Living with less has been a way of life for centuries. But the benefits of living a better life with less have never been more obvious. So in a society where consumption is king, it’s good to look back to a simpler time where living with less was the norm.
Here are five tricks to try.
Focus On Quality
Quality over quantity: you’ve heard it before, but it’s not something many people practice. They do a quick Google search, find the cheapest item, add it to the cart, and move on with their lives. That’s a surefire way to become overrun with objects that don’t serve you, don’t work very well, or both.
If you’re going to spend, you might as well make sure what you’re buying is worth it. Spending extra to ensure quality is thrifty, because you’re less likely to replace it (or just outright not use it). No, more expensive things aren’t always better. But paying more attention to quality means you’re considering the long-term expenses, too.
Embrace the Simpler Things in Life
Here’s another consideration when you’re shopping: Do you even need or care about what you’re buying? Too many people complicate their lives with “stuff.” “Stuff” is things like impulse purchases or costly objects that serve no specific purpose. So why not embrace the simple side of life and start saying no to yourself?
That’s easier said than done. But what does make it easy is adopting gratitude for life’s simpler pleasures. This could be everything from a walk with a friend to cuddling up with your pet after a long day at work. Be grateful for what you already have, acknowledge the joys in the “mundane,” and you’ll realize that stuff doesn’t do much other than take up precious space. And speaking of…
Declutter Your Space
You can’t start living better with less until you have less. So now’s the time to tap into Marie Kondo energy and say goodbye to anything that no longer serves you. Categorize things clearly; put things into piles like “sell,” “donate,” and “throw away.”
Keep the items in that last category to a minimum. You’re better off making a buck off what you’re letting go of whenever possible. Still, decluttering things you don’t need is an excellent place to start, and a task you should take on every few months or years.
Feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Join the 30 Bags in 30 Days Declutter Challenge and take the first step toward a more organized home! This free printable makes it easy to stay on track with one simple goal each day—no stress, just steady progress. Download it now and start clearing space for what truly matters.
Create a Realistic Budget
There’s a lot of ethereal wording around “living better with less.” But it also comes down to brass tax: you have to spend less without sucking all the fun out of life. This means if you aren’t already budgeting, start. And if you are budgeting, check everything again.
Create a new budget that aligns more with wanting to live better with less. Move some of your discretionary spending to pay off credit cards or savings. Whatever you do, just make sure it’s within your means; there’s no point in perfectionistic thinking only to let yourself down, so the budget needs to be attainable.
Start Small
Overhauling your life is overwhelming, even if the changes benefit you. Starting small is the best way to make sure a habit sticks. It’s no different for living with less. You might try cutting back in just one area of your life to start, like going out to eat less and cooking at home more.
No matter how you start, the most important thing is that you’re starting — it’s those first few steps that put you on your path toward a better life.
