How can minimalism help the poor?

I grew up poor. But my family's house had always been filled with clutter. My hoarding parents would constantly buy crappy stuff they never really needed, use it couple of times and then put it into an already overfilled closet. And then feed their children with cheap unhealthy food. Gosh I wish they knew about minimalism back then!

My grandmother grew up in a home in the Appalachia area with no running water so they were incredibly poor. Shes still on section 8 and welfare and has very little and she is the most giving and the least selfish person ive ever met. Everytime i would leave her place after a visit she would sneak 2 dollars in my jacket or purse because she knew i would never take her money when she asked if I needed gas money. She definitely taught me how to be a better person.

I think a big difference when your poor is that you know you can not simply replace things. The Minimalists often talk about letting go of things less than $20 because of you would need it again, you can just go out and buy it again. And I think that is the sort of statement that divides. It creates a us/them, and when you are poor, you don't belong to the "us".. If you are poor, you can not "just" buy something, $20 is a lot of money to a lot of people, but it is often talked about on here like it is nothing. Sure there is the obligatory statement that $20 is a lot of money, etc. etc. but it is never really dealt with. There is no solution given for poor people. When you are poor (I don't like the term poor, but that's a different story), you are often also always stressed. Worried about how you are going to pay the rent, how to pay for utilities, how you are going to pay for the dentist, how you are going to replace that lightbulb that broke, how you are going to get food. It is never ending. Even when you don't want to, it is always on your brain. Your mind is, in one way or another, always busy, worried, stressed. That itself makes it a lot more difficult to deal with things. Because your cortisol levels are up and your lizard brain is always on. So figuring out what you truly want or need is itself more difficult because you are in survival mode. So when somebody hands you a free t-shirt you are more inclined to accept it, if you have a single sock you are more inclined to keep it, in hopes its partner will show up, or to use it when one of your other socks gets such big holes that waking is uncomfortable.. When you are poor, I think, you are more inclined to keep things "just in case", even if you don't want to. Because you know you do not have the resources to replace it. I personally don't think minimalism is just for rich people, I think it is for everyone. Or, at least intentionalism is. But I do understand how poor people would feel not seem or understood when listening to The Minimalists. And of course the esthetics that we see, the design furniture, with a lot of "minimalists" does give the impression that minimalists all have the same design taste. Of course that's not true, but I can see how people can interpret it that way.

You guys are NOT getting it at all. You're in this huge philosophical place. That's not at All the clutter problem for lower middle or low income people. It would be so easy to be a minimalist with little clutter if you have money. If you don't, then you DON'T have $10 or $20 to buy this or that again, then you can't throw it away. If you have money you can let the store keep your clutter. You simply aren't talking about the real issue.

I’m in my mid 50’s and after 9 months of decluttering and becoming more minimalistic I can now save money but the best thing - I no longer have the mindset of “I need that” mentality and that in itself makes you a much richer person in all ways.

You don’t consume your way out of poverty, you create your way out of poverty - very well said.

Financial literacy is the way out of poverty. It's taken me most of my life to understand this. Excellent echange.

Thank you for bringing this up…I am disabled so I have to live on 800$ a month and for a long time it was “impossible” … then I fell upon this channel, and it taught me a lot; so now I’m able to survive. Sure, it can be hard to afford food currently, however…I’m able to do it much easier than I could before because of the things I’ve learned from this pod. Getting rid of insta and fb was huge for me because that is where I was seeing the life I couldn’t afford, and that made me feel horrible. (I don’t miss it at all anymore). Materialism and our consumer culture robs our true happiness, the happiness of belief that you are enough. I am enough. It is surprising how comforting it is to realize I don’t need much to be happy. Thank you to this channel and all the creators because it has honestly changed my life.

Be minimal in your thoughts about minimalism; don't overanalyze. Whatsoever stage of life or resources, consume mindfully, live humbly, be grateful, praise God.

I grew up in middle class poverty. We always had the clothes and stuff but never the vacations. I carried that into my 20s which almost destroyed me financially. Therapy helped me break that mindset in my 30s, but it's not a quick fix to break mindset of abundance.

