The calm I feel, the extra time I’ve gained and the money I am saving completely surprised me! I now have more time for my family and friends! Win for me!!
Although it feels very weird, i’ve started to empty my wife’s clothes and shoes cabinets so that it can make place for our teenage sons to use her closet. Or i may disassemble it and get a new one for our sons. Which i feel is better. Their mom, my wife passed almost 3 years ago, after a long battle. She had just turned 40. Up until now it has never felt weird, maybe even good to keep it all. But i have the impression that it’s not helping us in our grief and in our ‘moving on’ as the term goes. And she would have been the first to discard her clothes. Her memory is still here in all kind of forms, photos, all her books. That’s more than enough for now. We may get rid of the books, too, eventually. Only time will telll. Thanks for your vids, Gabe! Best wishes from W. Europe.
I started with decluttering kitchen cupboards because I don’t like cooking. What I expected was to feel less guilt about not cooking, but what actually happened was I actually wanted to cook more and spend more time in the kitchen!
I can actually find things .It's kind of funny , but I'm very serious! I have add so finding things putting them away in the wrong place is pretty common for myself and my kids who have adhd.
I fell so far into the “it’s on sale” rabbit hole in my teen/20s/early 30s. After our last move I swore NEVER AGAIN!! When we moved into our new home a year and a half ago I ONLY have what I need. I don’t need 5 mixing bowls-I need one, maybe 2. Same with dishes, pots, pans, clothes. The more I have the less likely I am to keep up on cleaning and organizing. Best life change I’ve ever made!
Decluttering never really ends anyway as your needs will continue to change so reducing what comes in is only part of it. Much of today's clutter was things I needed at one time.
@@lenas7112 This is very true.🤔. I used to entertain, a lot. Theme parties. And I did paper plates, mainly. But if I’m having a luau, I want monkey wood serving dishes to go with them, just for fun! 😂 I picked them up over the years. And had a lotta fun doing it! But now, not at all, I don’t need them anymore💔. I swear if my daughter doesn’t want them, I’m going to cry lol. My other “theme” stuff, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a hundred different sets of dishes, but I do have say Halloween things for the kids. I don’t need those anymore☹️. Stuff like that.
Decluttering is a a huge undertaking. I have spent the last two weeks clearing out my small apartment. The sentimental stuff is the hardest to pitch but I did it! I use this method. I look at it, hold it close, remember the joy it brought then let it go. I think some people feel guilty about getting rid of something someone gave them. Remember, it brought happiness at one time and now it's time to release it. My mother died a couple years ago and I had a painting from Thailand she once owned. I never really liked it but she did. She traveled a lot and had a lot of things from different parts of the world. I had a battle within about getting rid of the painting but I finally took it off the wall and put it in my car. I went to Goodwill and as I put it in the bin for donations I felt my mother's hand on my shoulder saying "It's okay, Lynne, let it go". I stood there with tears in my eyes and it was at that moment I realized that things don't bring happiness but people and experiences do.
Such a relatable example of what everyone who has lost a parent must face esp. the tears, pain, and memories that go with the donated item. It’s been 6 years since dad passed and with each year I get the strength to let another item go after I take a picture.
I now take a picture of the sentimental items or scan them in if flat. Then save it digitally in an organized way. If im feeling sentimental i can scroll through all those photos on my laptop pretty quickly. We each have one box of keepsake items and the kids have one box plus their first year box which they get at 23. (Newspaper when born, footprints, hospital outfit and measurements. Shirt dad wore at hospital. Etc. And a duplicate of their first favorite toy is what they use...the original used the first year is in the box.)
I donate everything I get rid of. I know that may not be the “frugal” thing to do but it just feels good to donate it and know that someone who needs it but can’t afford it new gets to have it.
I donate everything too. Drives my family crazy that I don't sell but I need it gone. I don't want it sitting around and in my way. Plus I'm doing this to simplify and trying to sell isn't simplifying
@@ellenherman9543 so funny story. I give the less than stellar stuff to Goodwill. I don't really like them, I think they overcharge massively. Might just be where I live. The nicer stuff, computer desk, end table, etc I do put it near the road with a free sign. I've been unsure if I should do it with regular household items.
@@3llenzinha The Red Cross is an institution you could definitely try. How did you get disappointed with institution before? (At least it sounds like that) And there is always the "Give away for free" option on eBay, most people will even collect it themselves.
1. Unrealistic Expectations 2. Following Other People 3. It Was A Gift 4. Analysis Paralysis 5. Trying to Sprint 6. Other People 7. Leaving Stuff in Boxes 8. Organising Before Decluttering 9. Overly Cautious With Your Clothes 10. Not Changing Your Buying Habits 11. I Paid Good Money For This I didn't leave the timestamps because I think you should watch the whole video. Gabe gives the best advice!
My grown up kids use my house as a luggage storage. I began putting deadlines and shuffling their things books and souvenirs to their shacks aaying keep it or throw it away, my house is not a museum or a storage!
What I like about you is that your house actually looks like a home. None of that lifeless, emptied, all white squares I usually looked at when I searched "minimalism". Thanks a lot, dude ;)
My husband passed away last Thanksgiving day. He always wanted to be a minimalist, but was always buying things. He was a chef, and also did resin crafting, jewelry making, knitting and needle craft. I have been unloading TONS of stuff for the last year, yesterday was another 40 shirts and ten pair of jeans. I realize it’s a journey and not a destination
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten, as a widow, was don’t keep someone else’s memories i.e. concert tickets that the deceased person attended and you didn’t even know them at the time, their business awards, their school accolades, music they liked and you abhorred, photos of their youth vacations, you can’t identify the other people in the photos or the landscapes, books that you’d never read etc.
It's been 5 yrs for me. Tried selling off his hoard of woodworking tools etc and finally gotten down to giving away saws, lathes, etc. Just one 1/4 of garage left.
Gifts have been one of the hardest items for me to declutter. I was finally getting rid of some gifts recently, and I had a bit of an epiphany. I realised that I was not dishonoring the gift giver by getting rid of it, because it had ALREADY served its purpose. To me, the intention of the gift-givers was to show me their love by giving me the gift. By being grateful in the moment they gave it to me and letting them know I love and appreciate them in return, the gift had served its greatest purpose and it was now a part of my heart. I didn't need to have it sitting at the back of a cupboard for years to honour the love that gift represented.
