I have always hated buying things I didn’t absolutely need, but I make exceptions for things that are very inexpensive. It turns out that this is a poor person’s habit, carried with me through my changing economics like an invasive species. It’s a survival mechanism, and Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up book/show/franchise doesn’t stand a chance. Not against economic anxiety or cultural legacy as described by Arielle Bernstein so clearly with “The idea that going through items cheerfully evaluating whether or not objects inspire happiness is fraught for a family like mine, for whom cherished items have historically been taken away.”
Kondo uses basic behavioral economic concepts to make her points. Sunk costs, status-quo bias, and diminishing returns all do play into the psychology of throwing things out, but so does fear and insecurity. She may convince a client dreaming of a clean home to throw something out in the moment, but disposal remorse can be even worse than buyer’s remorse. Everyone wants a clean house, and I am sure they’re right about it helping your mental state. I would love to get rid of everything some days, but here is why I probably won’t.
Minimalism is Expensive
Minimalist spaces are great when the few items you have are expensive, nice things. But when you have no money, minimalism just looks like nothing. Or worse, it could like look your first apartment in college when all you could afford was a mattress on the floor and a single, sad bookcase from target. It is much more joyful to have the walls and shelves covered in stuff you may not love but lets you know you’re home.
As Arielle Bernstein also points out, not having many things is a way to show you can afford to replace things. It is a mark of wealth rather than poverty. What if you spill something on that one nice work shirt you need sometimes but you actually hate? Kids destroy clothes pretty quickly so you really do need extras, especially clothes you don’t mind getting all muddy.
But the need for back-ups is not the main point here–the point is that many of us can’t afford to have one of everything we might need in a “joy-sparking” version. Yes, I said “might need.” I still believe in just-in-case.
And just try telling someone who grew up not always having enough to eat that they shouldn’t ask their friends and family before giving something perfectly good to charity or throwing it away.
By All Means Tidy Up
If you can donate what you don’t need and have the resources to easily replace anything, I say do it. But also watch what you buy. I rarely buy cheap things anymore because of the environmental and labor impact, which means I hardly buy anything at all. But I do understand the urge to and you will find no judgement here. Everyone needs to do what makes sense for them.
by Shelly Schoen-Rene
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Photo by S A R A H ✗ S H A R P