For me, Marie’s method is a breath of fresh air. l agree with a lot of aspects of minimalism, but I really hate the mindset that you can only keep what is absolutely 100% necessary. I watched a minimalist closet tour once and she said that she has to wash her workout clothes once every 3-4 days bc she works out everyday but only has 3 pairs of leggings. That’s so much more wasteful and irresponsible than keeping 7-10 pairs and running a full load of clothes once a week. And many minimalist tell you to only have 1-2 decorations in each room and they have to be super important to you. I personally love a room that’s jam packed with cool paintings and knick knacks, as long as they all have a home. So Marie’s idea of only keeping what “sparks joy” is so wonderful to me. I do think her show is very, very gentle compared to other decluttering shows (maybe that’s a cultural diff, (Americans want to watch people get yelled at by “experts” for wanting to keep their favorite shirt). I think it would have been cool to see a short segment every episode where she talks abt purchasing new items. Maybe “imagine this item in your home a month after you’ve buy it, 2 months, or even a year. Will it still spark joy? Will it have a home? If you’re struggling to envision that, don’t buy it.”

I think the most depressing effect of the show is the trend going around of people decluttering with the intent of purchasing new items. At that point, you're just getting rid of stuff to open up space for more stuff...

There is an interesting thing where in Japan and Korea, they have very strict recycling laws and that any trash must be placed in the correct label of trash, recycling, composte, etc or else they will be fined. In the US, it's not as strict, so it would make sense that Marie Kondo wouldn't be aware/knowledgeable of better ways to get rid of items.

Actually, her method has helped me much more than ANY minimalist video I’ve watched. Mari Kondo promotes the idea that you should connect, appreciate, and respect your belongings. I am ‘Mari Kondo-ing’ my clothing, and since then I have not purchased any clothing since then. I’m often in a habit of purchasing something really cheap because 1) it’s cheap, 2) I could potentially use it. This adds up in wasteful spending, fast fashion, and clutter. I believe Mari Kondo helps people’s initial mindset. America is a consumption based culture. I literally know at least five people close to me who are probably legit hoarders. Heck, my husband was one. People have emotional attachments/hang ups to their belongings. Mari Kondo is a gateway to fixing that. She is the *first one* I have seen that is not guilt based, provides a clear path, and can reach the average person. I appreciate your mindset of choosing minimalism due to environmentalism. Hopefully people like you can reach people on that point, and to expand beyond the emotional side.

I've read the book and watch the series and I do noticed that the show missed some important points that she makes very remarkable in her book. Like having a certain number if (x) item and not go over it, because it could escalate and become clutter again, she also talks about reciclyng and how you DON'T need to BUY stuff in the process of decluttering, nor after it. It makes very clear that buying should only be an option if you need it. Also, it's not meant to be a weekend process, it has to become a lifestyle and it can take MONTHS to "completely" declutter your home, so it requires you to really think about each and every item and take your time with it, and the order of it it's designed to not be overwhelming to the point of wanting to stop, but if you have loads of stuff it's going to be a problem. She encourages to keep only the things that spark joy or you need and are useful, I do agree she doesn't touch environmental matters, but she's more fucused on people's mental health and well being.

I'd like to see a video of biggest eco friendly scams

I said this in a reply to a comment but I’ll say it again in a regular comment. People often ask about Marie Kondo and necessary items that don’t necessarily bring you joy. For example, my vacuum on its own might not necessarily bring me joy but vacuuming my house and it being clean afterwards does spark joy. That’s how I like to think of it. Or my dish sponge might not bring me joy, but having clean dishes does.

I own a lot of things that don't spark joy, but are pretty useful. I wouldn't say my toilet plunger or my washing up brush spark joy, but they're bloody useful.

I just wanted to point out (and maybe someone already has) that in Marie Kondo’s first book, she was much more strict about buying and having multiple of things. I don’t know the exact quote, but she talks about retail stores being “storage” for the things you will have to buy more of later. So even though pens sparked joy for that person, according to Marie’s book, he should only go and buy more pens when he truly *needs* more. After watching a few episodes from the series, it’s pretty apparent that Marie Kondo has lightened up on several levels of her rules!

Great points. I'm worried that without the knowledge about how to stop over-shopping, the people on the show will be right back to a cluttered house in a matter of months.

