Hello Everybody,
Let’s try something different today and have a little bit of fun.
This past weekend, Becoming Minimalist reached a significant milestone I wanted to share with you.
We officially surpassed 100,000 email subscribers!
That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment worthy of celebration. It means more and more people are being introduced to the life-giving benefits of owning less. And it means our community and our movement continue to grow in significant ways.
Asking people to subscribe via email to receive updates from Becoming Minimalist has never been a huge priority for me. But recently, I’ve begun to change my thinking about that. For starters, there are many readers who appreciate the convenience of receiving an email whenever we publish new posts. I want to make sure readers know that is an option if that’s what they prefer.
Additionally, and equally important, I have just created a 10-day “getting started with minimalism” email sequence to people who subscribe. The sequence includes a PDF copy of my best-selling book, Simplify, as well as first steps people can take on their minimalism journey. It serves as a helpful touchpoint for people who discover the blog, find themselves interested in minimalism, and are ready to start owning less and living more.
If you would like to join the ever-growing email list to receive the free book and email sequence, click here.
For those who have already joined, all 100,000 of you, thank you for being a part of this encouraging community and providing opportunity for this celebratory post.
I’d like to offer a special thank you to everyone who reads Becoming Minimalist. Every month, we welcome over one million unique readers and our Facebook community has now grown to 800,000. These numbers are a credit to each of you who have so generously shared this blog and its articles with friends and family.
Thank you, thank you for supporting Becoming Minimalist and helping to share the inspiration!
To celebrate, I’m giving away 7 book bundles specifically to this community.
**UPDATE: This contest has concluded and winners have been notified. You can find a list of winners at the bottom of this post.
Each prize bundle contains:
- An autographed, hardcover edition of The More of Less.
- An autographed, paperback edition of Clutterfree with Kids.
- One free registration to our upcoming Uncluttered Course ($89 value) beginning on September 5th.
The prize is open to all readers from around the world—we’ll ship the books anywhere for free.
To register for the drawing, leave a comment below.
In the comment, tell us where you are from and which Becoming Minimalist post you remember reading first (or how you were first introduced to this site).
*I know some of you have been reading for many years and do not recall your first introduction, that’s okay, just do your best.
On Friday morning, we will use an online Random Number Generator to select the winners and begin contacting them via email. I will also announce the winners on this post.
Thanks again for being part of the Becoming Minimalist community and making my work so enjoyable. I am more grateful than you realize and I look forward to the comments below and subsequent interaction.
Here are the seven winners of the prize bundle: Jason R. (Houston, TX); Jen F. (California); Alex (Buffalo, NY); Tara P. (Sunshine Coast, Australia); Dana B. (Unknown); Selina C. (United Kingdom); Christie C. (Black Hills, SD). Each of the winners have been contacted via email to redeem their prize.
On a personal note, I am blown away by the stories that have been left in these comments. I have read as many as possible.
There are stories from readers who have been following this blog from the very beginning and stories of people who just found it last week. There are stories of people finding us through Facebook, through guest posts, through mentions in the media, through conversations with friends, through Netflix, through Google, and countless people who couldn’t remember exactly how they found it. It has been incredibly encouraging to me to read these stories from all over the world.
Thanks for being part of the conversation.
About Joshua Becker
The first blog I read was on Facebook. It was shared by a friend. It was all about slowing down to enjoy what is around you. It really struck a chord with me, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
Hi everyone,
I’m Zoë Scott from Sydney, Australia. I’ve been following Joshua for a few years now. I’ve done the uncluttered course twice. I love the advice about establishing routines – very helpful.
My favourite part of becoming minimalist is the weekend reads.
Thanks for sharing your vision with us and curating such a wonderful Facebook community
Hi! Susanne Shultz from Boulder, Mt. First article read was within the last few months, one written by Joshua Becker. I am encouraged. Thank you!
Wanting to de-stress my life I did a google search and came across one of your articles on downsizing. I’m so happy I did
Thank you so much for all of the great posts with practical information!!
I think that I came across your blog through a friend on Facebook. I now follow you regularly and I have my notifications set so that you are at the top of my Facebook feed! Thank you for your work, information, and inspiration!
Oh, and I’m from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!
