My Experience With Minimalism Across 3 Countries

I am no Joshua Millburn or Ryan Nicodemus, and neither am I, Fumio Sasaki. If you know whom I am talking about then make yourself at home, if not then I hope this blog will interest you.

Josh, Ryan, and Fumio are well-known names in the world of minimalism. Josh and Ryan made ‘The Minimalist’, a documentary that talks about simple living. Fumio wrote ‘Goodbye, Things’(affiliate link) which outlines what Japanese Minimalism is all about.

‘The Minimalist’ was the documentary that introduced me to the concepts of Minimalism. The book by Fumio Sasaki added to the intrigue.

I chanced upon the book in early 2018, when I was struggling with uncertainties in my life.

I had been in the USA for over five years and my H1B visa was up for renewal. After waiting many anxious weeks, I was sad to learn that my application was rejected.

It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.

Joshua Fields Millburn, Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists

What seemed like a hard blow at that time ended up being one of the best things to happen! In a sense, it allowed me to pause and re-evaluate what I want from my life!

I am sharing my experience, hoping it will resonate with you and if you are dabbling with similar concerns — my learnings might give you a direction.

Life in the USA ‘ Buy It All Period’

The things you own end up owning you.

Fumio Sasaki, Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism

Temporary happiness and buyer’s remorse are two things I can relate to. I was at the peak of being a hoarder while in the USA.

As a gaming enthusiast, I had every current-gen gaming console. I had subscribed to Loot Crate, Arcade Block, and Nerd Block. They sent me a fair share of Funko Pops and figurines. I had everything I wanted but still was on the lookout for what I should get next. I had recently moved from India and money was not a problem.

I bought many things but did not use most, beyond the first week. In hindsight, I realize ‘What a waste of money it was’. I spent upwards of $15000 just at Best Buy in 5 years on unneeded things while in the USA. I know this since I was the Elite Plus member year after year at Best Buy.

I had collected so many useless things that when I had to move back to India, I struggled with my hoard! I decided to get rid of everything.

Gaming stuff went to Game Stop trade-in, collectible toys went to young cousins and the rest(including fully functional PS3)went to the trash. I left the US as light as I could, not just in terms of my luggage but also how I felt in my mind and heart. I felt lighter in every sense.

Other than a few clothes, my bag had only two things my Nintendo Switch and Asus GL702 laptop.

Back to India, ‘Defining Enough’

Coming back to India was a mixed feeling. I was happy to be back but also concerned about what life awaits. My wife Neha had stayed back in the USA to continue with her job. I was going to be on my own for a while in India. In some ways, it seemed like a perfect time to experiment with the philosophy of minimalism.

I had to join work in Chandigarh, away from Delhi where my house was. I rented a decent house with a bedroom, kitchen, a hall, and a balcony for 15,000 INR p.m.(about $250).

I got myself a bed and a side table from an online rental store called Fabrento. These were to be my only furniture.

I also started listening to audiobooks of Fumio Sasaki’s ‘Goodbye, Things’ and Eckhart Tolle’s ‘The Power Of Now’. As I listened to the book, I started seeing how having very few physical possessions made my day-to-day life simple.

“It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.”

Bertrand Russell

In ‘Goodbye, Things’ Famio Sasaki talks about the advantages of a minimalist life through a series of questions.

One such question is ‘Why are people happy when they go out for a holiday?’. One of the obvious answers is “A chance to see new things”. The less obvious answer is “It gives them a chance to be away from the clutter of life”.

When you are out on a holiday, all you carry are the essentials the ‘Stuff You Need’ in a bag. You are happy because you have fewer things to care about.

Having less “baggage” helps you relax. You have fewer distractions and spend more time with yourself and your family. You are not hurried from one thing to the other, from taking care of one aspect to the other. Time seems to move slowly. You have more time to have an “Experience”.

I am laying a deliberate emphasis on the word’ Experience’. It’s different from action. You are not just doing things. You are staying in the moment.

Separating the ‘Needs’ from ‘Wants’

“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.”

Vernon Howard

During this time, I learned that an important aspect of minimalism is understanding “what you need ” vs “ what you want”.

A good example is I need to know what is hot and happening in the world of technology and gaming since I am an avid gamer and technologist. As for want, I may want the latest Xbox Series X, but do not need it. More so, since now cloud gaming is a thing.

Guided by the principle of minimalism, here is how I now answer my “want”. Instead of impulsively clicking the buy button, I wait 48 hours before making a purchase or consulting Neha if she thinks I need it. If I still have the urge to buy it, I ask myself, “What would I lose if I do not have it?”, The answer more often than not helps stay off the urge to buy.

Move to Australia

When the H1B visa got rejected, we applied for an Australian PR. As luck would have it, we got accepted within a year. In January of 2019, I moved to Sydney. My wife joined me the same year in June.

I believe this is our final move. We are excited to call this country our new home. We hoped to find our roots here and I tried to apply the learnings of minimalism in every aspect of our life. I got my citizenship last year, and Neha will probably get it this year, cementing the fact Australia will be our final home.

Looking Back and Planning Forward

The first year was a roller coaster ride for me. Moving from the US back to India, getting rid of some prized possessions, moving to Australia, getting a new job in a new country, making new friends, and getting ready to start a new life here with my wife were the highlights.

I believe that de-cluttering my life of “things” made these transitions easier. If I was the hoarder I was before, then these moves would have had me worried. Thanks to minimalism I moved three continents in one year with just one bag in hand.

So in early 2018 what seemed like a bad turn of events paved the way for some very new experiences and learnings. I travelled to 4 countries, tried meditation, read books, made friends, tried my hands at gardening, content creation and blogging again, and well, took some huge risks.

Becoming A Father

It has been over 5 years since we moved to Australia, and in 2021 I became a father. Although I have not been as minimalist as I was in my Chandigarh days, my purchases have been way more deliberate. Raising a toddler and still being minimalist is a tough act to balance, but as she grows I will try to inculcate this understanding of needs and wants in her too. Hope it goes as expected.

Less Means More

An important thing I have realised is that Minimalism takes out money as a factor in life!

With “less wants” you always have a surplus. I am determined to use this “surplus” to buy experiences. With a family to take care of and ever-increasing expenses, a deliberate purchase helps me save, and these days money saved is money earned. To cure my gaming itch cloud gaming, and subscription-based gaming as a service option also helped a lot. I at most get a couple of games a year now, the rest being covered by my Xbox Ultimate and PlayStation Extra memberships, this saves me a whole bunch of money. This even helps me not to waste money on digital clutter.

Conclusion

It has been almost 7 years since I embarked on my minimalism journey, and I have more or less managed to stick to it. Having a daughter in the mix might cause me to reevaluate certain things, but YouTubers like Joshua Becker show it is possible.

Hope this journey gives me a more fruitful life rather than less in the future.

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I hope my journey through minimalism gives you some pointers on a similar journey. Today, my goals have evolved as I embark on a new path as a blogger and YouTuber, striving for a life where I have more control and financial independence. Please consider subscribing to this blog for more personal experiences on life, family, and finance as we navigate the ever-changing world, carving out our own space.