Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Is it true that we have to deny ourselves now in order to have what we really want later?  Is instant gratification always bad and delayed gratification always better? These two common messages seem to contradict each other: Enjoy life later.   In order to be successful or build wealth, you have to delay gratification.  Skip the party so you can study.  Don't buy the latte, but put that money into savings or invest it.  You should never indulge in instant gratification. Enjoy life now.   Don't wait for later, because you never know if you'll have tomorrow.  You only live once, so instant gratification makes perfect sense. Which idea is right? My answer might surprise you. I actually agree with both ideas.  If you read this blog often, you'll see that I send both messages.  Live frugally and choose simplicity – but also find joy every day! How is it possible to both enjoy life now and plan for a good future?  Can we really do both? Yes we...

Do you keep hearing about minimalism but aren't sure it's for you?  Maybe you've looked at peaceful minimalist home décor on Instagram, or watched some videos on TikTok about Underconsumption core .  Yes, you can admit that living with only what you need and love makes sense.  After all, it's proven to increase focus, reduce stress, and make home care easier.  And there's no question that getting your shopping habits under control would save you plenty of money and time. Looking at the clutter in your home doesn't spark joy.  And the stuff squashed into the back of closets and drawers doesn't make you feel good.  But the neutral, minimally furnished and decorated homes aren't appealing either.  You like color.  You're artistic and like to keep plenty of inspiration around.  You want your home to tell a story and remind you of beloved people and happy experiences.  You loved expressive, cheerful design before dopamine décor was a trend. ...

Good habits are more than the actions your mama nagged you about (wash your hands, turn off the lights, say please and thank you).  They're a foundation for the actions we need to do that let us take care of business without having to plan or decide each and every step.  For example: If you develop the habit of taking vitamins with a big glass of water each morning, you get all the benefits without having to debate the action. If you deal with mail efficiently each evening, you streamline your to-do list without burying a few important items in a mountain of junk. These useful habits benefit us, unlike bad habits such as smoking or oversleeping.  So why not develop some good habits to help us keep our homes tidy and clutter-free?  Reduce decision fatigue by making small, daily actions a routine for you and your family. Huge decluttering projects or deep cleaning sessions have their place, but for daily ease, try these quick and simple chores to make a profound differ...

Like Christmas, Easter is supposed to be a religious observance, but in America our faith often seems to be placed in money and possessions, rather than in God.  We are devout consumers , no matter what else we may believe.  Many of the 63% of Americans who identify themselves as Christians will give more thought to new church clothes, Easter table centerpieces, and full Easter baskets (even if they include a chocolate cross) than they do to the reason for the celebration.  Let's reclaim this holiday. People don't spend as much for Easter as they do for Christmas/Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, or even Halloween, but it is still definitely seen by retailers as a time to push candy, flowers, stuffed animals, spring fashions, and home décor (especially tableware).  Wallethub.com reports that $22 billion was spent on Easter in the United States in 2024. Personally, I'd rather keep Easter a DIY, family- and faith-centered experience than to give retailers yet another holiday...

Advertisers promise happiness, don't they?  That high-performance car, sun-drenched cruise, fail-safe insurance, age-defying beauty cream, and even that hot and juicy burger will make your life better – more adventurous, relaxing, secure, alluring, and delicious! All it costs is all the money you make (plus a load of debt) and all or most of your time and attention. But the happiness I've received from being minimalist isn't like consumer happiness.  It doesn't require a purchase or a lifestyle where I compete with or impress others.  Most of the time, I'm content and at peace with what I have.  After all, I have a lot.  I get to do what I love, on my own timetable, and for the benefit of myself and those I love.  What more could I ask for? Even though I'm a minimalist, I'm certainly not deprived.  I have enough furniture and housewares for comfort.  I have the modern conveniences of a stove, refrigerator, microwave, washer and dryer, central heat...

Did you read Walden, or Life in the Woods * when you were in school?  It's pretty ubiquitous on high school reading lists, which makes it surprising that plenty of people misunderstand Henry David Thoreau's classic. The 1854 book has gained a reputation as being about a man who dropped out of society to live as a hermit in the woods.  But that's not the point at all . Thoreau actually lived in a time somewhat like ours, when technology was advancing faster than ever before.  (It was the era of increasing railroad travel and a huge shift in population from rural farm work to urban, machine-centered factories.)  Partisan politics were acrimonious and threatened to rip the country apart.  (The US Civil War was only a few years away.)  There was a worldwide pandemic.  (Tuberculosis, widespread and far deadlier than COVID, ended Thoreau's life when he was just 42.) Walden is the perfect book to read or re-read this year. * This blog is reader-supported....