So i'm a materialist, I like to buy things. But, i'm quite poor right now.
I was wondering what your take is on living minimal. I'm in college with no honest expenses that arn't covered by loans. Houseing cost, utilities ect are all covered. The only things I have to worry about is fuel costs and food, yet I still manage to blow $100 a week on unaccountable things.
So, how do you do things without spending money? Bars are expensive...
I suppose, its quite easy to live cheaply but more so i'm asking how do you mentally do it.
How do you eliminate the desire to be materialistic?
2007-03-18 18:26:42 · 8 answers · asked by Fatal Attraction 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You gotta wanna.
Here's the basic philosophy - "You don't own stuff . . . stuff owns you".
Example:
You buy a car, you surrender a certain amount of your life to supporting that car . . . buying gas, washing it, worrying about it getting stolen. You "buy" a car, it owns part of you.
Same with your choices in lifestyle, entertainment, whatever. Think of those items or choices as owning you, extracting costs and penalties for as long as you possess or seek them.
Now pick how much ownership your willing to submit to. Consider the true "life" costs that will be extracted from you for each acquisition, and you're on your way to a minimalistic lifestyle.
2007-03-18 18:49:29 · answer #1 · answered by freebird 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
don't take your debit or charge card with you and only keep the money in your wallet you want to spend. Then you can't spend more then you want.
I would still keep an extra 20 or two on me in a separate spot, if you are really weak some place hard to get to like in a shoe. Just in case you get stuck and need a cab or something.
2007-03-19 01:31:12 · answer #2 · answered by thatoneguy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just get hold of any half clad Indian Guru..... they have mastered the art as well as science of minimalistic living as you describe. You may get sustained happiness as additional bonus.
2007-03-19 03:59:38 · answer #3 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hide all your money and pretend you do not have any. or ask yourself before you make that purchase if you are gonna die without it. think about what it was like when you did not have that extra money and save it for a rainy day.
2007-03-19 02:11:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, as a college student you start by studying, you should have little time to be materialistic
2007-03-19 05:26:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't spend. It's as simple as that. That's the mentallity.
But, your asking the wrong question. What you should be asking is something about self discipline.
2007-03-19 01:30:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
enjoy the treasures of the mind free thinking is it's own reward .
2007-03-19 01:58:23 · answer #7 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please change this question from "Philosophy" to "Mental Illness".
2007-03-19 07:14:09 · answer #8 · answered by r_govardhanam 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