Posting here because it always seems like such a kind sub. I, 26F, have never placed much value on working long hours or pursuing a proper career and joining the rat-race. Time has always felt so much more important. I've been financially independent since 18 but never earned more than 50p above minimum wage and have mostly avoided full-time work, usually getting by on 24 hours a week. All the jobs I enjoy also just don't pay well (charity work, gardening, etc.).

I have still managed to put away a nice little amount into savings because I'm very frugal by nature and generally just don't like spending money. Almost every activity I enjoy is basically free, I've always cycled everywhere, I don't enjoy eating out, I never buy first-hand clothes, I'm not into fancy things. Not prioritising a career has in many ways led me to enjoy a life rich in time and experiences, lived at a slow pace, which is just how I like it.

Recently though, I've been thinking more about the future and wondering if my way of living up until now is, ultimately, unsustainable. I've been worrying about retirement, as over the years my part-time low-wage jobs have contributed hardly anything into a private pension. I've been worrying about ever having kids and how I'd manage financially. And ultimately I've been worrying that my simple living philosophy might have actually trapped me into a life of financial struggle. By not ever focusing on getting a career, have I potentially just made it all really hard for my future self?

I want to live simply, I don't want to prioritise work over everything else, but I really want to be financially secure as I age.

I wonder if anyone has any words of comfort, or advice? Tell me your stories. How have you balanced a simple life with a financially realistic one in today's world?

for me its the time before i go to sleep i do a little gratitude prayer and kiss my family goodnight, same with mornings my family wakes up everyone with prayers so its very slow and we wake up one by one and greet people goodmorning wholeheartedly.

This might be a bit of a sarcastic question, but I struggle with this.

I'm trying to live frugality as much as possible. I love this way of living. However... since childhood, I golf. I have an extensive network of people I love there. But it requires me to have a car (almost solely for it, and renting is not an option where I am). I also the competitive aspect to it. But hey, it's gold. You loose 100 balls a year in nature. You carry 14 metal clubs. You have a big ass bags. Sometimes a cart. Nothing simple to it.

How did you handle such situation in your life?

i find that a lot of people i know that choose "peace" are very avoidant or disconnected with reality, and i personally cannot do that. i care deeply about the things happening in my community, country and planet. i believe i can help. but i find it difficult to find true peace while the injustices of society nag at the front of my mind. i am grateful for the small things, and i really do believe i am fundamentally a simple person with simple joys, but i don't how to reconcile that with my worries about the world. i don't think stoicisim or nihilism or any detachment strategies are for me. i'm a lover at heart.

I overspend on food, clothes, random stuff, its bad I go into a store expecting to spend a few dollars and leave spending $100 its out of control how do I get a hold on this?

I'm increasingly aware of how long the break actually is. It's close to 3 months actually. But at the same time I feel the passing of time and the days pass by so fast. I'm overwhelmed by how long but how fast it's passing.

Making time for friends. To find work. To find rest. And not feeling true rest. To try some hobbies I had in mind - writing, language learning, games. This is also the break where i need to think about a pending my degree transfer.

The main thing is, that I haven't been able to do anything lately. And I feel like I cant hold onto my days. I feel like I am just planning and planning ahead for events then those events happen and the days are gone and it's just the same thing all over again. I actually feel a sense of paralysis.

A new day arrives, and it feels like I need to do the right thing, today. Should I hang out with a friend? Or go and look for a job? Or watch an episode of a new show rn? Should I look for a volunteering opportunity?

And suddenly it's wednesday. Then it's Friday. And Monday rolls around again.

examples of these that come to mind: film photography, knitting, journalling.

I used to listen to a lot of podcasts on a variety of subjects but mainly technical / IT related as that is my job but now as I no longer own or watch television a part from the odd film on my laptop I’m looking for I things to listen to in the evenings so I’m looking for suggestions for interesting podcasts to listen to - I’ve already found a couple to with hiking and the outdoors as I’m a keen hiker but like to find other things to listen to. I live in the UK but a happy to listen to podcasts that are US based. Bonus points for any that are plays / dramatisations or readings of books.