I’m Toni from Minnesota! I’ve been following for a while now, but one of the posts that comes to mind is the one about creative ways to declutter your home. Love your content so much! Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
I’m a long time reader! Been subscribed for a long time. My introduction was probably 6 or 7 years ago. Crazy! From northern AZ.
Hi I’m Debbie and I live on the edge of the Peak District National Park in England. I’ve been following your posts for years and it’s quite difficult to remember the first post I read. I do remember the first one I acted on though which was one giving a list of reasons why you didn’t need a tv in the bedroom. I removed it and we’ve never put it back.
Great post 😁
Shout-out from Malaysia!
I first came across becomingminimalist when I was searching for top great blogs. And that was the first time I heard about ‘minimalist lifestyle’!
Couldn’t recall which article was the first, but I remember the story from ‘about’ page that says something like “you don’t need all this stuff.”
I was introduce to minimalism thanks to a documentary about this, that is where a found this place, and the first article I read was about kids and minimalism, I have two now, and I’m always trying to be a better person for them cause they will be grownups some day and I want to leave something good.
Constantine, MI. A friend of mine started sharing your facebook posts, and I liked your page. I had already begun purging due to emotional cleansing, and your posts have really helped keep me inpsired and have given me great ideas!
Saw a link on facebook and have been working on simplifying my life and my families life thru this great process also reducing the chaos on our life by reducing stress and looking forward to financial freedom one day.
Started pursuing minimalism six months ago. Still a long road ahead. Who knew that along this path would be someone uniting minimalism plus writing (also part of my pursuits). Thank you Jeff Goins for introducing Joshua Becker to your community with his guest blog “How Minimalism Made Me a Writer.” Thank you Joshua Becker for the insight and inspiration I know I will receive from you starting today.
Fellow New Englander here! Ive been reading since the beginning. My mother has multiple houses of stuff, leaving there i would feel so overwhelmed I would spend my travel time home surfing the internet for inspiration LOL!
Forgot to add – live in Maryland now but my heart will always be in Texas.
I just discovered your wonderful fb page this am via a friend’s post! I am so excited as I am at a downsizing point in life and my possessions definitely have begun to own me. Why, oh why, do I have soooo much stuff??? I’ve been absorbing your words like a drowning crazy woman for most of the last hour. I feel hopeful already. Ty very much for the joy.
I would love the bundle. I’ve enjoyed your articles over the past few years & it has helped me declutter.
Esther Roberts from Knoxville, TN. First read your FB page and blog a few weeks ago. The first article I read was on downsizing your home. Really made me THINK about what I “NEED” versus what I “HAVE.” Would love to read your books. Thanks much.
I first discovered your FB page and blog just a few weeks ago. The post I remember was about downsizing one’s home to a smaller square footage. I’ve enjoyed reading your daily posts since that time, and would very much enjoy reading your books.
So thankful for the opportunity to change my life to minimilism. I am excited to get started
For Montana, I have read so many, I don’t remember which one I read first, lol.
In April I found out I had a burn out. Not long after that one of my friends, who also had a burn out a few years ago, advised me to start minimalizing. I got enthusiastic about it and immediately wanted to know more about the minimalistic way of life. The first thing that popped up in Google was this website! It’s amazing what minimalism does to a human being. I can truly say it helps me overcome my burn out! Still recovering, but making progress!
I’m from the Netherlands :)
I don’t remember the first post I read in here. But I do remember how I first heard about you. I was attending MomCon a couple years ago in Indianapolis and my good friend who was with me attended your workshop and told me all about it afterwards. Not long after I started following your posts on Facebook.
Omaha Nebraska here, not sure what post got me hooked, but I have watched some shows about tiny house living, some organizing books and your emails. Being an empty nester with an extra room full of clutter, I felt trapped. So I believe it was watching a show or reading something along the way that said “Collect experiences not things”. I would rather spend my money on creating wonderful memories than having new jewelry or a new house Etc.
I’m so excited to have found this site!!!
For years I have been struggling under stuff. A co-worker told me about The More of Less and now I am working toward freedom. I tell everyone I know about minimalism because I am just so excited to make sense of my actions and what I really need in my life.
I’m from Australia- my cousin subtlety tagged me in your Facebook posts constantly until I subscribed! Changed my life!
