Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
This week, I’m pleased to feature Laura Beth, who explains how having fewer possessions brought freedom and financial stability to her life. Read more of her story on her blog.
Laura Beth writes:
Five years ago, I was a discontented divorced empty-nester, suddenly alone for the first time in decades. My life had been turned upside down, my finances were in disarray, and I was completely alone. I knew that I needed to make a change but I didn’t know how.
I had spent most of my adult life caring for a family and trying to create the perfect home environment while balancing a career, so I was not completely familiar with the concept of personal choice. I had gotten good at making decisions that seemed best for the family, but I wasn’t very good at making decisions for me. As a parent you make so many decisions for the benefit of the family, you almost forget about individuality.
But here I was all alone. For the first time in years, I had a choice in the way I wanted to live.
So I started reading. I read books and blogs about simple living, about minimalism, and about freedom.
I had recently moved from a 3-bedroom suburban home to a small 2-bedroom condo, but I was still holding on to all of the furniture, household items and memorabilia of the past, not to mention all of the things my kids had left behind when they moved out. Feeling overwhelmed and burdened by the weight of my own belongings – treasured material possessions we had accumulated over 23 years — I knew that it was time to make a change.
And so I did.
Over the next several weeks, I sold, donated or discarded most of my furniture, home decor, clothing, cookware, books, and anything else I could find that wasn’t immediately useful or adding joy to my life.
It wasn’t until after I had gotten rid of more than half of my material possessions that I began to realize how much they had weighed me down. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders. It was amazing how much lighter I felt! I had a sense of freedom I hadn’t known in years. And although I didn’t realize it then, it was the beginning of a healing journey and the path to a rich life. A rich life by owning less.
The intentional decision to live with fewer possessions led me to simplify other areas of my life and ultimately, to take control of my finances. Over the years, I’ve learned to be resourceful. And sometimes even frugal.
I appreciate the possessions that I have and when something is necessary, I buy it with cash. For years I have lived below my means and today I enjoy a debt-free life, with the exception of student loans. I’m far from wealthy, but my life is richer in every way.
Several years after making these changes in my life, I came across these words by the author and speaker, Joshua Becker:
“The simplest solution to almost every money problem is to “spend less.” In fact, it’s the first step in almost every financial program ever devised. Purposefully deciding to own fewer possessions is an important step in getting your financial house in order – and often times, it’s the only step you really need to take.”
Indeed, the decision to live with fewer material possessions was the catalyst for many positive changes, including getting my financial house in order.
Starting over and rebuilding my life has been a long and painful process. In fact, it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But out of the struggle came opportunity. Opportunities for change, personal growth, and financial stability that have enriched my life in many powerful ways. It’s a decision I will never regret.
Since then, my kids have moved in and out a couple of times, and I have maintained a simple and comfortable lifestyle.
Today I blog at How To Get Rich Slowly about my minimalist journey, financial stability and what I’ve learned along the way. I encourage you to experience a rich life by owning less.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
Thank you for sharing Laura. My husband and I recently downsized from a 3 story 6 bedroom house to a 960 sq. ft. 2 bedroom. I donated and sold so much and the more I was able to dispose of the better I felt. Right before we sold our big house we lost both of our mothers and had to empty out their houses. It was so overwhelming…….so much stuff! That started me on my path to minimalism. As far as getting our adult kids to take items they saved and left at the big house we boxed it all up and took it to their apartments or houses. It forced them to deal with it and took the burden off of us.
Excellent idea about bringing the adult kids’ stuff to them and leaving it with them. Years ago, when I was away at college, my parents and younger siblings moved out of state, so I took it upon myself to go retrieve all of my possessions from their house before they left. My thinking was that I wanted everything I owned to be in one state. Once I got it all to my apartment, I was able to see what I really wanted/needed, and was able to quickly discard the items that I had lived so easily without while away at college. It has always just been a good thing for me to keep all my stuff in one place, so that I can unclutter when it starts to accumulate. Plus, it prevents redundancy and buying duplicates:)
Hi Betsy,
I understand how difficult it is to downsize from a large home to a relatively small living space. But you’re right, it is definitely a freeing experience. You quickly realize that you didn’t need all that stuff! I am sorry to hear of your losing your parents. I know that must have been overwhelming.
Good for you handling your kid’s belongings. I wish you all the best in your minimalist journey!
Laura Beth, your story is an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I am off to check out your blog. It’s so great to connect with others who are in the same mindset. :)
Hi Stacy!
It gives me joy to know that my story inspired you. I think we’re on the same journey – a journey to find greater meaning in our lives while we let go of the excess and the things that don’t give us joy. I hope you find peace and happiness on your minimalist journey.
Thank you for sharing your story! Since I got rid of a lot of my possessions and only live with what I currently need and love, life has indeed been easier. I am also very frugal and try to not spend a bunch of money on something when I don’t need to. The Dollar Tree is my go-to place basically, lol. ;D I also like to organize, so every item in my room has a place and my room is not overly crowded with stuff except for my ever expanding Japanese comic book collection, lol. I will have to cull the collection down in the future to make room for new books, but that is no problem for me. As long as I have finished a series and I am raady to remove the series from the book case, I will. ^^
Hi Marissa!
It sounds like you’ve made some positive changes in your life to live intentionally. Organization is important and keeping our lives free of clutter is always a plus. Keep up the good work!
At some distant point, I would like to go smaller, but for now, a large 2 bedroom is great because we have out of town company several times a year. There are a number of things I could get rid of but not right now. Each week, we eliminate at least 1 big bag of stuff to give away and another big bag of recycling. We seldom buy anything new but clothing is always passed around the family.
Hey Tina,
We share a lot of clothes in my family too. Something I learned from growing up in a large family I guess. I wore a lot of hand-me-downs and never seemed to care too much about it then. If it’s in good condition and you no longer use the item, it’s better to give it to someone who needs it than put it in a landfill. Thanks for your comment!
Hello,
I am a minimalist at the core, but my wife likes to hoard stuff and doesnt like to give up any item no matter how invaluable it might be. Be it our kids toys, clothing or other home goods that we havent beenuding in a long time. I try to convince her but cannot get the point across. Can anyone help me with tips how to get my point across. I have always beleived less is more.
I have hoarder relatives. It is a different mindset. You can only say things like if you buy one new shirt, you will have to get rid of two old shirts. My mother is still trying to hoard in a nursing home. She can’t find things because she keeps garbage and old papers.
When my mom died, we found she had hidden garbage in the nursing home. They cleaned and she found new places for her used tea bags and empty sugar packets. We found the stale cookies she had hidden in her slippers. Yecch.
I just read a book about Swedish Death Cleaning. I have recycled so much paper. I gave away two big bags of clothes and storage items just today. I know people who save stained sheets and towels–not just one for an emergency but lots of them. There are people with stacks of papers and magazines.