I took the TIME test and already knew the verdict before I even started it. I am not a minimalist.
Here are my quiz answers:
- If someone unexpectedly came over to your house, what would your reaction be?
This one is easy. It will always be: Come on in! - Do you have a “scary room” in your house that’s full of excess stuff?
What if I do not find excess stuff scary? My home office is messy. I have no problem at all focusing on writing, or working when things aren’t tidied up. I go for: No - What do you do with the utensils that come with take out?
Take-out is not a German thing. There are some restaurants where you can take food home, but usually, they don’t offer utensils. After all you are taking the food home, and at home you have utensils :-). I will go for: I only keep what I think I’ll need - When you buy a new piece of clothing, what do you do when you get home?
Can I add: “There is a fairly good chance I am wearing it already” My personal rule of the dumb is, to only buy something new, if it looks better on me than what I am wearing already. If that is not the case, it would be dumb to buy it…this rule has helped me many times to not buy something. I am usually well dressed :-) But this is not one of the options so I’ll take: I shop online to get matching shoes (Yes, I know, that is not the answer they wanted to hear …) - How would you describe your home?
Some rooms could use some tidying. It is not a minimalist home. My husband is much more a minimalist than me – so beyond my office – it is actually pretty tidy I must say. - Do you have a lot of books at home?
We have two billy bookshelves and those are jam packed. On top of that we have two e-readers with more books on them then I can read in the next 12 months. I go for: Yes, but my curated library is neatly organized. Not quite true but the other answers don’t do it either. - When was the last time you sold something online or in yard sale?
When I was little and I went to the flea market with my mom. As an adult. Never. I either give my stuff to friends or to charity. I go for: What’s a yard sale? as we don’t really have those of here. - The outside of your kitchen refrigerator door is…
Blank. - Do you shop at warehouse retailers like Sam’s Club, Costco, or another store that sells items in bulk?
We store quite some things. Not because bulk buying is cheaper, but this way we just never unexpectedly run out of things. My parents are very different in that respect. I can recall quite a few times when it required a search for toilet paper or something equivalent. Or it’s time for a coffee but you first need to run by the store. This can result in extra costs, extra stress and it is not quite environmentally friendly unless you take the bike (which the Dutch – as you all know – do quite often). For things that “don’t go bad” it can be really helpfull to have some stock at home. I end up with: Yes, I have plenty of room in my house to store extra items - How often do you use a credit card for purchases?
Ha, what does that say about minimalism? I am tempted to say, we have another cultural diversity one here. Probably what is meant is that a credit card equals debt…Well in Sweden they have started to pay everything with cards. No more cash. But it has nothing to do with debt. I pay a lot of things with my credit card. My pay pal account is linked with my credit card. Yet we have no debt other than on the house. My answer: Once a week - Do you own a self-storage unit?
I can only suspect what that is. We have an entire home to ourselves, so no we have no self-storage unit other than perhaps the garage. Answer: No - How often do you shop online?
Probably once a week on average. Sometimes more, sometime less. It is very convenient. - How often do you clean out your closet
Pretty much every season. I have to make room for new things :-) Some of my friends love it when I clean out my closet.
The result:
I could part with half of my things yet it would not make me any happier than I am already. I rather spend time on other things. Like writing this blog.
My personal believes
- We all have buying power.
This includes the power to not buy the things we do not want to buy. - I agree with: Don’t buy shit you don’t need, with money you don’t have, to impress people you don’t like.
I would change it to: Buy things you love, with money you earned, and share with friends. - I love the sign: Please excuse the mess … we live here.
A fulfilling life is more important than a clean house. Thriving in chaos can be a great skill. - “Als je hart maar opgeruimt is”
As long as your heart is “clean” all is good
At the same time I do embrace minimalism. Because it can help focus on what is important. I love being around minimalists. People who decided this is their path to happiness. I love being around people who live according to their believes.
What about you? Are you a minimalist? What do you believe in?
