Love this post, Anis. I think in this life, the best thing I did for myself is the decision to move to NZ. I remember when I arrived here, things are way more expensive compared to Vietnam. Thats why I often went to second-hand shops to get stuff that I need.

My first year here with working holiday visa means I travelled all around the country and tried to find seasonal jobs. So whenever I came to a new city, I would go look for clothes or shoes that were needed for work (indoor or outdoor) then when I left that city, I would donate stuff that I didnt use or it was too hard to carry. I know I can always get second hand stuff like that in the next city with cheaper prices. Eventually I feel comfortable with getting stuff from op shops and have no need of getting new things at all. When we need something, we would check out the second hand shops to make sure that we can re-use things before getting new ones. I feel good with what I am doing, every month I would go around the flat and donate things that we dont use. It is great to know that our stuff can be re-home and useful for someone.