How much stuff do you have? In 1986, George Carlin asked just how much "stuff" one can own and points out how easy it is to get caught up in owning things. As he points out, we lock up our stuff so we can go out every day to earn more money to buy more stuff.

Sure, George might have simplified his message a bit, but he has a very valid point. How much of what we have do we really need and more importantly, is there a way to cut back?

Don't worry, this isn't going to be some kind of sermon that preaches the evils of consumerism because let's be honest, it's hardly realistic to expect people to give up all their wordly possessions and live with next to nothing. Nor is the freegan lifestyle for everyone. That being said, examining your own consumeristic habits in the face of economic woes is certainly not a bad idea. If you need to trim costs, there's no better place to start than by taking a page from the minimalist handbook.

Defining minimalism
When the term minimalism is used, it often refers to art that is stripped down so it only includes the bare necessesities. That same principle applies to the minimalist lifestyle. The idea is to de-clutter the area around you and to avoid accumulating more by simply not buying things you don't need.

How to get there
You may be looking at all of your worldly possessions and thinking that while minimalism sounds like a great concept, you wouldn't have any idea where to even begin. Well for starters, go through your home room by room and collect any items that you no longer use or need. Try to avoid throwing these away and instead find new homes for them, either by recycling, donating them to a thrift or charity shop or consigning them to make a bit of extra money.

This can be a pretty daunting task, so take it one step at a time. Vow to start with a smaller room or two and complete them in a timeframe you're comfortable with. Aim to do bigger, more cluttered rooms like the bedroom and kitchen somewhere in the middle. Starting with those may be too discouraging (because that's probably where you keep the most stuff), however leaving them too long may make you dread continuing on with the process.

Once you've successfully tackled all of the rooms that need cleaning, stay away from the mall and other retail outlets as much as possible! Of course you need to buy the necessities such as groceries and toiletries, but if you've decided to go minimal, spending time aimlessly wandering around these places will only tempt you to spend your money and buy things you really don't need.

Finally find alternative ways to enjoy the little luxuries you typically enjoy. Rather than buying a subscription to your local newspaper or picking up the lastest copy of People magazine while waiting in line at the supermarket, read the online versions instead. You'd be surprised at how much paper waste you save yourself. Get a library card and  use that to acquire new reading material rather than buying every new novel that comes out. Borrow a dress from a friend for that office party rather than buying a new one. There are dozens upon dozens of small ways you can avoid collecting more "stuff" and becoming a super-consumer. In the end, your bank account and the earth will thank you.

Watch the video below to see what George Carlin had to stay about "stuff" (be forewarned, watch for the kiddies as he occasionally drops some choice words and phrases).

» eHow