created by Defiant-Junket4906 on 27/02/2025 at 10:18 UTC
83 upvotes, 27 top-level comments (showing 25)
When I first started practicing minimalism, people often assumed that it meant I was just trying to save money, so they thought I was cheap or didn’t care about quality. Some even got the idea that I was lazy or not making enough of an effort to improve my life. And honestly, some people think minimalism means living in an empty, sterile space—no personality or comfort.
But over time, I realized that people often misunderstand the deeper purpose of minimalism—it’s not about having less just for the sake of it, but about focusing on what truly matters.
What about you? Have you faced similar misunderstandings because of minimalism?
Comment by UpOnZeeTail at 27/02/2025 at 13:19 UTC
29 upvotes, 0 direct replies
None. I don't really talk about minimalism to other because I don't see the need. It only vaguely comes up at gift giving occasions but I give suggestions of experiences, consumables, some upgrade items and a treat or two.
But no one looks in my closet to see that I don't have a lot of clothes or comments on the surfaces of my house looking empty.
Comment by Decent_Nebula_8424 at 27/02/2025 at 11:02 UTC
63 upvotes, 2 direct replies
That I am cheap, since I've been wearing the same clothes for 20 years.
I'm far from it: I donate a significant part of my wages to charity, and once a year I travel abroad and stay in good hotels, get the best seat in the concert hall, go at least twice to fancy restaurants. And I also believe in saving money, but that's being responsible, not cheap.
Comment by PossibleJazzlike2804 at 27/02/2025 at 10:25 UTC
28 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’ve been told I’m not trying to achieve enough. Everything has a function in my life, if it doesn’t, I haven’t gotten to it yet.
Comment by victoria_lux at 27/02/2025 at 10:36 UTC
29 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That I'm poor.
Comment by Responsible_Lake_804 at 27/02/2025 at 12:08 UTC
29 upvotes, 1 direct replies
People are so insistent that I’m a snob if I don’t want the same things they want. I just don’t care enough to be a snob or to feel superior. It’s hard enough to be satisfied in my own life. Apparently my style of satisfaction is offensive.
Comment by calmlyoverthinking at 27/02/2025 at 10:55 UTC
27 upvotes, 2 direct replies
That I’m heartless and not sentimental. The opposite is true, I want my most special and meaningful things to have pride of place and be well looked after, not lost amongst other things that have only slight meaning to me.
Comment by solodevo007 at 27/02/2025 at 10:51 UTC
18 upvotes, 3 direct replies
My colleagues used to say why trying to show off 😅, I was like actually I'm doing the opposite 😭.
Comment by Timely_Froyo1384 at 27/02/2025 at 17:32 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That I’m cheap 😂
No dear we just have different priorities.
Comment by threetimestwice at 27/02/2025 at 16:38 UTC
14 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I had a former friend who in hindsight was likely a narcissist. She told me that my minimalist home made her feel uncomfortable. I see now that it was because she needed chaos, and didn’t like my peaceful serene home.
I had another friend who I always complimented on her home. She had a lot of displays and I enjoyed them every time she changed them up for holidays. But when I started to share my journey into minimalism, she took it personally, made it about herself, and thought I was insulting her style. It was so odd.
Comment by saveourplanetrecycle at 27/02/2025 at 18:02 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Funny thing is when you reach a certain age you no longer care what others think
Comment by sv_procrastination at 27/02/2025 at 10:48 UTC
25 upvotes, 3 direct replies
There are a lot of misconceptions about minimalism and at one point I started to apply minimalism to my care about what others think about me because of it. When they are genuinely interested about the topic and have questions I’ll answer them but most are just condescending comments and I can’t be bothered anymore.
The best was ”I feel unwelcome here when visiting you, you need to make it more of a home so people enjoy coming“. My answer was: believe it or not this is my home and I am the only one that needs to feel at home here. Would you change your home to this so I feel more comfortable visiting you? They didn’t have an answer but they never brought it up again.
Comment by catandakittycat at 27/02/2025 at 14:25 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That I’m an animal abuser bc I would rather own 1-3 nice wool sweaters over buying tens of polyester sweaters that won’t last the test of time.