This is a fantastic video! Thank you. The statement that the rich can more afford to be stupid than the poor is so true. Like they say, it's expensive to be poor. It hurts more when things don't work out.

Minimalism IS for the poor, I live on a very small income, thinking through every purchase, including groceries saves a lot of waste and money. I don't need to buy containers to contain the crap, I buy fresh fruits, veggies and unprocessed foods, they are actually more cost effective, the only 'rules' that are not for the poor are the ones about throwing things away and possibly buying them again later, but since I live without excess, keeping the items that fall into those categories is not a problem.

I grew up poor, my mother could barely afford deodorant for me but our house was cluttered with useless things. She would constantly buy $200 shoes for my brother, but most of the time, we ate junk food. Sometimes it's not a money issue, it's a control issue. We could have been well off if my mother was a minimalist.

Grew up poor here too, made a lot of money, wasted a lot of it. Excellent point raised - it comes down to an understanding of materialism. As you become wealthier, minimalism is a philosophy that will help you avoid lifestyle creep (especially when people improve their socio-economic situation to impress people that do not even care about them), excessive hoarding (a product of having missed out for so long) and wastefulness (spending money and acquiring goods for the sake of due to lack of prior financial literacy). Anybody can use the principls of minimalism to be intentional with their resources and too focus on what adds value to their lives.

“You don’t consume your way out of poverty; you create your way out of poverty.” What a brilliant motto for life. I’d like to modify it, too, for those who have tried to solve personal unhappinesses through consumerism: “You don’t consume your way out of misery; you create your way out of misery…” I’m biased towards seeing creativity as a panacea, though. Thanks for such an engaging topic of conversation.

Throwing expensive things away that I don’t need anymore is good because now I don’t have to look at those dumb mistakes anymore.

There is still Americans who are in the same poverty as a third world country

(sigh) 2.29 in and finding it extremely frustrating. "No amount of money is going to make me a more complete person." Good for you. However, that's not the condition that the truly poor live in. Which, if it was not about not having enough stuff, then you were NOT poor. I make about $1-3K a year, living in America, no food stamps, no disability, no handouts. I'm poor! There are many times I can find things I don't really need for 99 cents or even for free alongside the road. Sometimes, I get to do a little extra work for someone in trade for food or getting some clothes bought from Goodwill. Buying that one lasting piece of furniture or decent pan, and getting rid of the extras, is just about a dire impossibility. I am not looking at minimalism as a concept to make me happier. I'm looking for tips on how to even survive for a while longer. And, that's the kind of minimalism for poor people I need to hear about.

What TK says is true. I have seen it from both sides of the spectrum. I grew up in extreme poverty. It was more important to go to Walmart, pay for tattoos and visit her boyfriend in prison than it was to buy groceries and pay bills. It comes down to making better decisions with your resources.

What exactly does it mean to be "Poor in America"? Is it a certain annual income? Is it what you choose to spend your money on? Does it include: smart phone, big screen tv, cable, internet, car? One of my favorite quotes: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." Minimalism is a tool to help you "Create Yourself". Put down all the messaging you've ever been told (even before you emerged from the womb). Most businesses on this planet want you to be a zombie and hand over your money. All for shtuff you don't need and don't know you don't want. What is truly important to your mind, heart, and soul? Take a breath and take a step. Create your own path with innovative thought & seek your authentic solutions. A sacred peace lies within.

I see a lot of poor people put value on buying name brand items and flaunting labels on shoes and clothes, or having fancy cars. It seems like that is a way for them to try to feel like they’ve arrived at some undefined class level they’re fighting to achieve. I also see a lot of poor people but their kids extravagant things that they didn’t have when they were kids. To me it always looks like they are spinning their wheels trying to heal their own wounds of poverty rather than addressing the underlying issues you mentioned. The things, the items, the labels are highly visual external band aids to try and prove “you have arrived”, but the truth is time together has more value than that electric Barbie ride on jeep. Living within our means is learning to fish rather than eating for a day Financial literacy. Also, I believe learning about nutrition and cooking are key ways to overcome poverty -in money saving on shopping, and investing in our health

I Live in a poor neighborhood and I can see what these guys are talking about. I make less that $20/hour and I own my own tiny home and there's no "bling" or state-of-the-art ANYTHING in my life. I know how to catch a bus and cook a bag of beans and rice though and I dont run around the neighborhood screaming at people on the phone. I'm not bitter that people have more $ than me...I just spend my money on things that add to my security and sanity.