I am looking for some input here. I had a conversation with my partner about this sub the day before yesterday where I tried to outline some of the principles, particularly around reckless spending etc. I used to practice simple living myself in the early 2000’s - things like not having more than 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of sneakers, one winter coat etc. I grew my own vegetables etc.

When I met him I changed some of these things and acquired more possessions as he is a lot more materially conscious and likes to travel plus has a higher regard for how he is perceived.

Unfortunately it appears he took my interest in the sub as criticism. He started to really interrogate me as to what had sparked my interest in this subject etc. I said that it was over-consumption and the recognition that people can’t simply keep looking towards external factors for contentment. Ultimately I dissembled and said the algorithm led me here via r/plasticfreeliving which is more or less true.

My question is - how do you combine a simple living lifestyle from one person with a more materialistic outlook from another inside a relationship? I feel that while I have needs and wants I can separate my wants out from my needs - eg restaurant meals/travel vs home repairs. I am not sure my partner can support this viewpoint.

Edit for layout/clarification.

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some podcasts about the themes above, if you guys know any about one or more of these topics, recommend please. The only one I already heard is the Cal Newport one.

I picked up this new coffee mug at a thrift store earlier this week for a dollar. I love New Mexico, but I haven’t bothered with souvenirs. It’s not anything fancy just beautiful and like new. I’ve been using it everyday and I’m just so stinking pleased with it. That’s all. It’s the little things.

If you can create this in your country, please do it. Or promote the idea where you live, so that others can create such a concept. We need such developments in the world.

Such spaces are seeing increasing business as youths seek them out to escape urban pressures.

Read about it more in news articles online.

I mostly would be storing it away but I have a such a horrible attention span that I just wonder if that would help. It's often just background noise.I want to be able to read again. I used to love to now nothing gets my attention enough to finish. I used to craft but if it doesn't turn out it gets tossed aside. I have plenty of hobbies just lose focus and hop from thing to thing.

If I'm washing tea/dish towels at 60 degrees celsius with a regular laundry detergent, will the chemicals remain and pass over onto my dishes (and therefore be consumed)?

I normally wash my clothes in an eco friendly detergent and only starting to consider doing the same with tea towels. As all the tea/dish towels I currently have have been washed with regular detergent, is it possible to do a wash of them with 1) just water or 2) the eco stuff on a HOT temperature (90 degrees celsius or so) to remove the harmful detergent? Would rather not need to buy new ones!

Hello everybody!
Yesterday the renter of my apartment asked me to vacate the property within 30 days. The request was friendly. It wasn't because of debts or anything like that. He needs to host his son who recently got married and was looking for a place to stay.
It turns out that this aroused apprehension and concern in me. I don't know if it was because I was evicted from my last property without a deadline to stabilize myself. At the time I had a lot of rooms and I ended up falling behind on the rent. It was desperate but I managed to find a way. Which is not the case in the current situation. I have a deadline and the owner can wait without any problems.
So I would like to know what you do to alleviate the anxiety of finding properties you like, deadlines for finding them, the move itself (arranging the furniture, hiring a truck...). Do you have any techniques? 😂

25F I have a house to live in, a mature boyfriend to talk to, a work-from-home setup, and our own room. But suddenly, I feel so ungrateful these past few days. I live in my boyfriend’s parents' house and struggle to eat breakfast early because I’m shy, even though I bought an induction cooker to use in our room. I still feel like it's useless because we don’t have a refrigerator to store food, and I don’t know what I’d cook. We’re also on the ground floor, so I can hear the footsteps from the living room above our room, which makes it hard to concentrate on work. Am I just overreacting?