The book focuses more on consuming less and being more responsible with purchasing and aquiring. The tv show is more focusing on tidying. Hence why it's called "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo". Less about minimalism, more about cleaning and making sense of your space.

I'm really bad about cluttering my space with things that I buy from thrift stores because i tell myself "oh you're not creating a demand for this this is perfectly okay to buy" and I reeeeeally need to stop tbh

So glad you made this video! I am not going to name anyone but I started following a youtuber after enjoying their decluttering inspired by Marie Kondo- then just last week she posted multiple hauls from the target dollar spot and ross/tj maxx/home goods etc etc and it was the same type of junk/knick knacks she had JUST decluttered 🤦‍♀️😥

Something else that is underutilized (in my opinion), is reaching out to friends and family for clothing swaps. A coworker has gained some weight, and recently decided to go through all of her clothes-she had tons and tons of things. I have lost weight, and subsequently don’t have a lot of clothes that fit me well. I took some things to her that she can wear, and I got an entire wardrobe of items for $50 from her. While some of the brands are not ones I would support with new purchases, I figured second hand use I could handle.

That's been my hardest part about living eco friendly- finding what can be recycled, where to take the "trash", how my old stuff can actually be used and not put to landfill

The guy with the pens was Hasan Minaj. He is a well known stand up comedian with his own series on political/current news on Netflix. He was obviously joking about wanting 100 pens. That little video was some sort of cross-over advertisement to promote both their shows.

The series abridges the books a lot, but on the topic of throwing away and buying back again: the idea is that you must have a designated spot for everything (so if you're about to move real soon like you are then I don't think the MariKondo method is good). I did the MariKondo some years back and threw out SO much. After that I've sometimes missed some things I gave away such as a larger pan etc and thought about buying a new one, but lo and behold, a new one would mess up all the designated spaces in my cupoards and so I never have. Eventually I've gotten used to not having it. Can't say this works on everyone, but the principle of having a space for everything certainly has curbed my buying habits. When I see something I like and think about getting it I try imagining where to put it, and there is nowhere, so I don't get it. The overwhelming experience of MariKondoing made me really adverse to ever have so much stuff again, that's for sure =O

I think there's an intersection here, between your focus and Kondo's, but that her focus isn't eco-minimalism. So while I do agree with your points, I don't know that her method was ever meant to help solve the issues you are concerned with and mention. Fair points, though!

It's refreshing to watch well-thought videos like this, with supported facts etc. Keep doing the good work! x

I absolutely LOVE Bunz! Been using the app for almost 2 years in Ontario, Canada and already traded over 100 items ! I also love the Buy Nothing Project, which brings me closer to my neighbors offering free items or services in the community ❤️

The getting rid of things that are 'perfectly usable' but I am not using right now but might use later is what's overwhelming to me. I am moving from a studio situation into a single bedroom. Just a single room. I didn't have a lot of things before because I get freaked out by having to much stuff but the space is so small its overwhelming because it's not even about joy or usefulness or even sentimentality anymore. It's just about accomandation and limitations of space. Even though I'm not big on 'stuff' its really opened my eyes to how much impact a single person has just downsizing.

The show is very one dimensional in terms of how it compares to the book. It would be interesting to hear your perspective on the book vs. the show! Great video, I agreed a lot with your opinion. Thank you for this content :)

Ok, I returned to this video during while stuck at home, and have to issue a big thank you to the “give stuff away for free” tip. I felt so bad about half-used hair products, socks, nail polish, lotion-things a thrift store would not accept or just throw away. However, I started offering things for free online and they were always taken within an hour or so to someone who would actually try to get more use out of them. Super useful, thank yoooou 🖤🖤🖤 Pro tip is if you’re looking for an excuse to get out of the house (in a safe way), offer to deliver the free stuff and drop it off on people’s porches.

Take it from experience: when you are decluttering in a house owned by a grade 2 hoarder, it is impossible to get rid of it all and be eco friendly. Even if it everything can be reused/recycled etc, it takes so long and when your main aim is to make your living space livable and clean as soon as possible, you can’t afford to spend time trying to avoid landfill.

I couldn't agree more, I also made a video a while back about the importance of decluttering responsibly. I do wish they covered a bit more on why those on the show felt the need to shop so much and to focus on the importance of over-consumption.

