I loved this Tara, thanks for participating in the book club and for your insightful contribution. As someone who grew up in communism, I know that we do need way less than we think.
Thanks for sharing this Tara. I found something similar after having moved several times. Each move my wife and I have downsized more and more. Nowadays, I think carefully before I make a purchase on something other than food. It's a liberating feeling though and somewhat hard to explain.
I completely understand about moving. It's one reason I wanted to live on a sailboat. I never felt at home renting because you can't do anything--you can't fix stuff because of liability, you can't paint the walls, you can't have a pet, I was always stressed about getting my deposit back, and the threat of having to move is always looming either from the landlords or job market or rent increases... and when you do move, you're struggling with "is it worth it to keep X items and pay for a truck or should I get rid of everything and have to buy it all over again??" It's almost like a conspiracy to force you to buy the same crap over and over, LOL. Anyway, I've lived a variety of minimalist lifestyles since then and it is really freeing.
I think it can be hard to describe for the American perspective because we often think of freedom as "freedom to" instead of "freedom from." Simple living is certainly a freedom from landlords, moving logistics, consumerism, etc.; and being free from those things often frees up a little more money to allow the freedom to do other things. I once told a friend who was sad about not having money to travel that "all that stuff in your home used to be cash." Changed the perspective rapidly.
This is so true: "all that stuff in your home used to be cash." and a great way of looking at purchases, past and potential future. Thanks for sharing that, Tara.
I loved this Tara, thanks for participating in the book club and for your insightful contribution. As someone who grew up in communism, I know that we do need way less than we think.
Thanks for hosting the book club! 💖 Glad you like my post.
Thanks for sharing this Tara. I found something similar after having moved several times. Each move my wife and I have downsized more and more. Nowadays, I think carefully before I make a purchase on something other than food. It's a liberating feeling though and somewhat hard to explain.
I completely understand about moving. It's one reason I wanted to live on a sailboat. I never felt at home renting because you can't do anything--you can't fix stuff because of liability, you can't paint the walls, you can't have a pet, I was always stressed about getting my deposit back, and the threat of having to move is always looming either from the landlords or job market or rent increases... and when you do move, you're struggling with "is it worth it to keep X items and pay for a truck or should I get rid of everything and have to buy it all over again??" It's almost like a conspiracy to force you to buy the same crap over and over, LOL. Anyway, I've lived a variety of minimalist lifestyles since then and it is really freeing.
I think it can be hard to describe for the American perspective because we often think of freedom as "freedom to" instead of "freedom from." Simple living is certainly a freedom from landlords, moving logistics, consumerism, etc.; and being free from those things often frees up a little more money to allow the freedom to do other things. I once told a friend who was sad about not having money to travel that "all that stuff in your home used to be cash." Changed the perspective rapidly.
This is so true: "all that stuff in your home used to be cash." and a great way of looking at purchases, past and potential future. Thanks for sharing that, Tara.