Yes! So many minimalist influencers have stuff stored at family members houses. I want to be like, show us all the stuff you own that aren't showing us, not just your pretty clean "furniture free" living room in your apartment.

@SagaJohanna

5 ай бұрын

Haha yes! I completely agree!

I am a 49 yo mother who does not want to burden my children when I am gone. So I only own what they could actually take an afternoon to go through. I am not really a minimalist, but I don't want them to be burdened by my stuff and instead spend their moments together after my passing, sharing memories.

Here's an interesting bit of information about thrift stores, from someone who works in one. Only 12% of the items donated are in good enough condition to be sold. The rest of the donations end up in the trash. Our store fills two huge dumpsters each week. And all that thrash goes to the landfill. None of it is recycled. It's sad to see so much waste.

@traceymoore291

Жыл бұрын

I have often I wondered about that. I've seen things donated that were an awful condition. Thank you for sharing that piece of info.

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! I also read another stat researching for this video that only 10-20% is actually sold in the country it's donated in, where the rest (trash) is shipped to Africa, but given it's poor condition it has to be thrown away over there where they don't have the textile recycling facilities. And they tried to stop it but the US threatened to pull back on other things if they did! How crazy is that?! Such a shame it isn't recycled where you are either

@karenshahwan6612

4 ай бұрын

That is terrible that people do not drop off quality items. Please people, if it is garbage, throw it in the trash!

We built and moved into a tiny house almost 3 years ago. By it's very nature, we only have what we need and use ( but don't be mistaken, we still declutter as needed) but what we did during the last phase of our building was tell each of our kids that they should come and get what they wanted from the things that were in the 'big' house we were living in. This included their stuff they had left behind when they moved out, as well as anything of ours that we were not going to bring with us into our tiny house. We gave them a deadline of when we were going to get rid of (sell, donate, recycle and so on) everything we wouldn't be keeping. We thought that they might want a lot of things - we have 6 kids between us - but were surprised at how much they didn't. (Happy to report we made over $2,000 in our garage sale!) What we leaned from this is not to hold onto things we might *think* our children would like in the future just because we like those things or because we have some personal attachment to them. Give your kids the opportunity while you're still alive so they don't have a misguided sentimentality over things or are overwhelmed by having to go through things when you've passed on. This gives us all the choice without being clouded by strong emotions. (Perhaps this is a form of that Swedish Death Cleaning concept?)

I like that taking responsibility is mainly about consideration for others. This makes life so much better for all except (maybe) billionaires and corporations. Thank you!

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

love this vid! ethical shopping is hard i really admire your principles and how you stick by them. & the bloopers!! haha you're so brave!

@SagaJohanna

10 ай бұрын

Thank you haha! :D

These videos inspire me; I don’t think I’ll ever really escape the trap of materialism but learning about the path of minimalism is a welcome respite from the depressing state of modern life. Many thanks for your content! ☮️

Hello Saga. In terms of not keeping things in storage I like the old quote from Henry David Thoreau, that it is desirable to “live in all respects so compactly and preparedly that, if an enemy take the town, [you] can, like the old philosopher, walk out the gate empty-handed without anxiety”. It sounds a bit dramatic but it is of course a nod to stoicism and non-attachment. I liked what you said about making ethical purchases. Your outtakes at the end are wonderful and I’m glad you share them! :-)

@traceymoore291

Жыл бұрын

Well said.

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Alec! And I do appreciate a good Thoreau quote :) And I sort of find a freedom in living like that as well, although parts of me long for a place to call my own at the same time haha :D

Certainly share your perspective on taking full ownership of purchases and the importance of responsible consumer behavior in shaping the world, though I would make the observation that living sustainably in general tends to be more accessible once a certain socioeconomic level is reached. To add to these points, in my experience as a digital nomad, it's mostly the less essential, smaller personal items that can create the most clutter. Larger purchases, such as kitchen appliances, furniture, interior decor, or a television, are goods that can be used by others living in a space, so those are not what I think of as clutter. For making purchasing decisions, my first rule is to try to avoid buying items that have a unique and narrow purpose, instead opting for more multifunctional substitutes. My second rule is to plan for long term ownership, which often means investing in a case, etc. Third, I never want to own any personal item that would not fit inside my backpack or a carry-on bag I usually fly with. Finally, I avoid products the provenance of which is unknown or a questionable jurisdiction such as China (often masked as the PRC) as it's not possible to determine whether or not such products were produced ethically.

I love your videos and I'm totally in agreement about buying. I have removed all the stuff I was storing at my parents and now it's cluttering up my own attic, waiting to be dealt with and is a somewhat heavy burden! But hey it's my responsibility not theirs, so that's ok!

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Yes, our stuff easily becomes a burden, that's why not buying is so useful.

As an aside to decluttering by having less stuff to think about you are also freeing your mind from having to worry about what to do with it all. My grandmother used to say buy the best clothes you can afford and look after them.

