Something wonderful happens when you start living a minimalist lifestyle: you begin to really think about what you consume, and question the necessity of every purchase.
How amazing would it be if such mindful consumption became the norm? Not only would we all have more time, more money, and more space in our homes; we’d also have a healthier planet, and more resources for future generations.
In order to promote such an idea, however, we have to define it and give it a name. We have to let others know it’s a viable lifestyle alternative, and provide support to those pursuing it.
To this end, I’ve written the following manifesto to introduce the Minsumer Movement.
“Don’t buy it!” may be an unusual call to arms, but it has the potential to transform our lives, our society and our planet.
Like all revolutions, ours is bred by discontent. We’re sick of being slaves to debt and keeping up with the Joneses. We’re tired of working long hours at jobs we don’t like, to pay for things we don’t need. We’re unhappy with the clutter in our homes, and the commercialization of our holidays. We’re angry that human rights are violated to fill our stores with cheap clothes and plastic gizmos. We’re worried that our children and grandchildren won’t have the clean air and water that should be their birthright.
We are not necessarily anti-consumption. We don’t forage or dumpster dive, and we don’t expect to get anything for free. We like the fact that we can buy things when we need them. We appreciate the ease with which we can obtain basic necessities; unlike our ancestors, we need not devote our days to securing food, clothing, or shelter. However, we believe that once these needs are met, consumption can be put on the backburner. Our time would then be free for friends, family, and community; and for spiritual, philosophical and cultural pursuits. Imagine what we could do with all that newfound time, energy, and capital!
The consumption instinct is rooted in survival, though, and difficult to curb. Savvy marketers exploit this fact and continually manufacture new “needs” to suppress our sense of fulfillment. They try to convince us that our lives are incomplete without the latest electronic gadget; that our houses are outdated and must be “improved;” that our cars should be new, and our clothing should be fashionable.
Well, we declare “Enough!” We refuse to spend the better part of our lives desiring, acquiring and paying for things. We are neither Consumers, nor Anti-Consumers, but Minsumers: we seek to minimize the role of consumption in our lives. Our strategy is simple:
- To minimize our consumption to what meets our needs
- To minimize the impact of our consumption on the environment
- To minimize the effect of our consumption on other people’s lives
To this end, we won’t waste our money, or the resources of our planet, on frivolous goods. We’ll reuse and repurpose what we can, and favor used goods over new. We’ll avoid items made with exploited labor or violations of human rights. We’ll support our local economies, and work to create sustainable communities.
We are not your typical revolutionaries. You won’t see us protesting, boycotting, or blocking the doors to megastores; we’re simply not buying. Our battles are personal, made up of a million little acts of consumer disobedience. We leave convenience foods on the shelf and breeze by impulse items without a glance. We cut up our credit cards, borrow books from the library, and mend our clothes instead of buying new ones. We shop on Craigslist and Freecycle, rather than at the mall.
We are an invisible army, and our offense is our absence: the empty spaces in the parking lot, the shorter checkout lines, the silence at the cash registers. The only bloodshed in our revolution is the red ink on a retailer’s profit statement.
We are under constant bombardment by advertisers, but our defenses are well-honed. We regard with a critical eye their attempts to make us feel unattractive, unsafe, and unsatisfied. We turn off the television, cancel our magazine subscriptions, and use ad-blocker in our web browsers. They develop new weapons to weaken our resistance — greenwashing, viral marketing, zero percent financing — but their arsenal is no match for our resolve.
Our ranks are diverse, and spread out among spiritual, environmental, simple living, and human rights groups, as well as the population at large. But under the banner of Minsumerism, our individual efforts have far-reaching potential. By not buying, we regain our freedom: from debt, from clutter, and from the rat race. By not buying, we have the time and energy to rebuild our communities. By not buying, we reclaim the resources of our planet, and deliver them from the hands of corporations into those of our children.
Most importantly, by not buying, we redefine ourselves: by what we do, what we think, and who we love, rather than what we have. And in the process, we rediscover the meaning in our lives.
Please show your support for the Minsumer Movement by leaving a comment, and spreading the word through Digg, Twitter, or email.
How do you minimize the role of consumption in your life? I’d love to hear your ideas and techniques!
Wow, it’s like you were reading my mind. I really need to get back on track here. I’ve gone a little “spring crazy” around here. I’ve shopped more in the last month than I have all year! I don’t know what it is about spring that does this to me. But I’m more aware of it now. Thanks for the reminder to get me back on track. I really, really love and needed to read it this morning.
~janet
janet, I think it’s very natural to want “new and pretty” things in the spring. However, as you said, it’s important to be *aware* of such desires — and perhaps find other ways to channel our enthusiasm for the season! :-)
Well said! This movement will set you free! :-)
Thanks, Jeff! Stepping out of the “work-and-spend” cycle is exhilarating!
Your writing is beautiful! I am happy to be a part of the Minsumer Movement. Thanks for the motivation!
Mel, thanks so much for your kind words and support!
Damn right! Been a minsumer since I started travelling. Now live from one backpack permanently. Free mind, the only way to live!
