You speak my language. I cringe when I watch people on decluttering videos throw away usable items in black garbage bags. I know it can be slower to get these items out of your home, but the landfills around the world can't keep filling with garbage forever. Thanks for enlightening people about the simplicity of using what you have as long as you can use it and stop the buying excess and throwing it away cycle.

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Yay! I can't watch those videos either, and the thought of my items in landfill is not something I like, especially not if they can be used!! Thank you for watching !

@MegInASheathDress

3 ай бұрын

I agree but the problem in the U.S. is largely structural. Communities vary widely in what can be disposed of responsibly. That's a problem of politicians not caring about making this easier for people by passing policies that encourage people away from the landfill. Where I live, we can separate like crazy so there's a bag for the donation center, there's a bag for the metal recyclers, a bag for the hazmat facility, a bag for the plastic bag recycler, a recyclables bag, a bag for compostable stuff, etc. Our outside landfill bin takes 10 months to fill and we use the smallest size provided by the city. Not every community has all that. But yes we're minimalists and we try to be conscious and as ZW as possible. And it is painful seeing even the black trash bags. There are compostable bags, large paper construction bags. I don't understand choosing the worst possible product. This video is spot on, though. Use up what you have or give it away if you can, then stop buying so much. We've been using shampoo and conditioner bars for 10 years. They're vegan, unscented, the box is compostable, and it's completely zero waste.

When I first declater, I didn’t throw away shampoos or samples of body wash. I kept them to wash the toilet or the balcony. I still do it with others people unwanted toiletries… it took me months to go through them.. but I am finally there. Amazing video! I wanted permission to keep my sheets! 😅

Saga, so well said! The examples you share illustrate a larger problem- There is this collective lack of accountability I’ve noticed permeating society (at least in the US anyway). In this case, it’s demonstrated by throwing away our perfectly fine items simply because we’ve made a bad choice or our taste has changed. Instead of living with it and learning from our purchase mistake, we send it to the garbage collector to deal with. I think the culture of free shipping and free returns might also be contributing to this. We can easily return almost any item and not have to see it get thrown into landfill rather than resold. We get our money back so we don’t feel wasteful, and then we make another thoughtless purchase knowing we can always just return it. (Video idea maybe?? ☺) I love that you’re talking about this method of using up what we already have and not consuming more. Most minimalists preach doing one massive declutter for the instant gratification of an aesthetically pleasing home, and then replacing those discarded items with new, sustainable, ethical, ones that reflect your newfound personal style. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate minimal, beautiful spaces. But you’ve said it before and I completely agree- true minimalism, environmental minimalism, isn’t necessarily aesthetic. It can be eventually, but we have to be willing to arrive there slowly.

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I agree, and yes :) I find myself torn between wanting a beautiful minimalist home, but at the same time wanting to use items to they fall apart and consume more like my grandparents did. Or even great grandparents. I hope I can continue on this journey and learn to find beauty in the imperfect.

Thank you very much for this video. The environment is falling apart and so many of us are still focused on appearances. We should rethink our priorities before we are obliged to. 🙏

This is one of my favorite videos you have made! I was glowing with happiness the whole time. Minimalism WITH sustainability--hurrah!! I'm so glad you are getting this message out. I want everyone in the USA to watch this! 🥰

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Oh thank you so much! 🥰

Hi Saga,, I can’t imagine why people would get rid of mismatching bed linen. It does the job. As for socks, I have been buying the same brand of plain navy socks for 20 years! 😂 The only thing I disagree with is plastic flowers. They are so ugly and I couldn’t tolerate them. They would have to be donated or recycled if I ended up with them (although I can’t imagine how that would happen!). I like your version of minimalism - not a curated aesthetic, but rooted in sustainability (amongst other things).

I so love this video ❤️ I do a lot what you tell in this video. And when some items have to leave, I first ask friends or family if they want it. Here in The Netherlands you see a lot of small cute closets you can put books in. So, a kind of free library. Which is also used to help people when you put some cans with food or for example women's hygiëne products in it.

I remember my mum washing out old margerine containers and using them to store left overs for the fridge, she did have tupperware but it was very expensive and would use those tubs for alsorts, recycling right back in the 70,s,

Wow. You are a wise young lady. 😊 Keep doing your work, wish you all the best from my heart 🥰 (I am a 48 y.o. hungarian woman/wife/mother of 3, living in Germany)

These are all great ideas as well as a fresh perspective on what to keep and why. Tak!

