Would You Live the Simple Life?

Would You Live the Simple Life? A couple who owns just 100 things got me thinking about my consumption

Ysolt Usigan ON Aug 19, 2010 at 5:39PM

Last week, I read an article in the New York Times about a couple who gave up luxuries -- two cars, wedding china to serve two dozen people, a two-bedroom apartment -- and started to live the ultimate simple life. Inspired by blogs and web sites, Tammy Strobel and Logan Smith streamlined their belongings to a -- gasp! -- 100 items. They donated books, sweaters, shoes, pots and pans, even a TV to charity, and soon enough accomplished their goal. It has been three years and the Portland, OR couple now live in a 400-square-foot studio with a nice-sized kitchen, have traded in their cars for bikes, and are debt-free (they owed about $30,000 when they began to make these changes).

Because of their simple lifestyle choices, Strobel and Logan have money to travel, can contribute to their nieces and nephews' education funds and work fewer hours. Strobel has since realized that one doesn't need to live "bigger" to be happy.

So what's the moral of the story? That you don't need stuff to make you happy?? Hmmm... This got me thinking... Can I ever live the simple life -- as in, own only 100 things? I have 100 pairs of shoes alone! And for that matter, can living "simple" make me happy?

I turned to an expert for clarity. "I do believe happiness is more fundamentally about relationships than stuff," says Wanda Urbanska, simple living expert and author of Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska. "Face it, we all gravitate toward favorite outfits and things, so simplifying for a fashion maven is about zeroing in on those favorite things and letting go of the excess."

My take: I do believe that you are not what you buy, and you certainly are not what you wear. In fact, I'd much rather spend my hard-earned money on an experience (a fun vacation, a delectable meal or a soothing spa treatment). An amazing experience will definitely make me more happy than buying stuff -- stuff that I'll use now and forget about, stuff that I probably didn't need at all, stuff that came out of an impulse purchase.

But, wait a minute... For me, shopping for my fall wardrobe is an experience in itself. The act of buying a crisp new trench coat or a chic yet comfortable pair of boots feels pretty awesome. It's like I'm celebrating my favorite season and getting ready for the experiences to come, which just happens to include wearing that crisp new trench coat and cute pair of boots. There can be a rewarding sense of self when one buys stuff. The idea that I can express myself through what I wear, for instance, helps my self-esteem, too.

Give me life, give me stuff!

I understand the idea of living "simple," but I don't think I'm quite down with living deprived. I guess the moral of the story -- for me, anyways -- is to (simply) spend wisely.

MY THOUGHTS

i don't think cutting it down to 100 items is doable. well, not immediately. but i do know that cutting down on a lot of things is possible. the things we buy, the things we possess-especially if we don't need them - become a burden eventually.

Could Your Coffee Make You Fat?

Could Your Coffee Make You Fat?

from www.ivillage.com

Let's say you start your day with a large latte from your local coffee shop. You feel like something a little sweeter today, so you add some vanilla syrup. Bad news: You might have just downed more than 400 calories!

Even if you branch out from coffee with a green tea or strawberry blended drink, a large size can contain nearly 20 teaspoons of sugar. Adding whipped cream ups the calories—and the fat content—even more.

But don't worry—there's no need to give up your morning java. You just have to know how to avoid ordering a sugar bomb. Here are three tricks to try:

1. Always ask for a smaller size and specify nonfat milk.
2. If you're craving a flavored syrup, try one that's sugar-free.
3. If you're up for it, go for the most straightforward yet healthiest option of all: A black coffee or tea with no added anything!

MY THOUGHTS

i prefer to have my cafe mocha- but not everyday. once a week will probably do no harm. the rest of the week i have my black coffee.