What a lovely post, Claudia! We, too, live a very simple life. We don't have running water or an indoor toilet in our traditional wooden home in Romania, built in 1938. We don't have WiFi, not because we can't, but because we intentionally asked the installers to turn it off, so we use wired internet. We didn't choose this for some traditionalist reason, but because it did not make us feel good - I used to have a headache, dizziness and stomach aches, because I sat a lot by the router. We do not own a car either.
Some of these things make life "harder", but I really can't imagine my life being much "easier" if I had all modern amenities, at any rate, however, it definitely would not make my life better. I'm so happy to hear how other people live their lives in an awesomely simple way!
Thank you, Csermely! 😊 So interesting to read about how other people live a simpler life, what they choose to simplify, what works for them. It can come in so many different forms and ways for different people, and I think it's important to see that this is fine and that it's essential to decide what it is you yourself need and want to do, not what others think you should do or how living simply has to look like. Thank you for sharing!! 🌿
I love this Claudia and the main reason we sold our house, cars, caravan etc to live on a narrow boat was to live a simpler life. We've now bought a van conversion motorhome, not to have another possession, but so we can travel to places we can't get to on the boat. As we live on either one all the time, we spend most of our time outside and we tend to walk everywhere when we can. We do spend quite a bit on food, but only because we want to eat healthily and have the odd glass of good wine. We rarely eat out too, so although we seem to spend a lot on food, it's nothing compared to what we'd spend if we were going out every week. Enjoy your simple life 💐 😊 Karen
Thank you very much, Karen! 😊 I enjoy reading about other people's decisions, reasons and ways to live a simpler life, what it means to them and what they choose to simplify. It's inspiring and it shows the many ways it can be done, it's very personal and subjective, and always interesting. I agree on spending quite a bit on food, that's what we do too for the same reason. I think it's all about being intentional, not just saving for the sake of saving. I like the certain freedom it offers. ☺️ Enjoy your simple life too! 🌻
This is wonderful and very timely because I am trying to declutter. I am the opposite and have a habit of buying a lot of “stuff”, usually if I’m feeling a bit low or overwhelmed. It’s a habit I am trying very hard to break and you are very inspiring! ☺️ x
Oh, thank you, Victoria! ☺️ I'm glad you found it inspiring and not too radical, harsh and off-putting. 😄 I've not always been such a minimalist, that developed over time and it started with decluttering here and there. Moving several times also helped. 😉 As pressure is such a big issue for me, I've realised over time how good this mindset change has done me in several aspects, it helped me to be less overwhelmed or to feel better. So, funnily enough, if I would feel overwhelmed now, I declutter a shelf or a cupboard, it focuses my attention and helps me to feel more in control. Plus the financial aspect was also a big one for me. That's not to say that I don't like beautiful things or pleasing aesthetics and I'm definitely not against buying something that makes you happy. 🥰 Also I think it's different for everyone, there are so many ways and aspects. Find something that works for you and makes you feel better, small steps. 😊
Although I still think I have a lot of stuff (and I'm struggling decluttering), I am not really a buyer either. And it seems like buying something then also becomes more and more difficult. Because it doesn't add anything, because you don't really need it, because you have a good alternative....
Yes!! This deeply resonates. In the end, not needing all the fancy stuff brings so much peace, and we'd be a much more sustainable society if everyone realised that.
It's amazing that you got those old black bikes! It's so lovely when our items have a story.
I can relate to the issue with fabrics... When I was younger I bought *many* items of clothing that looked nice when I tried them on, but that I basically couldn't wear because the fabric stressed me out. I can still not always tell immediately which fabrics will be fine and which ones won't! So, it truly is the best solution to just take good care of old things that I know feel comfortable.
I haven't bought a ceiling lamp in my life! Glad I'm not the only one who thinks just light bulbs are completely fine!
Thank you, Hannah! I'm glad my post resonated with you. :)
So true, I enjoy it when items have a story. (A personal one, not in an antique kind of way, haha!)
Ha, funny, now that I dared to admit that we have just light bulbs, others have secretly told me that's all they have too. Turned out I just didn't know the right people. ;-)
Yes 🙌 we don't need all the stuff that society is telling us we need. And replacing furniture and other things just because it's not in fashion anymore. Crazy! We're very much the same and I think it reduces stress so much not always having to think about buying new stuff.
What a lovely post, Claudia! We, too, live a very simple life. We don't have running water or an indoor toilet in our traditional wooden home in Romania, built in 1938. We don't have WiFi, not because we can't, but because we intentionally asked the installers to turn it off, so we use wired internet. We didn't choose this for some traditionalist reason, but because it did not make us feel good - I used to have a headache, dizziness and stomach aches, because I sat a lot by the router. We do not own a car either.
