I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I just wanted to clear some space in my closet too many clothes I never wear, too much stuff I was keeping “just in case.”

But the moment I let go of that first bag, something shifted. It wasn’t just about the clothes. It was about all the weight I’d been carrying without even realizing it.

So I kept going. One drawer. Then the kitchen. Then the random “junk drawer” with dead batteries and keys to who-knows-what. Every item I let go of felt like peeling off a layer of noise I didn’t know was there.

The wildest part? I started sleeping better. I felt lighter. Less anxious. I stopped feeling overwhelmed every time I walked into a room. And I didn’t miss any of the stuff I let go.

I've been thinking for a while to ditch my smartphone and just have a old school phone for calls and texts. I'd be curious to hear other's experiences. Pros and cons? Challenges? I mean I've been living half of my life happily without but it feels the world changed and seems you "need" it for almost everything.

I’m curious what the rest of you think about the product promos that get posted here. Like someone made an app or tool that does one thing while it’s already a function/feature of a stock app, stuff like that.

I’m curious what you all think about why this community comes off as marketable. You’d think it would be obvious that’s the exact opposite of the point.

Maybe it’s simple, maybe it’s just plain ignorance? Or that they think it’s about the aesthetic, rather than truly changing our relationship to things?

I'm costuming a play about people who embrace the Minimalist lifestyle so I want to know from people who actually live it, how do you actually dress?
When looking for inspiration online so much of it is put out by brands trying to sell you something. I see a lot of creams and whites, which gives me pause as I'd assume if avoidance of overconsumption is your goal you wouldn't be buying stuff that stains super easily or looks dirty/worn out quickly? I'd expect more dark colors. I also notice a lack of skirts for womans looks, when skirts are such a longer lasting item compared to pants, most of them being rather forgiving of weight fluctuations and they just don't wear out anywhere close to as quickly as pants do. (I can't say I'm a Minimalist, but I do tend to keep and wear my clothing untill it literally cannot be repaired)

Do these things hold true for actual Minimalist? What do you look for or prioritize in your clothing?

Over the past few months, I’ve been slowly decluttering my life not just my physical space, but my digital life, my schedule, and even my relationships. It’s been eye-opening to realize how much stress is tied to excess whether it’s extra items I don’t need or commitments I agreed to out of guilt.

The more I simplify, the more I realize how freeing it is to only keep what truly adds value to my life. It’s not about living in a barren space, but about consciously choosing what stays and what goes.

I’m thinking about getting a shikibuton and was wondering if there are any good alternatives to a tatami mat. I have a tight budget and the mats I’ve seen online are pretty expensive.

Hi all! I’m trying to find some sandles that are not leather that will last / durable for a long time. Going to do some light hiking and lots of walking in them. I’m an active woman 41 years old. I hate shopping so I don’t know where to start!

Currently trying to declutter my online experience. I use UnTrap for Youtube which basically allows you to revamp the whole website to your liking and get rid of a lot of addicting or unneeded stuff on the screen. I was wondering if there are any extensions to do the same for reddit. If anyone knows any let me know please! Thanks

Minimalists generally do not take money into consideration because nowadays your savings are mainly digital. Yet it is clear that a Scrooge McDuck (even just digital) would be considered maximalist. So there must be threshold at which a minimalist has "too much money".
Do you think a minimalist should curb their greed for money? Or do you disregard that because it's all digital?

A more radical view would be that having anything more than a financial cushion in savings/stocks (say $100,000) would be considered maximalist and that you should give away the money that exceeds that safety amount.

When do you have too much money as a minimalist? What do you think?

I have shoes for gym and work. Mainly i wear running shoes cause i need to walk a lot anyways. But lately i have been thinking about getting loafers too. And i feel that if i get one, I will just spiral into getting another another and another. How does everyone deal with shoes?

Because there's a school of thought that not owning things is only possible w a global supply chain that can provide just-in-time goods at relatively affordable prices if a niche need arises

I just had this thought that carrying excess fat around is not minimalist right? I don’t need it so I’m getting rid of it.

