Comment by Dave:

The stuff doesn’t matter. It never really does. What does matter is how you live and who you surround yourself with like your family and friends. I would rather spend an evening at a campfire in a backyard then out spending or wasting money. Like you said though, it’s a personal preference. It’s not living poor, it’s the opposite!

Comment by Phil:

Amen, Brother (sister.) Not having cable, or leather heated seats in my car, older out-of-fashion appliances, letting nature dry my clothes – all these things I can do living in an urban high rise and walking to work or reading a book on the bus. Living simply doesn’t have to be Mother Earth News – not that I wouldn’t love to be chopping wood and feeding chickens. But for now, this is my life and I don’t have to buy in to the electronic plugged in lifestyle.
Thanks for the post. We need reinforcement sometimes to resist a consumerist society.

Comment by Philippa:

Shirley,
I totally agree with you. I have also seen this negative slant. People who think voluntary simplicity is about “living poor” don’t understand the richness that is gained after eliminating consumer clutter and debt.

Comment by Beth:

‘learning to live poor’? If people think simple living is all about deprivation they are missing out aren’t they? Walks in the woods, playing board games with the family, going to free concerts in the park, enjoying a sunset are all things that don’t cost a thing, but make your life richer. Definitely – it’s all about using your money for what you value. I don’t buy a lot of clothes or stuff because we choose to go to plays, museums and travel. We would choose experience over stuff any day.

Comment by Diane:

I love this quote.. to me, it sums up the essence of voluntary simplicity:
“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.”
William Henry Channing
1810-1884

Comment by cecile andrews:

Great blog. Yes, I totally agree. I’m writing partly to say something about my new book: Less is More: Embracing Simplicity for a Healthy Planet, a Caring Economy, and Lasting Happiness (New Society 09). This is a book of essays by people who have been writing about Simplicity for a long time, like Duane Elgin, Juliet Schor, David Korten, etc. It’s edited by me, Cecile Andrews (Circle of Simplicity and Slow is Beautiful) and Wanda Urbanska (Simple Living TV).
It’s theme is exactly what you’re talking about. This is not about self deprivation, but a much richer life — limiting outer wealth for greater inner wealth.

Comment by DAS:

Thank you for creating a website that speaks to a topic that seems to scare so many in our society-simplicity. I grew up in a middle-class community but always wondered why people chased after money and things, both of which are not lasting. When I got my first job I started down the same road; make money so I can buy stuff to make me feel secure only to feel insecure so I would try to get more money to buy more stuff, and on and on. My goals today are to slip the ties to this losing cycle and live, purposely. Thoreau and Emerson taught this so many years ago, and countless others figured this out thousands of years before them (Patanjali, Lao-Tzu, Jesus), yet we still question the wisdom.

Comment by Jacquelyn:

Well said! I think it’s unfortunate when people who live consciously are lumped together with those who live desperately. My lifestyle choices make me feel so rich, it would just be weird if someone tried to label me as ‘poor’ because I am so much less of a consumer than I ’should’ be.

Comment by Jaz:

I didn’t know that there was a name for this philosophy on living. I just know that after presuing a life of “sucess” as I had been taught through society, I found my life to be as much of an illusion as “the emperior’s new robe”. I am excited and a little scared to be making the lifestyle change as I know little to nothing about sustainable living. I am currently looking for a property and a community that are living a simple quality life. I have been looking mostly in the southeast U. S. mostly due to climate and cost of living. I am a little apprehensive about being close to nuclear power facilities (or downwind). Anyone with advise about simple living contacts will be greatly appreciated.

Comment by Jon in France:

There are some very strange people out there who genuinely and sincerely believe that happiness can be attained only through material wealth. They find lifestyles such as ours and yours incomprehensible.

If I was given to smugness, I’d feel sorry for them.

Comment by Amaris:

I really appreciate the explanation this article gives. As someone who has always been attracted to this lifestyle this is very encouraging. I grew up in a highly consumerist home and that habit can be a comfort to people. Like anything in life, the familiar family habits come back to us whether we like them to or not. A lot of people end up with the feast or famine view on life. If we can’t buy stuff we are depressed and just wait for more money so we can spend it. We end up throwing 75% of the stuff away and feel bad when we look at the things we invested in foolishly. It is a very hard transition to living simple. And it’s not because we don’t want to, or at least our intentions are ready to go, but the unfamiliarity is what throws people back. Consumerist life is a common comfy couch if it’s all you’ve known. But hearing the way you write about voluntary simplicity gives one encouragement. Perhaps you have some tips for folks looking to make the transition, one step at a time. Our core values should come from an inner agreement we have with our ideals, commitments and opportunities, not someone Else’s. We can’t ‘guru’ize this way of life. We can admire others achievements, but essentially need to apply our own desires and dreams. We need it to see it as an improvement, not a self abasement. And it’s not so we can become part of some club or impress our friends and neighbors with a pompous and rigid lifestyle. No one likes that kind of party (lol) ! Well I for one look forward to hearing more about your ideas. Thanx!!

Comment by Amy:

I just found your blog today and thoroughly enjoyed this post!

Thanks for a great post! I completely agree with your prospective of living simply. One doesn’t have to live “without” just to live a simple life.

I’m adding your blog to my blogrolll so more can enjoy your writing!

Comment by Danielle:

Thank you so much for being a voice for this lifestyle. As a college senior already overwhelmed by consumerist society, the “rat race,” etc, and already in credit card debt and worried about my future, this is a voice of hope. The past few months have been very difficult for me and blogs such as yours provide me with an alternative view of my future- a simpler, more wholesome, more rewarding future.

Comment by M.L.:

I LOVE having the opportunity to be around other people who “get it”!

A few years ago my kids questioned me about whether or not we were poor because we don’t have a lot of “things” like other people. It was a great opportunity to teach them this exact lesson. I simply explained to them that we were not poor, but, rather, that we spend our money in other ways that are more important to us. It was wonderful to see that light bulb go off in their heads.

We have also taught them our philosophy on technology and how we decide how much technology we are comfortable allowing in our life. Simply put, we do not like it when technology comes in between real life relationships and living life, taking out the real/reality of life. So, we have raised our kids with limited tv, computer, cell phones, etc., not because we are opposed to advancements in technology, etc., but because it’s important to maintain control over how much it consumes and/or takes over our lives, instead using it to support those things that are most important in life.

Comment by Camille:

All the comments on this post were good and made so much sense! My husband and I have always tried to live within our means – when my daughter was born I stayed home to raise her and we planned our finances with that in mind. I wouldn’t have missed raising her for all consumer goods in the world! Our house is now paid off, we have no credit card debt and this makes for a more serene existence. (while I see other people I know struggling because they lived in homes they couldn’t afford) and we can send our daughter to the college she always wanted to attend, and we can buy things if we choose to, but the older we get, the less we seem to need.