Some of these things make life "harder", but I really can't imagine my life being much "easier" if I had all modern amenities, at any rate, however, it definitely would not make my life better. I'm so happy to hear how other people live their lives in an awesomely simple way!
Thank you, Csermely! 😊 So interesting to read about how other people live a simpler life, what they choose to simplify, what works for them. It can come in so many different forms and ways for different people, and I think it's important to see that this is fine and that it's essential to decide what it is you yourself need and want to do, not what others think you should do or how living simply has to look like. Thank you for sharing!! 🌿
I love this Claudia and the main reason we sold our house, cars, caravan etc to live on a narrow boat was to live a simpler life. We've now bought a van conversion motorhome, not to have another possession, but so we can travel to places we can't get to on the boat. As we live on either one all the time, we spend most of our time outside and we tend to walk everywhere when we can. We do spend quite a bit on food, but only because we want to eat healthily and have the odd glass of good wine. We rarely eat out too, so although we seem to spend a lot on food, it's nothing compared to what we'd spend if we were going out every week. Enjoy your simple life 💐 😊 Karen
Thank you very much, Karen! 😊 I enjoy reading about other people's decisions, reasons and ways to live a simpler life, what it means to them and what they choose to simplify. It's inspiring and it shows the many ways it can be done, it's very personal and subjective, and always interesting. I agree on spending quite a bit on food, that's what we do too for the same reason. I think it's all about being intentional, not just saving for the sake of saving. I like the certain freedom it offers. ☺️ Enjoy your simple life too! 🌻
This is wonderful and very timely because I am trying to declutter. I am the opposite and have a habit of buying a lot of “stuff”, usually if I’m feeling a bit low or overwhelmed. It’s a habit I am trying very hard to break and you are very inspiring! ☺️ x
Oh, thank you, Victoria! ☺️ I'm glad you found it inspiring and not too radical, harsh and off-putting. 😄 I've not always been such a minimalist, that developed over time and it started with decluttering here and there. Moving several times also helped. 😉 As pressure is such a big issue for me, I've realised over time how good this mindset change has done me in several aspects, it helped me to be less overwhelmed or to feel better. So, funnily enough, if I would feel overwhelmed now, I declutter a shelf or a cupboard, it focuses my attention and helps me to feel more in control. Plus the financial aspect was also a big one for me. That's not to say that I don't like beautiful things or pleasing aesthetics and I'm definitely not against buying something that makes you happy. 🥰 Also I think it's different for everyone, there are so many ways and aspects. Find something that works for you and makes you feel better, small steps. 😊
I enjoyed reading this Claudia thank you 🌱
Thank you, Clare, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I thought it's time to write a little more about my take on slow and simple living. Thanks for reading! 😊
Although I still think I have a lot of stuff (and I'm struggling decluttering), I am not really a buyer either. And it seems like buying something then also becomes more and more difficult. Because it doesn't add anything, because you don't really need it, because you have a good alternative....
Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts, Hilda! 😊 Interesting, yes, I find that to be true indeed!
Yes!! This deeply resonates. In the end, not needing all the fancy stuff brings so much peace, and we'd be a much more sustainable society if everyone realised that.
It's amazing that you got those old black bikes! It's so lovely when our items have a story.
I can relate to the issue with fabrics... When I was younger I bought *many* items of clothing that looked nice when I tried them on, but that I basically couldn't wear because the fabric stressed me out. I can still not always tell immediately which fabrics will be fine and which ones won't! So, it truly is the best solution to just take good care of old things that I know feel comfortable.
I haven't bought a ceiling lamp in my life! Glad I'm not the only one who thinks just light bulbs are completely fine!
Thank you, Hannah! I'm glad my post resonated with you. :)
So true, I enjoy it when items have a story. (A personal one, not in an antique kind of way, haha!)
Ha, funny, now that I dared to admit that we have just light bulbs, others have secretly told me that's all they have too. Turned out I just didn't know the right people. ;-)
Yes 🙌 we don't need all the stuff that society is telling us we need. And replacing furniture and other things just because it's not in fashion anymore. Crazy! We're very much the same and I think it reduces stress so much not always having to think about buying new stuff.
So good to meet people who agree on that. 😊 And I absolutely agree, it reduces stress so much.
I'd love to reduce and downsize more, though. Still thinking about how to make tiny house living work here ... 😇
Oh I love this. We live in such a throw away culture.
And particularly how people like to make comments on things in your own home.... 95% of our furniture is what family no longer wanted.
Like you, we make do and are happy with all we have.
Thanks, Hayley, so good to hear from a like-minded person!!