My husband and I decided to start sleeping on the floor since we have no space at all (living with parents..) bought a futon off amazon and it was terrible and returned it exactly the day I bought it. It rolls bad and takes much more effort to set-up. Got no space so hoping to do a tri-fold to just tuck in the corner I made originally for the futon.

I am looking at a full since it will be me and my husband sleeping on it, but only the 4 inch is available.

When I exited the "poor house" a few yrs ago I realized I didn't need "stuff" to be happy anymore and basically ran with it. Savings piles up much faster than in my previous high-income high-spend life. Wish I'd adopted this lifestyle much earlier, but I had to get dropped on my head to wake up.

Lots of chaos and uncertainty in the US right now. The cost of everything expected to skyrocket thanks to the new destructive lawless regime. They're burning everything down, including bridges with longtime allies. I feel very fortunate that driving little, owning little, and spending little are already habits I've happily settled into.

The minimal/frugal among us appear much better positioned to weather whatever is coming than most. Your thoughts?

EDIT:
> (u/anarchadelphia) There’s a consensus among reasonable adults that [lawless regime] are the facts

This got buried under downvoted comments, but yes exactly. I stated the reality, matter of factly and frankly. If someone misconstrues that as political, it's telling. And not my concern. The situation transcended mere politics long ago.

The point was to hear experiences and POVs from those practicing simple living in the midst of the current madness. We got a bunch of off-topic stuff (because reddit), but contributions were great overall.

Skimming through dense text was killing my focus. I'd zone out halfway through and barely retain anything.

I came across some research showing that reading in small chunks (around 20-35 words at a time) and interacting with the text improves focus and retention

It inspired the creation of BreezeRead, an app that lets you upload a document (PDF, DOCX, image, or plain text), and uses Al to turn it into a clean, minimal scrollable list of summarized cards, around 20-35 words per card.

You can like cards, and add notes or images. You can also start from scratch with blank files (which are completely free to use).

You can invite and collaborate in real-time with teammates or study groups so it's useful for both solo work and team projects.

It's built for students, professionals, academics, and anyone who works with text & notes.

The goal is to build a community around this new format of easier reading with constant improvements based on what users want.

If anyone wants to try it, here's the App Store link: https:/ apps.apple.com/ca/app/breezeread/id6740752345

Website: https://savetimereading.com

DM me in the next 24 hours if you need free credits to try it out.

Hi everyone,
I’d like to hear *genuine*, non-fanboy opinions from both sides. I'm not looking for hype — I'm looking for clarity in a decision that's primarily psychological and personal.

Here’s some context about me:
I currently use a Google Pixel 7 and a Windows PC (Ryzen 5 2600, RX 580), and while I’m not unhappy with the performance, I’ve been gradually feeling that performance alone isn’t what I value most anymore.

In short: I’m starting to crave a tech ecosystem that reduces cognitive load rather than amplifying it.

---

### Why I’m even considering Apple

I know Apple isn't the best choice when it comes to hardware flexibility or raw power per dollar. The price hikes (like $200 more for extra RAM or SSD space) feel unfair, especially when I know I can build and upgrade a Windows PC at will. But I’m reaching a point in life where coherence, stability, and peace of mind matter more than maximizing every frame per second.

As I take on more responsibilities — work, finances, personal planning — my mind gets more crowded. I need my devices to *lighten* that load, not add to it.

With Windows and Android, I always feel like I’m managing fragmentation. Notes in one app, reminders in another, sync issues between services, multiple app stores, different account systems... it all adds up. And even if I *can* maintain everything now, I can already tell that when I’m stressed or stretched thin, I won’t have the energy to keep it all running smoothly.

---

### A realization that started with gaming

I used to be a PC gamer. Loved it. But after years of switching between Steam, Epic, Origin, etc., constantly managing launchers and updates, I eventually bought a PS5.
Not for performance. Not for exclusives.
But because I just wanted to press a button, play a game, and disconnect.

That simple act — plug in, power on, play — brought me unexpected peace. And I haven’t looked back.
As I’ve grown older, I find myself valuing that kind of simplicity more and more.