These past few days, I believe I’ve lost weight and am no longer happy because I feel so stuck. I want to break up with my boyfriend because he’s nonchalant, and I need someone to talk to. He is mature and really understands me, and he suggested that maybe I need to explore things, like travel. But I also feel that breaking up with him is risky because I have trauma from my parents. They separated, and I’m afraid that if I have a new boyfriend someday, they might mistreat me, like my stepdad abused my mom and my stepmom abused me when I was a child. I want to try new things, but I’m also wondering if my decision is for the long term.

My boyfriend’s family is family-oriented, and I do like that, but sometimes his siblings keep borrowing things. Am I being territorial? Even though I live here rent-free and they don’t force me to buy food (since they have a meat business, and we can just get some), I still do my own groceries and pay for the electricity. However, the electricity bill feels expensive for me, even though I just use a laptop and an electric fan. His siblings don’t pay the bills, and I don’t want to keep adjusting to this situation.

Sometimes I imagine living alone, cooking my breakfast early, eating fruits and snacks I want, and having nothing to worry about. I wouldn't feel shy because no one would judge me, and I could do things on my own. But other times, I feel it’s too risky because I would need to build my own house, buy land, appliances, and so on. It's much more expensive for me. I tried living alone before, but I was too afraid of ghosts, so I decided to live here. I know they have a business, and my boyfriend has an idea of how to make a comfortable living someday. But sometimes, I feel like it’s not enough. Why settle for less? Why wait? Imagining living alone helps me feel more composed when speaking and in controlling my emotions.

I’ve already sought help, and my doctor diagnosed me with anxiety and prescribed medication. But I don’t think it’s helping because I keep having anxiety attacks, which I’m not used to. It’s too much for me, and I don’t like the aftereffects. It keeps making me imagine doing something drastic, and I really don’t want that.

I want to go home to my hometown, but I’m afraid my mom will expect me to take responsibility for my siblings' education, as she decided to stay there permanently. She left me when I was younger, and now, thinking about her getting older, I don't want to take on that responsibility. I feel I have the right not to. Considering she left me at 8 years old, didn’t pay for my education, and had no communication with me, it’s hard to forgive her. She also knows that my stepmom maltreated me and promised to bring me to her, but that never happened. Now she’s asking me for money. How much more will she ask if I live with her in the province?

I’m just so confused about my decisions right now, but I also need to choose what’s better. I need advice, please. Thank you! 🙏🥺

Disclaimer: Not saying that you shouldn't buy anything, but you should more thought before buying something. If after putting some thoughts, you think it is a good idea, then by all means go ahead buy the stuff.

Now we got that out of the way, these are the thought process I use to help me make better decisions:

• The obvious one first: ask yourself "do I really need this?". To help answer this question, you could follow up with more questions: "If yes, why do I need it?" Am I running out of t-shirts? are my socks have holes on them?. "What is the alternative?" Do I really need a smaller iron-cast pan? Can I just use the big one I already have?
• Remember the time when you bought your 10th pairs of sneakers, you might feel better the first week. But the following weeks after that, did you feel any better than before? Or do you want your 11th pair now? You will soon realize that no matter how many/much you have, there will be a new one that you will want too. Also if you managed to refrain from buying something in the past, remember that victory and realize that you didn't miss out on anything by skipping the item.
• One of the trick companies use to sell more stuff is by tying your identity to the stuff they are trying to sell. One example: I grew up when G-Shock was very popular. There's this one analog-digital combo that they marketed it as "the remake of the original G-Shock etc.". My nostalgia kicked in and I wanted the watch. Then I realized that I bought my square G-Shock because it was the "OG" and I like to be the "OG"...but I also realized that there will be other watches that claim to be something that I identify with. You are not the product you buy/consume. (btw, watch "Buy Now!" if you have Netflix).
• Buying something "cheap" does not save you money! Buying the $115 Nike Dunks for $60 as your 20th sneakers does not save you $55. It still make you part with your $60. Also, if your budget is limited, you need to realize that you need to get the biggest bang for your bucks, so don't get tricked to buy something because they are on sale.
• Buy items for the service they provide, not as themselves. Have multiple jackets for different occasion is probably okay, but buying a new one only because it is a new style or different color? Just think about it a bit more first. Also consider how much service it would provide compared to how much it would cost you. If there are only three of you in the family, you don't need a mini-van because your in-law visit you once a year.
• Having less items mean more time to enjoy them. I have more sneakers/shoes and watches than I should. Often I ended up not knowing which one I should wear, and when I wear them I don't really "enjoy" them because they are not "special" anymore. If I had less, I know I would treasure them more.

