Hi, Meg!  ❶  It’s great to hear that you are trying to be a minimalist!  I became a minimalist after reading Marie Kondo’s famous book.  I believe living a mindful life means staying in shape psychologically.  You need to consider if an item is really needed before throwing or giving it away. ❷  Ask yourself these questions:  First, how much joy does this item bring you?  Second, can you enjoy it every day?  Third, could it still bring you joy in the future even if it doesn’t spark joy in you now? ❸  You should think and speak to yourself in this way.
Yumi