I’m from South Carolina. I saw a post and Link on another site and followed it. I really like the simple memes and articles for gentle encouragement.
I always enjoy your articles and would love to rread your books.
Thank you for the opportunity. ..if I win when done I willl pass them on to a friend who is interested in learning about becoming a minimalist.
Facebook about 2 months ago. Recently sold our home and am downsizing. Reading your posts help keep me on track to reach my goal!
From SE Pennsylvania. First saw your page after the minimalists recommended it I think. So glad they did.
Busy mama of three wants to simplify, organize and bring peace to the chaos!
I have been following your blog for years now. The post that caught my attention and then landed a bookmark on my desktop was 15 ways any family can become clutter free (or at least I think that was the title). Congratulations on all you have accomplished over the years! You are an inspiration to say the least.
I found you on Facebook because one of my friends liked your page. Thus, was the start of me looking forward to seeing your posts in my feed.
I’m from Norther New Hampshire!
My name is Pam Wolfe and I’m from Silver Spring Maryland in the USA. I first saw a post from Becoming Minimalist on a Facebook page I belong to. Thanks for all the Indianapolis posts and I enjoy Simply magazine very much.
From Melbourne, Australia. Your 7 tips to minimising the kitchen from this week popped up in my fb feed via a “mum” page I follow. I’m going through MY mum’s stuff right now and have been reading a lot about minimalism for inspiration as I go. Thanks, I will continue to follow
Thank you for this life changing community!
I’m from New York. I found this site through another online forum. I also recently started following your facebook page.
I’m from St Augustine, FL. I’m not sure which article I read first, but I found you through Raleigh Green Gables and Project 333. The learning curve is a gentle one and I appreciate the thought processes you introduce. Though I found you on FB, I appreciate you having email. I am now at the stage of simplifying my digital life.
Last year, I met someone in a training class at work who talked about how he was simplifying his life to focus on his true priorities. He said what I felt. So I introduced myself during a break. It turns out what he was doing and what I was wanting was called minimalism. I immediately researched the idea and found you. What a difference you have made in the lives of my family. Thank you!
Hi I first found out about your book on Facebook I have an interest in making life simpler and easy, Thank You 😊
Rick from Bristow VA. Started with “10 Reasons to Escape Excessive Consumerism”
hello, im always following your page and shared the advocacy to my friends and newly met.. thanks
I’m not sure how I happened upon you on Facebook, but it is one of the only pages I read daily! From Portland, Oregon. 😊
I’m just embarking on this journey. I have a long commute and very limited free time, but my goal is to downsize to an appropriately-sized home within a year! Thank you for your continuous inspiration!
Hi Josh,
The first post I read was about your cleaning the garage while your son wanted to play. I’ve been following the site for at least a couple of years and never fail to gain so much simple wisdom, inspiration and motivation. I’ve also used the Kondo method but this is my go-to place to remember what’s important in life. It’s not stuff.
I’m from Berkeley, CA.
Hi, I’m from the uk and I’m a recent finder of your blog and was introduced by a friend after watching a documentary and discussing the topic with her, I’m enjoying reading past blogs and looking forward to further decluttering my home.
Thanks for the drawing for the book bundles.
Hola, me llamo Emmanuel, soy de México, tengo algunos años de conocer su sitio web, y de leer cada entrada que publica, he leído varias veces el como descubrió usted el minimalismo en aquel día mientras trabajaba en su jardín, mientras su hijo jugaba solo, como con aquella conversación que tuvo con su vecino dió comienzo a este maravilloso sitio que ha hecho de mi vida y seguramente de muchísimas más algo mejor, le agradezco su exelente trabajo y me disculpo por no escribir en inglés, yo hablo español solamente y leo sus artículos mediante el traductor de Google, gracias mil.
Posdata
Con poder seguir leyendo en su sitio estoy feliz.
Hello Joshua,
I am from Germany and found your site as I was searching for Minimalism. I have first watched an documentary about the topic and wanted to learn more. That was about a week ago. Since than, I have probably read 20 articles on your blog. I really love how you share those great tips – that is so inspiring! As I am new to minimalism and just starting with the hard task of throwing things out, I would love to have one of your book bundles as further help!
xox Katharina