There's a thin line between being minimalist and being stingy and it makes me angry that some people don't know where to draw the line. Frankly, I'm not sure there's a line between both, they tend to intertwine at some point.
Living a minimalist lifestyle has become a popular trend in recent years, and for good reason. By simplifying your life and minimizing your possessions, you can optimize your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
If only it stopped there, some people have lived the minimalist lifestyle for so long that they have become stingy and self-centered.
There are many reasons for one to choose to be a minimalist; poor economy, unstable finances, need for simplicity, and so on. It's cool to manage resources and make them last for as long as they can, but for some people, they just don't want to share.
They have become so used to the lifestyle that they don't even spend money to take care of themselves all in the name of being minimalist.
They would rather hold on to worn-out clothes than buy new ones, they don't help people in need because they have their money tucked away in a bid to cut back on spending.
There are people that are being minimal because they cannot afford the basics, I'm not talking about those.
It's okay to manage one's finances, but when you have to make yourself suffer because of that, it doesn't make sense anymore.
These category of people find it hard to buy groceries and opt for the cheapest ones which is good but not always safe.
They are the ones who trek or hitch rides because they don't want to spend money on transportation.
Their houses are usually sparsely furnished with the simplest furniture which is also good but they don't change it when it gets worn out, they prefer to save their money.
Mind you, they have the money but they would rather hold on tightly to it. They just want to watch the pile of their money grow, and getting them to spend out of it is like pulling teeth with a plier.
I think one can be too minimalist when the line between minimalism and stinginess has been crossed.
Some people even argue it's the same thing, and from my experiences with people who claim to be minimalists, I can't help but agree with them.
Like I said earlier, it's very good to live a minimalist lifestyle, but it's more important to not lose yourself in the process of practicing it. Too much of everything is bad.