I went from a State job with great benefits to a nonprofit job with really no benefits (no insurance, pay cut, no retirement, etc.). But I know God planned this for me. I definitely agree with what Josh said about the contentment factor. The joy I now have in my work with the homeless has been transforming to where I have given away about 80-90% of my possessions. This has brought contentment and resulted in gaining more financial peace. Not fretting over it.

“… You’re bound to remain part of the same system, with nothing more than the hope of one day getting to be a better consumer” 😮😮😮 Oh my god, this shook me to my core.

It's not how much you have, it's what you do with it.

I grew up poor and we still had a bunch of crap in our house. Didn't have a lot of food though... Wish we had more food. My dad was always dumpster diving people's old furniture, bringing it home and reupholstering it! It was like art to him lol

Josh, you got to understand that being poor in third world country does not only means that you won't be able to buy things, it means you won't be able to have a minimum of security for your own life. I would love to quit the job I have now to work in a skate shop but this job will force me to pay a rent within my budget, right? And you don't want to see what kind of neighborhood I would have to live in São Paulo, Brazil with a brazilian's skate shop salary.

I was poor, as in we heated with a woodstove and our "living" room and kitchen had a dirt floor, up until I was 7 or 8. My parents inherited some money around then and fixed up the house but they also became hoarders. They would go to all yard sales, thrift shops, auctions, even dumpster diving and bring home car loads of crap we didn't need, because it was only 50 cents or it was free, or, my mom's favorite, they could resell it because it was an antique. By the time I hit high school, my mom had a room devoted just to books, which was great but also a curse. I didn't have clothing for school, but she had books and everything else. If she had 1 teapot, she had 10. If she collected a set of dishes, she became obsessed until she had 100 pieces to it, though we never used it. I became a minimalist at 15, not knowing what is was, but I didn't have much, so I just gave it all away (To which my mom about killed me, because I was giving away HER stuff and she wanted it). I had a bed, bedding, 1 dresser that housed my clothes and art supplies, my 1 teddy bear and a post of Tom Cruise. LOL. I was working at that point and bought paint and new bedding and I was so happy. I never put emphasis on material things, even as I have moved through life. I've been a minimalist now for over 30 years. It's a great tool to utilize to find your freedom from everything.

Here's a great quote I heard once, "There are some people who are so poor, all they have is money." American culture would do well to expand it's definition of what it means to be wealthy. As a person who was raised in economic strife I was conditioned to believe it was the lack of resources such as money, that determined my status in the world. Had I received the messages that the circumstances I was born into, lack, scarcity, and struggle, were in fact not the deciding factor in my value or worth, or better yet, that lack of money didn't mean I wasn't abundant in nature, I have no doubt my developing years would have gone very, very differently. I love your podcasts by the way! Thanks so much for the value your intentional work brings to my life!

Being poor in America- how much of that is due to addictions , to lack of education, to mental/ emotional disorders or to being an immigrant that's starting with nothing , including not having the language? Or some unhappy combination of the above? I just feel a bit sad for immigrants who are forced to lived in the drug riddled areas.

Wow, this was so powerful my eyes filled with tears. You both made such excellent points. Striving to obtain a lifestyle you don't need, that won't satisfy you, is 'agony.' And consumerism teaches you how to stay poor, not how to create true wealth--financial or spiritual.

