The Complete Zero Waste Minimalism Guide

Increase your Happiness by Reducing your Waste in Order to Achieve a Minimalist Lifestyle

By Lucy Johnson

&

The Ultimate Homesteading Basics Guide for Beginners

The Homesteading Essentials on How to Build a Life of Self Sufficiency and Sustainability

By Lucy Johnson

Book 1

The Complete Zero Waste Minimalism Guide

Increase your Happiness by Reducing your Waste in Order to Achieve a Minimalist Lifestyle

By Lucy Johnson

 Copyright 2014 by Lucy Johnson - All rights reserved.

This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered.

- From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly.

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance.

The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: What is Minimalism?

Chapter 2: Benefits of Minimalism

Chapter 3: Getting Rid of Your Stuff

Chapter 4: Jobs, Hobbies and How You Spend Your Time

Chapter 5: Money in Minimalism

Chapter 6: Minimalism in Relationships

FREE BONUS – Making Money While Shopping!

Conclusion

One Last Thing…

Introduction

I want to thank you and congratulate you for downloading the book, “The Complete Zero Waste Minimalism Guide: Increase your Happiness by Reducing your Waste in Order to Achieve a Minimalist Lifestyle.”

This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to practice minimalism in your everyday life!

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with how chaotic your life has been lately? Are you spending every waking hour in work but still not earning enough to meet all your financial obligations? Minimalism teaches the practice of living happily with little possessions by simply changing your mindset. In this book, you’ll find out exactly what minimalism is and how it can help you reduce the chaos, increase your savings, enjoy your job, pursue your passions, and more! Millions of people today are successfully living the minimalistic lifestyle, enjoying their days and living debt free. Take the first step in the community with this book!

Thanks again for downloading this book, I hope you enjoy it!

With gratitude,

Lucy Johnson

Chapter 1: What is Minimalism?

Minimalism is a way of life that is starting to attract the attention of many people all across the United States and beyond. Defining the practice can be difficult since it’s not really a personality trait but rather a lifestyle choice. People who are minimalists define themselves as “intentional”. They acquire what they need rather than what they want, which is why many minimalists only have the barest essentials in terms of material ownership.

This is perhaps the most significant trait of a minimalist. They put more attention on people and experiences rather than on material things. However, this doesn’t mean that a minimalist doesn’t have electricity or own a mobile phone and computer. They may also own these things, but the focus of buying one centers on the function of the product rather than on the brand or the newness of the model. Hence, a minimalist would ask: what are the basic functions that I need and what mobile phone can provide those functions?

Accordingly, minimalists are characterized by the following edicts:

Intentional

Minimalists are intentional, believing that they can affect control in practically all aspects of their life. They believe that although they cannot plan everything that happens to them, they are in the position to choose how they would react or respond to specific situations.

Priorities

Minimalists know their priorities and as a result do not waste their time on unnecessary things. Most of their actions and decisions are made in accordance with these priorities, leaving no time for frivolous and off-tangent things.

Less Focus on Material Things

As already mentioned, minimalists are rarely attached to material things. They only own items that they believe important or necessary in their life. Some minimalists can have as little as 50 possessions while others have less than 100. Although minimalists do not count their material possessions, it’s often easy to start counting what they own as compared to other people.

Quality over Quantity

Another aspect of their detachment from material things is the focus on quality rather than quantity. This means that even though a minimalist may have the barest essentials, most of those essentials are of excellent quality, made to last for years.

So what is a minimalist’s ultimate goal?

Some minimalists will tell you that there is no ultimate goal in the lifestyle. The objective is to live each day as it comes, continually going forward and simply experiencing and enjoyment. Now, this might sound negative for many, but keep in mind that minimalists do not stop achieving. Many of them have achieved laudable positions, but they’ve managed to do it through a different mindset.

Instead of asking: what is my goal?

A minimalist would often ask: what do I want to become?

A minimalist therefore sees goals not as a separate entity but something that becomes a part of them. The next questions they ask is: why do I want to become this and what should I do to achieve this?

Chapter 2: Benefits of Minimalism

So why would anyone want to pursue minimalism if it means foregoing many of life’s luxuries? Minimalism is actually something that has been practiced in thousands of years, usually under one name or another. Modern minimalists however will tell you of the many advantages of living through this particular lifestyle. Following are just some of the advantages associated with minimalism:

Fewer Things to Worry About

With less items owned, minimalists aren’t plagued by the worries that a lot of people have to think about. For example, some of them do not own cars which mean that they never have to think about mechanical problems or paperwork problems related with the material. Owning only the barest necessities, it is easier for minimalists to take care and keep track of their items.

Fewer Expenses

Possibly one of the most significant advantages of being a minimalist is the lack of extensive expenses. Minimalists do not find the need to constantly add to their collection of items, therefore allowing them to save money in the bank rather than spend it on frivolous materials. Since they also own a small assortment of things, that means that they have little to zero maintenance costs. For example, no car means there’s not any need to purchase gasoline and so forth.

Orderly House and Life

Another plus of the minimalist life is that you don’t have to contend with clutter that often. With just a few possessions, the house wouldn’t really be messy and everything you own can be neatly compiled to their proper places. Hence, the house is not just easier to clean but everything you need can be found and used within seconds.

More Time for the Important Things

Minimalists invest in experiences and people rather than material things, giving them more time for the important things in life. According to minimalists, having to go with the barest essentials means that they have more money to spend on their passions such as mountain climbing, painting, reading, and others. With their focus more tacked on to experiences rather than possessions, minimalists are capable of enjoying life to the fullest through the things that really matter to them.

Less Stress

You’ll notice that even as you try to relax, your mind starts to wander and think about things that causes stress. This is because with more concerns in your life, you find yourself constantly worrying about what would happen next and what could go wrong. In a minimalist lifestyle however, many of these stresses are dissolved as you start to unload every worry and clutter in your life. Through minimalism, you are able to shed the things you have the least control over, therefore preventing fears and worries on your part.

