Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

I have a friend who swears the idea of a budget just doesn't work for her.  "There's always some need I don't account for, or I forget to keep track of spending and overspend in some area." It is hard to keep track of every penny.  And sometimes prices go up more than you expect, and then your budget has to be redone.  Just because I've been using a budget for years doesn't mean I never have to make adjustments or that the concept works perfectly for everyone.  So I asked my friend to describe what she does do, since she doesn't seem to have problems with overdrawing her checking account or being late with bill payments.  Whatever she's doing is working well for her, so maybe it's a solution for many people who have had trouble with, or just don't like, traditional budgeting. The 2 step non-budget plan My friend's idea is straightforward and certainly worth trying to see if it works for you. 1.  Pay now. Whenever you get a paycheck, i...

If you're going through a tough time, I hope you have loved ones who are supporting you and giving you reasons to hope.  The reality of life is that we all encounter rough patches.  Illness, grief, and loss are trials we all experience.  In a world where there are wars and tyrants and disease and disaster, it's understandable that we feel appalled, worried, and sad.  We need to recognize these emotions and, if necessary, give ourselves permission to feel and process them .  At times like these, I'm thankful to be a minimalist.  That probably sounds strange, so let me explain how minimalism improves my mental state. 5 benefits of minimalism during hardship Minimalism is a mindset that helps me recognize that I have enough for my needs.  I can be contented with less, no matter how many ads and influencers tell me I need to buy what they're selling. When life is chaotic or worrisome, I know that I can find a peaceful center because most things in my life ...

I have a friend (I'll call her Becca) who really wants to declutter.  Becca grew up with a hoarder, and she has a slight tendency in that direction herself, but has reached the point where she knows she'll be calmer, happier, and better able to handle the details of life if she gets clutter-free. But whenever I visit, there's no discernable progress.  She'll say again how depressing she finds her cluttered house, how much she wants to make a change, but cites busyness at work and a subsequent lack of energy to get anything done. I'm not writing this post to judge or criticize my friend or anyone like her!  If I had experienced Becca's past or her current circumstances, I might be in the same situation.  And knowing the stamina and constant decision-making that decluttering can require, I too feel daunted by the idea of tackling her home. So my intention in this post is to be as empathetic and inspiring as possible as I share one mindset that is making it harder ...

I've loved reading since I was six, when my bright yellow hardcover copy of Key to the Treasure * was one of my most precious possessions.  Even before that, when Mama read a fairy tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , I was smitten by the magic world of books. For many years, I was a constant reader.  I would dive into books, often devouring one or two each week.  I visited the library every ten days or so, and a bookstore about once a month. * This blog is reader-supported, with NO ADS.  If you make a purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission. Something changed. Then COVID closed libraries and bookstores, and even when things opened again, my county chose to remodel the library, so it remained closed for over a year. However, the real knife to the heart of my reading habit was probably my smart phone.  For a long time, I resisted, but eventually scrolling and clicking trained me to get information in tiny, unre...

There may be more important things than a perfectly decluttered home or office.  We could do other things with our time.  Minimalism doesn't have to be repressive or anal, but it's possible to become a harridan about the tiniest stash of extras, and live a joyless life in a bare white cell. Yet I do love a clean and clutter-free home.  I thrive in one.   When the house is messy, I feel messy.  To me, cluttered houses feel dark and heavy, oppressive and depressing.  If I had to live in one, I'd want to get away as often as possible. It's true that some of us are more bothered by clutter than others.  I jokingly say that my son-in-law is "clutter blind," seemingly unaware of piles of papers and bunches of boxes.  And you should see my husband's classroom.  He's just starting to realize the big decluttering job he needs to do before his retirement in June. In the scope of a happy life, a messy desk or an overstuffed coat closet is a trivial thi...

Benjamin Franklin said it long ago.  The Poor Richard's Almanack of 1746 counseled "Dost thou love life?  Then do not squander Time, for that's the Stuff Life is made of."  That's right – almost 300 years ago, Franklin was pointing out how dangerous it is to use time unwisely. There truly is nothing new under the sun.  Most of us complain that we're too busy.  We want more time with loved ones.  We want more time for exercise, hobbies, even for work.  We want more time to travel, and more time to learn.  And we desperately want more time to sleep!  Yet we rarely make changes that will ease our time crunch.  We complain about our situations as we let the days, weeks, and years slip past. I make no claim to perfection in this area.  But I have worked at it, and tried to prioritize what I think is most important, instead of just trying to keep more balls in the air as my time-juggling becomes more frantic and out of control. Minimalis...