I found minimalism about two and a half years ago, and I’ve been traveling the world for about two years now. This is how minimalism helps me travel the world.
The Stuff
Being a minimalist to me means that I have only the stuff I need and nothing more. The challenging part of this is finding out how much or how little I actually need. Either way, I can easily fit everything I need in a backpack, which makes it easy to travel the world full time. I travel carry-on only, which means that I am not only traveling light physically, but I’m saving a ton of money on checked baggage (and a bunch of hassle when getting to and from the airport).
The Financial Side
Minimalism has helped me figure out the best ways to spend all of my resources, including my time, money, and energy. When I turned to the minimalist way of life, I decided that my 9-5 job was not making me happy and taking up way too much of my precious time. Life is short, and I am not about to spend 3/4 of it bored, in an office without a window. I saved quickly and persistently for five months, then quit my job and left the country, with just a backpack and a passport. Having a year of travel and no income is a great way to teach yourself how to budget – I knew that if I wanted to make it for a whole year without going home to get another job, I’d have to be good with money. And I was.
The Mindset
So many people tell me that they could never be minimalist because it feels like they are depriving themselves. They think that minimalism is all about saying no when you want to say yes. I think of it as the opposite – you are saying no to things that you don’t want to say yes to things that you do. I started saying no to happy hours with coworkers I didn’t like, invitations to events I didn’t want to attend, and weekend shopping sprees at Target, so that I could say yes to something I wanted even more – a lifestyle filled with passport stamps, new cultures, exotic food, and valued friendships. Minimalism helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
Giving Back
Though I don’t agree that it’s necessary to work 9-5 to give back to society, I first felt like I was lost and ungrounded. I was traveling and experiencing so much; I was learning and growing, but I wasn’t sharing this knowledge with others. I eventually started a website and youtube channel about my journey and what I learned along the way, and even wrote an ebook. I have worked abroad in one country (soon to be two), and I have plans to go on volunteer trips when I can save up enough money to do so. Before minimalism, I was giving my time and energy to building a business that wasn’t part of my vision. Now, I’m giving back to the world in terms of time, resources, and information.
Minimalism led me from an unfulfilled life to an exciting adventure. I’m so grateful for finding this lifestyle when I did – I’ve benefitted from it greatly.
Your Turn!
- How has minimalist living impacted your life?
Really enjoyed your blog. I wish I had seen this 25 years ago when I was much younger and could go backpacking. I am trying to practice minimalism although I have not been successful and getting rid of of all the items and clutter. I believe it is a slow process when you have a family. Although I have implemented one clear strategy, I no longer have people gift clutter to me. I only request that they gift services I can use and experience. I am in Bay area, CA and I use GiftVolo to share Wish List of services I want or list of Favorite Service Providers so that people only gift me what I need. I have received salon/spa treatments, summer camps for my daughter, art classes and wine tasting. This ensures I truly enjoy the gift.
Always taught the four kids growing up that your fun comes from watching the throttle on the everyday dollar spending. The lights, heat, wasted trips slurping needless gallons of gas can be tightened up. Walking enhances the experience if time is not so crunched from an overbooked life preventing it. It is an attitude of being frugal, not cheap. To live in gentile poverty free of being saddled with debt.