Books, books, books. I decided that if I hadn't picked it up again in the last 2 years (or never), there was a 99% chance I never would. After all, shelves full of books are not needed to prove to yourself or anyone else how intelligent or well-read you are, there are other decorative items you can display on your shelves, you are not the keeper of books if the local library burns down, ..... Good Luck
The best tip is to start small. One drawer, one closet, one dresser, etc. Then just keep going until u feel u have gotten down to the basics. Then organize. I agree, unless u stop buying so much stuff, it will just keep happening. It takes time. You make a lot of great points. 💟💟
Of course it has to take time, or one would easily revert back to old habits! My husband and I used to have a cluttered messy flat. After him passing, I started getting rid of stuff (I threw out TEN black bin bags of cables!), and the whole process took six years. But it really changed my life completely. I went from a messy, untidy, and disorganised person, alway late, to a tidy one who gets up at 6 am and enjoys a flat with not many things in it. It has also changed my mindset in regards to work. It has to take time to have an impact on us.
This is what I know for sure… When I leave the house and I travel and camp in my van, I am more content than when I am at home. I find that when I’m on the road camping with only what I need, I feel completely free. My van camping mantra is “Less is More” - bring what you need not what you think you might need. The same ideology goes for living in a home. It’s amazing how little we need yet we continue to add so much to our living space and life, which adds an abundance of stress and discontentment. LESS IS MORE! 🙌🏼💯😃
The 3 other minimalist mentioned are males. I recommend The Minimal Mom Clutterbug A Slob comes clean They talk about minimalism and give additional perspectives
That last step-getting stuff out of the house-is the hardest for me. I have about 6 bags of items to go to my local historical society for their annual yard sale right now. I just have to force myself to follow through and take them there on Saturday.
i got rid of so much stuff, which was great, then realised I`m just a messy old bloke with the few things I have left, so that`s what I need to work on, put the limited ammount of stuff I have left away at night so the place doesnt still look untidy in the morning!!
The factory job I work for gives me about a week off at the end of every year and I use it to declutter my whole house! Black bags help so much when I drive to donate it!
When I immigrated to my Central European ancestral homelands, I sold or gave away about 98 percent of what I own. I am glad I did that, but there is still maybe another three or four percent of my stuff I wish I could have taken with me. The cost of transport, and the amount of luggage, was the bottleneck. I took three large suitcases and two small bags. That is all. Overall, I am very glad with how things turned out.
Yes. I donate stuff. Basically to get rid of it. I called Habitat for Humanity, and they took almost everything. They didn't want the exercise equipment... so I put a sign out at the street, 'free exercise equipment' and before long, gone. It was easy to think about how much it all cost, but I had to do it, and get it gone. I did sell a couple things on the free ad in the local paper, but it took too long really, and I had to move. It all came together, and I soon got over the feeling of loss, and it felt good. I'm still working on it, and today, everything I do is intentional, but it all takes time. Thanks for your attitude, and the videos.
I have gone from a family in large a double story house, to an empty nest, widowed and now living my perfect life in a 1960 vintage camper that I completely rebuilt. I am off the power grid, rent free, and have the comforts without the excess. I live and teach in Africa with 3000 hours of sunshine each year and mild winters. My youngest son is very sentimental so was happy to take all the more cherished items. So much freedom in simplicity.
I'm so glad you talked about compromising with your spouse/partner when it comes to minimalism. My husband collect books and I am an avid crafter, so we both had to give in a little!
I struggle with online shopping, but I’ve gotten it down to filling a cart, and staring at it for at least a couple months, practicing self control, and deciding if I really am going to buy those items. IF I am, finding a time to do so when there’s actually breathing room and no bills over my head. Helps me prioritize out of all the items, like I have plenty of clothes, so I can wait on those longer and keep deciding, but I’ll have a new baby this year, so I will be getting that diaper bag I really want.
One of the things that worked the best for me was take a picture of what you find hard to let go, you have the picture as a memory ,you dont the item anymore cause you'll have the picture
I totally agree that it’s a process. I donated all of the most obvious things and then sat with it for 6 months. I didn’t miss those things so I went with the next most obvious things to get rid of and then sat with it for 6 months. Now I’m ready for my third purge. Each time I think it will be my last so I’m not falling for that again. In fact, if I were to move (after 26 years) there is a TON I wouldn’t take with me, so clearly it will be several more purges. I’ve finally accepted that and forgive myself.
Slimming down my wardrobe was a wonderfully idea. Like you, I have a few brands that fit really well, and I just get different colors of those items. I don't have to think about what to wear other than "pants or shorts" now. I highly recommend it!
Omg at 3:52 ... that's exactly what happens to me, lol. I only get Sunday off. By Monday, my house is trashed from me pulling everything out to declutter. By Saturday, I get everything Cleaned and start decluttering again Sunday lol. The cycle is driving me batty!!!
The last tip spoke to me. I just moved a few months ago and have a huge garage now. We are slowly decluttering and putting everything in the garage to have a yard sale this May. Anything that doesn't go in the yard sale is getting donated!
I’ve been in a 2400 square-foot house for 16 years with my husband. I started decluttering and being on the minimal journey since 2018 and I’m still almost there but not quite yet. Most people think my house looks very minimal but I know I feel closets that could be thinned out more. I’m proud of my wardrobe that it’s very small and my husband‘s walk-in closet looks beautiful now and he has fewer choices so he likes that a lot better. It takes a long time to do this. I work on it all the time.
Although I still shop the clearance racks I try to find colors and pieces that are timeless and avoid trends. This further saves me time, space and money by not shopping as often.
So true! You definately have to find your own system. When my wife and I starting decluttering, we constantly tried and used different approaches. Now, that we have come quite far, we need different systems again, since we are at a different stage of minimalism. Embrace change and keep it flexible, that would be my own advice.
I completely agree. Some of the videos, tv shows and books about decluttering and organizing are absolutely unrealistic. It never goes so smoothly and financially can be ridiculously expensive.