I think it can help by teaching that having less is ok. Let what you have be the best quality you can afford at the time and then use it to it’s maximum. I grew up poor too. I won’t just toss something if it still has use in it and if I no longer need it then I try to donate it so someone else can benefit. However, for someone who has never been poor to criticize or dictate that another person has to get rid of what they see as excess just shows how clueless they are. If my nightgown wears completely out I have another just waiting to take its place. I don’t have to do without or find the money in an already tight financial place or even be that inconvenienced by it. This to me is wealth but to someone else it’s clutter. This is 1 example. I do have to agree with the other comments in that - spend your money on what actually has value- like healthy food and things you need. I understand that to some poor people- buying the cheap trinket makes them feel less deprived. It’s an illusion I wish they would not fall for.

In its own way, poverty breeds clutter through the scarcity mindset. Having clutter around reminds you that you "may not have enough later" all the time, which makes it really hard to feel positive and to be creative. I grew up behind the Iron Curtain, where people didn't throw anything out because the planned economy just simply didn't work. Even though people had adequate money and free healthcare, they couldn't buy tires, or toilet paper, or the right size shoes because the government planners didn't order factories to make adequate amounts. That world was surreal. My family escaped and we became international political refugees for 8 months. When we came to America, the old habits of not throwing things out persisted. We didn't have financial literacy. I am in my 50's and I'm still learning how to streamline our cashflow better, how to invest better, how to create better. As a writer with a streaky income, I have to be strategic. Our house could be fuller. It would also breathe easier if we learned to let go as soon as an item stops to be of service. I strive toward that, yet the old, scarcity-mindset habits catch me off balance every so often. Such as, buying used clothing online. Nothing wrong with it, it's ecological and saves money, but it still brings extra items into the house. I've gotten a lot better, but several times a year I have to stop, reassess, and reverse the flow of goods. Slowly, gently, I'm letting go of things that no longer serve us, or that were inherited and we never really liked anyway.

Minimalism is for people who can make a CHOICE, and some people just can't. It depends what you consider poor people, but in a country like mine with poverty of 50% and rising minimalism is only for the privileged ones (the ones who can choose, not necesarily the rich...)

Minimalism really helps in making one more mindful of not spending one's money on useless stuff and if you create a budget (which usually goes along with minimalism) that's helps even more.

Thanks for this discussion. I do believe that many minimalist ideas are for the privileged, while people really in dire financial straits can't even begin to think about minimalism - they are thinking about paying their bills month to month. I agree about the desires versus needs and Josh's lived experience. At the same time, I just see that there is a hierarchy of needs. Food, clothing and shelter come first and occupy most of our waking moments. Other ideas like minimalism come later.

The speakers in this video made excellent points. Tk's points were especially relevant for poor people. Consumerism bombards all people with the message "If you don't have X or can't buy Y or don't drive A or don't live in a house like B, something is wrong with you. You must do everything in your power to acquire these things in order to be deemed worthy/successful." Affluent & wealthy people can absorb these messages and play around in this "life casino." Poor people can't & will only engage in a never ending loop of financial harm if they try to do so. The affluent & wealthy who don't do well in this casino will be for the most part momentarily inconvenienced. The poor people who don't do well in this casino will suffer all the grim outcomes of living a life without means. They will suffer in healthcare, the judicical system, banking & finance and utimately in life extending peace of mind. The poor should be the very missionaries & foot soldiers of Minimalism!

I grew up very poor. I’ve had a blessed life that has also included many trials and hardships. I’ve lived in huge homes in excellent zip codes and in many different climates. The only thing that matters is how you treat people and how you treat yourself. Minimalism brings clarity.

This reminds me of the people I see living in apartments, doing their laundry across the street at the laundry mat, driving a Mercedes Benz. I know the nice car is a status symbol in poorer neighborhoods, but I think this is what he was saying about financial literacy. We are told that having that nice car means you have made, but it doesn't if you have debt to get it, or you can barely afford your rent. If you owned a car without a car payment, even if it wasn't fancy, and took that money and saved it over time you could buy a house. Or save for college for your kids. But poorer people are not taught this. People with privilege know these things but others don't. This is a super basic summary of this idea, but hopefully people can see where I am going with this. Pursuing things makes you poor.

