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, Pauline tells us how her minimalist lifestyle helped her pay off her debts and travel the world. Very inspirational! Check out her blog to see where she is now.
Pauline writes:
In 2010, I was a true packrat with lots of debts (about 20,000 USD). My apartment was full of everything. I had more clothes than I could wear, more kitchen utensils than I could use and books that I could read.
I was making good money in marketing but every day, I would go back home with something new. Something I thought I REALLY needed of course. And I was spending more than what I was earning. Going to restaurants, holidays far away, everything. But I had trouble sleeping. I would think about my bank account and feel desperate and sometimes I could feel my spine go cold because of fear and shame.
My brother, my mom and the bank were helping me pay my bills. I was very ashamed of myself.
Then, in August of that year, work was very low at the office (as it usually is in France in August). I was new in my company so couldn’t take the month off like my colleagues. So I went to work every day to just surf the internet.
I was thinking about my debts and the life I was living.
And I found some blogs, articles on downsizing, debt reduction (snowball method) and I decided that it was the moment to do it.
It took me 2 weeks to divide my possessions in three, and create a new routine. No more restaurants, no more purchases. I was living with the minimal. It felt great. I had a budget to stick to.
It took me 1 year to pay back everyone (incl the bank) and when it was done, I felt so free. A big burden off my shoulders.
But then, I decided to keep on saving money, not spending much and a new idea emerged: I wanted to do a World Tour. For 1 year. From different blogs, I knew I needed about 20,000 USD.
I was not in a big hurry though as I had my 2 cats and couldn’t leave them behind. One was 14 and the other 11. So I decided I would wait for them to cross the rainbow bridge before leaving.
They both died at the age of 18. My sweet Willow passed away on March 10th 2017 and the next day, I resigned and left work 4 months later (takes time in France).
But because they had a long happy spoiled life, my budget kept on growing!
I left France for this Tour on Oct 10th 2017 and I’m not supposed to come back before Xmas 2019!
And I could do it only because one day, I’ve had enough. It was not easy everyday though. Sometimes I would go back to my old habits and buy clothes or shoes. But reading blogs like this one always put me back on track.
My friends didn’t believe I would actually do it because I spoke about it for 7 years! But once it became very real, they were very jealous and telling me « how lucky I was » to be able to do this. I’m not lucky! I’ve worked for it! I’ve saved all I could. Sometimes they thought I was cheap because I would only drink one juice when they were having several cocktails, but I knew why I was doing it. I knew all the money I’d be saving would take me a little longer and further on my trip.
I still keep track of my budget on a daily basis but I’m not worried about the future anymore. I’m not a big spender now and I’ve realized how little things I really need.
I travel with a 45 l backpack and it contains all my belongings. I still think this is too much, but I can’t be more minimalist than this. I’m happy with 2 pants, 1 shorts, 5 t-shirts (I could probably reduce it to 3 but I’m tired of doing my laundry everyday), 1 hoodie, 1 rain jacket, 2 pairs of shoes (Birkenstock and Keen sandals), a smartphone (very useful with MAPS.ME and TrabeePocket to get around and my budget), a kindle, a computer, a camera and a few small items (head lights, insect repellant, UNO game etc). So far, I’ve been to India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, and I now volunteer in a dog Shelter in North Thailand.
When/if I come back, I want to live in the countryside, in a tiny house, knit and do pottery and permaculture. I want to become as self-sufficient as possible surrounded by cats and dogs and lead a happy simple life.
I only miss one thing from my past life though: my Pequena and Willow, my beautiful cats. But even if I came back, they would not be there, so there is no turning around.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or joining my email list.}
Pauline, I’m happy for you for getting out of debt and going on such an adventure! I think one of the benefits of a minimalist lifestyle is that it’s easier to stay on a budget. I’m sorry to hear about your two cats. (We have 5 cats, so I understand.) I visited your blog. You have such beautiful travel photos. Enjoy the rest of your travels!
