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It depends on the type of thing you're trying to minimise. A low-cost lifestyle is not synonymous with a minimalist one, they are related goals but different on

by qntm 16y ago

It depends on the type of thing you're trying to minimise. A low-cost lifestyle is not synonymous with a minimalist one, they are related goals but different on a practical level. Some kinds of minimalism can be very expensive. Replacing your car with a bike and a set of walking shoes will save you a tonne of money. But it might incur more effort and planning. There'll be times when the weather is rough or the distance is too great or time is too short, when having a car would have been (more money but) much less hassle. Replacing all your books with a Kindle will probably cost you because you have to buy your books all over again (you'll probably wind up in the red even if you sell all your physical books second-hand). Does going to restaurants instead of keeping food at home count as "minimalism"?

futuremint 16y ago
I think this article (and some of your points too) are conflating minimalism with simplicity. Minimalist is buying 1 Kindle and putting all of your books on it and then selling them. This is more expensive. Simple is keeping your books you want to read again and getting rid of books you've read and aren't going to read to reduce your bookshelf space. Then get a library card and check out books to read from there. Less $ and simpler, though not necessarily the most minimalist you can be. I think minimalism is one aspect of simplicity, but not the only one. Simplicity also involves practicality, economics, sustainability, etc.
- qntm 16y ago
  In a nutshell, I aim for a life with the fewest variables. I'll admit that "minimalist" doesn't fully cover this. Possibly "simplicity" doesn't either.
jfager 16y ago
All of that is fine, I agree, but his statement was stronger than "minimalism might cost more if you do it a certain way", it was "saving money is not a legitimate motivation for minimalism". The latter is what I disagree with. This is running the risk of turning into semantic wanking over the meaning of "minimalism", so I'm going to shut up now.

by qntm 16y ago

futuremint 16y ago

I think this article (and some of your points too) are conflating minimalism with simplicity. Minimalist is buying 1 Kindle and putting all of your books on it and then selling them. This is more expensive. Simple is keeping your books you want to read again and getting rid of books you've read and aren't going to read to reduce your bookshelf space. Then get a library card and check out books to read from there. Less $ and simpler, though not necessarily the most minimalist you can be. I think minimalism is one aspect of simplicity, but not the only one. Simplicity also involves practicality, economics, sustainability, etc.

qntm 16y ago
In a nutshell, I aim for a life with the fewest variables. I'll admit that "minimalist" doesn't fully cover this. Possibly "simplicity" doesn't either.

jfager 16y ago

All of that is fine, I agree, but his statement was stronger than "minimalism might cost more if you do it a certain way", it was "saving money is not a legitimate motivation for minimalism". The latter is what I disagree with. This is running the risk of turning into semantic wanking over the meaning of "minimalism", so I'm going to shut up now.