Comment by ashms58 at 27/02/2025 at 10:59 UTC
16 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Bot. Seems like this sub is completely overrun with them now. Every post sounds exactly the same.
Comment by DJSauvage at 27/02/2025 at 19:32 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
There are people in here that have that misunderstanding about minimalism, so no surprise others do. Like I would like to have 1 perfect even if very expensive item, than 8 mediocre ones for the same purpose.
Comment by CarolinaMtnBiker at 27/02/2025 at 16:32 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
People think I’m antisocial because I carefully pick how I use my free time and with whom I spend time. Spending 4 hours shopping is not on my list of things I’m doing for fun. People think I’m cheap because I don’t eat out much. I usually work out early in the morning so I hardly ever drink. People don’t like this either.
It’s a pretty good lifestyle to find out who my friends are and who are just side players in my life.
Comment by Candy_Apple00 at 27/02/2025 at 17:52 UTC
3 upvotes, 2 direct replies
My husband is convinced I’m just throwing everything out🤦♀️
Comment by randomcoww at 27/02/2025 at 19:12 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I suppose that an empty, sterile space with no personality or comfort reduces my quality of life. I feel no attachment to my space so I keep it empty, low maintenance, and portable.
I really only care about my hobbies which are on a PC so I can do it anywhere.
Comment by tea-wallah at 27/02/2025 at 17:40 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That I don’t like decorating. I do decorate and I’m quite good at it. I don’t need 70 pieces of framed art on one wall.
Comment by MinimalCollector at 27/02/2025 at 18:32 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I don't think personally faced from peers, but the social stigmas around poverty and specifically men not having bed frames drives me crazy. I think it opens a lot of doors about how ownership = status.
My brain fixates on the bed frame as unhygenic and poor. I have a mattress on the floor on wooden slats. It looks fine. I sleep best closer to the floor. I like the way it operates. I really dislike the "living in filth/loser" outlook on not having xyz furniture. I hate how it's an excuse to bully people that may or may not be financially struggling. I'm not financially struggling. But I hate how we treat impoverished people. I have met people that have the maturity/financial markers of bed frame, car, hefty savings etc that are just miserable losers to be around. It's baffling to me that people will made broad judgements on someone owning or not owning a certain item and look at it as a red flag. I'm not even an angry single guy when I write this lol, my partner feels the same as I do but it's weird to observe that /this/ is what people care about in the wild
I've occasionally been hazed by friends about my habit changes in good jest, I don't take it poorly. Part of that is because they've often asked me about changes they can make or have saw how much happier I am in certain respects for these changes. They also don't really care what lifestyle I'm in and trust that if I'm doing it, it's with my best interest at heart.
Comment by PinkNFluffyTeemo at 28/02/2025 at 02:52 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Getting rid of my expensive computer gaming items for cheaper,minimal, less buttons, less led lights, less cords, and less money gaming setup.. “you should keep the receipt… who knows when you want to return it..” said the cashier. he said if my setup is already the “best mouse and keyboard on the market-super high end, why buy this cheaper one? I said cause it’s sparks joy for me owning “less”
Comment by MediumEngine1344 at 28/02/2025 at 05:44 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That I’m judging their messy place when I really don’t give a… about how they want to live
I only care if they come to my place to stay and sprawl out their stuff in the common area. Be as messy as you want in your guest room but everywhere else is you just being a bad guest. Really this is only one person
Comment by Forge_Le_Femme at 27/02/2025 at 19:00 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
That I do not watch commercials as they're clutter IMHO. I pay extra to not have to see them. I also do not watch Primetime TV or any popular TV shows, not usually as I find them off-putting for various reasons. Primetime is also usually too flashy for me.
Comment by Mnmlsm4me at 27/02/2025 at 23:47 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
None. It doesn’t come up in conversation.
Comment by Hifi-Cat at 28/02/2025 at 01:00 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Comment by bag0fpotatoes at 02/03/2025 at 15:42 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Even people here confuse minimalism with frugality.
I was never “misunderstood” because I am very generous when it comes to spending money on experiences. If anything, people must think minimalism costs more if they were judging it by just looking at me.