Just discovered your channel last week. Not trying for a complete minimalist lifestyle, just to get rid of all the unused things I once thought were important to have. Went through my DVD collection and books twice now (love my new E-reader). I'm going to donate all of it to a local thrift shop. Also taking your advice on switching the clothes hangers and filling a box with stuff you don't need/want anymore. That way both my home and mind gets cleaned out. One extra tip: if you see something nice (decoration for your home etc.) ask yourself:, where can I put it? If you can't answer the question, leave it. Saves you money and clutter.
This is so helpful! We are moving in a few weeks and I don’t want anything to enter the house that isn’t immediately necessary. This is a big switch for me, so your channel has been a great resource!
I can not do "put away" boxes. Many do "sell, donate, put away, trash". Problem is you keep going until exhaustion and then you have a bunch of put away boxes left over. Just grab a few things that go in that same other room and take it straight there.
I started a year ago..I'm halfway there. Definitely a process. I went from having SO much stuff,tons of stuff on my walls,& no dead spaces. I have free spaces,not so full & busy.My home looks so much bigger & less stress. I can't wait to finish it. I've given a lot away
You need to also address the why of the whole thing. It's like the difference between an addict getting clean and one in recovery. Its one thing to purge but if you dont address the why of it (the recovery portion) then it's a constant struggle. Figure out the why.
"Can I buy another one?" This was one of the best tip my daughter shared with me for getting rid of a lot of stuff I was hanging onto. I posted my little sign, "can I buy another one?" every time I started sorting through another box or closet. I was able to get rid of a lot of things I had been hanging onto "just in case: a box of costumes, extra Christmas decor, some children's clothing I might use someday (just don't unless you are having another baby soon, 😁), clothing that was too small, etc... Another one is to have a ruthless decluttering partner. Mine was my grown daughter and son. They helped me so much, and we had so much fun! This in turn encouraged them to get rid of more stuff in their own homes. No thing is more important than your serenity.
Less is more and I'm starting to declutter, yes I'll keep some things to pass on to family but it will be up to them if they want to keep it-there is just too much stuff in this house and they belong to other family and l dont feel l can tell them what to do with their things so l start with myself as stated earlier Thanks much for your videos.
I appreciate how you mentioned those few other channels. In terms of minimalism, finance, and happy living I consider them along with you to be the best.
Brilliant recommendation about buying one brand of clothes, for me a 'uniforn'. If something I like is marked down,I buy it in multiples because if I get sick,or it rains- I've got plenty of basics & I'm always going to need/use them. My clothes last FOREVER because of this mindset, but most of the things I wear I now stock up on at end of season, it's not sad if a favourite starts dying, because it's in 'rotation' with it's sisters! I literally never pay more than 10-25% of ticket price. Most of my basics I buy at 5-10%. Come the zombie apocalypse - I'm prepared. I apply this to cleaning & personal care products too,but I never duplicate something unless it shows up half price, & I'm likely to run out within 4wks
I know you’ll surpass 100k by the end of the year 🙌🏽 Being surrounded by an uncluttered environment gives me clarity of mind and makes me feel full of energy
I started "Sprinting" a week ago and definitely see the mess I created. :) But I am also happy for the lighter heart the boxes donated has caused. Thanks for the motivation to go on!
I sure need this encouragement. I'm a bad procrastinator when it comes to simplifying my apartment. The kitchen, bath and pantry are the only organized rooms I have. The bedroom and living and dining room are not! "I have a big DREAM!"
Anyone else hold onto things to have a yard sale because they was expensive? I realized that my space is way more valuable.I've given nice things away to families that needed it to make their home a little nicer. Win win❤
You're right about a sprint being a problem. In one month I decluttered 2/3 of my belongings. Now I'm having to really work to build the right habits because I moved too fast to build them before.
Good tips here. I am retired and downsizing to move into a senior apartment. I have over 40 years of accumulated stuff to sort through! I used an effective technique to sort my clothes. I turned the hangers around on all my hanging garments. After a year I discard all the things that were not used and still had the hangers facing the wrong way. I do a lot of crafting so that creates a huge pile of stuff. I have decided to narrow my interests to sewing and quilting so that makes it easier to unload all the other crafty things. Local school, churches, and senior centers are great places to donate stuff like this.
When I started working more (50 hours a week) I found that my crafts stopped getting finished, and I stopped having time for my hobbies. This was also the hardest declutter of mine. I had to be realistic about my time, and I couldn't relax at home because of it. I have decided that drawing and crocheting would be my main hobbies, though on long weekends, I do pull out the sewing machine. Only if I have enough time to complete that sewing project in one weekend. I am significantly less overwhelmed when I come home. Good luck. I hope the move goes well.
I did not expect my spouse and kids to start decluttering. I used to feel defeated by all the stuff we owned because these extra things were just overloading the shelves, etc. I would grumble about all of it. Then I focused on MY items. Donate. Donate. Donate. Trash. Voila-without saying a word or nagging, nearly all my family members started decluttering their own stuff, miraculous!!
Minimalism impacted my economy in a big way. And I really didn’t expect that. Not that I did spend a lot of money before but it really changed how I look at money and I now save more every month
Wait, what? “100k by the end of the year” honestly I thought to myself oh man, this must be a hella old video. I’m so pleased to be here early! Production value and content is unreal! Great tips
My grown up kids use my house as a luggage storage. I began putting deadlines and shuffling their things books and souvenirs to their shacks aaying " keep it or throw it away, my house is not a museum or a storage!".
I started my journey towards minimalism in 2014. I'm 70 percent of where I want to be. The mental changes/growth is a huge as the pile of stuff I've shed.
Donating is the way I go. It's out of my house fast and helps someone else too. The only things I spend money on anymore is organic food and craft/art supplies. Organic food for my health and craft/art supplies for my sanity.
