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Real Life Minimalists: Bethany

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.

I think you’ll love this story from Bethany. She tells us how her family pared down to spend their summer on a sailboat, and are now applying the same minimalist principles to their home life. Visit her blog to read more!

Bethany writes:

Sailing to Nirvana

Ever since we met a minimalist couple three years ago, my husband and I have been slowly trying to adapt that kind of a lifestyle.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Marni

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.

Today, Marni shares her story with us. She’s found that minimalism helps her manage life as a single mother, while providing wonderful experiences for her children!

Marni writes:

I am a single mother to 2 kids, and being a minimalist has helped make living a single life with kids manageable and enjoyable. Cleaning house is painless and they only have a few toys.I teach my kids that experience brings more enjoyment than stuff.… {Read more}

Minimalist Family: Is One Child Enough?

If you’ve been following my blog lately, you know that I recently gave birth to my first child—a beautiful baby girl I call Plumblossom.

My husband and I waited a long time before deciding to settle down and procreate—so long, in fact, that my medical chart bore the lovely, geriatric-sounding “Advanced Maternal Age” label.

Which brings me to the subject of this week’s post… With my biological clock ticking (fast), DH and I need to make a decision soon as to whether we’re “one and done” or ready to try for another. It’s a tough call to make in the midst of first-time parenting sleep deprivation; however, we don’t have the luxury of waiting until Plumblossom is out of diapers to ponder a possible sibling.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Trina from Beginner Beans

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, I’m pleased to feature Trina, who explains how decluttering their excess helped her family through a difficult time. Read more of her story on her blog, Beginner Beans.

Trina writes:

My efforts toward minimalism became more serious when my husband lost his job last year. We were living in Florida at the time–about 1,500 miles from our home and family in the midwest. Years of simplifying and battling clutter came to an epic change when our family of four faced moving across the country, jobless and homeless.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Elizabeth B.

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.

I was so happy to receive this submission from Elizabeth B. What a wonderful, generous alternative to a bridal registry!

Elizabeth B. writes:

I came across minimalism during the most non-minimalist time of most people’s lives: while engaged to be married. Between bridal showers, the bachelorette party, and the wedding itself, the amount of stuff one can accumulate during this time can be overwhelming. It can feel especially burdensome if you and husband-to-be are not ready to settle down, buy a house, and subsequently fill that house with non-essential household items.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Starlet Rose

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.

Today, Starlet Rose tells us how minimalism gave her the freedom and confidence to conquer her anxiety problems. She’s currently chronicling her journey and interests on her blog.

Starlet Rose writes:

I wasn’t born a minimalist. I was always organised but I wanted to collect something. I suffered anxiety problems from being young and suffered social phobia as a teen. By the time of fourteen I felt to terrified to leave the house in case I met ‘someone,’ saw me.… {Read more}

A Minimalist Mother’s Day

Fortunately, my Plumblossom is too young to shower me with knick knacks or other gifts this Mother’s Day—she’ll be sticking with some sweet smiles and little coos (all I could ask for!).

But infants aren’t the only ones who can honor their mothers in minimalist fashion; so for the rest of us, I’ve put together a list of no-clutter ways to show our love:

1. Cook your mom a delicious meal. You can put together breakfast-in-bed, an elegant brunch, or a special dinner (even if you’re not a culinary whiz, she’ll appreciate your efforts!)

2. Take your mom to the park, or local horticultural center, to admire the spring blooms.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Sarah Circus Nachos

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, we have an inspiring contribution from Sarah Circus Nachos, who’s using her minimalism to work through a difficult period in her life. Visit her blog to read more of her story.

Sarah writes:

Minimalism seems very natural to me. From a very young age, I loved traveling and I really loved packing up for a big trip. Over time, I realized that the less I packed, the easier it would be to move through airports, hotels, and strange cities.… {Read more}

My Minimalist Filing System

Now that I have a permanent address, I once again have a mailbox. Yikes! I forgot how much paperwork can flow into your life through that little rectangular compartment.

To keep things under control, I’ve been employing the strategies I wrote about in The Minimalist Mailbox: things like signing up for online billing, keeping my name off catalog lists, and putting a freeze on my credit report.

However, some papers still make it through my defenses (and with a mortgage, child, and business, there are some I’m obligated to keep). And for that, I’ve devised a minimalist filing system which I’ll share with you today.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Becky L.

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.

I think you’ll enjoy this submission from Becky L., who tells us about her annual purge—something I also love to do each January!

Becky writes:

I married a minimalist, and he had a curious past-time in January of each year, of going through everything he owned. A consummate hiker and backpacker, he’d go through all his gear and fix, mend, and discard. He’d toss any book on the shelf that he hadn’t read that year, mend or toss clothes that were getting worn, and took a look at hobby paraphernalia that no longer suited him – an ice axe for technical climbing, jig saw puzzles, books on birding in New Zealand – and sent them out the door.… {Read more}