Pros and Cons of Being a Minimalist

Growing up, we did not have a lot of money. My parents taught us about saving things that would have gone to waste. I still love this principle, to use something to its fullest, but as I moved out of my childhood home, I have learned something about myself that I never knew. I hate stuff! Too many knickknacks make me feel uneasy and cluttered. Why surround myself with something that does not bring me joy? I am not saying that life should be a bed of roses. If I can make my life a little more simple, I do it! What are the pros and cons of living a minimalistic life?

Pros of Being a Minimalist

1. What surrounds you is what you love. I have heard people say everything you own takes up a little bit of your time. What do you want to feel up your day? Are the things that surround you the most important?
2. It is a lot easier to keep your house clean! The fewer things you own, the easier it is to keep a tidy existence. It is always nice to have a neat home! At the end of the day, I can sit down because my space is clean and ready for the next day.
3. There is less replacement if there is nothing there. I never have to worry about replacing batteries in toys and remotes if I do not have them. My kids cannot break fancy family heirlooms if they are not in existence. Do you want less on your to-do list? Minimalism might be for you.
4. You can choose how far you take it. I do not live in a hole on the side of a hill! Yes, I do live with the general necessities and even some things that are not necessarily essential for living. How far would you want to go as a minimalist?
5. People often comment on how they like my home. It is always so clean! People also notice the small decorations I place around our home more than you would in a place with so many knickknacks hanging around.
6. "Things" do not need to take over your life. You are in control of the items you own it should not be the other way around! If you are finding that you are overwhelmed with your things. Then it is time to take control and get rid of distractions taking up your precious time. You are in control!
7. You know what you have. Have you ever lost a pair of scissors and found them after buying a new one? Or you may find you had a whole other bottle of shampoo hidden in the back of a cupboard that you had forgotten was there? Or do you have papers from second-grade spelling test stuff away in a box that has not seen the light of day for over 15 years? Those are still things that take up space, even if you do not recognize that they do.
8. You do not have to be wasteful. You quickly find things that you would never use again. There are so many thrift stores that would be grateful for your donations. In other words, by going through your home and donating things that you do not use, you have helped someone out they may not be able to afford it.
9. You can find clothes in your closet. Have you ever gone through your closet and found an old shirt you have not worn for two years? I know I used to do this all the time. Cutting down on your close to only keep items that you love and use will save you a lot of headaches.
10. You teach your children that life is not all about what you can and can not buy but to enjoy what they have. Do you have a child that is entitled? Our oldest has struggled with entitlement. It is still a work in progress but helping her realize that her life is perfect the way it is without feeling it with knickknacks. It does not mean taking away every toy child has. We have just decided to limit how much our kids have. Making a world of difference in their playing and interactions with each other.
11. You save money. Shopping is fun. But what is even better is window shopping. You do not have to buy something to appreciate it. My husband and I often love walking around the store to look at merchandise. We rarely buy anything unless we consider it for a long time. This saves us a lot of money and space in our home.

Cons of Being a Minimalist 

1. Sometimes I get rid of items I could have used in two years. That means I have to go out and buy a new pair of dress shoes or color of paint that I had bought two years prior and had discarded or donated objects.
2. If your spouse is not on the same page, it can cause marriage problems. I met a couple where the husband was clean and did not like keeping things. On the other hand, his wife was more of a packrat. The couple's marriage suffered because of the arguments they had about how they should tidy their home. Finding the perfect balance may be hard for family members.
3. Kids may rebound. I am afraid that our kids will go crazy after they leave home. Are they going to become hoarders because we cut back on objects at home? For example, I have a friend that grew up with very little money. She loved drinking soda when her family could afford it every couple of months. After leaving home, she decided that soda was her thing and will not live without it. She drinks unhealthy amounts of soda now as a rebound.
4. Some may say that their happiness comes from souvenirs, shopping, and hoarding. It is hard to keep up with the new purchases that you make as a stress shopper or hoarder.
5. Other people see an "empty" house and try to give you stuff. What do you do?
6. Extended family and friend may not approve.  "You got rid of that! That was a gift from your great-grandma's cousin." I think it is safe to say, you get the point.

"Our goal is to help the world make decisions with a list of Pros and Cons. We invite all to add to our lists to help others make the most educated decision possible. We are all in this world together to help each other and learn from what others have learned from their lives journey." - Pros and Cons Team

Written By: Sarah