Other known benefits of minimalism include but are not limited to the following:

Living in the moment

Increased productivity

Helps with the environment

More opportunities for vacation and rest

More focus on your health

Chapter 3: Getting Rid of Your Stuff

The first step towards minimalism is getting rid of anything in the house that you don’t need. There’s no need to reduce your possessions to a specific numbers, just make sure that everything you own is something that you actually use. Now, a lot of people will shudder in horror when thinking about getting rid of their beloved luxuries, but it’s not really possible to keep them all, especially since some of those are probably costing you in maintenance alone. That being said, following are some tips on how to get this done:

Experiment and Compare

Go on a 30 day experiment wherein you write down every new purchase you’ve made for the month, both necessary and unnecessary expenses. Next, decide on a date and start living your life a little more minimalistic at a time. Only purchase the items that you need such as food, soap, shampoo, toilet paper, toothpaste, gasoline and others. Better yet, write down everything you’ve purchased on the starting date and review them by the end of the month. Now compare the two months and try to figure out how much you’ve been spending on unnecessary expenses. It’s a bit shocking, isn’t it? Make a master list of all the “necessary” things in your life and for the next few months, make a conscious effort of purchasing only those items while banking the rest. You might be surprised at how well you can survive with so little.

Reduce your Possessions

Start your first step towards minimalism by taking a first sweep on your possessions and getting rid of all those knick knacks that you don’t really need. Do you have those “just in case” items that have been gathering dust in the bedroom cabinet? Get rid of those too! Grab a huge box and start throwing things inside, sorting between things that go to trash and things that can be donated. There should be NO items left for storage purposes – either you keep them or you let them go. Note though that this is your first sweep so you’re not expected to suddenly decide that it’s time for the TV to leave its place of honor in the living room. Only get rid of the things you’re 100% you no longer have any use for. A second, third, fourth and even nth sweep might become necessary as you ease into the minimalism life.

Test the Water

This tip is related to the “Reduce Your Possessions” comment. One thing you have to understand is that minimalists see their possessions as being attached with emotions. This means that an item either brings them happiness or does nothing for their emotions. For example, some minimalists have no problem discarding their guitar because they only see it as an instrument that produces music. However, others are more reluctant because to them, the guitar is a constant source of enjoyment.

What this boils down to is that you don’t really know what you “need” until it’s gone. Hence, don’t give away your items too soon. Instead, test the waters and see how you will fare without these materials in your daily life. Do you struggle with the lack of mobile phone and tablet within one week? If not, then chances are this is something you can easily live without. Remember – you don’t want to suddenly ditch an item only to realize that you need it later on, and then have to buy it again.

Make a List

Chances are you still have over 100 possessions after the first sweep, which is perfectly understandable. This time, grab a pen and paper and list down the 10 most expensive items you own. It can be your house, your car or at big plasma TV in the living room – list the all down and if you can, try to remember how much you’ve paid (or still paying) for these items. Now create a list, this time writing down the top 10 things you most value in life. This doesn’t have to be material things, you may place value on time spent with friends or the time you spend camping. Compare the two lists – you’d probably realize that there’s absolutely nothing in common between these two.

Do the Math

You might be amazed at how some things in your life are actually costing you more than they’re worth. For example, try doing the math with your car. How much gasoline does it cost in a year? How much does the general maintenance costs? What about insurance and any outstanding debt you might have on the car? Now, take a good look at the commute rates in your particular city. How much would it cost you to commute to work every day? Compare the values of both and you might be surprised at how commuting actually comes off as the better option. Of course, for some people, convenience is more than worth the expense of having your own car, but you can apply this idea to practically all aspects of your life.

Substitute

Do you really need to purchase the expensive bar of soap when even the average-priced one would do? Note that although minimalists are big on quality rather than quantity, they consider the usefulness of the product for their intended purpose. Hence, if one item would do perfectly well compared to a more-expensive options, go for the cheaper one and minimize your expenditures. Some minimalists also consider other alternatives to buying, often borrowing or purchasing second hand items to serve their intended goal.

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Rot

Zero waste minimalism also means not throwing anything out until you’re 100% sure that the item is no longer necessary. Many minimalists approach this through the 4Rs or Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Rot. Refuse basically means not purchasing the item in the first place, reduce means limiting your purchases of the specific item, reuse refers to recycling materials and finally there’s rot wherein you allow materials to return to earth during the decay process.

One Year Rule

Another good technique for de-cluttering your home is the one year rule. Whenever you see an item you’re undecided on, ask yourself: did I use this for the past year? If you didn’t then chances are this particular item won’t be used in the foreseeable future and not worth the space in your home.

Other tips to de-clutter and de-own your lifestyle with minimalism includes:

Look for clothes that are versatile

Opt for multi-functional possessions (furniture, gadgets, etc)

Understand what’s best for you so you can avoid wrong purchases

Do not window shop

Purge your kitchenware

Remember, the road to minimalism is not something you have to accomplish overnight. It takes both time and patience to reduce your material possessions, turn your whole lifestyle around and make it experience-driven rather than material-driven. For some people, it can take years to reduce their material possessions to just 50, but you don’t have to be as hard-core as that! Your goal should be happiness and a sense of contentment rather than a number.

Chapter 4: Jobs, Hobbies and How You Spend Your Time

Note that minimalism isn’t just about reducing your material possessions – it’s a lifestyle choice which means that it will affect everything that happens in your life. Everything is intentional and this mantra would ripple throughout your job, hobbies, daily activities and the general way in which you live every day of your life.

The Minimalist’s Job

A minimalist believes in the adage: find a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life. The salary of the said job usually doesn’t matter because a minimalist doesn’t have an extensive list of expenses. Typically, there are two ways a minimalist tackles his/her job: (1) find a job you love or (2) learn to love and accept the job you already have. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to approach making a living through the eyes of a minimalist.

To quit or not to quit?

The first question you should ask yourself is: are you in the job you want or not? Quitting the job you have now to favor a minimalist lifestyle might be a little extreme, so we’re not pushing you to leave your employment in an effort to fit the minimalistic mold. Many starting minimalists do not find the need to leave their job and have simply learned to enjoy it more.

Deciding on whether you should leave your job or not depends on a number of factors. How much do you need to support a more minimalistic lifestyle? How much is your current job paying? Are you miserable or happy with your job? With some effort, do you think you can learn to appreciate your current job? Do you think you would be happier doing something else? What would your new job be and how much would it pay? Do you think you can meet all your expenses with the new job?

