20 Simple Rules to Own Less Stuff | Minimalism & Simple Living

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In today's video, I share my 20 simple rules to own less stuff. These are great, because they're easy to do, but they will automatically result in you owning less stuff and less clutter in your home. So whether you want to pursue minimalism, simple living, or just save money and spend less, this video will have some helpful ideas. Enjoy!

Lots of love,
🌼 Vera

VIDEO CHAPTERS
Why these rules are helpful 0:00
Numbers 1 through 10 00:56
Shoutout to today's sponsor 7:32
Numbers 11 through 12 8:52
Special announcement 15:30

FIRST TIME HERE? Welcome. This is a place where you can get weekly tips and inspiration for living a simpler, happier and calmer life. With this channel, I want to give everyone the opportunity to take a little break, to get inspired and to take care. We deserve to. Thank you for joining our community and subscribing, feel free to say hi if you’d like!

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[charlottea.]

Great tips! Sometimes, I can tell that I'm desperately looking for something to buy (due to stress, boredom, frustration, you name it). When that happens, I allow myself some wiggle room and either buy a cute sticker or two (that I will eventually use and that occupy virtually no space) or I buy a new tea flavor or something that I will definitely consume within a couple of weeks. That approach is to be used carefully, obviously, but it does help me avoid bigger purchases on occasion.

[denisecarpenter]

I like to take pictures with my phone of beautiful things I want instead of buying them. I go back and look at them and enjoy that. It feels like I “own” them. And if I really still want it later on, I can get it but I usually forget about it after capturing it in a photo.

[gwenj]

One way I limit my buying is by limiting the brands I buy. For example, I only have one brand of shoes and purses that I will buy. I've found they work well for me and it stops me looking at any purses or shoes in stores. Shoes and purses used to be big temptation for me.

[merandasomnolentgamer]

One of the ways I use my wishlist is that I reference it when sales and coupons come up. If I want to shop a sale or use a coupon, it has to be an item from my wishlist!

[ashleycomer]

Love the portrait of Daenerys Targaryen! Well done, especially for a first! :)

[Bessie]

I find that buying the best kitchen items I can afford has saved me lots buy not repeat buying as they last longer

[MrsMessalina]

Vera, you are like a ray of sunshine!! The way you speak is so calming for my mental health, 😍I love your videos and the tips you share.

[lizzabbott]

I recently helped my daughter with her major, out-of-state move. Her home was never cluttered. But she did have a couple large closets that became stuffed to the brim over time. Ditto some pretty full cupboards. A lot of new stuff had come in over recent years, , what with her getting married & having a baby. So boy did they ever purge a lot right before this move !! Several trips to donation cntrs, facebook posts about free stuff available to pick up ( including furniture), items to a consignment shop, & yepp … more than usual garbage thrown out that last week B4 the move. And I bet they wouldn't mind letting go of even more ! So I am filling my own donation boxes at my home now, giving things away, & listing things to sell. I declutter pretty faithfully & yet … could def declutter more !! So I am !

[missroyalbtch]

“Can I rent / borrow it??” is also a rule I use to stay minimalist. There are so many things you can rent or borrow from a friend (tools, a dress, a book, party decor). Love the great list of rules you have - some are new to me that I’ll be sure to try! 🤗❤️

[gretchendoyle]

I’m constantly looking around for things to declutter, but lately I’ve been doing a big cleanout. I was watching Hoarders and felt envious of having a big dumpster to just toss stuff in. I thought of getting one myself but decided I’d feel guilty about not donating. But I’m still imagining I have one. I think, “do I really want to just toss this in the dumpster and never think about it again?” If the answer is yes, then into the trash or donation box. So that’s my tip. Imagine having a dumpster.