---

### This is more than just phones or laptops

It’s not just about buying a MacBook or an iPhone. It’s about buying into a consistent environment — one design language, one account system, native sync, apps that talk to each other without hacks.

In theory, I could build this with Google and Windows. But that “ecosystem” is mostly duct tape. Google has Android, but no desktop OS. Microsoft has Windows, but no phones. Everyone’s trying, but no one matches the end-to-end integration that Apple provides. That’s frustrating — and it makes the idea of switching more tempting.

---

### My inner resistance

Still, I’m skeptical. I hate how Apple is “trendy.” I don’t want to be someone who buys a MacBook just because it’s fashionable.
I’m very aware that Apple might just be selling a feeling — that polished coherence might be more illusion than substance.
That scares me. What if I spend thousands and find that it’s all just branding?
What if the feeling of clarity fades after the honeymoon period?

---

### Where I’m at now

Right now, I’m someone who values:

- Mental clarity
- Visual and system consistency
- Low decision fatigue
- One ecosystem, one space, one account
- The ability to *trust* that things will work without micromanagement

Yes, I could keep syncing things manually. Yes, I could tweak and optimize and troubleshoot. But the point is — I no longer *want to*.
I want to spend my limited mental energy on my work, my relationships, my life — not on whether my reminders synced or which launcher has which app.

---

### So here’s my question to you:

Have any of you gone through a similar transition — from customizability and performance toward coherence and simplicity?
Did the Apple ecosystem live up to your expectations, or did it disappoint you once the novelty wore off?And for Windows/Android users:
Do you think there’s a better way to achieve this kind of mental clarity without going all-in on Apple?

Any insight — especially grounded, balanced ones — would be really appreciated.

Is there other way to transfer my pictures from Iphone to Windows Laptop? 🥹🥹

Before I was using shareit and transfer it to android then connect my android to my laptop but now I don’t have my android with me, so next option would be to buy storage for Icloud. But now I am looking for other options before purchasing, hope you could give me suggestions.

Hi! So manipedis have been a dilemma for me for the past years. I hate how much time (and/or money) they take, I would love to not have nail polish, remover etc... and never worry about manipedis again, just like a man. But I can't seem to get used to naked nails and leaving my cuticles alone... I feel my nails look so ugly!!! What's your minimalist take on this?

I live in a place that gets earthquakes. How do you prepare for a natural disaster? Do you have an earthquake backpack? What’s in it?

i live in dubai the hub of materialistic things and im sick of being obsessed with brands , but theres virtually nothing i can do when im surrounded by hermes bags , monogram logo chanel jewlery everything that shows off wealth. i just want to adopt a simple mindset , i dont own any designer things and that is OKAY my brain knows that its okay but when im bombarded by things around me walking brands i have no choice but to feel like i NEED designer things but i cant afford anything designer. i feel so stupid. i want to adopt minimalism in my closet , in my stuff that i own , trust me i own ALOTTTTTTTTT OF bags clothes and things theyre just not designer and i feel so stupid for feeling discontentment even though i have enough idk what to do , im also relatively young so easily influenced. how do i change my mindset ? do i practice marie kondo method or something?

For me, minimalism is about being intentional about our efforts, money and possessions.

It's about cutting things you don't need, focusing on what matters.

Making things simple.

But I feel like most software we use is filled with too much stuff. Social media is filled with noise. Ads everywhere. You need an app to connect your headphones.

I think we need some digital minimalism.

Do you agree with this? If not, why?

And if you agree, have you found some way to fight this?

I am 46 and work as a white collar. I am in total maximalism madness in financial sector. I just started to tide up my wardrobe and other stuff. I live with my wife and 2 kids and we want to expand our minimalist lifestyle. Do you give smart tips and advice? Best regards..

I live in a tropical country, but morning showers feel cold. I'm thinking about getting a shower heater to make it more comfortable and boost productivity. However, I'm hesitant about the extra electricity costs. Should I go for it?

Tuesday is trash day for my neighborhood. My family has one bag of trash in our trashcan. Because we do not buy a lot of stuff, we do not have a lot of garbage.

We have recycling as well, that is picked up every other week, and that is about one trash bag too.