Is there a show where someone goes into people's homes and helps them become more sustainable? If there isn't, there should be. Like an eco home designer.

the thing with Marie's method - which people seem to be confused about - is that it's not about minimalism at all. it focuses on stuff one wanna keep, no matter how many, and keeping them organised. getting rid off things happens since, obviously, not all of them spark joy, buy it's kinda side effect, not the point of the whole thing. and i agree that not enough stress is put on decluttering wisely. having said that.. i didn't watch the series but from what you said it seems like not all things from Marie's book got there. like, in the book she mentions that after you've gone thru the whole process you won't have to declutter ever again since you won't bring home things that don't spark joy and all your possessions will have designated space and you'll become more aware of what you own (which i think ultimately makes one more aware in general). sadly, that happens with the tv shows, it's a show after all..

Your response to the series is the best I've watched. (I did truly enjoy the Marie Kondo series, though). I can learn a lot from you concerning living an eco-friendly lifestyle. There are many steps I have to take, but my interest is there. I am quite happy that I haven't gone to the shops to go shopping in a long time. I attempt to buy my groceries without plastic as much as I can. However, I notice I'm skipping up whenever I packed too little food for work and get attempted to get some on the go item. I need to prepare betreft to stop this. Keep up the great content. I love the sentence you end up your videos with.

Marie is from Japan and they have a very meticulous way of handling their trash so most of it gets dispose of and recycle of properly. Because she has a translator with her through out the show, it seems she isnt from the US and probably doesnt know much of how to dispose of trash in a forigen place. Mind you each town and state has different practices so it isnt her responsibility to teach them. Besides. She doesnt even stay with them through out their whole decluttering processes. She usually is there to start it and come back after the fact. So she probably doesnt know what the family is doing with their declutter. I think showing people how to declutter their waste should have been the producers mission but then again that would have been an entirely different show because its just about her method and nothing else.

In the book I remember Marie saying the tidying festival should be around 3-6 MONTHS of work. So there would be plenty of time to find more conscious ways of discarding items, for the sake of the show this process was sped up and more items were trashed than would usually I believe. The problem is I felt they didn’t convey that to the viewer that they don’t have to do this in 1-2 months.

You are so right on the eco friendly decluttering and eco-friendly consuming (or even better non consuming). I was also shocked when I read her book, whenever I read the word "throw away". I tried to tell myself that she must be addressing her message mainly to people who are already overly careful about how much they throw away things. When I watch hoarder videos, most of the hoarders are very eco friendly, seeing value even in trash. So most people who read her book, are most likely people who don t throw stuff out carelessly. My parents' house is stuffed with "precious" things. My mother grew up in post war Austria, so even plastic yoghurt containers end up in her kitchen cupboard. So I tell myself that Marie Kondo must have worked a lot with Japanese that grew up in post war Japan, that maybe barely survived for many years, and now hang onto each little item they can get their hands on, just in case they need it some day. But you re right, someone needs to write on the best ways to get rid of things (or find a new use), depending on each type of item. It s obvious for some people that anything that is still usable should not end up in the trash, but maybe not for everyone. What I mainly realised, while reading her book, is that even if I do need the same item many years later, during that time it could have served someone else, if I had given it away, instead of sitting in a forgotten place in my home, just in case. Whenever people keep stuff in their house without using it, the item runs a high risk of ending up in the trash anyways, whether it s because it s food, or because in the end the house gets so cluttered that it can get damaged, or because the technology is completely obsolete. Having plenty of second hand items in charity shops, from people who don t cling onto things needlessly, makes production of new items less necessary. Thanks for presenting the app. Hope it gets used in my area...

I can totally agree to Morgane D., "it's refreshing to watch well-thought videos like this.." 💖 You seem to be a really smart person, you express yourself so articulately and eloquent, and at the same time you are so pretty and appear so cute and heartwarming/cordial!! Thank you! Go on like this!

I love the term Eco-minimalism that you use because it really resonates with what I try to practice. I love the idea of living minimally and simply- yes for my mental health and happiness, but mostly inspired by sustainability, being environmentally conscious, etc. On another note, I totally agree that a combination of marie kondo's philosophy with sustainable practices would be ideal. I remember either reading or seeing somewhere (or maybe multiple places) that minimalism isn't about having the fewest items, but only having items that bring you joy and are useful, and not having unnecessary excess. I feel like most people probably resonate with that, and I think it's awesome to see more exposure of that idea in the minimalism community because I think it actually will help more people to live minimally and hopefully more sustainably.

