What Living out of a Suitcase in Spain Taught Me About Minimalism

My first taste of minimalism was in 2007. The year I quit my desk job, threw some essentials in a large suitcase, and moved 5,000 miles east to a town I’d never heard of in southern Spain.

I’d replaced my marketing job with a teaching position and my stable salary (with benefits) for a meager monthly stipend. Many people in my close circle called it crazy.

And as I lugged my oversized suitcase through Jaén, Spain’s less-than-welcoming bus station, eventually settling in a tiny apartment with three non-English speaking roommates, I wondered if “crazy” might be right.

I didn’t yet know a soul. And I certainly didn’t have much stuff or the finances to buy more. But as I entered my 5×10, barely furnished room, a wave of peace soon pushed aside any doubts.

Setting my suitcase on my bed, I opened it. It was filled with only what I needed and loved. And it felt—right. I was ready to embrace this new style of living and welcomed the profound change I was seeking. A simpler, slower life, focused more on adventure and relationships and less on stuff and American-dream expectations. 

I lived like this—with only the basics—for a year. To say I learned a lot about myself is an understatement. 

It also taught me a lot about minimalism. 

Here are 7 things living out of a suitcase in Spain taught me about minimalism. These minimalist principles continue to inspire me, and hopefully will help you too.

1. Minimalism means editing your life frequently 

While in Spain, I knew all I could bring home with me was what would fit in a suitcase. With boundaries on what I could own and accumulate, I constantly asked myself questions before making a purchase. “Can I take it with me? Would it fit in my suitcase home?” If I did buy something, then I had to let go of something else. This lifestyle forced me to edit my life frequently and make decisions about what added value to my life and what did not.

Editing our lives allows us to live as the best version of ourselves, as we let go of what no longer serves who we are becoming. It’s difficult to grow when we’re weighed down by our stuff.

2. Minimalism means realizing you how much you really need

Living from a suitcase taught me that I could live happily with less than I thought I needed. Way less. While I needed a pair of jeans, I didn’t need six. I needed shoes, but not 14 pairs, including the same style in various colors. A pair of brown boots and running shoes sufficed. I realized I didn’t miss the possessions I thought I might. I had enough and I was happy.

So often we think we need more things to make us happy. But happiness itself is never found in stuff. You’d be surprised what you don’t miss.

3. Minimalism means deeply appreciating what you already have

I began taking better care of the things I did own and appreciated them more deeply. If clothing tore, I mended it. If a purse strap broke, I stitched it back together. I no longer viewed my stuff as disposable. Although I wasn’t attached to my possessions, owning fewer things made me value them more. 

Looking for something bigger and better can distract us from the present moment and rob us of the joy that can be found in what we already have.

4. Minimalism means understanding the true value of human connection 

The treasures I found in Spain weren’t tangible items, they were the relationships I formed. Since maintaining my stuff required very little time and energy, I was free to pour those resources into relationships. I could linger over tapas and spend slow days sightseeing with new friends. I realized genuine, reciprocal relationships brought much more happiness than anything I could buy in a store. 

Relationships thrive in environments with less stuff, where time, energy and attention go toward maintaining meaningful connections. 

5. Minimalism means improvising (when you don’t own exactly what you need)

I realized that when I didn’t have an exact item for an exact purpose, I could improvise. Instead of buying a new blanket for colder nights, throwing a couple towels or my winter coat on the bed worked great. Instead of buying a lamp for my bedroom, setting my small, rechargeable  flashlight upright on the nightstand did the trick. I began to think outside the box instead of immediately concluding I needed to buy something new.

When we have a “just buy it” mindset, we often miss opportunities to use what we already have. Thinking creatively can save us space and money. 

6. Minimalism means more adventures 

Since my money wasn’t going toward stuff and my time wasn’t going toward maintaining possessions, I was able to travel. Friends and I would take weekend trips to Mediterranean beaches, hike in the Santa Catalina mountains, or visit museums in neighboring towns. When my focus wasn’t on making more money or acquiring more things, I was free to pursue what I enjoyed and valued most.

Having more stories to tell instead of more stuff to show leads to a more exciting, fulfilling life.

7. Minimalism means more trust 

While I certainly planned and prepared for each day the best I could, situations arose where I needed something I didn’t have (a can opener, a sewing kit, a car ride to work). I found peace knowing that if I didn’t have a specific thing, I could borrow it when needed from someone in my new network of friends. And if I had something someone needed, then I could lend it out. I realized I didn’t need to buy or hold onto possessions “just in case” and learned to trust that my needs had always been met in the past and would continue to be.

If you’re holding onto unneeded or unloved items “just in case” you might need them again, let them go. Your life will be lighter for it.

The minimalist lifestyle my family and I live today looks very different from the “just the basics lifestyle” I lived out of that suitcase 13 years ago in southern Spain. Five people in 1,000 sq. ft. simply have different needs than one person in 50 sq. ft.

We do, however, own just what we need and love, and we still live by these minimalist principles that I first learned years ago. 

You don’t have to live from a suitcase abroad to see if minimalist living is right for you. If you’re looking to give living with less a try, here’s a quick way to start.

A lighter life with more space for adventures and deeper relationships awaits. Why not start your journey today?

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Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City apartment home with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, and newborn son. You can also find her on Instagram.