Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Back in 1906, an Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto noticed that just 20% of the population of Italy owned 80% of the land. That makes sense.  Few people are rich, and they're the ones who own most of the stuff.  So Romanian-American management consultant Joseph Juran developed the concept further, by observing that 80% of results come from 20% of causes .  For example, in 1988 the New York Times reported that about 80% of video rental revenues came from just 20% of the stock.  Microsoft has noted that 80% of crashes can be prevented by fixing 20% of the most-reported errors.  Studies show that approximately 80% of healthcare expenses accrue to 20% of patients. Juran called the 20% the "vital few," and that's why this principle can help with decluttering.  If we can identify our "vital few," we can remove all or most of the rest. You don't think this seems possible?  Hmmm.... I almost always wear the same coat, though I own two others. I have a p...

When I was in my 20s with an overflowing wardrobe and credit card debt, I thought that living frugally would be no fun, but that it might give me a chance to stop juggling my bills every month and hoping that my car wouldn't break down. When I was in my 30s and had a house with two mortgages, full of furniture, décor, and stuff for my kids, I thought that living frugally would mean a bit of deprivation, but that it might give us a chance to stop juggling bills, hoping that the car wouldn't break down, and praying that none of us would need major medical care. When I was in my 40s with an underwater mortgage, five-figure credit card debt, a big car payment, and a cut in salary due to the 2008 economic crisis, I thought that living frugally was a necessity that might help us get back on a solid financial footing. Little did I know that living frugally is not only great for your wallet, but a way to become resourceful, grateful, persistent, and contented.  Living frugally not only...

My journey to minimalism has been going on for a long time now – more than 25 years.  It has not been a linear path.  After all, I live in the modern, materialist world!  Sometimes it's been two or three steps forward and one step back, but the freedom and peace of minimalism are always worth returning to. * By the way, this blog is reader-supported, with NO ADS.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission. Learning that I have enough Take my wardrobe, for example.  In the rainy, colder months, I rotate three favorite pairs of jeans.  This spring I decluttered two winter tops that I had barely worn, leaving six that I enjoy and can cozy up with a jacket and a hand-crocheted scarf.  This summer, I'll continue to wear jeans, but I'll stay cooler wearing sandals plus some short-sleeved tops.  Even with temperatures in the 100°F (nearly 38°C) range, six or seven tops is enough, especially since I usually run a load of laundry twice a w...

Guess what?  "Grandma hobbies" are growing in popularity, and they might even help you lose weight! These cozy hobbies include things like knitting, crochet , embroidery, baking, and gardening.  You could also add "Grandpa hobbies" such as jigsaw puzzles, whittling , and leatherwork. (I'm not trying to be sexist, but I know plenty of men wouldn't try embroidery, and a lot of women wouldn't consider whittling.  Whatever.) Even if you don't become a master of any hobby, scientists say there are a lot of benefits gained by pursuing them.  "When people immerse themselves in a hobby, they often find an escape from daily pressures, creating a space where they can unwind and recharge," says Patricia S. Dixon, a licensed clinical psychologist from Florida. Of course, many hands-on hobbies allow you to create useful and beautiful items for yourself, for your home, or for gifts.  That's why many of us craft jewelry or make candles.  With the simp...

The world of decluttering advice is getting a bit cluttered, with so many methods, so many blogs, and new articles almost every day on TikTok, Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, and even Martha Stewart.  It makes something that should be fairly straightforward much harder, because you start to wonder which decluttering method is really best. (By the way, with all of the simplicity and minimalist blogs out there, I truly appreciate the fact that you're reading mine!  Thank you.) Let's make this super-simple.  Here's my idea for a simplified version of the viral 30-Day Minimalism Game by The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. The original game gets harder and harder. Many people have benefitted from playing the original "Mins Game."  Basically, you find a friend or family member who also wants to declutter, and set a date to begin.  Each person gets rid of one thing on the first day of the game, two things on the second day, three things on the ...

If you're used to living with a house full of possessions, you might not even realize you have much more than you really need.  After all, your house doesn't look much different from others you visit.  Yes, there's some clutter and crowding, but that's what happens when a family leads an active life, isn't it? Every once in a while you clear out a few extras, such as outgrown clothes and toys, old tech, extraneous papers, and some of those freebies that keep finding their way home with you.  "But really," you think, "what's the fuss about minimalism and decluttering?  A little mess is normal." If you really want to know, here are a few ways to tell whether you own too much, whether you need to declutter, and/or whether you need to start being more thoughtful about what you buy and bring home. 7 clutter clues 1.  You see A LOT of stuff. As you glance around a room, you definitely notice a lot of visual noise .  Things are stacked on top of oth...