You are thé younger version of me. I have been in this lifestyle for many years and try to have young people think about it. I’m from another generation but I recognize soo much of you. I’m sure you get great enjoyment of the simple things in life just like me. Keep spreading your message. You won’t change the world because it’s seriously damaged. If you don’t know the story about the starfish on the stormy beach I will gladly tell it to you. You might use it in one of your videos. Keep up the good works. You make me proud Greets Brussels Bruno Ps: if you want me to be a pin on your globe…I’m from … yeah Brussels,Belgium
I absolutely love this - such practical, wise advise, an inspiration to do better and get started today. Thank you for your down-to-earth realistic conversation with us!!
I want to say ... I've watched some of your other video's but honestly.. this is the VERY BESTone so far. because ...I love ❤ your honesty. you have hit the nail on the head so to speak with everything you've said in this one video. Thank You So Much!!!
I declutter and organise professionally, and I have found that many people need to organise first (unless they easily know they dont want it), see that they dont need 10 pairs of scissors and then they are able to confidently let things go.
For #6: I Actually started my journey in december 2021 but as a 16 yrs old with hoarder parents i can declutter my room only and keep doing it constantly and then keeping watching different videos to get more ideas to secretly declutter my whole house or convince my parents to do it so I can't help but doing nothing because I am just not allowed to declutter lol
While decluttering my basement, I found a large (16x23) photo of my dad as a child. I didn’t have the best relationship with him. What to do with the photo? My siblings, when I asked them, responded with crickets. His friends weren’t interested. I couldn’t just throw it away. Then I came up with the perfect solution, for me. I will remove it from the frame (which is broken, anyway), and bury it in the backyard. Funny, I had no problem tossing little photos, but couldn’t just throw this one out.
Thank you, Gabe for the ideas an vids on your journey. I retired a year ago and started my journey after 40yrs of homeownership, still work in progress with stalls n starts, but the process is working! All the best to you an your family.
Here's a little suggestion... stop spending money! All you need to spend money on it's a roof over your head and food in your belly. As far as your house goes, how many rooms are you actually in Daily? I'm downsizing for the third time. This time I'm going for a studio / efficiency because I do not do the bedroom. Thanks for your advice and taking time for this video.
Decluttering should definitely be personal to oneself just do what feels right for you I declutter all the time because I enjoy it makes my home easier to clean I find clothes the hardest but finally got my wardrobe down to a small capsule wardrobe only buying what I need now .As a child my mother would only buy me clothes when needed and would refuse to buy ontrend clothes I rebelled when I left home and always had a fear of not having enough clothes but as iam now older I realise its a huge waste of money and if iam careful I can still look trendy only trouble is if I have to go to an occasion I never have any thing suitable to wear lol
One tip I remember reading/watching online is: the clothes you do wear, after washing it & hanging it up again, turn the hanger the opposite direction, that way at the end of the month or year (or whatever time frame you choose), you'll see what you actually wear & what you don't, & may be better in helping you decide what to get rid of...
Matt is crazy and definitely running out of material but none the less one of the first people I watched when getting into this mindset shift. Much happier now then I’ve ever been with much less wasted space and income.
Oh, I get it: don't buy anything, become generous and wear the same boring clothes, right? Just pulling your leg :) Bravo to you - the living proof that we can all get there in the end. Thanks. Hugs, Anouche.
I did the same thing but with books. Eventually after writing down systems and them failing for me, I found my own system with decluttering and organizing. I'm confident enough now to just apply one or two techniques naturally when I get off track.
Throw the idea of a whole house or even room declutter out the window if you work a 40+ hour job. 1 drawer, 1 shelf, or 1 cabinet per day. No more. You'll be shocked how effective this approach is. As for saving stuff to sell, set a minimal threshold. For me, I've determined that anything under $25 isn't worth the hassle
About to give you another method to try if you haven't. Dana K White has a decluttering without making a mess method that's all about progress, ONLY progress. That's very helpful for the burnout.
What areas of your life has minimalism impacted that you didn't expect?
The calm I feel, the extra time I’ve gained and the money I am saving completely surprised me! I now have more time for my family and friends! Win for me!!
I don't buy my kids everything. It sounds mean but I'd rather give them my time.
Although it feels very weird, i’ve started to empty my wife’s clothes and shoes cabinets so that it can make place for our teenage sons to use her closet. Or i may disassemble it and get a new one for our sons. Which i feel is better. Their mom, my wife passed almost 3 years ago, after a long battle. She had just turned 40.
Up until now it has never felt weird, maybe even good to keep it all. But i have the impression that it’s not helping us in our grief and in our ‘moving on’ as the term goes. And she would have been the first to discard her clothes. Her memory is still here in all kind of forms, photos, all her books. That’s more than enough for now. We may get rid of the books, too, eventually. Only time will telll.
Thanks for your vids, Gabe! Best wishes from W. Europe.
I started with decluttering kitchen cupboards because I don’t like cooking. What I expected was to feel less guilt about not cooking, but what actually happened was I actually wanted to cook more and spend more time in the kitchen!
I can actually find things .It's kind of funny , but I'm very serious! I have add so finding things putting them away in the wrong place is pretty common for myself and my kids who have adhd.
The key is not buying, bringing in any more stuff than absolute necessary. Otherwise, the decluttering will never end.
I fell so far into the “it’s on sale” rabbit hole in my teen/20s/early 30s. After our last move I swore NEVER AGAIN!! When we moved into our new home a year and a half ago I ONLY have what I need. I don’t need 5 mixing bowls-I need one, maybe 2. Same with dishes, pots, pans, clothes. The more I have the less likely I am to keep up on cleaning and organizing. Best life change I’ve ever made!
'One in one out' is a great rule to keep clutter out once you've decluttered.
Decluttering never really ends anyway as your needs will continue to change so reducing what comes in is only part of it. Much of today's clutter was things I needed at one time.
So true. I make progress and then drag stuff home to resale.
@@lenas7112 This is very true.🤔. I used to entertain, a lot. Theme parties. And I did paper plates, mainly. But if I’m having a luau, I want monkey wood serving dishes to go with them, just for fun! 😂 I picked them up over the years. And had a lotta fun doing it! But now, not at all, I don’t need them anymore💔. I swear if my daughter doesn’t want them, I’m going to cry lol. My other “theme” stuff, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a hundred different sets of dishes, but I do have say Halloween things for the kids. I don’t need those anymore☹️. Stuff like that.
