If you haven’t used it in the past year, get rid of it.
If you haven’t used something in the past year, chances are you probably won’t use it this year, and the unlikeliness of utility will just compound year after year after year.
So… you can safely say “sayonara” to your stuff.
In my quest for minimalism and simplicity, one of the first areas of my life I looked to reduce was my wallet.
I’ve never kept a titanic trifold, but it was always big enough to bother me when I sat down… forcing me to wag myself into a position where it wasn’t as much of a pain in the butt (literally).
Keeping it in my front pockets hasn’t been an option the past couple years because that would compromise the nice fades I’ve got going on with my jeans… no way I would ever ruin them with some bogus wallet fade.
After some searching on mnmlist (the guide to all things minimal), I came across the solution:
I was sold. I didn’t think there was any way a “wallet” could get any more unobtrusive than that. I confidently clicked away $5 and eagerly awaited the day my money-band would arrive in the mail.
When it finally came, I felt like I used to on Christmas mornings when I’d rip open a present in hopes of a new video game, only to find socks…
… I thought the money-band was going to be made of some fancy stretchy material, devised by a team of chemists and physicists, fabricated for the sole purpose of being the single greatest money holding device known to man…
… but it’s just a dinky rubber-band. I paid $5 for a rubber-band.
Some son of a gun was able to reposition a rubber-band (a 2 cent product) as a cutting edge $3.99 product and I fell for it.
Well played.
In any case, it does its job. I now only carry 1 debit card, my license, and less than $20 in cash, all snuggly held together by my money-band.
This bundle is extremely light weight and I often have to double check to make sure it’s still in my pocket… that’s how discreet it is.
It is kind of awkward getting your money out the first few times you use it though… you have to get used to pulling the band off and not fumbling your cash and cards looking like the dufus I did the first time I used it.
It’s only supposed to last upwards of a year before it deteriorates, as it is just a rubber-band. I’ll probably end up getting another one after mine breaks… I don’t think it’s worth the time to scavenge for a similarly sized rubber band at Staples when this one fulfills my needs.
If you end up getting one or start using a rubber-band, let me know what you think.
… and don’t let Constanza influence you otherwise.
-Adam
9:14 PM
Temperate, light rain
Philadelphia, PA
Chariots Of Fire
(play the song… trust me, it will create atmosphere)
Tang has no place in my cupboard.
I have eluded the Ramen noodle diet.
And I did not resort to 1 ply toilet paper.
I have successfully pulled myself from the brink of financial ruin and once again above the poverty line.
(I jest, but seriously, I have more than $4 in my wallet now… more like $20.)
Sorry for the hiatus from the “I’m Broke” saga, but with finals, graduation, and a sheer lack a focus, I failed to produce any content for this website. To make up for 2 weeks of stagnant space, this post will be extra good.
In short, I was able to go from $30 to somewhere around $850 in 2 weeks without a job and only “working” part time hours.
There are two ways I consider to go about making or creating money:
1. Indirectly Making Money
2. Directly Making Money
Let me explain the difference between the two…
I regard indirect methods of making money to be tasks that don’t yield money at the current time, but can potentially produce money in the future.
For example, going to school. You learn skills with the thought that those competencies will help you earn money in the future. Putting those skills to use is what I would call directly making money; that is to use what you know in a job type setting.
I am very oriented towards indirectly making money. I like to learn new things, hone my skills, spend time perfecting projects.
None of that stuff puts money into your wallet.
What I realized is that I needed to spend more time of my day applying some of my abilities to earn money.
In other words, I needed to make an active effort to chase after money. Simple as that.
Either you (1) use your talents to provide a service or (2) sell a product. Those are the main two options you have.
While I did get a part time job where I will be of service, I haven’t actually started receiving any money from that yet or really delved into the work I will be doing.
Instead, I sold stuff.
Over the past couple months, I’ve realized truly how much stuff I have. It’s really that… just “stuff.”
I’ve got way too many material possessions that I rarely use. I’ve worn 1 pair of jeans the past year. I only have maybe a half dozen video games that I play on rare occasion. I’ve stopped watching television while at my apartment.
80% of the things in my possession haven’t been touched in a blue moon. Upon coming to terms with this reality, I decided to eschew these materials which clutter my life.
It can be difficult to do this, as when you own something for a long time you become psychologically attached to it; it becomes part of your self. Getting rid of something like an old loved stuffed animal could be akin to losing an appendage for some people.
I’ve been pretty much able to climb over that psychological barrier. Some things I won’t be able to get rid of the first time I contemplate whether I really need it or not, but on second or third thought I will come to terms.
Here’s some of the things I’ve said sayonara to the past dozen days…
I actually haven’t even sold any of my CDs or DVDs yet, but they are sitting in my closet at home waiting to go. I’m probably only about half way done going through my things too, I’m sure I’ll realize there are more items I have that I don’t need. I’ll be busy for at least another week or two cleaning shop.
It actually feels great for me to get rid of my old things… it’s a freeing feeling.
I don’t think we realize how controlled by our material possessions that we really can be. It makes me want to live a lot more minimalistic lifestyle.
The things you own do not make you happy.
What makes you happy are the things you do and the people you interact with.
Those things become clearer when you own less substance. The mind has less white noise to cancel out, in essence, and can concentrate more efficiently.
And of course when undergoing this process of minimalizing, if you ever realize you tossed something you cannot live without… just buy a new one.
Stay dry,
Adam
P.S. Drop me a comment and let me know your thoughts on living a minimalistic lifestyle… I’d love to hear some people’s takes on this.