I have a friend that is a bit of a hoarder and who shops a lot. Sometimes I find myself trying to declutter and then she shows up with more stuff for me that she doesn’t want. It’s hard sometimes because people don’t realize that we might not want something just because they want to discard it. After all, I already have my own bad choices to deal with…

@SagaJohanna

3 ай бұрын

Oh that is hard! Maybe you could watch a documentary on trash together?

Your outtakes are hilarious! I love your videos. You are so down to earth and inspiring for those of us striving for simplicity. Thank you for doing what you do!!!

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Haha thank you so much!!! That is so kind of you :)

I stored a few boxes of possessions with my parents for a while. When I moved to a small studio apartment, on his next visit my father brought the boxes to me! I had no where to put the items in such a small space, so for a long time the boxes lived under my breakfast bar!!

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Haha that's funny! :) We've stored stuff as well in the weirdest of places

Hi Saga! I just wanted to say hi and let you know that I really love your videos. I rewatch many of them often to relax and it helps to ease my mind. You remind me why I like the concept of minimalism so much. I adore your calm vlogs, videos about cleaning and of course videos where you share your thoughts (like this one). I rarely write comments, but I want you know that I’m really excited to see something new from you each week and I’m always here to support. Thank you and I wish you endless inspiration to keep doing what you do 💕

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Oh thank you so so much

Fantastic minimalist advice for everyone, even non-minimalists. I’ve commented longer on your Patreon, and I recommend anyone who finds this interesting and important to consider supporting you on that platform. You share so many more philosophical insights and important and helpful ideas there. 🙂

Definitely guilty of leaving a stash at my parent's place. But at least it's in a bright corner 😆 My goal is to keep it all in one tiny closet, and with each visit, to get rid of something until there is almost nothing, or rather I am left with only things that I love. Thank you for sharing, and for your insight. ❤

Hi SagaJohanna, i love your content, mindset and quality of the videos! I buy and use less and less items for a few years now and i really like it. Furthermore i have speciallised in using less energy. There is also a big win to gain for saving the environment. Simply by using energy efficient lightbulbs and heating systems. In this video you are in front of an open fire place. That is very cosy but for heating a room it is the most worst system which exists. It blows 80 percent of the heat through the cimney into the air. A high quality wood stove waste only 20% of heat and wood. That's a big win! Reconcider the use of your open fire place and the environment will love you! Keep spreading awareness to the world. We need more people like you!

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Yes, I agree. It's not our house, and in my house I would never use a fire place, however, in the place we're staying this is the only mode of heating this room (!). It's a very old NZ building with no insulation and an open fire place - even worse haha!

I love your videos so much 💕 I admire how disciplined you are with your ethical shopping, however I'd love to see a video on your opinion of thrift shopping and if buying everything second-hand is ethical, even if you are buying loads? I don't really see a problem with doing buying lots and lots of stuff, as long as its stuff thats being resold, but I wonder if you have a different perspective on that?

@SagaJohanna

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so so much 💕 That's such a great video idea! In general I have no real rules for second hand, although personally I don't buy fur or leather (but I think I'm pretty happy with other people making their own choice on that). I don't buy too much because of finances, but I only think it becomes a problem if we buy second hand to throw it away!

I don’t like shopping because I can’t help thinking what will happen to it once I no longer find it useful. I picture it being plowed into a landfill. 😢

My mom lives in my house and has hoarded it to the gills. I had to fix a water pipe in the basement, and my best bro since 1987 came to help. He mentioned that if the right (or wrong) peopl saw this and reported it, they would have intervened. She's always buying things for my gf and I, even after I asked her not to. I just don't get it.

This is so interesting! Thank you Saga! 🙂

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🥰

I really appreciate you

Hello! I love all your videos. If I am being honest I have watched them several times. I have been an extreme minimalist for a while and I love finding someone who is one as well. I have a bit of an odd question. What shampoo and conditioner do you use? I know in one of your videos you were using Calia. Are you still using this brand?

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!! Yes, I still use Calia, because I bought it in a huge 5L bulk and it’s taking ages to finish it haha. But I’m still looking for other brands. It’s not perfect for me, at least not using the same type for this long.. I’ve used 100% pure before and maybe preferred it? Any suggestions I’d love to try!

👍👍♥️♥️

Excellent video about good stewardship for our fellow human beings and of the environment of GOD's creation here, Saga! I know that our belief systems are at least somewhat different; but this is still an excellent video that we are to be good stewards, not self - centered greedy irresponsible materialistic effective hoarders.