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Great tips for decluttering! I'm inspired to start my own minimalist journey now.

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! Good luck!

Så bra video, så viktigt budskap!

Totally loved these ideas :)

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Thank you!! 😊

You're awesome love you're video's you are always amazing you give great advice

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Aw thanks so much 🥰

Thanks

The two most impactful behaviors individuals can make for the enviro, to slow climate change, and to have a positive impact are to become a vegan and stop driving a car. When you put these two behaviors up against landfill waste and conspicuous consumption, the larger impact is on these 2. Dont get me wrong, we're minimalists and we try to be as intentional as possible in our spending and consumption, but studies have looked at these impacts. Animal agriculture and fossil fuels are killing the planet. Great video!

@SagaJohanna

3 ай бұрын

Yes, very true! Going vegan was one of the best things I did! Buying clothes is coming up there though too :)

8:38 or how about putting it into the compost instead. You cannot always discard dirt. It could be seen as illegal dumping in some places and get you fined.

Hej, my Angel! Thanks for sharing this! Have a great weekend!

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Same to you!

@JohnPaul-158

6 ай бұрын

@@SagaJohanna 🤩😍🥰😍🤩

It's great that you're talking about changing consumer behavior in a sustainable way and thinking creatively about how to breathe new life into old things. Sustainability needs more awareness :) Please share more of your sustainability ideas in future, if you want. And how was your journey that you realizied it's important? On clothes and the toxic chemicals you already maade a video. Not about other areas, right? I agree with you about using up cosmetic products and food! I also cut up old towels to make cleaning rags and when I have enough of them, I donate them to the animal shelter. However, I see a few things differently to you, for example old clothes as sports equipment. Sometimes I sort something out because it's totally uncomfortable like T-shirt neckline too low or straps that slip and I don't even want to wear it for gardening or sport.

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I would love to, that's such a good video idea and things I often don't think about - that I'd love to think about! I think it really depends on the clothes as well! For my low straps I like to cut and tie them or just simply cut them off and sew them back on shorter. It does NOT look good haha, but it's working so far. I mainly have old cotton t-shirts, so they're great. And so far I'm keeping my uncomfortable dresses and wear them to events where I know there'll be no food haha... :D

@AliceMara

6 ай бұрын

@@SagaJohanna Events without food?! 😅 But you don't go there of your own free will?

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

@@AliceMara hahaha :D it's sad isnt' it

Saga - This video probably the hardest for me to understand but I think that I am doing a lot if this. But maybe I don't get it. Why would you keep expired food? You can't eat it because it would poison you. Yes? I would throw out the food on the compost heap for the garden, recycle the jar and not buy the product again. Am I missing something here Saga?

@winamortenson9125

6 ай бұрын

I am interested to read what Saga has to say to your question. We eat expired food at our house, because it isn't poison. It's just lower quality. It is very rare to come across a canned or preserved food that has actually gone bad. For dairy products and other open things in the fridge, I sniff and make sure it's not sour. It lasts much longer than they say it will. I remove the moldy part, if possible, on moldy foods. I'm always sad when something has gone bad--because we weren't being careful to eat what is in the fridge. 🙂 I hope this is helpful.

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Hi Simon! :) Thanks for your comment 🥰 If the food is going off, so to be unsafe, I wouldn't keep it, so just a misunderstanding there. I meant more things like spices, bread and food that is still edible. Since I don't eat meat or dairy expire dates matter much less! But I see a lot of people in houses I've lived in having jam that's unopened and a couple of years old. Usually edible, so I think it's better to eat it, or put it on the compost if you won't, instead of buying more jam which is what I'm pointing to here. And if you have a compost and recycle even better! Here in NZ/Australia composting in the city is very uncommon, and there's not a composting programme for food, so it creates a lot more waste

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

Yes, that's usually how I do it too! And I love freezing things. Just this week I learnt that you can freeze a whole avocado and just thaw when you need it! :o

Thank you. Throwing away just because and buying more does not make sense.

Your so beautiful saga😙😚😍

@SagaJohanna

6 ай бұрын

🥰🥰🥰

Deal with the consequences? 😂okay....

I fill my old tote bags for donations

You just don't put the bread in the refrigerator...how barbaric!!

@SagaJohanna

Ай бұрын

Haha!