What a great turnaround story! And I love that you waited until your cats passed away before changing your lifestyle. I have a dog who is 14 this year, and getting a little hard of hearing and eyesight not so good, but otherwise healthy and happy. I have been in my house 20 years and want to downsize to an apartment or condo (I’m in my 60’s), but I am waiting until she passes away, too. I do not want to disrupt her life. And in the meantime, I am slowly getting rid of things and planning what I will take with me, so when the time comes to move, I am ready! Happy travels to you, Pauline!
Thanks Jen.
Leaving my beloved cats behind has never been an option for me. I know some people did not understand my choice, but I’m so glad I kept my promise to P and W. It made me leave at 45 yo, which is very late for a world traveler, as all people I meet are usually max 30yo, but I’m probably wiser now too :)
You will probably get more out of your travel experiences because you are now
older and wiser. I hope to do more traveling after my dog passes, and after I downsize my living accommodations to something small, cheerful and easier to maintain. Getting older? The best is yet to be!
What can I say, Pauline, except — BRAVO!!!
Ah I love this story so much! I’m so glad you were able to pay off so much debt so quickly, relatively. And then to top it off, you’re touring the world! What an amazing thing. I love everything about this so much. I’d love to travel more too. You’re making me regret having just bought a house!
I own my appartment in Paris (well, 50/50 with the bank).
I just put it on rent when I left soit pays back the mortgage.
I will therefore always have a place to get back if needed. I don’t want to go back to Paris, but just in case, i’ll have it
I like how you said you had more than you could use, wear, or read. That hit home. With Miss Minimalist’s help and inspiring posts and books, I’ve minimized a lot over the last 5 or so years that I’ve been on this journey. However, recently, I had to move my business, so downsized. I thought I’d done so previously, but I got rid of half…again! Now I look at the rest of my life and see that I still have More than I can use, wear, or read. So, thank you, Pauline. You’ve inspired me!
PS Congratulations on your minimalist accomplishments and travel! Love to your cat angels!
Thanks you. I miss them every single day…
and good job on your downsizing. it is a long process, don’t give up!
This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. You sound like a lovely soul. THANK YOU for living your dream while also honoring that your cats are little lives to whom you committed for as long as they needed you – animals are not widgets to be disposed of when we get tired of them or they become inconvenient. It’s lovely that you gave your cats the life they deserved, and that in doing so, you got to save extra money to enable a long phase of travels. And I love your vision for life post-travels! It’s also amazing how little you need now. I’ve traveled around the world for 1 year, and for several trips of a few months each, and I’ve always just had a backpack, but never one as small as yours!
Thank you!
I love the line “I’m not lucky! I’ve worked for it!” A life of financial security is available to anyone who is willing to work for it. Congrats on living the life of your dreams. You worked hard for it!
Indeed. It is hard work 1nd people often mistake it for luck.
“I knew why I was doing it” – that is so key. I can also relate to what you said about your cats; I feel similarly about my dog. Thanks for sharing!
It has always been hard for me to spend money. I get most things free or secondhand. I give away what I don’t need. We retired when I was 53 and my husband was 55. Our youngest child was through college. Once in a while, I will buy a magazine new. Usually I get them free or from the library. My kids buy me gift cards for restaurants or movies.
In my life I’ve met many people who had maxed out their credit cards or went through bankruptcy for no good reason. When they asked for help, I would tell them to keep only 2 credit cards and only use them if they really had to. Then pay as much as they could each month until the bills are paid off. I have always paid my bills in full when they come. I also can walk through a store without buying anything. Two of my kids are like me and one does not understand how money works. But she still has retirement savings.
I have too much stuff now because my daughter moved in with us and friends moved and gave me stuff. Every day I fill a bag or two with stuff to recycle or give away. Good stuff goes to Goodwill or people who can use it. Some gets tossed in the recycling. Someone gave me a bunch of old cel phones. They went to a group that fixes them up for battered women. Good knitting and quilting supplies went to groups who do that. I want to get rid of 100 things every day in December.