I was a hoarder for 5 years but became a minimalist after 2 years of hard work, here's my story and tips on how to do it.

Like many people who grew up in the 80s and 90s, we were used to accumulating stuff. I am a minimalist now but I remember how hard it was for me to get rid of things when I first started out. The crisis hit in 2018 when my day one fans, which I had been using for the last 20 years, stopped working. I had been using it daily for 20 years, that's how long 2 items of fans lasted for me. In 2018, I could not find a single day one fan to purchase from the 4 different states I visited. It was so difficult to get rid of the 2 fans, but I am glad I finally did.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Over time, I realized that the quality of the products we buy have deteriorated so much over the years. As an example, I buy a pack of 3 toothbrushes that lasts me for 3 months. Similarly, I use a pack of 5 floss for a month as well. One toothbrush and dental floss used to last me for a year. Similarly, I used to run in a single pair of shoes for a year but nowadays I run through one pair in 3 months. It was getting harder and harder to accumulate things especially since the quality had gone down drastically. I realized that I had been accumulating things for 20 years and maybe it was time to stop hoarding and get rid of the junk around me.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I have been working on this for 2 years now and I am proud to say that I have successfully transitioned to minimalist way of living. I feel so much better without clutter and I am proud to say that the change in my lifestyle has been very rewarding. When I was a hoarder I had multiple TV sets, phones, laptops and tablets lying around. But now I have none of that anymore. Although these things were given to me by friends and it was working fine, but I feel much happier without them. Almost everything I owned was either given to me by friends, handed down or purchased second hand. I have also purchased brand new things but not many.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>After the fans, I got rid of my day one mattress which I had been using since 1995. I had a hard time getting rid of it, but now I am so happy that I did. It really is true that when you let go of something, you will forget about it after a couple of days.Its not hard to get rid of your belongings, it just takes time. I recently got rid of my blender that lasted for 30 years and it was sad, but now I feel so much better.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I dont really buy or get stuff anymore but I am happy to lend or give used things to friends and strangers. I am so proud to say that I have been able to live without buying anything brand new. I purchase second hand and items from thrift stores for my needs. If I am unable to find what I need I purchase them online. I also stopped buying stuff that wasnt necessary for day to day life. I am not saying everything that is second hand is of good quality, but it certainly lasts longer than the ones you buy brand new. I have purchased 2nd hand items that lasted me 7 years while the brand new ones barely lasted me 6 months. The quality of brand new items just sucks. Also, in case you're wondering, some of the best quality items that you have been holding on to for so long are probably no good anyway. I have discovered that my old items stopped working because I didnt use it for a long time but the brand new ones I purchased barely lasted 2 years.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I have no idea how people keep bragging about living frugal and living without spending money. It barely costs anything to get rid of the clutter youre holding on to. You dont need to keep boxes full of stuff in your home. Recycle them. I have been recycling boxes for years and it still looks new. Old items dont last anymore. I am sure you all have experienced this. Whether you live frugal or not, it has been very time consuming for me to get rid of my belongings. I took the boxes to a recycling center myself, I didnt pay anyone to do it for me. Everything you purchase from the store comes in boxes that need to be recycled. If you dont recycle it, you're not living frugal at all.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Like I said earlier, it took me 2 years to get rid of everything and it was time consuming. But at the end of it all, it was worth it. I have never felt better. You can do the same. You may not become a minimalist but you can certainly live without clutter.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>In conclusion, I think the world needs to embrace minimalism. Its the only way that we will stop ruining the planet. I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but the world would be a better place if everyone practiced minimalism. After all, none of us is taking anything when we leave this world.<br><br>Hope this helps, stay safe.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Edit: Thank you so much to everyone who reached out to me via private message and comment. You have been very supportive and encouraging. I has been overwhelming reading so many messages. Thank you so much.<br><br>Edit: I made some grammatical corrections and added a few things here and there.