I am so happy that you mentioned how you should not get rid of absolutely everything. I feel when you go through the decluttering process especially when you referenced your move, you went to a house and I would like to think within a home there is an area for storage and if you put these thing away because you’re not sure if you’ll need it again in the future is very smart! I think if 2 years goes by and you don’t use it then it’s safe to donate. I’ve also been wondering if I should do that with clothing because sometimes you look back on stuff you gave away because you stopped wearing it and you regret that because you want to start wearing it again. I also look at this from a frugal standpoint because then you can go shopping through the stuff you already have. I can’t believe I found you a few weeks ago. I love everything you say.

I really like that Marie makes you hold and thank an item before you get rid of it, makes you appreciate what you have, especially in regards to the extreme abundance we have in the 21st century West

Just yesterday I realized that I own too many bags and I alway end up using the same one. At first I thought about selling or donating the other ones, than I remembered that I tend to break all my bags (which means I woudl have to buy another one quite soon) and I decided to keep "the clutter" and use each bag (after the previous one will break)

thank you for addressing this! this has been my biggest challenge, and one reason why my declutter is taking SO LONG- i don't want to just throw anything out or donate it where THEY will just throw it out!

I know I'm late on this video, but I've been binge watching The Home Edit on Netflix the past days and all I see with them is plastic. Plastic containers I get, although I find glass jars and baskets a lot more aesthetically pleasing, BUT when they're doing pantries there is so much individually wrapped food. It just blows my mind

Found your channel while in quarentine. I love what you stand for. I have been leaning towards this lifestyle in recent years. Thank you for what you do. Education is the first step for us to reduce our impact on the world. Keep up the great work. Thanks for keeping me sane during this chaos.

Great points to add to the Konmari movement! I think the “if it’s less than $x just replace it” mentality comes from The Minimalists more than Marie Kondo. They always say if you might use something later but you can replace it for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes (I think that’s the time frame) you should get rid of it.

I'd like to see a series about the quality of certain sustainable/not sustainable brands. I don't have very many options around me where I live so I'm forced to buy what I can online. I love your videos and I hope you make a series like this. ❤️

Good points. I wish I seen your declutter in a responsible way video when I started decluttering. Awesome video!

OMG! I'm so happy you're sponsored by Bunz I've seen some of my favorite Canadian DIY KZfaqrs have been sponsored by them and I downloaded it, and noticed very quickly that a lot of the activity was in Canada. It bummed me out because its such a cool concept! Anyway, I'm excited they are reaching out to American influencers to spread the word!

Wow! I thought these comments were so thoughtful and I agree that it would have been nice to see these points added to the series. More education on how our mind/brain and emotions/ psychology work and how to change our pre programmed consumer mentality would be helpful for all of us. So many people are decluttering or 'becoming a minimalist' and it's just like going on a popular diet. They are doing it because it is 'trendy' but they really have not changed their mindset or have not done it as an actual new lifestyle based on their personal values, so when the 'trend' is over or when a different one becomes more popular then they revert back to old ways and habits. Or if they have been too drastic and start feeling overwhelmed or tired or 'deprived' then back they go to their former ways. Just like yo- yo dieting. I think information and education goes a long way to help prevent this effect for many people. Thank you so much...you are one of the only KZfaqrs that really is knowledgable enough to give practical and helpful advice.

BUNZ is the freaking best!!!! I really hope it blows up worldwide. Right now it's HUGE in Toronto and getting there in Vancouver I guess. (also most people pronounce BTZ like "bits" idk if that's proper or what lol)

I LOVE this video Shelvi! Thanks for raising the point of "getting rid of something" which might need to be replaced later. Whenever I tidy/declutter/ect, anything that I might not love or use ATM, but I think I might change my mind later I will put it in storage and give myself a year or 2 before discarding it. I try to be very responsible and not to accumulate, and it works a treat... Every time I check these stored things (do it regularly) I can find new gems... Gives me more pleasure than buying as it's like finding a new item but with no environment impact added.... Note, I don't have loads stored, only 2-3 under the bed size boxes... It's tricky, but worth considering...

Totally agree about finding your stuff a home instead of just throwing stuff out. Also about people re-buying stuff just cause they threw it out just cause it was something cheap that they can re-buy it, so they just tossed. it. I think the decluttering process should be more mindful, and not just in the "does it spark joy" way but all around.