All these questions are relevant and should be asked before you decide to do something as drastic as changing your job description. If you think your high-paying job is just not worth it, then chances are you would really quit after some time. As a general rule however, changing jobs is something that should NOT be done until you’re 100% sure you’re capable of living the minimalist lifestyle.

So now that you’ve decided not to quit, what can be done to make your daily work life more enjoyable? Here are some tips how:

Understand that Work is Healthy

Studies reveal that retirement can actually cause decoration for most people, not only physically but also mentally. After spending more than 30 years exercising your mind and body through work, suddenly living a sedentary lifestyle can cause a person to soften – especially mentally. Hence, you should understand that the human species is meant to work for its own personal development. It might seem hard and there are times when you’d rather avoid the office, but your job hones you and is a necessary element of everyday life. You should therefore welcome it as it makes you better.

See Work as a Bargaining Tool

Another way to look at work is as a bargaining tool you use to obtain the things you need for everyday living. Do not focus on the work itself but rather, on what you get as a consequence of the work. This allows you to view your job more objectively while learning to appreciate every day that you spend in the office.

Your Work Fills a Void

Many people think that their job is not “important” because they’re not actually making a difference, which is the wrong to look at things. Instead, see your work as a way of filling a void in society. Your job serves a purpose and more importantly, your wages serve a purpose. You earn money and you spend money, distributing funds to different services/products that also utilize manpower to meet your needs. Think of your necessary expenses as putting money back into circulation – undoubtedly an important part of the economy. We’re not just talking about economy however, but society as a whole. Everything you do impacts society which extends a ripple that can reach anywhere.

Honest Work and Compensation

Understand that you are earning honest compensation for your work, and your skills are directly proportional to your compensation. Each day you spend doing honest work is one more day contributing to society rather than taking from it.

Working with Others

Remember that you are not working alone and that even while you are earning, you are also forging bonds and friendships with people within the office. This is plus side of working that helps add to your experience and development.

By learning to realize all these truths, you would start to view your job not as something driving you downwards but rather, a necessary task towards a more pleasant end.

Tasks and Chores

One important adage in minimalism is: do less, not more. Essentially, this means that minimalists aim to accomplish all the necessary task/chores within shorter periods of time. For example, a typical person would assign one day in a week to perform a thorough house clean up. However, a minimalist would decide to return items in their proper place each time it is used, therefore diminishing the need for work but still getting satisfactory results. Following are some of the most common minimalist approach to tasks and chores:

Cooking leftovers or doing batch cooking

Pay bills by bulk, preferably online

Automate repetitive transactions

Wash clothes by batches

Wash dishes as soon as they’re used

Dry, fold and put away clothes as soon as they’re done

Keep your possessions in their proper place

Have a specific grooming routine

Print less, using cloud storage to keep your digital library/records

Consolidate items

Hobbies and Leisure Time

The beauty of being a minimalist is that you get more leisure time, experiencing the hobbies that you find most enjoyable. With fewer distractions in your life such as television, you can actually go out and have fun, experiencing life to the fullest rather than spending it outdoors. So how exactly does a minimalist make the most of their lifestyle and how does it enrich them? Following is a glimpse on how it can work for you:

Ditch the TV

You might be surprised at how many hours you spend just watching shows on the television. For most starting minimalists, the TV is usually the first thing to go. There’s no need to sell it immediately however! Go for a test run and see if you can go one week without turning the television on at least once. In fact, try to go as many days as you can without television and instead replace this activity with something more productive. You might be surprised at just how little relevance television has in your life, not to mention how much it can save on electricity!

Stop Magazine Subscriptions

Are you one of those people who still receive magazines on a routine basis? Perhaps it’s time to stop! You can grab the news through the internet which is actually a favorite tool for minimalists. Many find the internet incredibly useful as a source of information and entertainment in lieu of the television, movies and DVDs.

Managing the Internet

Nowadays, the internet is basically more important than television and it’s virtually impossible for people not to attempt access at least once in 24 hours. However, many minimalists have tried living without internet and found out that it actually enriches their life instead of diminishing it. Like the TV, zero internet access in your home means that you become more focused on other activities. You start to enjoy the company of others more often and can do more in just a few hours.

As a beginner however, keeping your internet access is not necessary. Instead, try to manage your use of it more productively. A good tip is to go online intentionally. This means accessing the internet only when you want to do something important/productive, preferably within an allotted amount of time. If you feel as though there’s something you have to accomplish online, try writing it down as a reminder and go about your day. Upon going home, whip out your internet to-do-list and endeavour to finish them all in one sitting. When you’re done, turn off the computer and pretend you don’t have an internet connection. You’ll find that this will allow you to do more every day.

Intentional Phone Use

Believe it or not, some minimalists have lived without their phones. Of course, they only did this temporarily – as a means of “testing the waters” to see if the world continues without mobile electronic communication.

The answer is: yes it does. Although you are not expected to ditch your phone as a part of your new minimalist lifestyle, it is encouraged to try living without it for the next 30 days. The purpose of the exercise is not to make the mobile phone seem useless, but rather, to underline its impact in your life.

For example, do you notice how you get the urge to constantly check your phone for new messages? This is something most people don’t realize – that their mobile phones are being regarded as appendages to their person rather than a tool. Constant email checking, SMS, browsing and games have made the mobile phone seem like an extension of your hand. Through minimalism however, it should take a whole new meaning. Intentional use means that the phone becomes a tool for contact. After a 30-day hiatus, you’d find that you have stopped using the phone to post an FB status, check Twitter but instead use it for its original intent.

Approaching Hobbies

A common problem with starting minimalists is: what if your passion happens to be an expensive one? Remember that minimalism is all about enriching the quality of your life by learning to indulge your passions and living in the moment while ditching attachment to material possessions. But what if your passion happens to be something expensive – like photography? Would you have to forego buying new lenses because they’re not exactly “essential”?

The answer is “no”. Remember that you’re supposed to indulge your passions and pursue things that make you happy and help you grow. Therefore, if photography furthers your development as a person, then pursue it! In fact, you’ll find that even as you cut down on your wardrobe, shoes and other expenses, you’ll have more time and funds to devote to your passion.

