Comments on: Minimalist inspirations http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html Becoming debt-free is the first step to building a better world. Financial independence is the second. Doing what YOU want is the third. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:07:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-18687 Tom Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:04:10 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-18687 Sometimes I think "Minimalist" gets carried away too far. There are some things that really are practical and prevent me from living in two suitcases, as it has been mentioned. I appreciate the idea but don't think it can be taken literally. There are great ideas here, but at a certain point you can start to diminish your quality of life and health by going too minimal. The fact that people have material wants is what creates an economy, even Robinson Crusoe's. To simply exit society is not a sustainable goal anymore than burning rain forests. Think what happens if 50% of Chicago decided to go live in a van. Sometimes I think “Minimalist” gets carried away too far. There are some things that really are practical and prevent me from living in two suitcases, as it has been mentioned. I appreciate the idea but don’t think it can be taken literally.

There are great ideas here, but at a certain point you can start to diminish your quality of life and health by going too minimal.

The fact that people have material wants is what creates an economy, even Robinson Crusoe’s. To simply exit society is not a sustainable goal anymore than burning rain forests. Think what happens if 50% of Chicago decided to go live in a van.

]]> By: Daniele http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-18681 Daniele Sun, 12 Dec 2010 11:18:03 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-18681 Can't agree more about minimalist lifestyle! I did an experiment months ago: getting rid of 1 object a day for 30 days: http://www.danielebesana.com/blog/lang/en/2010/06/23/experiment-1-less-is-more :) Ciao D Can’t agree more about minimalist lifestyle!

I did an experiment months ago: getting rid of 1 object a day for 30 days:
http://www.danielebesana.com/blog/lang/en/2010/06/23/experiment-1-less-is-more
:)

Ciao
D

]]> By: Chris V. http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-18675 Chris V. Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:11:17 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-18675 I love it! I tell people the best health insurance is to be healthy. You can spend thousands a year so that heroic and expensive medicine can keep your sick body from dieing, but it takes a small fraction of that to keep a healthy body healthy. Eating well and exercise are the best health insurance. I love it! I tell people the best health insurance is to be healthy. You can spend thousands a year so that heroic and expensive medicine can keep your sick body from dieing, but it takes a small fraction of that to keep a healthy body healthy. Eating well and exercise are the best health insurance.

]]> By: Amanda L Grossman http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-18674 Amanda L Grossman Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:45:54 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-18674 Interesting post! I do enjoy minimalism, just like the Japanese. I think we are more like hermit crabs though...carrying everything we own on our backs. Interesting post! I do enjoy minimalism, just like the Japanese.

I think we are more like hermit crabs though…carrying everything we own on our backs.

]]> By: My Personal Finance Journey http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-18670 My Personal Finance Journey Sat, 11 Dec 2010 21:47:11 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-18670 Very interesting stuff! This is my first time to your website and am eager to read more! I think being a minimal and cutting down to the things in life that follow along with our life values are what makes the most difference. Very interesting stuff! This is my first time to your website and am eager to read more! I think being a minimal and cutting down to the things in life that follow along with our life values are what makes the most difference.

]]> By: Little House http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-18668 Little House Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:51:58 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-18668 I fantasize about living much more simplistically. I've been a huge fan of Tumbleweed Homes for a few years now and am pretty sure I could ditch most of my stuff and live in one of them comfortably. However, I'm not so sure my husband could, so we need to find a happy medium in the next few years. I fantasize about living much more simplistically. I’ve been a huge fan of Tumbleweed Homes for a few years now and am pretty sure I could ditch most of my stuff and live in one of them comfortably. However, I’m not so sure my husband could, so we need to find a happy medium in the next few years.

]]> By: Does A Minimalist Lifestyle Breed Laziness? http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-11625 Does A Minimalist Lifestyle Breed Laziness? Sat, 15 May 2010 14:48:23 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-11625 [...] Blog asks Is it More Frugal to be a Minimalist or a Hoarder? Early Retirement Extreme talks about Minimalist Inspirations and The Girl With The Red Balloon shows us her Minimalist Underwear [...] [...] Blog asks Is it More Frugal to be a Minimalist or a Hoarder? Early Retirement Extreme talks about Minimalist Inspirations and The Girl With The Red Balloon shows us her Minimalist Underwear [...]

]]> By: Patrick http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-2549 Patrick Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:43:34 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-2549 Regarding Maslow's hierarchy: I think you need to take another look. It was never intended to be a ranking in order of importance, with physiological needs being the least important. Regarding Maslow’s hierarchy: I think you need to take another look. It was never intended to be a ranking in order of importance, with physiological needs being the least important.

]]> By: DNA http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-863 DNA Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:59:21 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-863 I love Seinfeld's joke, "Why don't dogs carry cash? Because they don't have pockets." So your point about animal examples is really important to me; something I think about every day, with the wild ones particularly admirable. I think this is why I'm not afraid of death--the thought that I or other loved ones go through what the squirrels in the trees face too. And, of course, they live minimally. But then there is the news item I recently saw about squirrels living in a cemetery appropriating those little American flags people put on graves to line their nests! I love Seinfeld’s joke, “Why don’t dogs carry cash? Because they don’t have pockets.”

