I wish minimalism wasn't considered a trend.

I'm still a young person (23), but I've always been disgusted by the idea of conspicuous consumerism and of hoarding goods. <br><br>I live in a 500 sq. ft studio apartment and haven't owned a television, car, or cell phone for over a decade. The way I see it, if I don't have a lot of extra stuff, I'll have more money and less stress in the long run. I also think that if I make it a point to own only the bare essentials, then I can afford to spend more on each individual item -- i.e. a well-made sofa, a few nice kitchen knives, a decent mattress, etc. <br><br>I try to spend most of my money on experiences (medical care, travel, classes, etc.) and investing for the future. And I still manage to live comfortably. <br><br>However, I think that minimalism still carries some weird connotations. The term itself makes me think of "zen" minimalist interior decor of the mid 2010s (all-white, industrial decor, a single houseplant on a windowsill, etc.), or of the "digital nomad" lifestyle of remote workers who live in developing nations and take Instagram photos of themselves working in coffee shops. <br><br>There's also the fact that a lot of mainstream advice about minimalism seems to focus on superficial, aesthetic aspects of minimalism (e.g. Marie Kondo's suggestion that you should get rid of any article of clothing that doesn't give you joy), rather than the cost-benefit analysis that motivates my own minimalist way of living. <br><br>This is a bit of a weird rant but I just wish minimalism could be seen as what it is for me: a cost-effective, low-stress way of living.