Note though, that there should be a balance between pursuing what you love and acquiring materials for your hobby. You might easily find yourself acquiring more and more items to the point where you’re basically collecting. As a rule, try to purchase items that are multipurpose or can provide several functions at once. If possible, purchase your hobby materials second hand in order to get a bargain while still getting excellent results.

Chapter 5: Money in Minimalism

              Are you enjoying the book so far? If so, I would greatly appreciate a positive review for my book. I greatly appreciate any help you are able to give me.

Minimalists approach the use of funds very differently. Since materialism is discouraged, this usually means that minimalists purchase less and therefore save more. Based on the previous discussions, you must already have an idea of how a minimalist handles money, but how exactly does he view it? The following information should tell you exactly how to live the minimalist lifestyle through your pocket.

Debt Free

Upon deciding to become a minimalist, the first thing that should be done is to make sure that all your debts are wiped clean. This means paying off everything you owe as quickly and as efficiently as possible – whether it’s the house or the car. You can’t possibly embrace a truly minimalistic lifestyle until all the debt has been paid off. You can do this by saving every penny you can, buying only the important stuff and selling the items you’re absolutely sure you no longer need. No longer purchasing anything through your credit card would also make sure that nothing else gets added to your pile of debt. If possible, close them down, keeping only one open for emergencies until you no longer have any liabilities.

Paying for Cash

Make all your transactions on a cash-only basis. This means paying for everything immediately – no asking for a loan or paying for the product through an installment basis. Direct cash purchases aren’t only cheaper but they also relieve you of future worries about payment. There’s also a psychological impact on paying for products through cash. This make you appreciate the money more, fully understanding that you are bartering something you’ve worked hard for in exchange for something you consider necessary. The physical aspect of exchanging money is often a deterrent for frivolous spending, which is why you’ll notice that when paying for cash in the grocery, you tend to limit your purchases.

In the FREE BONUS section, you are able to receive a free loyalty card, as a gift from me.

Value of Money

Some minimalists put a very interesting slant on finances that encourages you to become more mindful when spending. How much do you earn every day and how many hours of the day do you spend working? Try to figure out the average salary you get for every hour you spend in the office. This is the cost of giving up your freedom for every hour.

So whenever you purchase something, ask yourself how much of your freedom you have to give up in purchasing the item. More importantly – is it worth it? Is your coffee worth one hour of your freedom? Is the car worth years of your freedom? Knowing how each purchase would impact your life will make you more mindful with your purchases, more circumspect of each dollar you spend.

Crunch the Number

This might seem over simplistic but avoiding debt is all about income versus expenses. The general idea is to spend less than you earn with focus on the essential aspects of everyday life. Despite this well-known fact however, a lot of people are still in-debt, mainly because they don’t have a fair idea of how much they’re spending.

Those being said, take the time to crunch the numbers and figure out your typical spending in a single month. We’re not just talking about daily expenditures but also the “big” payments such as home mortgage, car payments, insurance, utilities, food and more. Your first goal as a minimalist is to wipe out the debts in that list until you’re left with expenses that cannot be avoided.

Crunching the numbers makes it easier for you to figure out where your money is going. From there, creating a payment plan for the debts and minimizing your unnecessary expenditures should become easier.

Money is Freedom

We’ve already discussed that you’re basically trading your freedom for money, but the opposite can also be true. Many minimalists see the importance of acquiring experience and knowledge more than material acquisition. What happens is that they trade their freedom for money and then trade it back again to freedom – in the form of travel. Essentially, you are buying back the experience you have spent in the office, not through material things but through lessons, the great outdoors and whatever passions you might have.

Chapter 6: Minimalism in Relationships

Perhaps the biggest hurdle you will face as you try zero waste minimalism is relationships. Few people understand the need for minimalism and may start to question your decision towards this particular lifestyle.

There is really no other way to approach this dilemma than being open about minimalism and explain the idea to friends and family. For parents, the concept of minimalism actually offers excellent examples for children, teaching them the value of being self-sufficient and detached from materialism.

Also note that minimalism should not make you lose friends but rather, gain new ones. The internet has made it possible for minimalists to talk, exchange experiences and forge bonds with people who have the same mindset and follow the same lifestyle.

For isn’t that what minimalism is all about? By unshackling yourself from the bonds of the earn-buy treadmill, you are making it easier for yourself to experience life and the people who share it with you.

FREE BONUS - Make money while shopping!

Receive a free gift, a cashback loyalty card to use immediately on your everyday purchases.

In addition, you will receive notification when my other books are available for free and helpful resources and tools that you can use along your journey!

Thank you so much for receiving your free loyalty card! I look forward to sharing more resources with you.

Here’s the link if you need to manually copy and paste.

https://joypublishing.leadpages.net/free-loyalty-card/

Conclusion

Thank you again for downloading this book!

I hope this book was able to help you to let go of the waste dragging you down and embrace a lighter lifestyle with minimalism.

The next step is to start de-cluttering your life and testing the waters to see if minimalism agrees with you.

Finally, if you enjoyed this book, please take the time to share your thoughts and post a positive review on Amazon.  It’d be greatly appreciated! Also remember to sign up for your FREE cashback card to start saving money on everyday purchases.

With sincere thanks,

Lucy Johnson

One Last Thing…

Source: Wikipedia

If you believe that this book is worth sharing, would you please take the time to let others on Amazon know how it affected your life? If it turns out to make a difference in the lives of others, they will be forever grateful to you, as will I.

Book 2

The Ultimate Homesteading Basics Guide for Beginners

The Homesteading Essentials on How to Build a Life of Self Sufficiency and Sustainability

By Lucy Johnson

 Copyright 2014 by Lucy Johnson - All rights reserved.

This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered.

- From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly.

Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.

The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance.

The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Conclusion

Preview of “The Complete Zero Waste Minimalism Guide: Increase your Happiness by Reducing your Waste in Order to Achieve a Minimalist Lifestyle”

Introduction

I want to thank you and congratulate you for downloading the book, “The Ultimate Homesteading Guide For Beginners: The Homesteading Essentials on How to Build a Life of Self Sufficiency and Sustainability.”

This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to effectively plan and engage in the homestead life.