Decluttering is a a huge undertaking. I have spent the last two weeks clearing out my small apartment. The sentimental stuff is the hardest to pitch but I did it! I use this method. I look at it, hold it close, remember the joy it brought then let it go. I think some people feel guilty about getting rid of something someone gave them. Remember, it brought happiness at one time and now it's time to release it. My mother died a couple years ago and I had a painting from Thailand she once owned. I never really liked it but she did. She traveled a lot and had a lot of things from different parts of the world. I had a battle within about getting rid of the painting but I finally took it off the wall and put it in my car. I went to Goodwill and as I put it in the bin for donations I felt my mother's hand on my shoulder saying "It's okay, Lynne, let it go". I stood there with tears in my eyes and it was at that moment I realized that things don't bring happiness but people and experiences do.
I read a tip about taking a picture of sentimental items before releasing them, especially things like children's artwork.
Such a relatable example of what everyone who has lost a parent must face esp. the tears, pain, and memories that go with the donated item. It’s been 6 years since dad passed and with each year I get the strength to let another item go after I take a picture.
I now take a picture of the sentimental items or scan them in if flat. Then save it digitally in an organized way. If im feeling sentimental i can scroll through all those photos on my laptop pretty quickly. We each have one box of keepsake items and the kids have one box plus their first year box which they get at 23. (Newspaper when born, footprints, hospital outfit and measurements. Shirt dad wore at hospital. Etc. And a duplicate of their first favorite toy is what they use...the original used the first year is in the box.)
@@lizabethma6363 I wish I had kept a shirt of my dads and made it into a pillow with the pocket showing to remember him by.
That is a beautiful story. And good advice as well. Thank you for sharing. :)
I donate everything I get rid of. I know that may not be the “frugal” thing to do but it just feels good to donate it and know that someone who needs it but can’t afford it new gets to have it.
It works if you donate directly to people. To institution, not really.
I donate everything too. Drives my family crazy that I don't sell but I need it gone. I don't want it sitting around and in my way. Plus I'm doing this to simplify and trying to sell isn't simplifying
You might might to give it away for free. Resale shops are getting to pricey.
@@ellenherman9543 so funny story. I give the less than stellar stuff to Goodwill. I don't really like them, I think they overcharge massively. Might just be where I live. The nicer stuff, computer desk, end table, etc I do put it near the road with a free sign. I've been unsure if I should do it with regular household items.
@@3llenzinha The Red Cross is an institution you could definitely try. How did you get disappointed with institution before? (At least it sounds like that)
And there is always the "Give away for free" option on eBay, most people will even collect it themselves.
1. Unrealistic Expectations
2. Following Other People
3. It Was A Gift
4. Analysis Paralysis
5. Trying to Sprint
6. Other People
7. Leaving Stuff in Boxes
8. Organising Before Decluttering
9. Overly Cautious With Your Clothes
10. Not Changing Your Buying Habits
11. I Paid Good Money For This
I didn't leave the timestamps because I think you should watch the whole video. Gabe gives the best advice!
I was looking for this. You are my angel!!!!!
My grown up kids use my house as a luggage storage. I began putting deadlines and shuffling their things books and souvenirs to their shacks aaying keep it or throw it away, my house is not a museum or a storage!
Thank you miss.
What I like about you is that your house actually looks like a home. None of that lifeless, emptied, all white squares I usually looked at when I searched "minimalism". Thanks a lot, dude ;)
You said it!!
Yes! He demonstrates personal style in his home decor choices. I love it.
My husband passed away last Thanksgiving day. He always wanted to be a minimalist, but was always buying things. He was a chef, and also did resin crafting, jewelry making, knitting and needle craft. I have been unloading TONS of stuff for the last year, yesterday was another 40 shirts and ten pair of jeans. I realize it’s a journey and not a destination
Prayers. Yes it's a journey
Soo sorry for your loss john ,, please accept my deepest condolences 💗...take it easy john one day at a time...🙏🌈
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten, as a widow, was don’t keep someone else’s memories i.e. concert tickets that the deceased person attended and you didn’t even know them at the time, their business awards, their school accolades, music they liked and you abhorred, photos of their youth vacations, you can’t identify the other people in the photos or the landscapes, books that you’d never read etc.
@@donnaaddy7265 I love this advice! Thank you!
It's been 5 yrs for me. Tried selling off his hoard of woodworking tools etc and finally gotten down to giving away saws, lathes, etc. Just one 1/4 of garage left.
Gifts have been one of the hardest items for me to declutter. I was finally getting rid of some gifts recently, and I had a bit of an epiphany. I realised that I was not dishonoring the gift giver by getting rid of it, because it had ALREADY served its purpose. To me, the intention of the gift-givers was to show me their love by giving me the gift. By being grateful in the moment they gave it to me and letting them know I love and appreciate them in return, the gift had served its greatest purpose and it was now a part of my heart. I didn't need to have it sitting at the back of a cupboard for years to honour the love that gift represented.
I can't get rid of gifts yet, but this mindset makes so much sense. I may actually help me on my journey. Thank you so much!
Books, books, books. I decided that if I hadn't picked it up again in the last 2 years (or never), there was a 99% chance I never would. After all, shelves full of books are not needed to prove to yourself or anyone else how intelligent or well-read you are, there are other decorative items you can display on your shelves, you are not the keeper of books if the local library burns down, ..... Good Luck
@@Yuughurt take a picture of the item . . .
Beautiful!
Most difficult: Gifts from the person you living with. Guess I have to keep them.
I gave myself an entire year to declutter our 3 bedroom house. I have never felt more peace in my home before ❤️
The best tip is to start small. One drawer, one closet, one dresser, etc. Then just keep going until u feel u have gotten down to the basics. Then organize. I agree, unless u stop buying so much stuff, it will just keep happening. It takes time. You make a lot of great points. 💟💟
💯
Of course it has to take time, or one would easily revert back to old habits! My husband and I used to have a cluttered messy flat. After him passing, I started getting rid of stuff (I threw out TEN black bin bags of cables!), and the whole process took six years. But it really changed my life completely. I went from a messy, untidy, and disorganised person, alway late, to a tidy one who gets up at 6 am and enjoys a flat with not many things in it. It has also changed my mindset in regards to work. It has to take time to have an impact on us.