I love what you said about throwing products that people could find useful in future, becauese I think some people think this is what decluttring is all about - throw or donate away as many things as possible.

I absolutely love Marie Kondo. Marie Kondo is the reason I was able to get rid of about 2/3 of my stuff. I wish I knew how to properly donate and to sell instead many years ago when I did that! Thanks for sharing, I also say her name the same way you do

Well I also told people around me to also "declutter" your life. So many people can and will get rid of things in home but forget about de-cluttering their media spaces and computer. I even see people close to me declutter objects but they don't declutter toxic people or situations that aren't keeping their mental health "happy" "joyful". I think that is an important aspect to me and should be to others to take into account the effect on your mental health with these processes.

It's funny how you discuss the idea of getting rid of things that you might need in the future. I had discovered how to really utilize my thrift stores! There are a few things that I have found that I really don't use all that much but are hesitant to do so I donate it to my thrift store. If I need it in the future I will go to the thrift store to see if they have the item again, and they usually do. One of the items is a quesadilla griller. I tried for a while using a basic pan, but always struggled with getting the heat just right, but I don't like how much space the maker takes up. So when my family is in the mood for them I "rent" one from the thrift store. They typically cost under $10. We will use it for about two or three months and then my kids get tired of having them, then it sits for months on end not getting used so back it goes. It seems silly, maybe even against your opinion on it, but I have noticed that is an item they typically keep putting out. What I should do is ask how of what they get they throw out.

I had a random thought of something I'd love to see you talk about and its WHY you're against certain brands ( and I'm talking more than just fast fashion). You could talk about brands like nestle, morphe, and others and what specific things they do that make them icky. It could even be a series! I love to see passionate people just lay into big companies an their shitty practices. Really shine a light on those bastards! Either way, love what you're doing!

Ahh I loved this video Shelbi! So awesome seeing people connect environmentalism and minimalism. Consumerism is is like a drug you don't even know you're on! Loved this video so much!

There’s an actress on Grey’s Anatomy that looks a lot like you. I was watching an episode yesterday and was like, “wait... Shelbizzleee?” For the Marie Kondo stuff, I agree that the series does a good job of removing things from your life and how to organize them, but not what happens next. I would have liked to have seen them speak about the process of choosing new items in order to avoid taking on things that they’ll discard during their next “tidying.”

I agree with you on not decluttering things that you think that you will use in the future. I have been doing the minimalism game and am making sure that we don’t start doing that just to get the amount of items needed for that day or section. I have been able to re home some larger items on free cycle. People were always very thankful to get these things because they usually could not afford to by them and didn’t mind if they were gently used. I also donate to a small local thrift store instead of a Goodwill. I am going to check out this Bunz app to see if it works in my area. It looks like a great way to give away some larger items that I might come across when I delve into our storage area.

I love how kind you are when discussing other people and methods. I love your perspective on this and in some of your other videos. The world needs more people like you. 🖤

Great perspective! Honestly, I get a rush from getting rid of stuff. The hard part is sorting and making earth-friendly decisions about where it goes, then actually getting it there. Personally, I would not have embarked on minimalism without first examining and changing my buying habits, then carefully thinking about what I want my life to look like, and what I things I really need and want to take forward. Also, many practical items do not "spark joy." They are just useful. I believe most folks are jumping on the konmari bandwagon only to buy their way back into excess once again. Thank you, Shelbi, for once again calling for people to think through their actions!

There are so many place you can donate besides just the "big name" thrift stores. I often keep a big box in the garage and gather up small items that are still usable but that I'm not using, like cheap books, small kitchen items, etc. and when it fills up I put it on the curb with a free sign on a sunny weekend day. Most of it will just disappear to my neighbors and passersby. You can also list on Craigslist for free or cheap. Finally, I've discovered "creative reuse" centers that accept all kinds of donations of the most random stuff, like old photographs, keys, craft paper, toys and more. They seek to provide materials for artists and teachers, and often give away materials for free to teachers. It's a great way to give new life to even seemingly random stuff that you might otherwise throw in the trash.

I couldn't agree more. I`m so glad someone finally spoke about this situation. I actually really don`t like all this declutter trend going on... It makes a huge mess for our environment. Everyone is wannabe minimalist nowadays, without actually have any knowledge about what minimalist means. It`s not like "one thing in, other out" every other week. Or I am gonna throw everything out and buy less from now on. That`s fine if you want to do that, it can help a little. But someone please encourage people to use things up for a change.