God eftermiddag! Thanks for sharing. I wish I could do this. I have so much "junk"! haha

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

God eftermiddag! :D Thank you! :)

@JohnPaul-158

Жыл бұрын

@@SagaJohanna 😍😁😁

This mindset doesn’t exist, it starts at manufacturing if they make it it’s already here in the planet… now if it was different rules than what we have today and they manufactured everything when you asked for it, then you would have to wait things might be different but besides that there’s no rhyme or reason to worry about it if it’s already made an already here it’s going to pollute take space whatever no matter if it’s in your household or not if you’re purchase certain things made a certain way they’re just gonna add that language to the products basically lying to you, but it’s ethical if it was made another fickle, and then the pieces to put it together, were sent somewhere else where it was made ethical packaged ethically there’s big money and recycling and you’re just a free step in making them richer by recycling putting plastic into the box so they don’t have to separate it giving away cardboard. There’s a lot of money and cardboard. I’m an autistic person 53 years old and I’ll tell you we used to drink all from fountains, we used to have paper bags which are renewable but these so-called plastic companies want to save the trees and made plastic then they lobby to make car parts plastic and everything else today if I a pen is in a huge thing plastic so you can’t steal it and someone it’s all about the money and who gives more money to the people in charge to put them in power so we should come up with ethical thinking the truth will set you free. We should all go back to glass bottles water fountains we used to go to markets in Measure stuff per pound open markets too late it’s already been made and it’s here what you do with it doesn’t matter you can recycle it did you know it is worse to recycle plastics and certain products because of the cost to the environment of melting it back and producing it making it into something else, hydrogas and oil that it takes to do so plastic bags are biodegradable they just take much longer. Have you ever had an old bag what happens to it just deteriorates eventually still not good I live in Canada and we have a place called Costco sells a lot of things they had a biodegradable bag meet up with vegetables for years it was great couldn’t tell the difference and that ended up being the problem the plastic companies bought that company up and said they weren’t going to use it because you couldn’t tell the difference between the biodegradable bags and there’s a made more money making it out of plastic so there you go that’s why we are where we are follow the money money is the root of all evil not money itself, but the love of money ….

Hey Saga, I was wondering what ethical tech items you use, I recall you saying you bought 2nd hand but are there any ethical tech items to be bought new? I just don’t trust 2nd hand tech. I was always under the impression apple were ethical or at the least sustainable? 😊 but I note you added them to your black list? This was information I did not know 🤷‍♀️ Afterall, Steve Jobs was a Minimalist- I’m shook 😳 👀 😱

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Hi! I think there is one or two brands at least trying to do ethical tech, but they're very small and often not good enough to use. At least, I haven't found an alternative - so I always go second hand! If you don't trust second hand tech from individuals (I know it can be hard to tell!), I like to buy second hand from second hand dealers. Real small local companies where people sell their phones/tech through them, and they take a percentage. They often give you warranties and receipts, and you know the items have been checked! You'll often pay an extra $100 compared to buying it from an individual, but you get the peace of mind with warranty etc. And way cheaper and more sustainable than buying new! Apple is unfortunately doing a great job at green washing/marketing. They have been found guilty of slave labour, unethical practices, harassment, child labour, not paying their workers, harmful chemicals that hurt their workers etc. I know! It's pretty crazy, especially given how big of a brand they are, and I mean I still use their products :o That's why I care so deeply about buying them used! Since Apple use so many mined materials there are so many parts of the work chain where people are being seriously harmed. And then they have the issues with just pumping out new models instead of improving their tech in a more sustainable way, and dumping waste in natural places in the world. Here you can read more and way better than I could ever say :D www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/apple-inc

@SagelifeMinimalism

Жыл бұрын

@@SagaJohanna wow thanks, yes because after you said about apple I was so shocked I tried doing some initial research and found nothing - so that will be interesting to read. It’s amazing how the consumer world is becoming a minefield where we can’t totally even fully trust brand marketing. Thank you 🙏

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

@@SagelifeMinimalism Yes, I know! I find it hard myself sometimes. Thank you

You are beautiful saga i love you're intelligent videos you like to live thr simple life awesome video you are a good person

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Thank you

I just came across your channel. I appreciate your commitment to living with less, buying less and ethical purchasing. However, I have to contradict part of your message. I worked in retail for one of the brands you have banned for more than 28 years. They are the opposite of what you describe. They are committed to taking responsibility for what they produce and don't have a big margin. They don't produce organic cotton because they wanted to have a broader impact. There is actually not enough organic cotton grown to support the retail industry. Instead, their cotton is 100% purchased through farmers and manufacturers using BCI (Better Cotton Initiative). You should read up on it. I could go on and go through a menu of actions but I don't want to write an essay in your comment section. Several other brands on your list are also committed to sustainability. Maybe you could spend some time reading sustainability reports so you are better informed before you misinform your followers. Its great to encourage sustainable purchasing but sustainability is complex and about more than just purchasing locally or organic. We all have a lot of work to do, including me. I appreciate your other words of advice.

🤔 Hmmm i buy in every Country where is a Hard Rock Cafe a T-Shirt 😊

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

Haha maybe buy second hand?

My parents are dead. It's the opposite way around. My house is full of their stuff. I think you forgot to mention it from that perspective.

@SagaJohanna

Жыл бұрын

I mention that perspective in my death cleaning video! :) I had all my mom's stuff so I know what it's like! So death cleaning for the old, and not shopping for the young!!

Islam will conquer whole Earth 💪💪💪

Gosh, you are so beautiful, I wish I had a daughter from you