Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

My parents and grandparents had all sorts of knowledge I don't have, though none of them graduated from university.  None of my four grandparents had the opportunity to go to high school, and my dad had a total of three years of schooling before he began tutoring math at a private school in his town .  He and my mom each completed about two years of college before they had to quit and go to work.  My grandfather drove heavy equipment and taught himself surveying so he could level farmland and lay irrigation systems.  He also hunted and fished, could repair cars, guns, roofs – just about anything, really.  My grandmother gardened, raised goats and rabbits and chickens, cooked and baked – and did all of it for a long time without electricity or natural gas.  My mom was a seamstress and a crafting genius.  She also cooked, baked, painted with watercolors and acrylics, and organized the Sunday school at our church.  My dad was a natural-born teacher a...

Minimalism is about less.  Less stuff, less busyness, less debt, less stress.  Less time spent cleaning, organizing, fixing, and looking for things.  Less effort, which allows you to put your best effort toward the pursuits you really care about. So shouldn't staying clutter-free be nearly effortless?  If it's meant to save your time and energy for better things, then you need lazy ways to accomplish it. Here it is – the lazy way to declutter and stay that way. Easy tips to get and stay clutter-free 1.  Understand. This first one is a realization instead of an action, but it's essential.  You need to understand that the world is finite.  Your time and energy are finite.  Everything you bring into your life takes the world's resources and your time and energy to acquire and maintain.  You're trading all of that for more stuff.  Is it worth it? 2.  Use the Five Minute rule. Get a box.  Take five minutes and walk through your home...

Why are more and more people questioning the benefits of late-stage capitalism and embracing at least some aspects of minimalism?  Maybe it's because in the U.S. there are more self-storage units than McDonald's, Subway, and Jack-in-the-Box restaurants combined.  And the average American carries $8,674 in credit card debt . Along with frugalism , low or no buy, the circular economy, and no waste lifestyles, minimalism is one way to limit the damage that consumerism – running rampant since the late 1940s – has done to wallets and the planet. So maybe you're only interested in buying the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly products possible.  Good for you!  But do you know what the most frugal, eco-conscious product is?  According to Joshua Becker at becomingminimalist.com , it's the one you don't buy . This is a simple, powerful truth.  The clutter we never bring into our homes is clutter we never have to deal with later.  If you're tired of ...

Are you tired of mess?  Tired of clutter?  Tired of searching for things you know you have – somewhere?  If you're nodding in agreement, you may be ready to try minimalism.  (Take my Minimalist Quiz to find out for sure.) This isn't about living in a mostly-empty space with a chair, a lamp, and a mattress on the floor.  Rather, it's about curating a home that lets you relax, recharge, and reconnect with your loved ones. Imagine a space where everything serves a purpose.  A space that holds items you like and use.  A space that's comfortable and meets your needs.  If that sounds desirable, you probably want to create a simpler home right away. But turning a cluttered space into a serene minimalist home probably won't happen overnight, and before you put in the time and effort, you might want to know "Is it really worth it?" Fortunately, there are ways to give minimalism a tryout before you make a full commitment.  Whether you're completely ne...