Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

We're often told that the secret to financial ease and peace is living below our means.  Simply put, this means spending less than you earn.  It sounds straightforward, but it can be hard to do. In large part, that's because our culture pushes us to spend everything we have and then some.  Carrying debt is considered normal – in fact, it's a requirement if you ever want to qualify for a home loan.  (Yes, you have to have debt so you can prove that you're good at making payments.) Additionally, most of us increase our expenditures when our income goes up.  It's called " lifestyle inflation ," and it too is normal in our society.  What used to be an occasional treat grows into a daily necessity, and it becomes impossible to imagine a return to a simpler lifestyle.  That seems too much like "failure." And so we get caught in the trap of always wanting more. Let's avoid the trap, and try one or more of these practical tips to spend less, feel in ...

COMING IN SEPTEMBER!  My new book,  The Wealthy Minimalist .*  The e-book edition is available for pre-order now, at a discounted price. *   Thank you for supporting this blog.  If you choose to buy through my links, I may earn a small commission. You've been hearing a lot about minimalism, and you'd really love to make your life more manageable.  But isn't there some way to ease into it?  It seems crazy to just dump everything and go live in a tiny house.  You have a spouse (and he/she loves their stuff).  You have kids (and all of their stuff).  You have a job, or volunteer commitments, and you can't see yourself taking on the huge task of completely decluttering your home any time soon. So what can you do if you want to try "minimalism lite"?  Is it even possible to enjoy some of the benefits without taking drastic steps? Yes, and here's how. 7 steps to minimalism ▢   Declutter duplicates. This is so simple, you can do ...

COMING IN SEPTEMBER!  My new book, The Wealthy Minimalist .*  The e-book edition is available for pre-order now, at a discounted price. *  This blog is supported by you, dear reader.  If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission. We all want to have time to relax and enjoy life, but work, laundry, cleaning, and cooking still have to get done.  I'm really thankful for my dishwasher and in-house laundry room, but there are some elements of modern life that promise more ease and don't deliver it .  So how can we tell the difference?  What are some things that are really stealing our time and/or money, and what are some practices than can actually save them?  4 things that don't simplify life 1.  Your phone We all know this.  We know our phones are time sucks, yet we don't put them down. When I was a kid, if someone needed to contact my parents, they called our land line.  Usually, someone was home and would answer, a...

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 ever wonder if you're doing minimalism the "right" way?  Maybe you cleaned out your closets and your junk drawers, got rid of the china cabinet and the extra TVs, but then a few days later you bought some new clothes or books. Or maybe you've streamlined your budget and paid off almost all of your debt, but now you're thinking the money you've put into your emergency savings account could pay for your dream trip to New Zealand. And maybe you stay home with your family most week nights, and you've cut your involvement in extra meetings and activities that no longer excite you, but each weekend seems to have a church responsibility, another job you want to finish in your fixer-upper home, and/or a get-together of some kind. Are you really a minimalist? What minimalism is Minimalism isn't about getting rid of everything you own or living like a monk in a cave.  It's about getting back to basics, keeping only what you need, use, and love, and en...

Welcome to the penultimate post for 2024!  This makes #105 for this year, which is more than I've written for any one year since 2020.  That's in spite of suffering through two bouts of pneumonia and an emergency surgery and hospital stay early this spring.  Wow! I want to thank you, faithful readers – especially those who have taken time to email me personally.  You are so thoughtful and encouraging, and some of you are becoming cherished friends.  It's wonderful to join with you on the journey toward a simpler life that is still fulfilling and abundant because of the gratitude we practice every day. I also appreciate those of you who go the extra mile to purchase my books .*  You're the ones I think of most when I sit down to write. * This blog is powered by direct reader support.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission. My promises and progress I continue to refuse Google's targeted ads on this site, and to resist the many other ...

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the reformed Grinch:  The one who has figured out that Christmas doesn't come from a store.  The one who has realized he doesn't hate all those Whos down in Whoville after all.  The one who is probably going to treat his dog Max much better after this. The Grinch has revised his opinions because of what the Whos did on Christmas morning after he had stolen all of their toys, trees, and turkeys.  Do you remember?  Hand in hand, they joyfully sang together. The Grinch couldn't stop Christmas from coming.  It came anyway!  That's because Christmas isn't the decorations, the feast, or the gifts. Christmas is your loved ones – family, friends, or even kind strangers. Christmas is music – singing, playing instruments, and listening to other music-makers (even on the radio ). Christmas is gratitude – so remember your many blessings and give thanks! Rich minimalists The holidays as we celebrate them in our society exagge...