There’s more to life than buying stuff.
There are many wonderful people pursuing and promoting simplicity. Fortunately, some of them are gifted in communication and choose to encourage and inspire us with their words. I enjoy reading their unique perspective. I’m sure you will too.
So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea on this beautiful weekend. Find a quiet moment. And enjoy some encouraging words about finding more simplicity in your life today.
Extreme Frugality Allowed Me to Regain Control of My Life | The Guardian by Elizabeth Willard Thames. Elizabeth Willard Thames abandoned a successful career in the city and embraced frugality to create a more meaningful life. Here’s her story.
Are Home Renovations Necessary? | Curbed by Kate Wanger. Renovations have become a national pastime, but there is nothing wrong with your house.
The Case For Minimalism | Forbes by Joshua Becker. Owning less offered escape from the clutter in my home. But more than that, it offered escape from the clutter in my life. It reintroduced intentionality and alignment. And it offered the very ideals my heart most desperately desired.
The Pursuit Of Status: How To Avoid Chasing The Wrong Things | Medium by Louis Chew. One seemingly innocent purchase can lead to many bad decisions.
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Simplify Magazine: The Declutter Issue. Last summer, I launched an online magazine called Simplify Magazine. Each issue recruits experts to contribute long-form articles addressing one specific topic. On March 01, we released an issue of the magazine focused entirely on decluttering your home and life. If you enjoy these weekend reads inspiring simplicity, I’d also recommend this particular issue. Find out more here.
Monica Howarth says
When my husband and I decided to move interstate, I knew we’re in for a clean up and decluttering. Thankfully I’m a converted minimalist because of your articles. I didn’t have to get rid of a lot because during the year, I gave away and donated my stuff mainly clothes, shoes and accessories. The big job to declutter was my husband’s! But thankfully he agreed to give away a lot of his stuff to charities. Our house is now empty except for the basics. We’ve been living very simply and with very little and I love it. Our house is now on the market and we are moving into a 1 bedroom unit. My daughters are also minimalists now because even when they were young, they’ve seen me give away their used toys, clothing and accessories. Thank you for your articles. They encourage me a lot. Bless you, Josh
Ula Archer says
The article about home renovations – thanks! It’s an important subject, another area where marketers try to tell us that we (or our homes) are not enough or just not trendy.
joshua becker says
I couldn’t feel more strongly about that article. It has put words to many years of thoughts for me.
Abbie says
Thank you, Joshua, for yet another list of reads to inspire, affirm and challenge those of us on this journey towards our best life!
Issa says
Respectfully, I have many concerns regarding the extreme frugality story of Elizabeth Willard Thames. She has been on the public radio station here and has had some media coverage because she just had a book published. She doesn’t provide numbers. Those that she does provide don’t add up. She supposedly went from using cardboard for furniture to owning two homes ( one in one of the most expensive cities in USA ), having a child, buying farm equipment and “retiring” in a span of about 4-5 years at 29. This can’t be done through extreme frugality unless when one earns over $300K a year. After taxes ( real estate, income ) it just doesn’t add up. The mortgage they have on their Cambridge home plus real estate taxes adds up to more than what they claim to receive in rent. Yet the claim the opposite.
The overarching theme is great but I fear this example is not accurate. The reader above who is doing it in their fifties is realistic. As one financial planner who reviewed the book said, the concepts are fine but one shouldn’t take her story to heart when she is unwilling to provide any hard numbers. Thank you.
Abbie says
They do have a blog with numbers every month. Frugalwoods.
Issa says
Thanks for your response. I went back to there site to make sure I wasn’t missing something. They list want they spend but they do very little regarding net income or net worth. I just don’t see how the numbers added up and so quickly. A few book reviewers has pointed out the same thing : there are actually very few numbers. In the end, she has good ideas …..I just think the expectations based on what she is saying need to be measured. Peace
About Creativity says
Very good.
Shari says
The article “Are Home Renovations Necessary?” really struck a cord with me. It seems that remodeling to the latest trend is now a status symbol. I’ve never really been a trend follower but there are times I look at my “outdated” kitchen and dream of the white farmhouse look that is all the rage right now. Through the decluttering process I have discovered that as long as my house is clean and clutter free I am pretty content.
TimothyB says
Indeed, I think how nice it would be to see more shows on TV dedicated to decluttering, instead of throwing money into buying a bigger house, or remodeling someone’s house because they’re bored with what they have, instead of being content.
I miss “Clean Sweep” from the early 2000’s
Sue Ahl says
New to minimalist thinking and find it very freeing. Thanking Josh. It is time.
joshua becker says
You’ll love owning less.
Katie says
Thank you, as always for these. I finished your book “Minimalism” this morning and have just bought “All that remains”. I am also subscribed to your quarterly magazine – thanks for the continued inspiration!
Timothy B says
Hi Katie, I think you might be confusing Joshua with “The Minimalists” who wrote the two books you mentioned. Like Joshua Becker, they are gifted writers (I recently finished “Everything That Remains”, and it was great).
Josh Becker has written “Simplify” (I have it), “Clutter Free With Kids”, and “The More of Less”.
Timothy B says
Re-reading my post above, I also want to stress that Joshua Becker is also a wonderfully gifted writer. After discovering Becoming Minimalist, I went back to the first posts and followed his family’s journey, and have found it so inspiring.
joshua becker says
Yup, thanks for the clarification Timothy. You are correct about the books and their authors.
Betsy says
Definitely going to be reading these this weekend.
FrannyandDanny says
Extreme frugality is allowing me to retire at fifty in a little over three years! Yay!
Karen says
Would love to hear how you are minimalizing and frugal.