I think you're right that it can get overwhelming to do a big declutter. I've never used Marie's method but when I have done it, I often need to do it in phases because I can't be that critical of all of whatever I'm looking at but if I revisit it in 2+ weeks I can realistically say I no longer need the thing. I've also found that once I've put in all that work to declutter I automatically don't want it to get to that point again, so I'm more thoughtful when purchasing items...at least for a little while. It also helps that I've been watching channels like yours, financial channels, and minimalist/tiny living channels that make me want to do better as well.

Thank you for addressing this 🙏 in the wake of the Marie Kondo series, I've seen so many people talking about just getting rid of things because "they can just buy another one if they need it", which for me is a heart-breaking thing to see. Firstly it's very wasteful (a lot of these people are just throwing out these items rather than selling or donating) and secondly it's an incredibly privileged viewpoint! A lot of people simply don't have the money to just go out and buy something new whenever they need it, they have to hold onto these items just in case because they won't be able to afford them again!

My downstairs neighbors decluttered with this series and asked my mom and I to donate the stuff for them. We've actually sold some of the stuff on eBay and plan to sell the books to Powell's. Might as well! I joined buns and shared with my mom too :)

Oh you are so correct on many points you've made regarding the KonMari trend right now. Everything we use doesn't spark joy but it may be needed, vacuum cleaner, mop, etc. If I were to try to do her method in the time frame she sets up, I would be,so overwhelmed I wouldn't be able to get through and,make responsible decisions. Also, I think her book (method) was written using an Eastern perspective and she possibly didn't realize the overconsumerism mentality of many Westerners. It makes a difference. I find that I can take areas to declutter and ask "Is this useful" "does this add beauty" "does this make me happy" and do very well. Most of my nearly 2500 sq ft house is down to exactly what we use and enjoy. Although I am still working on my clothing. Oh and I want you to know that your videos have helped me with this as much as anything and so much more than KonMari. 😊 jmo

I didn´t watch the series yet, so I can´t say anything about the method. But what I can say is that I have the same mindset as you concerning getting rid of things but buying them later again. To me it makes no sense to get rid of things which are still totally fine and which I might need in the future. So I told myself that I will just keep everything I own and might need (someday) than to just give it away but need to buy it new at some point. Best example are clothes.....I have so many clothes at home which I bought long time before I started to think about sustainably....They still fit me and I still like those clothes the same way I used to like them when I bought them. So even though my wardrobe is about to explode (Which is the opposite of minimalism), I don´t see a reason to get rid of some clothes, which I might need at some point. I hope you get what I want to say. :D Besides that, can I switch between clothes like my mood is AND on top comes that I don´t need to wash that often clothes cause I have more options in my wardrobe. (Which means I will always have a full washing machine, which is more eco friendly than if I would have only a half full washing machine but the same amount of washing liquid etc...)

8:58 if you truly use the konmari method, after you find what’s tight for you and in your mind you’ll still have what you went through and you’ll be thinking about whether or not you’re buying something you’re gonna love or use. Idk that’s what people who’ve done the konmari method on their own have said.

Thank you for bringing up this subject, its on my mind during every de-clutter video or show. thought it was just the hoarder in me fighting progress but hearing you lay it all out makes perfect sense and Im not just being stubborn

This is everything I have been looking for omg. We need more stuff like the Bunz app!!!

Agreed! Love her concept but needed a little more about how to responsibly get rid of items and how not to just repurchase more!

Japan has one of the worlds best recycling systems, it makes no sense talking about that to people in other countries. All places have different ways to deal with trash, recycling and so on; Ithink it’s been left out because of that. Also her books talk about buying new things, but apparently it’s been left out too, because the episodes are so short. Listen to one of her books, the message is very clear in them.

I have been participating in the Buy Nothing Community to rehome the items declutter. I love the hyperlocal nature of this which keeps the fossil fuel use down as well as ensuring the items go to a welcoming new home and the way it builds community as well.

When I declutter I always try to sell them or give them away on facebook or other apps. That's because i can make sure they find an end user immediately instead of sitting uncertainly in a thrift store. But sometimes if you don't have time it's still the best to just donate all of them and let the pros take care of it

Love the add on ways to de-clutter but with an environmental twists :) Clothes is a biggie, althought donating is great that still leaves people wanting to replace those items with news ones at some point so BUNZ def helps trade and not just put clothes back into a cycle!!