Poor people need minimalism the most. Minimalism makes life easier and the lessons spill over into having a better grip on finances, and other things. Poor people move a lot and being a minimalist makes moving way easier.

Wow. Incredibly thought provoking.

Keep up the quality food for thought.

THIS IS RIGHT ON ! I know a lot of poor people who grasp onto material items/objects in order to give them a sense of security

Broke is just poor surrounded by all the things you thought you wanted.

It doesn't matter what ads you are "bombarded" with - that only matters if you are looking for the outside world to tell you who & what you are. It's not the brands fault that you don't know how to invest, that's not their job. Their job is to sell their product - the end. You have FAR bigger problems if you are letting ads for products shape your life!!! You will ALWAYS be poor if you let people, ads, circumstances dictate your life. You may BE poor, but that does not mean that's WHO you are. You can be intentional with what say, spend, buy, etc no matter how much is in your bank account.

Thanks for this message.

No matter what your income level is the principles apply to intentional purchasing, intentional living, and learning how to be financially, ethically, and physically responsible with what you have. I have seen the homes of those who are considered poor stacked full of stuff and it is just stuff. So in taking a look at what you bring into your life and if it truly brings you joy. Each of us, regardless of where we live, who we are, and what circumstances we are in are responsible for what we bring in and keep in our lives.

Thank you for putting my thoughts into words. I get so frustrated with people that try to shut down others by trying to classify every “privilege“ they perceive. After they do that they proceed to shut down the conversation because you’re not enough of a victim.

I like this exchange. Intentionality is the key word. I am on a permanent low-buy. If I want to comfort-shop I buy something nice to eat or go on an outing/meet friends/go to a concert. If I have money left I save it/work on my loans. Experiences instead of stuff has been really good for me. Get more education and qualifications too. My problem with the book/film was a bit the"give away what can be easily replaced with 20 bucks." For me personally I had to add "if there's a 90% chance you'll never miss it." I will never have only 40 or even 100 things. I am however focussing on decluttering paper, clothes I'm not wearing, things I have doubles off. But things I might need again that are 20 bucks or more I keep for now. I also have a good space (2 BR apartment, 73 sqm alone), so it fits. The goal is to downsize to 2 rooms and 50 sqm eventually. I did however live in tiny studios or a room in a shared flat. I defo bought crap I didn't need or use. But I am much better now that I don't.

I looked at the video and your definition of really poor is different than mine.

Really good video, its interesting how you actually have to be smarter if you are poor with the discipline surrounding money. I know people who earn more than me but have less savings and more stress as a result of living above thire means. It's better to earn $700 a week and save $50 than to earn $1400 and save nothing. You have to live below your means. The less you earn the more astute you become out of necessity. When I see someone driving a car I know they can't afford all I see is debt.

"You don't consume your way out of poverty, you create your way-out poverty".

I’ve noticed poorer households more full or clutter and richer households more clutter free and orderly Not exactly sure for the reason but I think it probably has something to do with the mental state of the people with a proclivity to be poor and proclivity to be rich.

Really thought provoking chat, thanks, enjoyed it!

"Create Your Way out of Poverty". Well put Mr. Coleman

What i always think is about decluttering thinking we can buy it later if needed, but if i already have it , and get rid of it, and one day i need it ( it happens ) , and cant buy it ?? I think thats a very comun though

"Lest is Best".... A wise saying by someone ... "You will never see a U-HAUL following a Hearse"

👏👏👏👏 bravo guys!! Love amd appreciate you and your subjects and words ⚘️🍀💝

Well said, guys. Thank you. ❤

Working class people are not privileged; they work.

