[bobobooey]

How can spending less and being mindful of what you own a thing only rich can do?

Sure, if you're throwing away useful items and replacing them constantly then you're wasting money. But if you're buying only what you need, discarding items that haven't been used in 18 months, and constantly being mindful of purchases/items you own, there is no way it's "only for the rich".

What an absurd sentiment.

[TeMPOraL]

It's simple: because the richer you are, the more you can replace storing items with just-in-time throwaway purchases or services. You can easily throw away stuff you haven't used in 6 or even 3 months, if you can afford buying them on the spot when needed. You don't need tools or appliances if you can afford paying for a service. Etc.

[tylerhou]

I haven’t used my plunger in 18 months. Should I throw it away?

[drstewart]

I didn't buy a gimmicky As Seen On TV kitchen gadget I'd use once and store in the garage for the rest of my life, am I a rich person?

[criddell]

No. Every time you use a plunger, it sparks joy as soon as you see the water level drop and realize you don't need to call a plumber.

[LiquidSky]

It's difficult to see this as good-faith engagement with Kondo's advice of asking whether a particular item is useful or "sparks joy".

[tylerhou]

From the person I responded to:

> But if you're buying only what you need, discarding items that haven't been used in 18 months, and constantly being mindful of purchases/items you own, there is no way it's "only for the rich".

By their logic, I should throw away my plunger since I haven't used it in the last year and a half. But obviously I need to keep my plunger around in case of emergencies.

If you're not wealthy, you need to keep possessions around in case of emergencies. You need a car because you can't afford to Uber around everywhere. Or a thick winter jacket in case it becomes extremely cold out (even if that only happens every few years). Or an air conditioner/header because you can't afford an apartment with central AC. Or an old laptop because you can't afford to go out a buy a new one should your current laptop break.

Another example: I have an office job that lets me use work printers for personal purposes. I could get by with not having a printer at home. If you're less wealthy, you're more likely to not have an office job. Even if you do have an office job, it's possible that they are stricter wrt. printer rules. Another example of the disparity between wealthy people and non-wealthy people wrt. minimalism.

[bobobooey]

Well a rich person and a poor person are both going to keep the plunger, so here we are again starting at 0. You're not really making any sort of point.

If you haven't used your printer in 18 months you're probably okay getting by with the one at the library.

[asdff]

No, but you shouldn't buy one for every bathroom.