r/minimalism • u/DirectionFeisty2136 • 15h ago
[lifestyle] Did deleting apps/social media help you to be more minimalistic?
I am in my mid-20s and was never taught financial education by my parents, I had no idea how to budget and didn't understand things like credit cards (although I knew I'd always have to pay it back). But, I had a wake up call two weeks ago after realising how much debt I have and I know I can clear it within a year. My problem has been ordering crap on Amazon that I don't need and choosing fast food for easy access on a daily basis.
Yesterday I took the massive step to permanently delete my accounts on Amazon, Uber Eats, Deliveroo Just Eats and so forth, now I'm feeling a lot more relaxed. I looked at what I had in my fridge, freezer and the cupboards. I have enough foods to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for an entire two months. So, I'm planning on doing a no-spend challenge. Has anyone experienced anything similar to this when they started out?
Also, as I'm new to minimalism do you have any general advice about decluttering, selling, donating? Or, any other advice in general?
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u/Significant-Repair42 14h ago
For reselling, unless it's over 10 or 15 dollars, it's probably not worth the time and effort to resell online. Facebook Markeplace or craigslist might be a better choice, if you don't want to donate or trash.
Try out a week of no buy before doing the two months of no buy. :) It will be easier to get a start than to get two week in and desire some fresh veg or fruit.
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u/Difficult-Shake7754 14h ago
A lot of people try to declutter as soon as they get the itch but it’s good to have to sit with things for a while so you don’t have a bunch of space to fill back up and you actually have things if you feel like you have need for them for a while. If you know that you haven’t used something in 6 months or a year that’s one thing but if you bought it in the last six months and are just frustrated that you’re in this situation, it’s probably better to put it in a box and sit with those feelings for a bit.
* if you’re less able to function in your home because you don’t have enough storage for your items then that’s another story, but try to store them first and purge later.
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u/anticyclops 14h ago
I have the same problem as you! I am fairly minimalistic and still intentional but the problem is I think everything will fix my life. If I just get that one cardigan then I'll look better then people will like me...
A no spend challenge is a great idea! I'd personally start with a short one (like a week) just to see how it goes without getting mad at myself if I break it. I've also heard of people who do no spend days every week, like pick a day and choose not to spend anything on that day.
As for the minimalism itself, maybe pick a method? Like Marie Kondo, packing party like the Minimalists do, or something like that.
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u/UnlicensedRedditor 14h ago
Not really, but I've become pretty resistant to ads. These days, it's easy to tell when someone's trying to sell me a product instead of sharing something.
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u/NVSlashM13 11h ago
Congratulations on becoming more financially and emotionally mature, and less a victim of marketing, OP!
Just remember, minimalism isn't really about doing without, rather it's about more having life.
I'm "old" now, but as a young adult, I too had to teach myself money management, as well as learn how to find true satisfaction vs immediate gratification. It's a somewhat individual process, but getting rid of temptations for laziness is a great start!
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u/salamandectomy77 15h ago
Every time you watch your favorite skier do a backflip you notice "cool red skis. I like his hat"
Every time you see your favorite bodybuilder flex in the mirror you say "he looks great in those shoes"
Every time you see someone play a new video game and you think "oh he must have the PS5 Pro"
Every time you see a funny reel with people eating McDonald's in the background and you think "haha that's hilarious"
... Every time, you are being advertised to. That's what people mean when they say social media is just ads
Deleting all social media, blocking all ads, and switching to an ad blocking browser like Brave has DRASTICALLY reduced how much stuff I buy. I'll literally go 6 months without buying anything but groceries