Sounds like a fabulous life, Stuart!
Whenever I’m tempted to buy something for our house, I chant to myself “Hugh Newell Jacobsen, Hugh Newell Jacobsen.”
He’s the widely acclaimed architect who designs beautiful, clean-lined homes. For many of those homes he alse creates wonderful minimalist interiors.
Thanks, kris — I look forward to learning more about Jacobsen’s work. I just read an online bio of him that described his buildings as “infused with a rare sense of clarity and elegance.” When I’m tempted, I imagine living in the Farnsworth House. :-)
Minsumerism – pausing to reflect a tad before we make a purchase – is a great term for it! The thing that many of us have likely noticed when we pay attention to our consuming and environmental footprint is that “wow – we live just fine with less!” We grow/buy into what is possible, but that is so often without intention. Great post!
Exactly, Andrea — it’s amazing how just a little *thought* (do I really need this?) can transform our purchasing habits. I’ve walked away from many a checkout counter after asking this question.
That’s good stuff. It’s so true that once you start living the minimalist life, your senses are are heightened to all the things that try to take away the joy found in simplicity. If only people would overcome their inhibitions and adopt this lifestyle, they would be much happier.
Thanks, Andrew! I think it’s just a matter of getting the word out that a minimalist lifestyle is an *option.* Not an easy task, as it’s the polar opposite of the messages we’re bombarded with on a daily basis. I think that making a movement out of “not buying,” however, may be the key.
I agree with all of this, but how is it different from the minimalist movement that already exists on a growing number of minimalist blogs? They all advocate the same thing.
which means there really is a movement afoot, doesn’t it?
Agreed, but the question is, why make up a new term and a new movement when it already exists? That would only result in confusion, fragmentation, and/or competition.
Good question, Tomas.
Actually, I think the “minimalist” movement LACKS cohesion. I’ve learned over the last year that minimalism is an extremely broad term, and means a lot of different things to different people. For some it has to do with architecture and interiors, for others it’s back-to-the-land simplicity, while still others interpret it in terms of productivity and lifestyle design.
I want to define this particular aspect of minimalism (“not buying” or “buying less”), and make it more concrete and accessible to people. I hope that when they learn about it, they think, “Hmm, I can do that!” and feel they have a support network behind them.
Minimalism as a concept is too nebulous to gain ground in the popular psyche. A more defined movement, on the other hand, has great potential to effect social change.
Before I became a minimalist, I used to associate the term with minimalist art movements. So I do agree that it’s about time we use a more specific term and minsumer seems the perfect one!
Me too, Mia! In my early minimalist days, I used to get frustrated that the Google results for “minimalism” would primarily be about minimalist art or music.
Let’s hope so, Mara! :-)
I love the manifesto! Beautifully written, and I’m a big fan of your inclusive attitude to the various forms and stages of minimalism!
Thanks so much, Caroline!
I love this! Can you make a Facebook page for us minsumer fans? That would be fabulous. <3
Thanks, HK! BTW, I tried to leave a comment on your blog but couldn’t (because I don’t have any of the required user IDs). I think that might explain the “empty room;” people are much more likely to leave comments if they don’t have to “sign in” to do so. :-)
I didn’t know that! I’m a bit lost with my blog, I’ll look into the settings. Hopefully I can figure it out, thanks for the info!
Great post, thanks so much for sharing these thoughts! One of the things I’ve found most helpful in fighting the constant onslaught of marketing is to really make an effort to work on my mindfulness. I try to (though I certainly don’t always succeed) consciously examine how ads or social pressure to consume makes me feel and what thoughts are bouncing around in my head at the time, and I find that just being aware of what is happening internally when exposed to these things is the best defense.
Great point, japhy. Just taking the time to THINK before we buy (and ask WHY we feel compelled to buy something) is a powerful deterrent to overconsumption.
I love this,
“continually manufacture new “needs” to suppress our sense of fulfillment”
You’re right and I especially notice how little I really need or want now that I don’t watch TV or read magazines (no exposure to commercials). I also think that the break in the constant influx of advertising has allowed me to see how silly it all is. Not buying is now more of a habit than consuming.
Simple in France, I totally agree. Ever since I gave up TV and magazines, I’ve had far fewer “wants” as well. It feels wonderful! :-)
Wondering if anyone wants to participate in a discussion board regarding simplicity and minimalism. I’m trying to develop a blog roll as well as a like minded community. All are welcome. :)
Muji, I will definitely check it out!
Would help if I posted a link! :)
http://groups.google.com/group/simplicityandminimalism/topics?hl=en&start=
I really like the manifesto and agree that “minsumerism” is different (or more specific than) traditional minimalism but is it not the same as “enoughism”?
Hi Liz! I’m not familiar with “enoughism,” but will certainly do some research on it.
I have recently started to look more carefully at what I buy and have found that I buy less. I was tired of buying cheap stuff just to turn around and have replace a year later. I am also trying to reuse/repurpose many of the items that I have in my house that I no longer want/need. I was cleaning out my storage shed and I was finding mnay items that I was going to need for some house projects for my April break. It saved me money and time going to get items that I already had!!