This is what I know for sure… When I leave the house and I travel and camp in my van, I am more content than when I am at home. I find that when I’m on the road camping with only what I need, I feel completely free. My van camping mantra is “Less is More” - bring what you need not what you think you might need.
The same ideology goes for living in a home. It’s amazing how little we need yet we continue to add so much to our living space and life, which adds an abundance of stress and discontentment.
LESS IS MORE! 🙌🏼💯😃
Oh and great that you brought up gifts! Whenever I need to give gifts I try to stick to consumables so it doesn’t become a burden for the receiver.
The 3 other minimalist mentioned are males.
I recommend
The Minimal Mom
Clutterbug
A Slob comes clean
They talk about minimalism and give additional perspectives
That last step-getting stuff out of the house-is the hardest for me. I have about 6 bags of items to go to my local historical society for their annual yard sale right now. I just have to force myself to follow through and take them there on Saturday.
PS I find that the things I declutter tend to be things I got for free or very cheaply.
i got rid of so much stuff, which was great, then realised I`m just a messy old bloke with the few things I have left, so that`s what I need to work on, put the limited ammount of stuff I have left away at night so the place doesnt still look untidy in the morning!!
The factory job I work for gives me about a week off at the end of every year and I use it to declutter my whole house! Black bags help so much when I drive to donate it!
When I immigrated to my Central European ancestral homelands, I sold or gave away about 98 percent of what I own. I am glad I did that, but there is still maybe another three or four percent of my stuff I wish I could have taken with me. The cost of transport, and the amount of luggage, was the bottleneck. I took three large suitcases and two small bags. That is all. Overall, I am very glad with how things turned out.
Yes. I donate stuff. Basically to get rid of it. I called Habitat for Humanity, and they took almost everything. They didn't want the exercise equipment... so I put a sign out at the street, 'free exercise equipment' and before long, gone. It was easy to think about how much it all cost, but I had to do it, and get it gone. I did sell a couple things on the free ad in the local paper, but it took too long really, and I had to move. It all came together, and I soon got over the feeling of loss, and it felt good. I'm still working on it, and today, everything I do is intentional, but it all takes time. Thanks for your attitude, and the videos.
I have gone from a family in large a double story house, to an empty nest, widowed and now living my perfect life in a 1960 vintage camper that I completely rebuilt. I am off the power grid, rent free, and have the comforts without the excess. I live and teach in Africa with 3000 hours of sunshine each year and mild winters. My youngest son is very sentimental so was happy to take all the more cherished items. So much freedom in simplicity.
I'm so glad you talked about compromising with your spouse/partner when it comes to minimalism. My husband collect books and I am an avid crafter, so we both had to give in a little!
That's true it's just stuff not worth fighting over. We each have our own things
I struggle with online shopping, but I’ve gotten it down to filling a cart, and staring at it for at least a couple months, practicing self control, and deciding if I really am going to buy those items. IF I am, finding a time to do so when there’s actually breathing room and no bills over my head. Helps me prioritize out of all the items, like I have plenty of clothes, so I can wait on those longer and keep deciding, but I’ll have a new baby this year, so I will be getting that diaper bag I really want.
One of the things that worked the best for me was take a picture of what you find hard to let go, you have the picture as a memory ,you dont the item anymore cause you'll have the picture
Great idea!
I totally agree that it’s a process. I donated all of the most obvious things and then sat with it for 6 months. I didn’t miss those things so I went with the next most obvious things to get rid of and then sat with it for 6 months. Now I’m ready for my third purge. Each time I think it will be my last so I’m not falling for that again. In fact, if I were to move (after 26 years) there is a TON I wouldn’t take with me, so clearly it will be several more purges. I’ve finally accepted that and forgive myself.
Slimming down my wardrobe was a wonderfully idea. Like you, I have a few brands that fit really well, and I just get different colors of those items. I don't have to think about what to wear other than "pants or shorts" now. I highly recommend it!
Omg at 3:52 ... that's exactly what happens to me, lol. I only get Sunday off. By Monday, my house is trashed from me pulling everything out to declutter. By Saturday, I get everything Cleaned and start decluttering again Sunday lol. The cycle is driving me batty!!!
The last tip spoke to me. I just moved a few months ago and have a huge garage now. We are slowly decluttering and putting everything in the garage to have a yard sale this May. Anything that doesn't go in the yard sale is getting donated!
I’ve been in a 2400 square-foot house for 16 years with my husband. I started decluttering and being on the minimal journey since 2018 and I’m still almost there but not quite yet. Most people think my house looks very minimal but I know I feel closets that could be thinned out more. I’m proud of my wardrobe that it’s very small and my husband‘s walk-in closet looks beautiful now and he has fewer choices so he likes that a lot better. It takes a long time to do this. I work on it all the time.
Although I still shop the clearance racks I try to find colors and pieces that are timeless and avoid trends. This further saves me time, space and money by not shopping as often.
So true! You definately have to find your own system. When my wife and I starting decluttering, we constantly tried and used different approaches. Now, that we have come quite far, we need different systems again, since we are at a different stage of minimalism. Embrace change and keep it flexible, that would be my own advice.
Thanks for not taking yourself or your process too seriously!!! Very intelligent and honest! Bravo!
I completely agree. Some of the videos, tv shows and books about decluttering and organizing are absolutely unrealistic. It never goes so smoothly and financially can be ridiculously expensive.
Just discovered your channel last week. Not trying for a complete minimalist lifestyle, just to get rid of all the unused things I once thought were important to have. Went through my DVD collection and books twice now (love my new E-reader). I'm going to donate all of it to a local thrift shop. Also taking your advice on switching the clothes hangers and filling a box with stuff you don't need/want anymore. That way both my home and mind gets cleaned out. One extra tip: if you see something nice (decoration for your home etc.) ask yourself:, where can I put it? If you can't answer the question, leave it. Saves you money and clutter.
Thanks, Gabe - this spoke to me on so many levels, especially what you said about hoarding stuff to sell it and not getting around to it.