So your point about animal examples is really important to me; something I think about every day, with the wild ones particularly admirable. I think this is why I’m not afraid of death–the thought that I or other loved ones go through what the squirrels in the trees face too.

And, of course, they live minimally. But then there is the news item I recently saw about squirrels living in a cemetery appropriating those little American flags people put on graves to line their nests!

]]> By: The Chad http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-858 The Chad Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:12:35 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-858 Get a job hippie! :-D Good stuff Jacob. Funny that I'm reading this now as I've been "cleaning out the closet" for the past couple of weeks. I'm also getting ready to buy road tires/wheels for my mtn bike! Get a job hippie! :-D
Good stuff Jacob. Funny that I’m reading this now as I’ve been “cleaning out the closet” for the past couple of weeks. I’m also getting ready to buy road tires/wheels for my mtn bike!

]]> By: Shanti @ Antishay Ventenne http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-855 Shanti @ Antishay Ventenne Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:59:07 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-855 Very interesting post! I like the tie you made between the necessities and our footprint. I also really enjoy how you worked up from animal and then on to the increasing levels of things we can have to make up our needs. Very good, very compelling. Thank you :) Very interesting post! I like the tie you made between the necessities and our footprint. I also really enjoy how you worked up from animal and then on to the increasing levels of things we can have to make up our needs. Very good, very compelling. Thank you :)

]]> By: Hannah http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-854 Hannah Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:55:33 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-854 It's interesting how you place the physiological needs (health and basic shelter) at the top in terms of importance, rather than the bottom, as Maslow does in his hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, the bottom-most portion is physiological, then safety needs, social needs (that is to say social approval) and so on, and at the very top is self-actualization. I'd say most of modern America conceptualizes this pyramid in a consumer sense. First: meet basic needs. Then spend money to impress/peer approval/status/fashion/trends. Buy on credit, pay later! And self-actualization would naturally then be... whoever has the biggest and newest toys! I like how you reframe what is important.. physiological needs must be met with the most economic utility in order to free up time and resources for self-actualization, not the other way around. And you're right in that the most important things can't be bought on the consumer market, such as intelligence, free time, and health. You would sometimes mention how your goal is to maximize your independence. So is it safe to assume that self-actualization for you is self-sufficiency? And is that a means to an end (some project or life goal) or is that an end in and of itself (achievement in mastering the self and one's willpower)? Either way, I think it is a very worthwhile and admirable goal to have, especially in a society of people who kill themselves to out-consume their neighbors. It’s interesting how you place the physiological needs (health and basic shelter) at the top in terms of importance, rather than the bottom, as Maslow does in his hierarchy of needs.
According to Maslow, the bottom-most portion is physiological, then safety needs, social needs (that is to say social approval) and so on, and at the very top is self-actualization. I’d say most of modern America conceptualizes this pyramid in a consumer sense. First: meet basic needs. Then spend money to impress/peer approval/status/fashion/trends. Buy on credit, pay later! And self-actualization would naturally then be… whoever has the biggest and newest toys!

I like how you reframe what is important.. physiological needs must be met with the most economic utility in order to free up time and resources for self-actualization, not the other way around. And you’re right in that the most important things can’t be bought on the consumer market, such as intelligence, free time, and health. You would sometimes mention how your goal is to maximize your independence. So is it safe to assume that self-actualization for you is self-sufficiency? And is that a means to an end (some project or life goal) or is that an end in and of itself (achievement in mastering the self and one’s willpower)? Either way, I think it is a very worthwhile and admirable goal to have, especially in a society of people who kill themselves to out-consume their neighbors.

]]> By: KillerRoo http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-853 KillerRoo Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:08:44 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-853 Though it may be too extreme for some, these homes seem like a nice alternative for someone wanting to live a minimalist lifestyle. I just purchased a home (traditional) before finding out about these; and I currently have a roommate, but I hope to someday have such a small footprint. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ Though it may be too extreme for some, these homes seem like a nice alternative for someone wanting to live a minimalist lifestyle. I just purchased a home (traditional) before finding out about these; and I currently have a roommate, but I hope to someday have such a small footprint.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

]]> By: KillerRoo http://earlyretirementextreme.com/minimalist-inspirations.html/comment-page-1#comment-852 KillerRoo Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:05:54 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-852 Excellent post! This made me think of something I recently read about: Extremely-small-footprint homes. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ It may be too drastic for some, but for the true minimalist these home seem to be a great compromise (except for the shipping of the houses if you don't build them yourself). Excellent post! This made me think of something I recently read about: Extremely-small-footprint homes.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
It may be too drastic for some, but for the true minimalist these home seem to be a great compromise (except for the shipping of the houses if you don’t build them yourself).

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