve been an unintentional minimalist, decluttering, focusing on the stuff I’ve wanted to keep, and being intentional with what I’ve had in my possession.

It’s been pleasantly great. Whenever I’ve moved, I haven’t had to worry about getting moving trucks or needing help with moving. All about just packing things in the car!

This made my move overseas to Thailand a lot less stressful. The boxes got stacked and put up. With a backpack and one checked bag, I departed off to from Texas to The Land of Smiles (what Thailand is known for).

Despite unknowingly practicing minimalism for the past several years, I don’t know if I would label myself as one (curse you millennial non-labeling tendency!)

I place value in what I purchase. My belongings are kept to the essentials. I have a simplified wardrobe and practice the simplicity of wearing a “uniform” (simple gray/maroon t-shirt with dark jeans).

However, I also like purchasing things. Books, lenses for my camera, taking online courses through Skillshare, paying extra for convenience every now and then.

Am I really a minimalist? I’m not sure.

How do you interpret the minimalism movement? Do you consider yourself part of it?  

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Colin // RebelwithaPlan

Colin Ashby is the writer behind Rebel with a Plan, a website dedicated to people who choose to rebel against the norm of living in debt and feeling financially unenlightened. He believes everyone has an eccentric quality to embrace and that lattes are sometimes a necessity (despite what the personal finance community tells you).

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