This is so helpful! We are moving in a few weeks and I don’t want anything to enter the house that isn’t immediately necessary. This is a big switch for me, so your channel has been a great resource!
“Ruthlessly” the key word to the entire process 😁
I can not do "put away" boxes. Many do "sell, donate, put away, trash". Problem is you keep going until exhaustion and then you have a bunch of put away boxes left over. Just grab a few things that go in that same other room and take it straight there.
I started a year ago..I'm halfway there. Definitely a process. I went from having SO much stuff,tons of stuff on my walls,& no dead spaces. I have free spaces,not so full & busy.My home looks so much bigger & less stress. I can't wait to finish it. I've given a lot away
You need to also address the why of the whole thing. It's like the difference between an addict getting clean and one in recovery. Its one thing to purge but if you dont address the why of it (the recovery portion) then it's a constant struggle. Figure out the why.
"Can I buy another one?"
This was one of the best tip my daughter shared with me for getting rid of a lot of stuff I was hanging onto. I posted my little sign, "can I buy another one?" every time I started sorting through another box or closet.
I was able to get rid of a lot of things I had been hanging onto "just in case: a box of costumes, extra Christmas decor, some children's clothing I might use someday (just don't unless you are having another baby soon, 😁), clothing that was too small, etc...
Another one is to have a ruthless decluttering partner. Mine was my grown daughter and son. They helped me so much, and we had so much fun! This in turn encouraged them to get rid of more stuff in their own homes.
No thing is more important than your serenity.
Setting a pace that doesn’t leave people scattered and exhausted.....great process!
Less is more and I'm starting to declutter, yes I'll keep some things to pass on to family but it will be up to them if they want to keep it-there is just too much stuff in this house and they belong to other family and l dont feel l can tell them what to do with their things so l start with myself as stated earlier
Thanks much for your videos.
I appreciate how you mentioned those few other channels. In terms of minimalism, finance, and happy living I consider them along with you to be the best.
Brilliant recommendation about buying one brand of clothes, for me a 'uniforn'. If something I like is marked down,I buy it in multiples because if I get sick,or it rains- I've got plenty of basics & I'm always going to need/use them. My clothes last FOREVER because of this mindset, but most of the things I wear I now stock up on at end of season, it's not sad if a favourite starts dying, because it's in 'rotation' with it's sisters! I literally never pay more than 10-25% of ticket price. Most of my basics I buy at 5-10%. Come the zombie apocalypse - I'm prepared. I apply this to cleaning & personal care products too,but I never duplicate something unless it shows up half price, & I'm likely to run out within 4wks
I know you’ll surpass 100k by the end of the year 🙌🏽 Being surrounded by an uncluttered environment gives me clarity of mind and makes me feel full of energy
Decluttering is amazing, keeping things simple truly make my mind focus more instead of wandering around...
👍 💯
I started "Sprinting" a week ago and definitely see the mess I created. :) But I am also happy for the lighter heart the boxes donated has caused. Thanks for the motivation to go on!
Same here!
I sure need this encouragement. I'm a bad procrastinator when it comes to simplifying my apartment. The kitchen, bath and pantry are the only organized rooms I have. The bedroom and living and dining room are not! "I have a big DREAM!"
Anyone else hold onto things to have a yard sale because they was expensive? I realized that my space is way more valuable.I've given nice things away to families that needed it to make their home a little nicer. Win win❤
You're right about a sprint being a problem. In one month I decluttered 2/3 of my belongings. Now I'm having to really work to build the right habits because I moved too fast to build them before.
Good tips here. I am retired and downsizing to move into a senior apartment. I have over 40 years of accumulated stuff to sort through! I used an effective technique to sort my clothes. I turned the hangers around on all my hanging garments. After a year I discard all the things that were not used and still had the hangers facing the wrong way. I do a lot of crafting so that creates a huge pile of stuff. I have decided to narrow my interests to sewing and quilting so that makes it easier to unload all the other crafty things. Local school, churches, and senior centers are great places to donate stuff like this.
When I started working more (50 hours a week) I found that my crafts stopped getting finished, and I stopped having time for my hobbies. This was also the hardest declutter of mine.
I had to be realistic about my time, and I couldn't relax at home because of it. I have decided that drawing and crocheting would be my main hobbies, though on long weekends, I do pull out the sewing machine. Only if I have enough time to complete that sewing project in one weekend.
I am significantly less overwhelmed when I come home.
Good luck. I hope the move goes well.
@@asherscottL that's a great idea!
I did not expect my spouse and kids to start decluttering. I used to feel defeated by all the stuff we owned because these extra things were just overloading the shelves, etc. I would grumble about all of it. Then I focused on MY items. Donate. Donate. Donate. Trash.
Voila-without saying a word or nagging, nearly all my family members started decluttering their own stuff, miraculous!!
ahahaha "It's A Trap!" one of the best and shortest most quotable movie moments ever 😂😂😂 i love that one so much
Minimalism impacted my economy in a big way. And I really didn’t expect that. Not that I did spend a lot of money before but it really changed how I look at money and I now save more every month
Wait, what? “100k by the end of the year” honestly I thought to myself oh man, this must be a hella old video. I’m so pleased to be here early! Production value and content is unreal! Great tips
Thanks man! I do my best to put out good stuff!
I love that ''It's a Trap!'' 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I struggle with the sprint and changing my buying habits. Its getting better but it is a journey
I feel like you are inside of my mind . Thanks for the Realness and no Bullshit
My grown up kids use my house as a luggage storage. I began putting deadlines and shuffling their things books and souvenirs to their shacks aaying " keep it or throw it away, my house is not a museum or a storage!".
Stating obvious: your transitions are so fun 😍
I started my journey towards minimalism in 2014. I'm 70 percent of where I want to be. The mental changes/growth is a huge as the pile of stuff I've shed.
Donating is the way I go. It's out of my house fast and helps someone else too. The only things I spend money on anymore is organic food and craft/art supplies. Organic food for my health and craft/art supplies for my sanity.