I guess cleaning up the clutter and looking at more at what I buy will save both time and money in the future.
Thanks for sharing this, Dave. How wonderful to find what you needed in the “clutter”–and avoid going to the store! :-)
Count me in MM! Btw you might want to buy the domain name minsumer.com/.net/.org or minsumers if you haven’t yet and if it’s still available.
Thanks, Mia! Good idea. :-)
Great and inspirational manifesto you’ve written!
Lately I’ve been reading blogs(like yours)about consumerism, minimalistic lifestyle, responsible living etc and I am really inspired and I want to start with changing my own life. Your blog and others like it is a real source of inspiration to me! :)
Thanks, Amanda — I’m thrilled to hear that! I checked out your blog, and think it’s wonderful that you’re embracing minimalist living at such a young age. :-)
“The only bloodshed in our revolution is the red ink on a retailer’s profit statement.” Brilliant! :-) I’ve added the image to my blog’s sidebar with a link back to this post.
Very motivational!
Red, thanks so much for adding the image and link to your blog’s sidebar. I really appreciate your help in spreading the word! :-)
Hey. Just found your blog. It makes so much sense. So much time and effort wasted on silly choices and possessions. Simplicity is the way to go. Rock on!
Welcome, Benny — great to have you here!
Wow, this is great Francine. All the visits to your blog, I mistakenly thought the label in the sidebar was an award! (And a well-deserved one) So, I just read your manifesto and it’s terrific. Definitely a distinction from “minimalism” yet certainly inclusive. Good job!
Thanks so much for the nice words, Jean — glad you like the manifesto!
During this summer I want to make a lot of progress in getting rid of unnecessary items and of course, not buying more. Today instead of going to the stores I stayed home and got rid of 3 large boxes of stuff! I have a folding table in the middle of the living room to go through things. It is currently covered with bags I never use and and costume jewelry I never wear. I took a picture of the bedroom and the closet filled with clutter and boxes I never unpacked in my last move. ) : I am going to chart my progress on my blog. Thanks for all of your inspiration! I also put a link to this page on my blog. Thanks again!
Beth as you continue to get rid of items you are going to feel a freedom like none other!
Very cool, Beth — I look forward to following your progress on your blog! :-)
“Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level, it’s cheaper”
Quentin Crisp
My favorite quote!
I am still working on decluttering, but I have not paid money for clothes or plants for quite some time now thanks to freecycle and LETS (I think Timebanks are more common in the USA, similar concept). The advantage of local trading systems: no unemployment!!
Wow, in this article you very clearly articulated exactly the approach that I’ve begun to take.
It’s a slow transition to rid myself of stuff & to break old consumer habits, but whenever I think about the world my kid’s are inheriting, I remember why it’s important to change.
Just mended a shirt this morning…used to just throw things out…no longer!
Hi There,
Fantastic blog! Some of the things I do is have a No Junk Mail sticker on my letterbox. I mute the ads when I watch tv (mascara ads are hilarious with the sound off) and I try to get a lot of the things I need from the op shop. I would love to hear more people’s ideas of what they do. I am always trying to minimize more! I also have a weekly fruit and veg delivery. This means I need to go to the grocery store less and therefore impulse buy less, and at the same time I am supporting a local business.
I find that not having much disposable income and wanting to ensure financial security in my later years makes me a natural within the Minsumer Movement.
This fall, we’re getting a real food budget rolling and I’m making a real effort to wear everything in my closet. If I don’t immediately dig it, I try to find something to pair it with to make it look good.
Great post! I’ve been reading up a lot on minimalism and is something I would like to try, but I do have one question that may have already been asked: If everyone became a minimalist and simply stopped consuming unnecessarily, what will happen to our economies, locally and on a global scale? Sure it’s great for environmental sustainability, but don’t economies rely on people to regularly consume? What will happen when everyone stops buying things, eating out, etc? Doesn’t this have a domino effect? Won’t businesses close down? Won’t people lose their jobs? It might start off with the retail sector but eventually it’s bound to reach other sectors. So what will happen? Will we be subject to a recession forever if everyone joined the minimalist movement?
In as few words as possible,One guesses that the market will just have to adjust to having an excess of supply & a minimun of demand.Hmmmn I could be wrong….
Although this may signal the end of our economy, I fully support the Minsumer movement.
Why? Capitalism is a system built in greed. Sorry Gordon Gecko, but it turns out greed is not “good.”
I think the manifesto is beautifully written. I want to be a minsumer! I do, I do, I do! I think I will print out your words and hang them up for the whole family as a reminder.
I like this idea. Because I haven’t stopped purchasing nor using, but am being much more mindful of what I am actually doing in my home and the world.
i’ve been doing this for a few years now. i call it min. it’s kind of radical minimalism. just the basics for survival. not because i need to in any physical sense… it’s just that there’s a lot of other things that need attention… like hundreds of millions of people starving all over the world. that’s more than the entire u.s. population!