When you said that the perspective of the environment is that of which you speak I was like “omg Shelbi is the Lorax!” Lol

the environment is not even on their radar....I see this as a process of just organizing your clutter....and that itself is overwhelming for the unconscious commercialist....to begin the educational process behind ethical, organic consumerism would be too much for them to begin with...YOUR points are absolutely valid but this Kondo trend isn't there yet....I personally never cared for it...I first heard of it on Gilmore Girls A Year in a Life...I believe minimalist like everything else should be personalized to the individual and for me the base is to practice a healthy lifestyle not an aesthetic lifestyle shown on a magazine or video....do what feels right for you and your goals, you want to save money, begin with your health, a healthy diet will declutter the overstuffed pantries and appliances, you want to save time and energy by not having to dedicate an entire weekend of fun to be cleaning up so much decluttering what is not of use to you anymore...(.If I let anything spark joy in my life I would be a hoarder), if you want to be eco friendly, look into ethical purchases, go organic, that would reduce cleaning and hygiene/beauty products in your home...AND IT TAKES TIME.....ONE SHOULD BE MENTALLY PREPARED, THEN THE EMOTIONAL PROCESS WON'T BE SO BAD

Thank you for pointing this out!! I have long felt that this was the elephant in the glass store so to speak. Along with the enormous amount of storage boxes and devices ‘needed’ to fix the problem… As always a super video💪

I like that you've taken the time to think this through. I had the nudging feeling in the back my head and you've expressed the same feeling clearly. I lived in Japan for 4 months last year and I found it's not really important in Japanese culture to worry about your environmental responsibility for the stuff you buy and throw away. It is a really hard conversation to hold. In the end it was like I will do my best and if others notice and want to improve that's cool. I like how you've suggested solutions and improvements to the series in a clear and considerate way.

You should totally read her book "Tidying Up" it's really short and it addresses some of the concerns you had with the series. They didn't do the best job with translating all of her methods, but yeah. If people read the book before doing it, it'll definitely help

I haven’t watched the show but so much of the stuff in my houses does spark joy but is needed. And I try to avoid buying stuff that “sparks joy” cuz like you said it’s a drug and I’d literally be buying everything!!! It’s a weird concept... like I get it but again like you said it’s missing somethings.

There is this phenomenon where shopping itself is the activity, and it's almost irrelevant what you actually buy and take home. It's really from boredom. People used to have hobbies that are mainly relaxing, like sewing, playing an instrument, carving wood. Where it's more meditative and time consuming than about making or buying a ton of stuff.

I was a little underwhelmed by the Tidying Up show. Marie Kondo’s book the art of tidying up, was a lot stricter with the process. When I used the method in the book it felt a lot more aggressive when it came to my things. Also it felt as if Joy was better explained- she walked you through the process of what sparking joy meant. It’s not a happy feeling. The book also makes you actually face the other emotions. For example the dress that you owned that no longer fits you or an outfit that no longer serves it’s purpose. I thought the show gave everyone too much leeway in keeping their items in a way that the book never did; so I was a little frustrated that so many people still lived in cleaner yet still cluttered homes.

7:35 PREACH! For too many people, shopping is their joy source.

Regarding charity donations, if it's not just the fact that items are going to landfill but if donations aren't in saleable condition the charity you're giving it to has to pay money to have your garbage taken away, assuming it's actually a charity (e.g. Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul) their stores are one of the ways they raise money for their other charitable work if you donate dirty or damaged items they have to pay to have that taken to landfill that's money they could have put into all of the programs they run (e.g. in my town there's soup kitchens, a women's refuge and a bunch of individual assistance packages like grocery vouchers or food parcels). So those plates or clothes or knicknacks you've had stored and now decided to declutter at the very least check them make sure they are properly clean before you donate them then they have a chance of making it to the shop floor instead of going straight in the bin.