With the ever rising cost of food, energy and land, many families from the suburbs and urban areas are looking towards building and managing their homestead as a means to become self-sufficient. This is true even in countries outside the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Aside from battling the increasing cost of living that most families must deal with in their day to day lives, homesteading also provides parents with a practical hands-on way to nourish their kids with homegrown vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy and other products. Families on a homestead are also known to be more united, and prepared for any emergency scenario.

If you have ever dreamed of owning a homestead, then this is definitely the book for you! The first chapter in this book will teach you all about the skills and necessities you must first have before starting your own homestead. If land or space is your problem, then the first chapter will also acquaint you with the possibility of building a one or two-acre homestead.

The next chapter will tackle how to maintain a vegetable garden, and how to keep herbs for the kitchen. You will learn which small animals, such as a flock of egg-laying chickens and a herd of goats, will be the perfect first additions to your homestead. After you read this book, you should feel confident enough to sit at a drafting table with your family and talk about the future of your homestead. You should know enough about raising livestock and maintaining a garden. This book will open the door of homesteading and self-sufficiency to you and your family.

Thanks again for downloading this book, I hope you enjoy it!

With gratitude,

Lucy Johnson

Chapter 1 – How to Begin Homesteading

The first thing any hopeful homesteader must do is to find a piece of land on which he or she, along with the family, can build a strong, productive homestead. This is, of course, easier said than done. These days, land doesn’t come cheap, and it can take months or years of searching for anyone to find just the right kind of land for their future homestead. You must never rush this part of the process of homesteading. Take your time in researching, planning and drafting your homestead. Check the area you want to build on. Ask yourself these questions to help you determine whether an area is good for a homestead or not.

Is it safe for children? Is it safe for the elderly members of your family?

Is it a reasonable distance from town, in case of an emergency?

Is it close enough to other homesteads or farms that you can trade, support, and ask help from should the need arise?

Is the land arable?

Is the place good for raising animals, plants and a family?

Is it big enough for future generations and expansions?

Even after you ask all of these questions, and even if you are sure that the land is safe and will soon be productive, look around some more. You might find a better deal if you just put your land purchase decision on hold for a while. Remember, you should never make big decisions in life when you are filled with emotions - be that positive or negative emotions.

If you are convinced that you have found a good place for your family, farm and livestock, then you should take a day or two away from the piece of land you plan to acquire and when you return, do another thorough check on the place. You can never be too careful or too sure when purchasing land.

Still, once you have a piece of land that you can call your own, you’re halfway up the mountain called homesteading.

I own a piece of land, but it doesn’t stretch in all directions like a huge acreage does.

Not to worry! Even if you only have one or two acres of land (excluding the land on which your house sits upon), you will still be able to put up a good homestead that should provide you and your family with most of your needs. When it comes to homesteading, the most important thing you must have, aside from land, is the determination to work with the land and have the land work for you. You must also have a passion for plants and animals, as well as the creativity of an effective problem solver.

I live in the suburbs or an urban area, but I still want to be self-sufficient.

Living in a bustling city or a hybrid of the rural and the urban need not prevent you from having your own homestead or becoming self-sufficient. These days, small homesteads can be found in even the busiest cities of the world. Remember, all that this project really needs is determination and creativity.

Ideas for small and urban homesteads

Since this book will focus mainly on homesteads that span more than five acres of land, here are a few ideas for those of you who live in the city or who already have one or two acres that they want to use for homesteading. You can, of course, still read on after this chapter to learn more about the specifics of raising livestock and making a productive garden.

Get Organized!

If space and living in the city is your problem, then it may be high time for you to clear out that backyard shed that’s chockfull of old, rusty tools and other trash. Take a quick survey of your entire house, and take note of every space that can help you become more self-sufficient. Tack plans on a wall of your house, and clean up, organize, and sell all those things you don’t need any more immediately. This will not only give you more space to work with, but will provide you with a small start-up fund for your urban homestead project!

Invest in Mini-Farms

Your backyard could be teeming with potatoes, corn or tomatoes if you have the soil checked, add a compost pit, and start managing plots and pots of whatever it is you can plant. You can also look at how mini herb gardens are maintained. Vertical gardening and aquaponic systems are two other options the urban homesteader would be wise to learn about.

Small livestock for Small Space Homesteads

If you think your backyard is too big for vegetable plots alone, then you might want to purchase a few chickens, either for their meat or for their eggs. You can also add a goat if you know how to keep them out of your garden. If a goat seems too big and cumbersome for your space, fear not, you can always build a rabbit hutch or care for quail.

These small animals can provide you with fresh foods, and if you’re thrifty, you can even sell the extra produce and make a small amount of money that you can use for keeping your homestead updated, clean and well-managed.

On Cows and Pigs

Now, if you have an acre or two of land, then you may want to add a cow and some pigs to your homestead. The pigs will provide plenty of meat to feed your family, and the cow would give you fresh milk for most of the year. Investing in these larger livestock is a must for any homesteader who owns a land bigger than the usual backyard. After all, aside from vegetables and fish, having meat and dairy sources on your homestead will keep you and your family happy and healthy for a long, long time.

Chapter 2 – The Basics of Vegetable Gardening

Having a vegetable garden as part of your homestead is an absolute must for anyone who plans to be self-sufficient and provide their families with safe, healthy food. This chapter will discuss what you must know before engaging in the fulfilling task of sowing and harvesting your own crops. Topics in this chapter include an introduction to herb gardening and aquaponics. 

Getting Started with the Vegetables

The number one requirement for a vegetable garden is arable, healthy soil. If you haven’t had your soil checked out by an expert yet, then you should. It’s an investment that will pay for itself through big and abundant crops nurtured by a balanced soil. Once soil checking is ticked off your to-do list, then the next thing to do is prepare the soil for the seeds or seedlings you plan to grow.

The best way to do this is to take your kids and relatives, and then give them rakes, shovels and instructions on how to clear the land. After you and your family have removed debris, big rocks and shaped the plots, it’s time to get on your hands and knees, and start sowing the seeds.

If you’ve managed a garden before, then this part of maintaining a homestead will come easily and naturally to you. If however, you have never had to work with soil and plants, then this segment will give you important tips that every vegetable gardener needs to know.

Research, research and even more research!

