Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Being rich isn't just about having a large bank balance, rental real estate, or substantial investments.  You don't have to chase any of those status symbols if you pay attention to what really makes you feel happy.  Stop following the billionaires and the influencers and listen to your inner voice. 30 ways to live a luxe life as a minimalist (Part 1) 1.  Remember who you were when you were 10. What did you enjoy when you were 10 years old?  Learning?  Adventure?  Being with good friends?  Or something else? Recalling your values and desires at age 10 might help you figure out your priorities today.  Maybe you'd rather emphasize new experiences and close relationships over material possessions.  You might value personal growth more than a large financial portfolio.  Your hobbies or simple pleasures such as a picnic, a pet, or a day at the beach might bring more joy than a fancy watch or designer shoes. Tuning in and achieving what really...

I lived a third of my life before I ever touched a computer.  I'm from the age of typewriters, TV antennas, and corded phones that you rushed to pick up because there was no such thing as an answering machine.  When Star Wars was first out (yes, I mean A New Hope , but we just called it Star Wars because it was the only one), it stayed in theaters for over a year – and we stood in long lines to view it for the third or fifth or twelfth time, because there was no way to play a video at home.  The only way to see Luke destroy the Death Star was to go with your friends and see it on the big screen. So here we are, decades after that first computer (and it was really only a primitive word processor that could also store and sort data, such as inventory or an address list).  Today I carry a computer in my hand that has thousands of times more speed and millions of times more memory than those early desktops.  It replaces the telephone, phone book, radio, pager, cal...

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...