Thank you both for this really brilliant conversation to think about today

Minimalism is anchored in essentialism. By aiming the energy of my life (time, space, love, data) toward only what my free mind has chosen, I create a life I value. By ignoring distractions, I become strong. By allowing life to teach me, I become wealthy. The courage to have an aim exists in all people. It just has to be chosen. So does the audacity to ignore distractions (and detractors). Open-mindedness and being teachable make available enriched social circles and resources. I explore more when I am managing less. This type of wealth is within reach of people experiencing poverty. Stress is a big part of poverty. An organism under stress experiences a narrowing--of blood flow to the cerebral parts of the brain and of interest in fun, seeking, desire, and social interaction. But never does our external circumstance remove the power of our free minds. I use my freedom to ask for help when under stress. KZfaq offers endless resources. As my husband says, "All it costs to listen is a breach of my cognitive lack."

Even minimalism is expensive for poor people.

Profound. I will be thinking and reflecting on this conversation for awhile. I appreciate these courageous dialogues. Keep being "controversial" TK!!!

I still have the mindset of "I need...." I live off student loans and the less I have to spend in a month the more I want/wish for. I have about 100 euros spending money a month.

This was a pleasant surprise. Well done and thank you for sharing!

I love the minimalist wardrobe - that really changed my life - having t-shirts and leggings in black and LBDs and Trench Coat and classic pieces that I love and saved me a lot of money and good sports gear and good sports bags - as then my money does not fall out and heavy handbags that women own tend to hurt my shoulder. I also found that stores were selling red and yellow and green and all sorts of off colours - so got rid of that. If I do not like someone I always hand them a red item - means they are caught red handed when they try to steal something or danger. - I like black for every day wear and having a good Apple Iphone that lasts and a laptop and good books all I need. A cabin for a house is fine to sleep in.

Poverty is not a money problem, it's a mindset problem. As a child i had lived in trailers & houses with no hot water. Yet all our needs we covered. We had food we grew, sufficient clothes & shoes. Not the latest & greatest but sufficient. All because my parents used the resources they had wisely. Wisdom is far more valuable than money to get you out of lack.

TK Coleman- thank you. Beautiful and profound response. ♥️

Wonderful presentation. I'm 73 living on social security. I'm in the middle of a long divorce that seems to be without end. For years I railed against my fate until I took the minimalistic approach learning to live on what I have. Very liberating.

Well spoken Mr. Coleman. Great testimony and assessment, Joshua. G Ire

You guys see that there is an extreme poverty here in the United States, but there is, and I’ve experienced it when I was with my mother. And a lot of children do experiences because they have no way to escape.

You can be poor and still be a hoarder. I went to program centers that gave “poor people” things for free. I collected so much stuff in my storage unit. Definitely was a hoarder. I got my own place and still trying to downsize from what I accumulated in my storage. You can also be poor and every chance you get money you buy something you don't need.

This is so good, you guys!

Be in control of your resources. Love it!

Wow! Every word here is spot on!

Wow those last 2+ min by T.K. were spot-on!

So good!! So good. I’m so glad I found your channel 👍

Love both perspectives and both are true.

I assumed that being poor make it easier to be minimalist 😉 You have less and the little you have is because you really need it ok

This was so spot on!

Also, creating children whilst poor is dangerous, for themselves and society...

That was beautifully said 👏 ❤️

Wow that was powerful. Thank you💞

This is worth listening to.

yes 💥💥💥 Capitalism cannot Exist without peoples Material addiction that theyve Created ☝🏾 hence separates people from spirituality ... when I worked for a corporation $86,000 + yearly i wasted soóo mucb on things & the temporary🤤😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😝😝 high...sometimes just preparing for shopping felt as good as the purchasing

I've met more hoarders that were poor, than financially stable.

Love this

This came up when I looked up the minimilists disabilities. Is there not a video about that

Right on point.

Excellent!

Money 💰only opens doors for you, that's all.

poor ppl buying cheap crap, minimalism is to have less but more expensive and quality stuffs.

"You don't consume your way out of poverty. You create your way out of poverty."

Wow. I thought Tyrese was on.

i think there was a missed opportunity to talk about capitalism and how that is a huge aspect of poverty but ok

OMGGGGG that was LIBERATING.......Let's Go!🔥🔥🔥🔥

THis is nothing but facts.

Not shopping at dollar stores helps