If I don’t use my life to buy stuff, what then?

All my life I was taught that:

I must work hard to secure a good job with great benefits and social capital.
I must save hard and work my way up through the property ladder.
I must show off my success with a flashy car, a big house, expensive clothes.

These are Rules society lives by. These are the Rules I was taught to live by.

But when you become a minimalist, suddenly these Rules don’t work any more.

Sure, I might have a great job. But if all that stuff is meaningless to me, what should I do with my money?
Sure, I might be able to buy a flashy car. But if impressing people doesn’t matter to me, why would I want to?
Sure, I could buy a big house. But with that comes lots of work and maintenance, which I don’t want or need.
Sure, I could buy expensive clothes. But brand names have little appeal to me.

When minimalism becomes a way of life, everything changes. Suddenly your priorities shift.

I’ve decided instead of working long hours, I’d rather spend my time with my family and friends.
Instead of spending money on things, I’d rather spend my time on experiences.
Instead of owning stuff, I want to own myself, my mind, my time, and my sanity.

I am happy. And I am enough, just as I am.