I hope these tips are useful for you. Happy Thanksgiving for those in the US! And shop wisely! Thanks for your time.

I'm in the UK, I don't really feel the cold much, so I don't turn on the heating a lot. My meters are currently saying it's about 13°C inside. Is this okay?

I'm in a new build with good insulation, I just want to know:

Is this temperature safe to leave at?

When should I turn my heating on?

What's the lowest I can get to before there's a risk of mould/damp?

Thank you!

I’ve been trying to embrace a simpler lifestyle, but one thing I keep struggling with is the constant push to upgrade. Whether it’s my phone, kitchen gadgets, or even clothes, it feels like there’s always a newer, shinier version of everything. The crazy part is, most of the stuff I own still works perfectly fine, so I know logically I don’t need to replace it—but the temptation is real.

Recently, I came into a bit of extra money, and while my first thought was to finally upgrade my phone, I decided to hold off. The more I think about it, the more I realize it’s not about needing better stuff—it’s about wanting to keep up. For those who’ve adopted a simpler lifestyle, how do you deal with this constant pressure to upgrade?

I’d love to hear strategies or mindsets that help you stay content with what you already have. It’s tough to ignore the noise, but I’m hoping to get better at tuning it out.

I'm currently 28 and have an intense fear of today's teenagers. The Skibidi toilets, and constant brainrot language is making me think twice about parenting a child in today's society.

I work with children and youth, and see how difficult it is to shield kids from things, and it's hard to convince them to not follow certain trends or stop hanging out with certain people. If they start a habit, or want to be like so n so, it's not easy to just tell them no.

I'm also seeing an increase in teens vaping, and it scares me how many just do it these days so openly and fear that no matter what I do, my child will still fall into bad habits.

As the end of the year is near I always try to find some time to step out and think about my life. I think one of the best things that has happened this year is that I discovered this amazing sub and community. By reading your stories and advice I've felt supported and validated to finally make simple living my priority.

I'm writing this after a day of finishing work at exactly 5 pm without overworking, having a long walk around the neighborhood, and going to the library to check out a book and a magazine... Simple living is amazing! I'm just so happy! Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I was a big advocate of simple living + minimalism for basically 2021-2023.

This year I bought a home, and got married a little over a month ago. It's an understatement to say that I got super caught up back in the rat race and trying to keep up. I'll basically leave it at that.

While I'm not in debt or anything, I am definitely spending above my means and also causing myself so much more extra anxiety, stress, and too worried about keeping up with the people around me. This has been showing itself in materialistic things such as over spending on clothes, makeup, getting nails done, - basically everything that is not really me deep down to the core.

I was way happier when I wasn't doing all of these things and saving for things that really made me happy such as travel, my home, and things with my husband.

I'm ready to rejoin this community and find my peace again. I started this week with decluttering, removing my fake nails, changing some small habits, going through really toxic (but popular and "aesthetic") products I had and replacing them with natural ones, and limiting my time on social media.

I have already felt a million times better. Basically my goals for the new year are: to actually save money, only buy what I need, stay true to myself, and do the habits/priorities that make me feel good (such as bible study, journalling, things with my husband + immediate family), and learning to say no!!! God, do I need to learn how to say no.

