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, Tony tells us how minimalism helped him rebuild his life after some personal setbacks. Check out his blog to read more about his journey.
Tony writes:
I guess my journey to minimalism started back in 2003. At age 40 I found myself divorced and one morning I drove away from the family home with the few things I could fit into my 10-year old car. It doesn’t sound like an auspicious start, but I learned one thing, even when you have nothing life goes on.
I’d like to say that this new found knowledge was put to good use, but as a result of a series of pieces of bad luck and bad judgement I found myself deep in the doo-doo by 2006. I had piled up over 150K in debt and was both homeless and jobless – if I hadn’t been blessed with loving parents who helped me, I would have been out on the streets in short order.
While trying to figure out my next steps I stumbled on the book Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin and everything changed. As well as Joe’s book, staying as minimalist as possible has been absolutely key in helping me rebuild my life. I made sure I kept things, in the words of Albert Einstein, “as simple as possible, but no simpler.” This kept down unnecessary expenses, simplified my finances, and helped me focus on what was important.
It has at times been a roller coaster ride. Sometimes I have struggled with my inner demons of consumption (my love of books in particular has caused some ructions), but on the whole I have kept things minimalistic.
Today, 6 years on, and with the help of a minimalist life, I am pleased to say I am a (modest) home owner and completely free of all debt (including mortgage debt). Here’s a picture of my minimalist home office:
Above all I am very happy, and feel blessed to have discovered this simpler and less stressful way of life.
I recently started writing about my experiences, minimalism, financial freedom, travel, and many other topics at http://www.writingfromafar.com.
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
Thanks for posting this! :)
Sounds a lot like how I got started – it also began with a divorce and eviction, I had to choose what I kept carefully and quickly. Didn’t quite sink my boat, but it’s still more in the water than it is on the land ^.^ Good going, Tony.
Thanks for sharing your story Tony! You should be very proud of yourself for turning your life around instead of sinking into despair. Setbacks are just that. They don’t have to rule your WHOLE life. I’ve also read Your Money or Your Life – such a great book. And while I don’t actively follow the steps, I do keep them in the back of my mind. I’m constantly trying to lower my expenses so I may one day reach the crossover point and attain financial independence. Good luck on your journey!
It’s interesting that rebuilding your life didn’t mean purchasing and collecting stuff which is what most people do when starting over. Instead rebuilding meant prioritizing and focusing on what’s important to you. Glad you are on a positive path:) Thanks for sharing!
I looked at your blog and found the story about the jogging man quite interesting. Nice to do bugger all and live in a rented apartment, but how does he pay the bills? How does he manage dental bills, healthcare,..? And how does he help others (like you help your children)? What if he gets old and decrepit and needs expensive help? I’m all for living below your means, but surely one can’t just drift about on a beach all day?
Very impressive how you completely turned around your life.
I love Your Money or Your Life too. It was very eye-opening to do the estimate of how much money had come to me during my life, because I don’t really make any money. Somehow it was still and impressive amount to me. :)
Love your writings. I started my journey leaving Australia traveling around the world for 18 months with a back pack from an army supply store. One change of clothes at all times. Teaches one economy. Settled down in California and been loving it here for more than 35 years. Taught my two daughters about minimalism and one took it to heart. She is also traveling now after graduating college. When they were teenagers, they thought I was crazy always being able to live out of a suitcase. All bags that came into the house had to be filled with stuff that could go out of the house. I love this simplified lifestyle and thank you for promoting it. Best wishes with the Huffington Post.
I’m late in finding this, but I loved reading your story! It’s really amazing how so much good can come out of the most impossible situations. I’ve been reading your blog and have been inspired by the way in which you have become financially free–you give hope to those of us who are stuck in crazy mortgages and student loans!
Even though I am not a wanderer by nature, I love the idea of being able to pick up and go whenever you need to. I am always getting rid of bags of things. There is always more that I find to get rid of.
Many years ago I read the Tightwad Gazette books. We lived on my husband’s earnings and I worked some evenings and weekends. Our kids did well in school and got financial aid for college. We were also able to help them. When they turned 16 they all had part time jobs on the weekends. That way, they could decide if an item was a want or a need. I worked full time starting when our eldest was 12.
My kids are 43, 40 and 36. I taught them all credit cards had to be paid off in full at the time the bill came. When my then teen aged son wanted $100 shoes, I said I would give him $35 and he could earn the rest. I think a lot of parents don’t talk about sex or money enough with their kids.
A friend of mine was going to throw out a jar full of various coins because the bank wouldn’t take it. I said if I found over $100 worth of coins I’d make a donation to her favorite charity. I found some religious medals to give my friend. I also found a lot of collectible tokens and Asian coins with holes which my daughter will wear on a necklace. There were also some euros, some Canadian currency and some silver coins. And lots more fun things. Since I don’t keep things around, I will sell what I can and use some of the coins when we play gambling games.
Since I find many great free things, I have to always keep things moving out. I told my daughter to fill a bag with all the clothes she doesn’t wear any more. Then I will wash them and give them away. She has boxes and boxes of things she doesn’t use but she won’t let me sort her stuff.