Some seeds grow during spring, others prefer summer. Some seedlings can’t receive too much sunlight in the afternoon; others need to be transferred from a shady to a sunny place every day. Some plants need more water than others, while there are vegetables that pose a threat to other crops in the same plot.

The first step in handling these kinds of plants is to read about them, talk to more experienced gardeners, and read even more. If you hate reading books or blogs about gardening, then you will find yourself facing one difficulty after another. Remember, in gardening, as with most things in life, knowledge is the key.

Invest time and effort in preparing organic fertilizer or a compost pit.

Since you plan on living in a homestead, you will undoubtedly have some livestock to care for as well. The beautiful thing about homesteading is that you are mimicking Mother Nature’s Circle of Life in a more controlled way. This means that the manure from your livestock can be used to fatten your soil, while your excess crops can be used as treats or supplements for your animals. Investing time and effort in building a compost pit or creating organic fertilizer will guarantee that by the harvesting season, you will have healthy crops that grew untouched by chemicals and other toxic substances.

Keep the animals out of the vegetable garden.

The next two chapters will help you get started on raising chickens and goats as the first additions of livestock to your homestead. As easy as these animals are to maintain and care for, they are also notorious for breaking into vegetable plots and plucking off the leaves and crops before you harvest them. Keep a good, strong and high fence around your plot. Or, if you have the money and space, keep a greenhouse so that you not only control the temperature and humidity your plants are exposed to, but you also offer them added protection from critters and livestock alike.

Maximize the space!

Learn about companion planting and vertical gardening to help you make use of small spaces, or expand your vegetable garden from outside plots, to the walls in your backyard, pots lining your window sills, or even on your roof!

Homestead Herbs

Herbs are a wonderful addition to any homestead. Aside from being used as spices and garnishes for hearty soups and stews, herbs can also be a source of healing essential oils. They can also be added to your livestock’s diet as an alternative to medications directed at managing stress and other diseases that are not life-threatening.

Herbs are easy to grow. You can begin your own herb garden right on the window sill or sunny counter of your kitchen or even on the roof beams of the front porch. Like any other plant, herbs need sunlight, water, good soil and a helping of tender loving care to help them grow. Compared to root crops and other vegetables however, they are easier to store and take up less space.

Aquaponics—Raise Fish and Grow Crops Together!

Recently, more and more homesteaders are using aquaponics to raise both fish and vegetables or herbs in the same space for family consumption. While most novices immediately purchase premade aquaponics systems to use in their homes, others prefer to build their own systems that fit their specifications and needs.

Aquaponics systems work on the premise that in the wild, fish and plants naturally benefit from each other. The plants provide the fish and water with oxygen and food, while the nitrogenous wastes from the fish feed the plants. There are different aquaponics systems that you, as a homesteader can learn about and try, but one thing is for sure - if you have the time and space, investing in an aquaponics tank will help you add herbs and small crops, as well as some fish to your homestead without taking up too much space.

Chapter 3 – The Basics of Raising Poultry

Poultry is a great addition to any homestead. They are smaller than pigs, goats, sheep and cows, can be kept in the backyard, and are relatively easy to care for and breed. This chapter will focus on the basics of raising poultry, and will cover topics such as how to choose or build a chicken coop, as well as how to hatch and care for chicks. If you are a vegan, then raising chickens will still provide you with fresh eggs that you can eat for yourself, serve to family and friends, or sell for a reasonable price. Also, chicken manure is one of the best natural and organic fertilizers that farmers and home gardeners use, so whether or not you plan to raise chickens for meat, this chapter is worth the read.

Choosing and Building the Coop

Ideally, each chicken of the flock should have three to four square feet in the coop, and at least 10 feet to roam and run about in an enclosed chicken range. Therefore, the most important factor to be considered when buying or building a coop is the space it will provide for your flock. Letting chickens grow in cramped spaces will result in increased stress levels for the flock, health issues, and egg-laying issues as well.

Take measurements of your backyard, or the portion of your land that you want to allocate for poultry, and then decide from there how big you want your chicken coop to be. You should plan or purchase a coop that can accommodate people at their full height, so that exiting and entering the coop doesn’t pose a problem, and egg collecting or chicken catching is easier.

The floor of the chicken coop should be provided with a layer of wood shavings, straw, or other non-toxic substances that the flock won’t consume. This bedding layer adds warmth to the coop, absorbs the manure, and helps keep the chickens relatively dry and clean. Aside from the coop floor, you should also take special note of the materials used in constructing the walls and roosts of your coop. Non-toxic wood beams are good for the walls and the ceiling, while medium-sized wooden boxes and rods would be good options for nest boxes and roosts.

The coop should be protected from intense sunlight, harsh winds, cold rain and other such weather hazards. Wet beddings and nest boxes make for a sickly flock, and a sickly flock makes for more stress and care on your part. Make sure that the chicken coop is situated in a light, airy and easy to access place that is protected from predators.

Brooders and Incubators

If you plan on hatching eggs or keeping day old chicks, then you must have space for a brooder and incubator. Incubators are where you keep the eggs, turn them and candle them to inspect fertility. The incubator is where you will keep the eggs until they have hatched. Brooders are where the newly hatched chicks are kept until they are old and strong enough to join the flock in the coop.

Brooders should have much the same floor space and ceiling height as the chicken coop, depending on the number of chicks you plan to keep. Incubators are usually placed within walking distance of the brooder, and have access to heat lamps and temperature regulators.

Feeders, Grit, and Water

Aside from the habitat of your flock, you must have several feeders, small water troughs, grit and feed for your chickens. The chicks in the brooder need starter grit and feed, while the adults in the coop need a different kind of food altogether. Water is essential. You must ensure that all your adult chickens and growing chicks have access to water all day. As the chicks grow older, you can introduce some treats that you can also use for adult chickens. These treats include bugs, bread, and a few pecks of leafy greens.

Hatching Eggs

Though you can always purchase chicks from your local chicken breeder, most homesteaders prefer to hatch the eggs of their flock on their own. Some hens have great mothering instincts, and care for their chicks until they are mature enough to fend for themselves in the flock. Other hens aren’t as good mothers as you’d hope for them to be, though. In cases such as these, the owner of the flock should take charge of hatching the eggs, raising the chicks and introducing them to the flock when they are older.

