UNDERCONSUMPTION CORE: 20 Things I've Owned for YEARS as Minimalist!!

Summary

The video highlights the viral 'underc-consumption core' trend, where the creator shares 20 long-owned and cherished items from a minimalist lifestyle. These range from 12-year-old maternity dresses, a 16-year-old t-shirt, and a family heirloom jewelry box to sentimental items like a wedding ring and childhood mementos. The video mixes practicality and nostalgia, emphasizing the joy of reusing, repurposing, and holding onto meaningful possessions. The creator encourages viewers to embrace simplicity, frugality, and the value of treasured items over consumerism.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Underc consumption core trend**: The creator discusses a viral trend that emphasizes minimalism and frugality, which aligns with their lifestyle of owning long-lasting items.
• 👗 **Maternity dresses**: The creator shares that they've kept four maternity dresses for over 12 years, repairing and repurposing them over time.
• 👕 **Old T-shirt**: A 16-year-old free t-shirt from Chicago Public Schools is still used for workouts, exemplifying the habit of maximizing the use of free and old items.
• 👜 **23-year-old canvas purse**: The creator has owned a durable canvas purse since they were 18, using it regularly despite its wear and tear.
• 👛 **Marc Jacobs purse**: A 15-year-old purse gifted by their husband is still used during travel, valued for its safety features and sentimental attachment.
• 💍 **Family heirloom jewelry**: A dragon-carved wood jewelry box and a diamond wedding ring passed down from the creator's family hold deep sentimental value.
• ✏️ **Elementary school pencil case**: A sturdy blue pencil case from childhood, with the creator’s mother’s handwriting, is still used daily, representing personal attachment and practicality.
• 📱 **Old iPad**: A third-generation iPad, as old as the creator's son, is still used occasionally for travel, even though it is slow.
• 📚 **Old books**: The creator shares nostalgia for their 17 to 20-year-old Harry Potter books and a 15-year-old poetry book by Billy Collins that they revisit often.
• 🎁 **Reusable muslin wraps**: The creator uses muslin wraps, originally baby swaddles, for eco-friendly gift wrapping in the furoshiki style, reflecting minimalism and sustainability.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the 'underc consumption core' trend, where the creator shares 20 items they've owned for years or decades as part of a minimalist lifestyle.

How does the creator define 'underc consumption core'?

'Underc consumption core' is a trend focused on long-term use and repurposing of items, rejecting the constant push to buy new products. It aligns with principles of minimalism and frugality.

What is the creator's connection to minimalism?

The creator has been practicing a combination of minimalism and frugality for over 15 years and supports the underc consumption core trend due to its alignment with these values.

What is the sentimental value of the jewelry box mentioned?

The jewelry box is an antique family heirloom with a dragon carving, passed down from the creator's grandfather, who won it in a poker game during World War II. It brings back memories of her grandfather.

Why does the creator continue to use a 16-year-old Chicago Public Schools t-shirt?

Despite not working for Chicago Public Schools, the creator still uses the t-shirt for working out due to its comfort, nostalgic value, and frugality, illustrating the core of underc consumption.

What role do sentimental items play in the creator's lifestyle?

Sentimental items, like the jewelry box, wedding ring, and pencil case, are deeply valued by the creator. They serve both functional purposes and as connections to family memories, embodying the underc consumption ethos.

How does the creator repurpose old items for new uses?

The creator repurposes items like turning an old maternity dress into a skirt and using a Naruto lunchbox for craft supplies, showing how underc consumption involves adapting older items for continued use.

What significance do the creator's stuffed animals have?

The stuffed animals, originally from the creator's college years, were passed on to her children. These items, now nearly 20 years old, are beloved by her kids and hold sentimental value.

What minimalist rules does the creator live by?

The creator follows a minimalist approach by repurposing old items, using things until they are worn out, and treasuring functional and sentimental possessions, thus rejecting consumerism and unnecessary purchases.

What item on the list does the creator say they might pass down to future generations?

The creator mentions a stainless steel pan that has been in use for over 7 years and suggests that it may be durable enough to pass down to their children or grandchildren.