Minimalist Living

Finding happiness through living a more minimal lifestyle.

8 Important Lessons from Cait Flanders in The Year of Less

More was never the answer. The answer, it turned out, was always less.

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After a long wait list at the library, I finally had the chance to read The Year of Less. I first came across Cait Flanders on my original journey into minimalism. Her name seemed to pop up everywhere whether I was searching for articles on personal finance, minimalism, or intentional living. I ended up on her blog and I was … Continue reading...

Can a Frugal Minimalist Enjoy Disney?

C saw Mickey dancing by himself and asked if he could join

First, a disclaimer: We only took this vacation because my parents were incredibly eager to see their grandkids experience Disney. They paid for almost the entire trip. We, as a family, are very fortunate to have all of the things we do and to be able to experience trips like this. Thanks, Mom and Dad! We probably would have taken our kids eventually, … Continue reading...

17 Experiences to Give Kids Instead of Toys

B’s Birthday

Our youngest son, B, is about to turn four years old. He is pretty excited for his
“Blaze and the Monster Machines” themed birthday party, let me tell ya. But what is he really excited for? He hasn’t mentioned anything about getting toys or gifts. B is really excited to have all of his friends with him to celebrate and he is excited to run around and have some fun. Like most kids, … Continue reading...

7 Signs That You Might Be Yo-Yo Parenting

  • Are your weeknights and weekends busier than your weekdays?
  • Do you often feel like more of a chauffeur than a parent?
  • Do you secretly get excited when it’s raining so your child’s practice or game will be canceled?
  • Is it hard to remember the last time your whole family sat down to dinner together on consecutive nights?
  • Do you have more miles on your car from going up and down Main Street than from the
Continue reading...

I Went Back to a Flip Phone – Here’s Why

Smartphones: The Ultimate Time-Snatcher

Recently, research has shown that the average American spends 2 hours and 51 minutes on their smartphones each day. This translates to about 20 hours a week, 86 hours a month, and a whopping 1026 hours a year. And this is one of the more conservative estimates I have found! Some estimates have users spending over four hours a day on their smartphones! Is there another option? Could we be … Continue reading...