Minimalism Is For Rich People – My Response

So which one is it?

Is minimalism for the rich?

Or is minimalism for the poor?

Safe to say, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding who lives a minimalist lifestyle. But before we jump into it, let me start by saying that I’ve avoided this topic for a long time, despite wanting to dive into it.

And the reason is that I’ve found, throughout my own experience, that it can draw in a lot of negativity.

Now, I don’t mind dipping my toes into some of the more controversial topics out there, but I try and avoid discussions that create a lot of negativity or divisiveness. That is not the space that I am trying to create.

Part of that comes from the fact that adopting a minimalist lifestyle has had a complete domino effect on my life. In creating a more positive environment, I’ve naturally become more positive-focused.

Minimalism starts as a journey of being more intentional with your belongings. But to be intentional, you must take note of what you value.

Once you adopt a minimalist lifestyle and you start being intentional with your belongings and time, you naturally avoid negative things- I’m all about looking forward and making positive transformations 🙌

So Then, Why Are We Discussing This Whole ‘Debate?’

From personal experience, whether in some of the comments on my content or my emotional response to reading things, the aggressive stereotypes of minimalism tend to stir feelings of inner conflict.

One of the most misleading stereotypes I’ve heard is that minimalism is for the rich contemporary white woman who can afford all the “fancy” things. (yes, some people feel this way).

We can all agree there is already enough division happening worldwide. There’s no need to create more than we already have.

Therefore, I don’t want this topic to aim at pointing fingers in any way or pitting one opinion vs. another. The aim is to bring attention to some things I’ve read regarding whether minimalism is for the rich or the poor.

And what my personal experience has been with both sides of the coin!

I think that no matter what anyone’s opinion is, we’re all just trying our best to enjoy life and be happy at the end of the day. I want this community to feel like a safe place for everyone to share their feelings and opinions in a positive environment💓

With that said, here is my experience (as a minimalist) on the whole debate.

My ‘financial’ experience with minimalism

Let me start by saying that when I first started practicing minimalism, I was financially poor. 

Like, I’m talking about “go on a rice and beans diet to save money for basic needs” poor.

It seems contradictory, considering all of the stereotypes surrounding minimalism about being for the privileged. But initially, it was assumed minimalism was for poor people.

What’s funny is that when I first started living a minimalist lifestyle, I was scared that, in turn, people would think I was doing it because I was, in fact, poor, not rich. 

I was merely practicing minimalism due to my inability to buy more things.

Back then, I would even get people commenting on my content, saying things like:

“being poor must be in style”… or “glad minimalism is trending because I can’t afford anything anyway!“

So you can understand why I was a bit caught off guard when I heard the stereotype that minimalism is for the rich and ‘privileged’ people, with claims that it requires a certain amount of privilege.

So, Who’s Right? Is Minimalism For The Rich Or The Poor?

Applying the practice of minimalism is best suited for people who aim to take control of their environments by removing the excess clutter from their lives.

And who has clutter? Everyone.

That’s right, minimalism is for the rich, AND minimalism is for the poor- and everyone in between,

Some say that clutter is a problem that only poor people face, seeing as they can’t afford to get rid of anything- as they might need it down the line.

On the other end of the spectrum, the claim is that rich people are prone to clutter, but they just have more space for their things or to store their items.

Or, as a result of being able to afford more things, wealthy people buy too much.

At some point in our lives, we all can struggle with clutter in some way, eventually. 

The only difference is that we all struggle in different ways depending on what types of things we purchase or collect.

And let’s face it, clutter can be stressful, so anyone who has clutter can benefit from learning ways to address it and avoid it.

Now, let’s dive into the four core points surrounding the debate on is minimalism is for the rich or the poor and my personal experience (as someone who has practiced minimalism for quite some time.)

#1. Saving Vs. Spending

There have been times when I’ve experienced having an abundance of money and others where I’ve had next to zero.

Your approach to clutter and minimalism will vary depending on the lifestyle you aim to achieve within a specific income. Yet, some say otherwise.

There are claims that minimalism is for the rich because it requires privilege to decide “to buy, or not to buy,” or “to hoard belongings, or restrict them.”

Take, for example, buying and investing in quality pieces. Many will say you need an average of about $1000 to create a good quality capsule wardrobe, funds that someone who struggles financially won’t have the means to spend.

The belief that minimalism is only for the privileged overlooks an essential fact: even those with limited financial resources have been shown to spend lots of money on items they don’t need.

And in those cases, minimalism offers a great solution to those with financial struggles! There are also environmental and emotional benefits, even tangible savings.

If you need proof, look no further! Owning fewer things has made my wallet happier too. 💰

The Statistics📊: What are We Spending?

Ready for the stats?

On clothes alone, the average person spends around $161, with women spending 76% more than men. The average family spends around $1800 per year on JUST clothes! (You can read more about it here.)

Our obsession with possessions might be costing us more than we think. From the average 20+ pairs of shoes 👠 to expensive storage units costing an average of $100/month, it’s not just quality that costs us, but quantity too- 

and misplaced items often lead to unnecessary extra costs like forgotten bill payments or late fees…the real culprit behind draining wallets may lie in how much stuff we own.

#2. Decluttering

Whenever I talk about decluttering, the conversation often shifts to finances. 

Many will argue that only those with money can afford a minimalist lifestyle because most of us can’t afford to throw things out and rebuy them.