You are thé younger version of me. I have been in this lifestyle for many years and try to have young people think about it. I’m from another generation but I recognize soo much of you. I’m sure you get great enjoyment of the simple things in life just like me. Keep spreading your message. You won’t change the world because it’s seriously damaged. If you don’t know the story about the starfish on the stormy beach I will gladly tell it to you. You might use it in one of your videos. Keep up the good works. You make me proud
Greets
Brussels Bruno
Ps: if you want me to be a pin on your globe…I’m from … yeah Brussels,Belgium
Saw a comment recently " money already spent and gone so just get rid of clutter versus trying to hold on to things to recupe money spent
Gabe it's good to see you in the comments more. You got personality!
I absolutely love this - such practical, wise advise, an inspiration to do better and get started today. Thank you for your down-to-earth realistic conversation with us!!
'This guy has amazing hair! A soothing voice!' Wait whoa, looks like these come free with becoming a minimalist? 😉
Ron Banks is so encouraging!
I want to say ... I've watched some of your other video's but honestly.. this is the VERY BESTone so far.
because ...I love ❤ your honesty.
you have hit the nail on the head so to speak with everything you've said in this one video.
Thank You So Much!!!
Production quality per shot is SOLID, even though varied in lighting & style - well done! Oh, and solid tactical advice from the trenches :) .
Yeah I got to work on my lighting a little bit lol thanks!
It's a marathon not a sprint. Decluttering the whole cellar = overwhelming. Decluttering one shelf in the cellar everyday = doable.
I declutter and organise professionally, and I have found that many people need to organise first (unless they easily know they dont want it), see that they dont need 10 pairs of scissors and then they are able to confidently let things go.
Sometimes when we are bored, we just want time to pass. *Don't watch the clock and waste time, do what it does. Keep going...*
I wish I could do the clothing one but I'm a musician and a teacher so versatility is KEY depending on the performance.
This was so me, now I just chill and enjoy the declutter journey, finally. LOL :)
My favorite saying anymore as I’m trying harder to have less. Less is best! Thanks for all the advice.
For #6: I Actually started my journey in december 2021 but as a 16 yrs old with hoarder parents i can declutter my room only and keep doing it constantly and then keeping watching different videos to get more ideas to secretly declutter my whole house or convince my parents to do it so I can't help but doing nothing because I am just not allowed to declutter lol
While decluttering my basement, I found a large (16x23) photo of my dad as a child. I didn’t have the best relationship with him. What to do with the photo? My siblings, when I asked them, responded with crickets. His friends weren’t interested. I couldn’t just throw it away. Then I came up with the perfect solution, for me. I will remove it from the frame (which is broken, anyway), and bury it in the backyard. Funny, I had no problem tossing little photos, but couldn’t just throw this one out.
Precious insight I really needed it. I've been so overwhelmed now I got the right mindset to do it the right way thank you so much God bless you
Thank you, Gabe for the ideas an vids on your journey. I retired a year ago and started my journey after 40yrs of homeownership, still work in progress with stalls n starts, but the process is working! All the best to you an your family.
I manage and run my home. My husband has the garage and yard. It works well.
Here's a little suggestion... stop spending money! All you need to spend money on it's a roof over your head and food in your belly. As far as your house goes, how many rooms are you actually in Daily? I'm downsizing for the third time. This time I'm going for a studio / efficiency because I do not do the bedroom. Thanks for your advice and taking time for this video.
@Dan Swildens lol
Neil Schipper, I also believe minimalism is the way to go...so agree that we can do with a lot less than we think we can many times.
Decluttering should definitely be personal to oneself just do what feels right for you I declutter all the time because I enjoy it makes my home easier to clean I find clothes the hardest but finally got my wardrobe down to a small capsule wardrobe only buying what I need now .As a child my mother would only buy me clothes when needed and would refuse to buy ontrend clothes I rebelled when I left home and always had a fear of not having enough clothes but as iam now older I realise its a huge waste of money and if iam careful I can still look trendy only trouble is if I have to go to an occasion I never have any thing suitable to wear lol
One tip I remember reading/watching online is: the clothes you do wear, after washing it & hanging it up again, turn the hanger the opposite direction, that way at the end of the month or year (or whatever time frame you choose), you'll see what you actually wear & what you don't, & may be better in helping you decide what to get rid of...
Love love LOVE your editing 💕
Thanks!
Decluttering the refrigerator helps to have less stress and consider how taste buds change.
Problem area for me is the fridge. If I hide the food... out of site, out of mind. 😏
Matt is crazy and definitely running out of material but none the less one of the first people I watched when getting into this mindset shift. Much happier now then I’ve ever been with much less wasted space and income.
Oh, I get it: don't buy anything, become generous and wear the same boring clothes, right? Just pulling your leg :) Bravo to you - the living proof that we can all get there in the end. Thanks. Hugs, Anouche.
Outstanding video gabe? Keeping them comming
You're correct about people being angry when you don't keep what the gave you. Control issue in my opinion.
I did the same thing but with books. Eventually after writing down systems and them failing for me, I found my own system with decluttering and organizing. I'm confident enough now to just apply one or two techniques naturally when I get off track.
Awesome! Yea it's just a process to find whats right
@@GabeBult I used to get my righteousness from having a clean home? Those shackles are gone.
Wow thanks for this new video. soooo informative!
🙏 that's the goal!
Thanks a lot Gabe, this is really a tremendous help, and I practice it after watching your video, my car is full and ready to go to Goodwill. Kudus!!!
Well chosen color scheme for this time in New England. 🎨
1 day 1 room 1 box-1 drawer .1 closet. Got it 👍🏽
Throw the idea of a whole house or even room declutter out the window if you work a 40+ hour job. 1 drawer, 1 shelf, or 1 cabinet per day. No more. You'll be shocked how effective this approach is. As for saving stuff to sell, set a minimal threshold. For me, I've determined that anything under $25 isn't worth the hassle
Your videos are very therapeutic for me thank you!
About to give you another method to try if you haven't. Dana K White has a decluttering without making a mess method that's all about progress, ONLY progress. That's very helpful for the burnout.
Its true. Changing spending habits is the key. Otherwise its a vicious cycle.
As usual very useful vlog.Thank you so much 🙏
Thank you!