I’ve noticed an interesting fact about simplifying advice on the Internet: the amount of material online about simple living can itself become overwhelming. It’s an irony not lost on me. I’ve been writing in this space for over 15 years. And during that time, I have seen countless other blogs and YouTube channels and social media accounts and podcasts and books and courses come and go. To be fair, I think it’s wonderful. The more people writing about simplicity the better in my book! That’s why I take time every other week (Weekends Reads) to highlight articles that I want to promote. Let’s k ..read more

Our relationship with money, undoubtedly, serves as one of the most defining relationships of our lives. Whether we hoard it, overspend it, worry about it, chase it, save it, or give it all away, the way we interact and think about money affects countless aspects of our lives. Some consider money as merely a tool. And that is true, money is a tool. But it is also much more than that. One must only look at the fact that 77% of people in the richest nation in the world remain anxious about their financial situation to see that money is treated differently in our mind and heart. And considering ..read more

“To live long is almost everyone’s wish, but to live well is the ambition of a few.” —John Hughes Think for a moment about the people who’ve left a positive, lasting impact on you. Some may have lived long lives, others short. But without a doubt, almost all of them lived well. Chances are, their lives were marked with characteristics you desire for your own. They were probably loving, selfless, warm, and a joy to be around. Maybe they were particularly gifted in a talent or skill—probably ones they worked hard to develop. These individuals remind us that the fullness of life isn’t found in t ..read more

Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show. The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. And I enjoy any opportunity to promote writing that encourages people to live more by owning less. I invite you to fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. Find a quiet moment this weekend. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today. Shannen Doherty, who has stage 4 cancer, says she’s selling her belongings to fund more quality time with her mom | Business Insider by Amanda Goh. This is a tragically sad story and I debated including it ..read more

Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography, “It is more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly.” All those who desire to live an honest life should consider the weight of those words. In fact, read them again if you skipped over them quickly. In its original context, Franklin was exhorting his readers to work industrially and live frugally. Because as he explained, it is “more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly.” It is true. Working hard and living frugally does provide a freedom to live a more virtuous life. Of course, one can work hard, live frugally, and still ..read more

Happy April 1st. It is true, there are a lot of really good reasons to minimize our possessions. For example, when we own less, we are able to focus more of our life on things that matter. Minimalism saves money, time, focus, and energy. Owning less means less stress and more freedom. And those are definitely wonderful things that everybody would benefit from! But that’s not to say that there aren’t also reasons to keep all the stuff we don’t need. In fact, here are 20 reasons to never ever part with an item you own: 1. It Was Expensive. Sure, keeping that item around your home makes you feel ..read more

It’s easy to miss out on the simple pleasures that surround us each day. This is because they become routine and ordinary. Oftentimes, it is the good things around every day that we are first to forget. We forget to be thankful for them, we forget to appreciate them, and we forget to find pleasure in them. But when we make an effort to focus on the simple pleasures around us each day, we become less inclined to chase happiness elsewhere. There is less need to go spend a lot of money on new possessions or fancy trips when we see happiness and joy everywhere we look. To that end, it might be he ..read more

There’s an old saying I think about quite a bit. It goes like this: “The trouble is, you think you have time.” The thought is one that routinely spurs me to action and helps me prioritize my life. Because it’s true. Our priorities often get misplaced specifically because we think we have more time than we actually do. It’s easy to forget the value of every day—especially in a world of constant distraction. What if we approached life each day fully committed to the reality that time is short? That nothing lasts forever? And tomorrow is promised to no one? For example, if you knew this was your ..read more

Living with less creates space for more: more time, more peace, and more joy. At the heart of minimalism is the realization that our possessions often distract us from meaning and happiness. Minimalism is about freeing ourselves from the weight of unnecessary possessions and experiencing the freedom that comes from living lightly. Every other week, I gather articles that inspire and motivate us to lead simpler lives. The goal is to equip everyone with the courage to let go and the determination to live with less.  So I encourage you to find a quiet moment this weekend with a hot cup of c ..read more

According to a recent survey, 71% of Americans identify money as a significant cause of stress in their lives. This is a very large number of us. In some ways, however, this number makes sense. Consider the stats and economic realities we are facing: Americans now carry a staggering $1.1 trillion in credit card debt. And we carry that record debt at a time when credit card interest rates have soared to all-time highs. Housing affordability hit a new low in 2023, leaving the dream of homeownership frustratingly out of reach for many—both young people and older. This is partly due to the fact ..read more