I’m attempting to do a low buy this year and January was rough, but now I’ve gotten into a better habit of not making impulse buys and I have mild anxiety buying things even though it’s stuff we might need, like recently I bought my son a high back booster that he needed, I even got it on sale and still about killed me 🤣 I feel bad saying that, but I’ve just gotten into a habit of not buying frivolously. I guess I just need to find the balance and not feel anxious buying things I need and not get so comfortable with spending again that I fall back into old habits

I love the way you put all this out. This topic in particular :) I live on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean and management of trash is terrible. I am afraid of decluttering because of that. I have to get creative !! Keep posting 💚

Thanks for this. I agree with the statement that decluttering can be overwhelming so last year I decided on my 3 things that I don't need to keep rule. Its a bit flexible in that some days I will move on more than three things and some days I find three things that can be repurposed. Keeping it small means that it achievable and often it inspires me to do more. I am working on my do I really need it shopping, slow but steady. Love from Australia

I prefer the book over the series since it had a few gaps explained in the book. From the minimalism perspective it was really hard for me to get to the point I am today. Even with Mary Kondo’s method it took me a few waves of declutter. It was hard to let go of things even thou I am not attached to clothes (makeup was another story) but it got me to analyze why I felt that way over certain items in my home and after that I realized was silly to have an attachment to things. The sparks joy method was so helpful that I did not want to bring things home unless I loved it. And no I did not throw stuff out just because I didn’t love them or they where cheap, something are just practical and it’s okay. Just like she thanks each item for their service I can be appreciative towards practical items in my house.

I agree that a joyful approach to minimalism is a more helpful approach to people who *like having stuff.* The first minimalism video I ever watched on youtube was this girl who did not own a bed or any couches/chairs because didn't absolutely need them and I did not click on any more minimalism links for like 5 more years

I think her priority is to provide a method that helps mental health and creates a conscious effort to consider in the future to be a lot more aware of the products you buy next. Her priorities in the method, are in a different order to sustainability activists who prioritize lowering the polluting impact to our environment. It is all in the relatively same topic, but not really... Does that make sense?

The second thought that enters my mind after the initial excitement is "where the hell am I going to put it."

Honestly the sponsorship was my favorite part of the video. What a sweet app!

The reason Marie doesn't address how to actually get rid of the stuff one decluttered responsibly is because Japan has a very strict system for trash in place. People can't just leave their old furniture on the curb or throw whatever they don't feel like recycling into the trash. I assume it'd be quite hard for someone who doesn't speak English very well to research how to get rid of the clutter responsibly in the US, especially considering that different places have wildly different rules and options. Any tips like that would probably be massively regional, so I understand why they wouldn't include that in a show that's popular all over the world. People who want to be responsible can google the details, people who don't will probably not do it even if you serve the answers on a silver platter...

I agree 100% that I wish responsibly re-purposing items was more there for her.

I try to make sure I declutter 6 grocery bags full of items each week. Nobody gets it all done in one go. I've heard the Marie Kondo method really does take most people at least 6 months to do. The Netflix series makes it look like they did it all in one day, because the episodes are so short.

I agree so much with the points you mentioned. I'm thinking that since Marie Kondo is Japanese, and the recycling system in Japan is so good, she maybe did not think about all the aspects that you mentioned. Also, it's not so easy to declutter in a responsible way, is a less developed country (or developing country). There are some thing like construction (house renovation) materials, and I really don't know how to "get rid" of those. Clothes are also hard to donate or recycle here and other knick-knacks which I really don't know what to with. Ah well, I will find a way. Need to! You've inspired me so much to be responsible about the things I buy. Thank you! And since you will move into a new house, maybe you can do a video about how to get rid of those renovation materials, in a responsible way. Thank you again for the inspiration you provide through your videos.

I think Marie (pronounced maree-ay) Kondo's method has become so popular because it does nothing to challenge consumerism. If anything, it gives people permission to get rid of everything and buy all new stuff. Side note: if you're curious about how to say her name, you can look up videos of her saying it or look to Japanese sources since her name is Japanese.

Shelbi, how do you handle gifting? I have not seen all of the videos on your channel, so you may have addressed both the selecting the types of gifts to give and how to indicate what you would like to receive as gifts. This would be most useful around gift giving seasons - Christmas, graduation, even Easter.

I couldn't agree more Shelby!

Very informative and eye opening perspective on the show, thanks!

I work part time in a supermarket. And normally, i buy everything in thrift stores and dont buy that much unecessary stuff; i mean i have decor, but i truly love it and have used the same decor items since like 13 years old. Now the problem is, i see how many things we would throw away in the supermarket, so i take it home with me. Throughout the years i have now too much clutter. The problem with me is, that i just want to give that Item a use

Your hair is everything, I wish I had long hair like yours