A man who sold his home in a bid to live a minimalist life spent a year living with just 44 possessions to help him become less materialistic.
Rob Greenfield (35), a North Carolina resident, began to whittle down his possessions 10 years ago after culling everything that he hadn’t used in six months.
Rob was inspired by minimalist living and sold his 3-bedroom apartment in 2015. He eventually moved into a house he had built using recycled materials.
Rob cut his belongings down to 44 items in 2020 and began a year of traveling the country.
Rob Greenfield, 35, from Asheville, North Carolina, spent a year living with just 44 possessions (pictured) to help him become less materialistic
He stated, “Throughout the entire year I either lived in a house with my friends, used their kitchen facilities and washed and cooked for them or camped.”
‘When I camped, I used to wash in rivers and streams and make my own meals over a campfire. It was a wonderful way to get connected with nature and the world around us.
“Through years of downsizing I have learned that possessions do not bring me long-term happiness and fulfillment. That’s why my life is the way it is.”
Rob, Minimalist, said his most precious item was a postcard that featured a photograph of Gandhi. This was used to mark his bookmarks. His phone was his hardest possession.
Rob began to reduce his possessions to 44 in early 2020. All of them fit into a backpack. He then spent one year traveling around the country.
“Giving my cell phone up was difficult. It was my only way of communicating with my friends and family. I was unsure if it would work without my mobile.
“Before I committed to getting rid of my phone, I locked it in my drawer for one month so that I was prepared to do without it.
“My Gandhi postcard, which I kept as a bookmarker and was the most valuable of all 44 items I had at the time,” said my father.
“I was inspired by his example, and it’s what I have been striving to emulate for most of my adult life.
Rob says that he made the decision to be minimalist because he realized he wasn’t able to work hard to earn more money in order to purchase possessions and prove his worth.
Rob stated that the more Rob listened to corporations telling me they needed this stuff, then I found myself stuck trying to make more money.
“I’d buy lots of things to prove my worth in society. I shouldn’t have been trying to be a better person than I actually am.”
Rob reduced his belongings to 44, which included 12 clothing items and twelve cooking utensils. He also had personal documents and cash.
Rob lived in a variety of places throughout the year. He either stayed with his friends, used their cooking and washing facilities, or camped to cook and wash dishes by the campfire. The photo shows him walking along with 44 of his possessions.
Rob, who used to own his own digital marketing company, set his heart on living a non-materialistic life in 2011 after being inspired by various documentaries and books.
He started by cutting his possessions by half by getting rid of the things he hadn’t used in the previous six months and after repeating this process a few times decided to ditch his car.
He then moved to San Diego in 2015 from his apartment with three bedrooms and 50 square feet.
After a year of living there, he moved to the US.
Rob moved in to a tiny house in Orlando after his return from travels. He built it using secondhand materials and cost $13,000.
Rob is pictured walking along with 44 of his possessions. He says that he has ‘found out that material possessions do not create long-term happiness or fulfillment for me.
By 2020, Rob had whittled down his possessions to just 44 items, including twelve clothing items – five shirts, two pairs of shorts, two pairs of underpants, one pair of socks, a sweater and a pair of sandals, plus a clothing bag to carry his clobber.
A toothbrush, shampoo, hand soap, razor, nail clippers and floss were all on his person.
Rob left behind a backpack, shopping bag and day pack. A spoon, fork, spoon and water bottle were also included. Rob also had a loose leaf tea strainer as well as a refillable tea bag.
A notebook, pen and laptop stickers, charger, headphones, books, marker, passport, birth certificate, cash, and a book were all he had with him.
Rob was able to survive for a year with only a handful of possessions, although he admits that he has purchased fewer items this year to improve his life.
“I am a sponge for learning and educating other people. I want to get attention for my cause,” he said.
Rob, Minimalist, said his most precious item was a postcard that featured a photograph of Gandhi. This was used to mark his bookmarks. His phone was perhaps the most challenging thing to lose.
My different projects are over, but I believe my whole existence fits into the overall theme of teaching people.
“The electric razor was the first thing that I purchased after I stopped using my manual razor. It has made my life so much easier.
“One day, I will have nothing. But right now to make the most of my impact on this world, I need more possessions.
“There was no end in sight, so I moved from 44 to 50 to 54 to finally get to where I am today.
Non-ownership does not mean not using something. It’s about making use of the resources available to us all and preserving the environment.
Rob is now the director of Regeneration Equity and Justice, a non-profit organization that aims to promote sustainable living for people around the globe.