Chicken eggs usually hatch 21 days after they have been set in an incubator. One day is counted after a full 24 hours. Some eggs hatch a day or two earlier, while others hatch a day or two late. When selecting eggs for incubating, observe their shape and evenness carefully; are there any cracks? Choose the cleanest, biggest eggs you can, and set them in the incubator. One tip to help you keep track of which eggs you have turned is to place an X and O on the top and bottom of the eggs just before you place them in the incubator.

The temperature of the incubator should be steady. Depending on the type of incubator you have, the temperature should not go below 99 F and should not go beyond 102 F. Once your incubator and eggs are ready, you must turn the eggs every day so that they never lie on the same side for two consecutive days. You should turn the eggs at least three times every day. Turning prevents the embryo from settling and attaching to only one side of the egg. This also helps in preventing abnormal growths. Turning the eggs is especially important during the first 14 days of incubation, and must be continued until three days before the eggs hatch. This is done to simulate how the hen cares for her eggs.

To check for egg fertility, or whether or not an embryo is developing, candle the eggs from day five until day seven. Fertile eggs are different from infertile eggs in that the former will have a darker mass in the center, with veins spiraling out from the mass after 76 hours. Infertile eggs appear clear when candled, and can be discarded after ten days of incubation.

Once the eggs have hatched, allow the chicks a few minutes to dry off on their own. Once they start fluffing their feathers, and chirping for food, you can move them to the brooder. Most chicks can survive on the yolk of their egg for the first day. On the second day, you should offer them chick starter feed and water. Remember that the chicks must always have access to food and water at this stage.

Another important thing to remember is that the bedding in the brooder must always be inspected and changed every other day to prevent the chicks from contracting diseases. Never use newspaper as bedding material. Wet or soaked newspaper is slippery and can pose difficulties to the chicks’ legs and feet. Also, chicks automatically imprint on the first creature they see upon hatching. If they imprinted on you, they will most likely see you as their mother, and will often follow you around when they are old enough to walk outside. Bring the chicks to the coop after six weeks, or when they are fully-feathered.

General Flock Care

Chickens are easy to care for if you stick to a strict cleaning, feeding and free roam schedule. As long as you offer them enough food and water, keep them as free from stress as possible, and if you give them the chance to bond and spend time with you, your flock will certainly grow up healthy. They will then provide you with good meat, eggs and natural fertilizer for your soil.

Aside from the bare necessities of food, water and shelter, make sure that your vet takes a look at your flock every now and then to prevent illnesses and other disabilities from spreading in the coop. Lastly, free range chickens that are allowed to scratch their food from Mother Nature are often more lively, healthier and give bigger eggs than chickens kept locked in coops and fed commercial feed. Think about that, the next time you consider caring for poultry.

Chapter 4 – The Basics of Goat Care

Goats are a great source of milk and meat (if you can manage the strong flavor of goat meat) to any homesteader. Compared to cows, they are easier to keep due to their small size, eat less food than their huge dairy counterparts do, and don’t necessarily need a trailer or stock truck to be transported to and from your homestead for breeding or vet checks. If you are new to homesteading or if you simply cannot stomach taming, milking and caring for huge cows yet, then goats are perfect for you.

Busting the Goat Milk Myth

A lot of people often comment upon the tang or goat-flavor that goat milk has. These people have probably consumed canned or supermarket goat milk. Raw, strained and clean goat milk just tastes like milk-- really. Most homesteaders who have goats as their main source of dairy products swear that there is nothing wrong with the milk their goats produce. So, before you discard goats as a milk source for you and your family on account of strong flavored milk, think again. Goats that are fed on an organic and natural diet will give you smooth, creamy clean tasting milk, and nothing but.

Preparing for the Herd

As with your chicken flock, you must prepare a space for your goat herd to graze, play and live in. Take special note that goats are herd animals. They must have company in their pens or in the pasture, or they will definitely break down that newly painted fence in search of other animals, or more interesting circumstances.

Another thing to remember when building or preparing the goat pens and pastures is that goats are notorious for breaking out of their enclosures. Some goats even manage to break electric fences and trot off, bruised but happy, to a larger pasture. If you are serious about owning a small herd of goats, be sure to enforce your fences and check them regularly, even after your herd gets used to their pasture and pens.

Goat Pens and the Pasture

The floor of any goat pen should never be constructed with concrete. Concrete is too cold for goats, and could damage their hooves. Some homesteaders like wooden floors, while others prefer ground or gravel. Whichever type of pen floor you choose, remember that bedding is important. Provide each goat pen with at least four inches of wood shavings as a bedding to help keep them warm at night, as well as to absorb goat manure and urine. Remember that the pens must be cleaned regularly, so consider how easy or difficult it will be to muck out the pens when building them from the ground up.

Pen fences should be made of non-toxic wood, though some homesteaders prefer metal round bars to further discourage the goats from escaping. Goats should be put out to pasture on sunny days. Considering that, each goat that is allowed outside on a regular basis can have a pen of about 10 or 15 square feet. Construct pens for laboring, and for newly born kids and their mothers.

As for the pasture, two goats need about 1/8 of an acre to feed on properly. You will have to move the goat herd every now and then to ensure that the grass in a certain area of the pasture is thoroughly rested and healthy. Overworked pasture areas become dry and coarse too quickly, so scheduling a routine for the herd’s pasture time and place is a must.

Also, goats out in the pasture need a shelter that they can run to if it starts raining. Goats hate getting wet. Even if you place a bucketful of sweet feed outside, but they see the rain pouring, they will not leave their pens. Provide a three-sided lean-to that all the goats can access from the pasture. This lean-to is where you should place their water trough and cleaning hose. Hay should also be present, in and out of the pens, though most goats prefer the pasture grass to hay.

In addition to having pens and a pasture, it would be wise for you to have a tool shed dedicated to keeping your goat milking tools, kidding equipment, and feed safe and dry.

Meet the Nannies

This is it! You’ve fenced in your herd’s pastures, took care of their stalls, and have successfully provided enough shelter, food and water for at least five goats. Of course, you want your share of milk. The first thing you need to know about nanny goats is that they produce milk much like a supply-demand relationship. This means that if the nanny goat feels that there is quite the demand for her milk, she will do what she can to meet or overcome that demand with her supply. Also, does only produce milk when they are bred. This means that a nanny goat’s milk supply will run dry almost as soon as the kid is big enough to fend for itself. If you want to have a regular amount of goat’s milk for the entire year, you’ll have to rotate which of your does are bred early and late in the year.

