Summary

After moving twice within three months, the author adopted a minimalist lifestyle, significantly reducing the number of items they purchase, particularly books, stationery, extensive skincare products, lipsticks, and bulky jackets from fast fashion brands.

Abstract

The author's decision to minimize their possessions was prompted by the challenging experience of moving with heavy luggage. Initially, they moved to The Netherlands with 47kg of belongings, which was a physically demanding process due to the need to transport everything via public transportation and up to a third-floor apartment without an elevator. After the second move, which included additional souvenirs, the author decided to embrace a minimalist lifestyle. This shift led to the cessation of purchasing items such as physical books, which were replaced with a Kindle; excessive stationery, after realizing that much of it went unused; a simplified skincare routine focusing on essentials; a limited selection of quality lipsticks; and avoiding large jackets from fast fashion brands in favor of UNIQLO's HEATTECH items for warmth. The author reflects on the societal pressure to consume and expresses satisfaction with their newfound minimalism, which aligns with their personal values and makes travel easier.

Opinions

Moving with heavy luggage is physically challenging and inconvenient.
Minimalism is a practical approach to living, especially for those who move frequently.
Digital reading devices like Kindle are preferable for reducing the weight and volume of books when moving.
The trend of extensive skincare routines is unnecessary and costly; a simplified routine is more practical.
Quality over quantity is important when selecting makeup items like lipsticks.
Fast fashion is wasteful and of low quality; investing in functional and durable clothing is better.
The author values the "less is more" philosophy and has found it liberating to reduce their possessions.
The author encourages readers to reflect on their consumption habits and consider the benefits of minimalism.

5 Items I Have Stopped Purchasing After Moving Twice in Three Months

How I went from two suitcases and one backpack of 47kg to a 23kg luggage

I moved for the first time in September 2017, when I went to The Netherlands to pursue my Bachelor’s degree. I flew with Finnair and they offered 40kg of baggage for students when we purchased their flight ticket. As it was my first time moving so far away from home, I had to pack everything dear to my heart so I wouldn’t feel so homesick.

I had two fully packed suitcases and a backpack with me on the flight to Amsterdam, which made up a total of 47kg.

It was a horrible and painful (literally) experience. To reach the place I rented in The Hague, The Netherlands, I had to take two trains. Lifting two huge luggage with me on and off the train four times was torturous, not to mention having to carry them while figuring out the way around. When I finally reached my rental, I might have shed a tear finding out that it was on the third floor of a building with no elevator. The stairs in The Netherlands are surprisingly steep and narrow, which didn’t make bringing 40kg of stuff up to my room any easier.

The second time I moved was on December 28th, 2017. I remember that day vividly because I had just come back from my trip to Switzerland and I bought a bunch of souvenirs with me. The previously 47kg of luggage might have been added up to 50–53kg.

After moving twice with A LOT of stuff, I was determined to work my way to being a lightweight traveler. I discarded what I didn’t need and minimized my living style. That has put an end to my purchasing the following items:

Books

I brought with me three books that my friends gave me before I left Vietnam, which I never finished during my three years abroad. During Black Friday sales, I would hop on BookDepository or Amazon to catch a few book deals they were offering. With the addition of my huge textbooks, by the end of 2019, I had to spare two compartments on my shelf for books only.

Knowing that I’d never bring all of them home with me and throwing them away was too wasteful, I sold all my books with the price half off. I then proceeded to buy a Kindle with that money. It was a rare wise purchase. I could already feel my suitcase so much lighter.

While ebooks will never replace physical ones for me, and I still buy books of non-English fiction and non-fiction from time to time, switching to digital reading was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Stationery

Photo by Camille San Vicente on Unsplash

Oh, pretty and colorful little things, how much of a fool am I for you?

I could spend hours at a stationery store. I am weak for beautifully design notebooks and colorful markers and highlighters.

Moreover, in the recent years, bullet journal has been a huge trend. When I decided to jump on the bandwagon, I bought a ton of pens, pencils, markers, highlighters, notebooks, sticky notes, you name it, but I never end up using them all. They are still lying in my desk drawer as I’m writing this piece.

Once my mind was set on minimalism and decluttering, I also had to give up bullet journal. I stopped purchasing stationery and am trying to use up the remaining ones.

Any skincare products that are not facial wash, moisturizer, or sunscreen

My skincare regime has been reduced to only three essentials, especially due to COVID-19.

Over the last few years, the skincare and beauty world has driven customers to buy more and use more. I also fell into that pit of having a 7-step or 10-step skincare routine.

When COVID-19 became a global pandemic and the outside exposure was limited, I realized that a huge routine was unnecessary and costly. This was not uncommon as many skincare enthusiasts started to pick up the “less is more” mindset. Pinterest even predicted that there would be a shift towards skinimalism in its annual Pinterest Predicts report for 2021.

I am now happy to stick with three items and I will soon have glowy skin, as soon as I adjust my sleeping time…

Lipstick

Around October 2019, I remember having to throw away about five lipsticks because they started to get moldy and sweaty. My heart might have broken at that moment because they were barely used expensive lipsticks.

From then on, I put an end to doing my own research and giving in to my impulse. I went directly to the brands’ stalls in department stores to ask for their expert opinion and chose a few products that suit my skin tone and were to my liking.

I only have three lipsticks on my makeup desk now: Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in LOLITA, Nars lipstick in GYPSY, and Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in RUBY.

Huge jackets, especially those from fast fashion brands

During the Black Friday Sales in 2017, I purchased a $17 camo jacket from Forever 21. The first time I wore it, the zipper got stuck. I had to cut it off and evidently ruined the jacket.

I did not feel sorry that I spent $17 for nothing. I felt upset thinking about all the labor and resources that were spent on that piece of junk that I’m too embarrassed to even call a jacket.

To deal with the cold in Europe, I switched to wearing UNIQLO’s HEATTECH items as undergarments. The way HEATTECH works is each piece of clothing is made with special blends of products that absorb the heat and keep the body warm. With these, I could just put on a light coat and I am out of the door.

In a world where customers are motivated to purchase more with all-year-round sales, it is hard to not buy stuff mindlessly. I am thankful that the chance that flew me abroad offered me new insights into my consumption and helped me to pinpoint what is truly important to me. By discarding the aforementioned items, I now only need the maximum weight of a piece of checked baggage allowed by most airlines and I am good to go.

What about you? Have the recent changes stopped you from buying something? I would love to hear your story.