[feanorianmaglor]

Great tips. Gift giving and receiving is a bit of an issue for us. My husband and I stopped giving each other stuff for gifts long ago. For birthdays, we go out to our favourite restaurant. We've never bought into the whole silly Valentine's thing, so we don't even exchange Valentine cards. and for Christmas presents, we try to arrange an experience together, like a couples massage or a weekend away with a cookery class. We prefer to save up and spend our money on experiences not clutter for the home. I have tried to get the whole family onboard, but it doesn't work! So our children and parents receive items as gifts, though we also gift experiences or things they can consume, such as tea or hot chocolate assortments, wine or food hampers. The truth is that as a family, we are very privileged to be in the position not to really need anything, so it's not even easy to think of appropriate gifts. The big occasions are about getting together for a nice meal, catching up, and playing silly games. That's what makes the memories.

[goodwin.the.wizard]

Love your videos for their calming atmosphere! You always make my day a bit nicer 🙂

[Marijuuh]

Ik kijk inmiddels al een tijdje naar je video’s en heb tot nu toe nog niet gereageerd. Maar vandaag vond ik het moment, je hebt mij enorm geïnspireerd. Na 2, 5 week door al mijn spullen gegaan te zijn kan ik nu enorm genieten van mijn huisje en de spullen die ik graag om mij heen wil hebben.

Ga zo door, je hebt er een volger bij 😌

[mrs.rowland]

Tip #3 was really IT.
I knew the version of "it is was ruined, would you be relieved to let I go?" -- but in all honesty, most of the time I actually cannot separate this from the guilt of having ruining it 😅😅 even theoretically 😅😅 (HSP here, yay 😂)

By imagining the objects as desappearing from my life **not by my fault** everything was just so clear, and the list of things I discovered I wanted to declutter expanded immensely.

THANK YOU, from an HSP that wants decluttering for increasing peace of mind and loving what I *truly* love about my possessions ❤

[cat]

Vera, your soft gentle flexible way of minimizing/simplifying inspires me. Plus your delivery is always relaxing. I am trying to use things up. I am also giving things away that don't serve me well. And then having new purchases be more thought out. It seems that much of life is better lived with at least some kind of a plan. 😊

[Audrey.]

With #7. … it’s interesting - I am kinda going through something with this one.
So, going shopping used to be quite an activity / time filler for me years ago.
I notice that I replaced it with honing in on seasonal decor and really
streamlining it.
I did work on streamlining my clothes and shoes too.

I feel like I am done with streamlining my holiday decor.

And now- I miss shopping and bringing in new items to my home or my wardrobe. But - I don’t have a spot for the Knick knack. And the clothes… I feel like I have everything I need.

So, I watch a ton of holiday decor videos, especially people that are showing what is in the stores. And I watch some fashion type videos too.

I guess what I am saying is that I miss shopping, but also know it is a hobby I do not want to go back to. It’s boring and wasteful.

My idea is to use my creativity with seasonal “stuff” towards maybe a seasonal tea.
Or maybe making an easy seasonal dessert.
I do try to bring nature into the home too. That helps too.

[stephaniechavira]

This is all new to me! I came across these kinds of videos about a week ago and we just opened a restaurant about 7 months ago so I am trying to make less work for myself at home so I can have a more relaxing peaceful home to come home to at the end of a stressful day! Thank you for sharing!

[WriteThisHeart]

I had that same Studio Chibli sheet music book! Haha! So cool!

For impulse buys, I bookmark it on my browser, and if I haven't looked at it or thought about it in a while, I take it off 'cause I don't need it! 99.9% of the time, that's how it goes! It's great! Means I save a shit ton of money! lol.

[xenavo]

I love all your videos, Vera. You have really inspired me to own less stuff and live a simple, meaningful life that’s worth living. I can be truly happy with less items, and it is a blessing that I’ve come across your channel! Sending love❤

[lauriep]

I’m not a minimalist, but I have been decluttering a lot recently. I want to declutter a lot more items in the next 30 days.

I enjoy viewing areas in your new home and many of your tips.

How did you and your partner decide on your new color scheme?