However, in reality, most advocates of minimalism don’t believe in filling your home and life back up after getting rid of excess clutter since it defeats the true intention behind the whole process.

The point isn’t to continuously repurchase cheaper objects (which perpetuates the waste cycle)– it’s all about simplifying our surroundings by eliminating what we don’t need so we have more time to focus on things we actually want to focus on-

and avoiding stress like bills lost in all the clutter or late fees down the line.

We often overlook the countless resources we invest in to keep our lives running smoothly. Things like:

1. Frequently replacing batteries
2. Having multiple items plugged in (which costs electricity)
3. Spending money on cleaning/maintenance supplies
4. Paying for square footage that you can’t even use

Many of us inevitably sink a lot of hidden money into maintaining what we own- it’s almost like a full-time job.

#3. Quality Vs. Quantity

If you know me, you know I’m all about making quality purchases because, as a rule of thumb, quality lasts longer and doesn’t need replacing as often.

Assuming you can (I know sometimes it isn’t possible), investing a little extra money upfront for a quality item will prevent replacing it every six months. 

There are some things I’ve had for years, and they still have tons of life left! 🎉

I know it may be costly initially, but as you accumulate more quality items over time, you’ll notice you aren’t buying things nearly as often and save a substantial amount of money this way.

Most of us own and use a lot of things. So there’s no way one could afford to invest in an entire house full of high-quality items, right?

I mean, some can, but most can’t. Myself included!

However, quality doesn’t always have to be associated with a high price tag. You can hunt for many incredible pieces at a thrift or consignment store. The Facebook marketplace can also be a great way to score some deals. 

The controversy starts here: endless claims are made that thrifting leisurely requires privilege– part of why people assume minimalism is for the rich.

The “Thrifting” Debate

Some will say minimalism is for the rich because only rich people can thrift for fun, which I read in an article not long ago.

As a minimalist, I can attest that I do not thrift merely “for fun.” If I’m hunting through a thrift store, I genuinely need something. Also, I feel so many benefits of thrifting get missed! Things like:

• Spending less money, 
• Sourcing quality items on a budget,
• More eco-friendly than buying new

But all that aside, choosing to own quality items isn’t mandatory to practice minimalism, it’s only a preference. Although it does save you money in the long run, it’s not like you have to fill your house with top-of-the-line items to benefit from minimalism. 

As I mentioned before, I was quite poor when I first started living a minimalist lifestyle and absolutely did not own quality items as I do now. So if you’re wondering if minimalism is for poor people, I’ve been there.

Today I still put a lot of thought into my purchases and often contemplate if I could make more sustainable and budget-friendly decisions as I go.

For example, I bought a new couch that I love for under $1000, and I could purchase it with the money I earned from selling old furniture I was no longer using. 

Looking back, most of those items I sold were thrifted, so it’s been a great way to save money and recycle.

We also have lots of elements from Ikea that are simplistic but inexpensive ✨️

They may not be the “highest quality,” but they look nice and allow you to create an optimized space that feels good… without breaking the bank.

So when it comes to thrifting being a “rich” people activity and claiming that minimalism is for the rich, maybe that’s true on a grander scale and applies based on certain people’s approach. 

But needing a certain level of wealth to ‘thrift’ doesn’t apply to minimalism, and thrifting is a beneficial practice.

By thrifting, we avoid the waste cycle of buying something new, trashing it, buying something else… and continuing the cycle.

Thrifting avoids bringing even more items into the mix and allows you to make the most of really great items!

That’s not to say I haven’t invested in certain things along the way (like my bed, which was definitely an investment), but despite being a minimalist, I wouldn’t say I own top-of-the-line modern furniture.

It’s more about taking care of and appreciating the items we have 🙂 And because we don’t own a lot, it’s easy to take care of them and keep things looking nice!

#4. Culture And Style

I get push-back on this one a lot, and it’s the notion that minimalism perpetuates the loss of culture, personality, and style- 

in other words, it’s bland.

As I see it, there’s no particular style associated with living with less. How you choose to express your style is entirely up to you! Even while practicing minimalism, it’s 100% customizable.

From the eclectic, the naturalist, the off-grid family, the backpacker, the boho enthusiast, the couponer, and the wealthy… they can all lead a minimalist lifestyle and happily co-exist. Minimalism doesn’t have to be applied in one way and that one way only.

Minimalism comes down to one common goal: saving money and being more intentional about our daily choices. The whole point is that you are removing yourself from a place of experiencing financial burden and from having an excess accumulation of stuff, which leads to stress.

It’s about eliminating all the extra noise, so we can be more present and prioritize LIFE rather than a bunch of “stuff” that only gives us short-term satisfaction.

In today’s society, we are constantly bombarded with new trends and reasons to spend money, and it can feel impossible to keep up. 

Whereas practicing minimalism, it’s all about focusing on what matters to you and eliminating all the other outside noises.

Conclusion

By now, I hope you can see through the age-old debate, “is minimalism for the rich or the poor.” I hope I was able to shed light on what practicing minimalism is genuinely all about so that you feel more confident that ANYONE can practice minimalism- 

and anyone can benefit from living more intentionally.

If you’re ready to start your journey, I have a masterclass geared toward giving you the tools to help you achieve a more holistic, clutter-free space. So you can experience the benefits for yourself!