Any tips or advice is welcome, as I feel like I am starting over and also coming back "home" at the same time. I have spent too much time this year trying to be someone else. I am ready to be myself again and not be anxious 24/7.

Just as context, I am 27F, and I am a teacher. Thank you in advance :)

I am looking for a short video I remember seeing where a (possible middle aged maybe blond) south woman is saying something to the effect of:

“When people ask me what the point of life is I say: to be happy.

What did you accomplish with your life? I was happy.

What do you want to be remembered for? Happiness.”

Things to that effect. Let me know if it rings any bells. Thanks!

About a year ago I switched over to using a Nokia flip phone as a daily driver. It's not a feature phone, so really only for calls and texts, no browsing and also a camera that takes photos like it's 2001. I just got tired of the constant notifications, the addiction of short-form media, and just constant stream of random garbage that I'll forget 2 minutes later. I did briefly switch to a CAT22 so I could use messenger, but it was finicky and did the job of a smart phone half-assed and of a dumb phone half-assed.

Anyways, I'm back to the dumb phone as a daily now but have recently been gifted a smart fitness watch that I do want to use as I'm quite active. Of course, it's meant to be constantly connected to your phone as to provide notifications (yes, because all we need is another device telling you to check out a new Netflix series that just dropped). I've decided to use it throughout the day and just sync the data with my smartphone when I get home to get some insights before putting the smart phone away.

Are there challenges? Yes. People will give you a funny look when you use it as they probably think you're a drug dealer or something lol. At work it gets in the way at times because I can't scan QR codes, but I can always just tell them to give me a work device to use for whatever form they need me to fill out. Worst case, I'll just use a coworkers phone then give it back to them.

Workplaces tend to also give you a funny look because "how are we meant to contact you if you don't have Microsoft Teams and I need to message you 11:30PM asking about something?" Lol - you don't. If it's urgent call me and I"ll answer otherwise just text me and I'll get around to it in the morning like everyone used to do. If they say it's a requirement for you to have a smartphone, you can just say that you can't afford one. Like I said, there's always a work around and they'll figure something out.

For those thinking about trying it out - do it. When you finally get your head looking up for once you start to actually be so much more present in the moment. What about when you have to wait around for something? You begin to get creative, whether that's in the form of art or thinking about personal engineering projects you can work on. Being bored is good - it lets you actually THINK about things that YOU want to think about instead of the time being filled with a constant stream of random information (which is often negative but that's a whole other story).

As for the jobs that do really REQUIRE a smart phone (CS people?) then it's a bit more difficult. Apps like Opal can help heaps as long as you abide to it; however.

TLDR: If you've been toying with the idea of a dumb phone, just do it. You'll run into challenges that are unique to everyone, but you can iron those out when the time comes. Want to integrate a specific technology because it benefits you? Then do it - but limit it's reaches to only that of which it benefits you and don't let it suck you into the digital abyss. Remember that life is about experiencing it. The meaning of life is a question to you asked from life, not the other way around. We're all going to make it :)

Do you remember when all had to watch was whatever was on TV, whatever was in your collection of physical shows and movies, or whatever you could borrow or rent?

Trying to liver simpler, I don't pay for any streaming services or cable, but I have a lot of free apps for streaming. Sure, some are loaded with hot garbage but most of them have shows and TV that are highly recommended and critically acclaimed. I even have access to a lot of niche and esoteric shows or films from back in the day that give great nostalgia. Yet, I have little interest in it these days.

Is it because it's all so easy now and all at my fingertips? Is it because I'm not invested in it, like a paying service? Or is it simply options paralysis and I made the best with what I had in the past because that's all I had?

Perhaps I'm just growing out of watching TV? I do have a small number of passionate hobbies, a career and a family that I'm raising, but watching shows or movies rarely feels worth it or like enough now. Growing up though, I remember making a night out of a rental or spending the day at the theaters. I even had sitcoms I would wait around every episode for.