Caring for the Kids

Some homesteaders are charmed by the idea of raising a baby goat by bottle-feeding them every four to six hours. Other homesteaders avoid any form of goat rearing- they leave the kids to their mamas, unless the nanny goat shows obvious signs of kid rejection or poor mothering skills. Bottle-fed kids grow up to be tamed goats that follow you around in the pen, bleat for your attention, and trust you with their lives.

However, they take a lot of work and time to raise! On the other hand, kids that are left with their mothers often turn out to be suspicious of human contact, and can be difficult during milking sessions. This does not mean that they cannot be tamed, given a little time and effort on your part. Whichever way of caring for the kids that you choose, be sure that you are ready for any and all consequences. 

Learning to Milk Goats

This is, perhaps the most exciting chore you will have on the homestead, aside from catching runaway goats or calling for your flock of chickens. Milking goats takes trust and understanding between the owner and the nanny goat. Take note of this: unlike cows, goats are very particular with who milks them. Just because yours is the hand that feeds them doesn’t mean they’ll stand prettily for you if you dare grab for their udder. Once you discover which family member your goats prefer to milk them, you’ll have won half of the battle.

The next thing you must do is have half a bucket of sweet feed as payment for the goat’s cooperation and milk. Some goats, once they get their heads into the feed bucket, won’t bat an eye at you for gently squeezing (not pulling!) on their udder to take their milk. Others will be absolutely horrified, and will make sure you know that they do not like having their personal space invaded. Whichever response your goat gives, you must never give up and skulk out the barn door with no milk at all. You are the leader of the herd, the provider, thus you must make sure that your nannies understand that.

Steps for milking a goat:

Lead the goat to a quiet pen.

Tie the goat securely.

Hold the metal milk bucket under the goat’s udder. Keep one hand on the bucket for the first few milking sessions, just to make sure that precious milk isn’t spilled in case the nanny goat decides to kick and buck.

Stand beside the goat and offer the bucket of feed.

Kneel, and reach for the udder.

Wash the goat’s udder as thoroughly as possible.

DO NOT pull the teats. Squeeze them gently, until milk flows.

If the milk starts to run dry, massage the entire udder of the goat and squeeze the teats again.

After you get enough milk, praise your goat, and move on to the next one.

You should have enough milk for your family even if you only milk a few of your goats once a day, every day, while they are lactating. Remember that you must observe proper milk handling and straining to ensure that your family gets only the best goat milk you can give them.

Conclusion

Thank you again for downloading this book!

I hope this book was able to help you learn more about homesteading in general, how to care for vegetables and animals, and bring life and productivity to a piece of land- no matter how big or small.

The next step is to apply all that you have learned from this book and gear yourself towards achieving the homestead you have always dreamed of having. You should also read as much books on homesteading, vegetable gardening and livestock raising as possible. If you have friends who have their own homestead, then pay them a visit and see what you can learn from them.

As you grow more confident in homesteading, you should seek expanding your livestock care to include pigs, cows, rabbits, quail and sheep. If you have the space, then try to create your own wheat or barley fields. Set a place for apple or grape orchards, and look for a spot where you can raise fish in a natural fish pond.

The possibilities and benefits of homesteading are virtually limitless!

Finally, if you enjoyed this book, please take the time to share your thoughts and post a positive review on Amazon.  It’d be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Lucy Johnson

Preview Of “The Complete Zero Waste Minimalism Guide: Increase your Happiness by Reducing your Waste in Order to Achieve a Minimalist Lifestyle”

Chapter 1: What is Minimalism?

Minimalism is a way of life that is starting to attract the attention of many people all across the United States and beyond. Defining the practice can be difficult since it’s not really a personality trait but rather a lifestyle choice. People who are minimalists define themselves as “intentional”. They acquire what they need rather than what they want, which is why many minimalists only have the barest essentials in terms of material ownership.

This is perhaps the most significant trait of a minimalist. They put more attention on people and experiences rather than on material things. However, this doesn’t mean that a minimalist doesn’t have electricity or own a mobile phone and computer. They may also own these things, but the focus of buying one centers on the function of the product rather than on the brand or the newness of the model. Hence, a minimalist would ask: what are the basic functions that I need and what mobile phone can provide those functions?

Accordingly, minimalists are characterized by the following edicts:

Intentional

Minimalists are intentional, believing that they can affect control in practically all aspects of their life. They believe that although they cannot plan everything that happens to them, they are in the position to choose how they would react or respond to specific situations.

Priorities

Minimalists know their priorities and as a result do not waste their time on unnecessary things. Most of their actions and decisions are made in accordance with these priorities, leaving no time for frivolous and off-tangent things.

Less Focus on Material Things

As already mentioned, minimalists are rarely attached to material things. They only own items that they believe important or necessary in their life. Some minimalists can have as little as 50 possessions while others have less than 100. Although minimalists do not count their material possessions, it’s often easy to start counting what they own as compared to other people.

Quality over Quantity

Another aspect of their detachment from material things is the focus on quality rather than quantity. This means that even though a minimalist may have the barest essentials, most of those essentials are of excellent quality, made to last for years.

So what is a minimalist’s ultimate goal?

Some minimalists will tell you that there is no ultimate goal in the lifestyle. The objective is to live each day as it comes, continually going forward and simply experiencing and enjoyment. Now, this might sound negative for many, but keep in mind that minimalists do not stop achieving. Many of them have achieved laudable positions, but they’ve managed to do it through a different mindset.

Instead of asking: what is my goal?

A minimalist would often ask: what do I want to become?

A minimalist therefore sees goals not as a separate entity but something that becomes a part of them. The next questions they ask is: why do I want to become this and what should I do to achieve this?

Click here to check out the rest of “The Complete Zero Waste Minimalism Guide: Increase your Happiness by Reducing your Waste in Order to Achieve a Minimalist Lifestyle” on Amazon.

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One Last Thing…

Source: Wikipedia

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