Things I Don’t Have as a Minimalist (And One That I Still Do)

There are needs and there are wants, and sometimes it can be hard to separate which is which. A useful activity for me when I was first starting my minimalism journey was reading about items people don’t own. Before reading about people living without a toaster, I had never really though about getting rid of my toaster. It’s much easier to imagine a reality that someone else has already created. So, a few years into my own journey towards minimalism, here is my list of things I don’t have:

1. A Microwave

Once you live without one, you get used to it and don’t miss it. I occasionally heat up food in the oven or in a pan on the stovetop, and it doesn’t take that much longer. My current apartment has a tiny kitchen that came with a microwave that I’ve never used; mostly I wish I could get rid of it and have more shelf space instead.

2. A Toaster

Much like with the microwave, once it’s gone you don’t really miss it. I’ve learned that buttering both sides of a big piece of sourdough and lightly frying it in a pan is a much tastier alternative. Not having a toaster frees up a lot of much-needed counter space in my small kitchen.

3. A TV

Without a TV, other parts of the room become the focal point.

I watch my shows on a biggish laptop and haven’t had a TV in over 5 years, so it feels…