Dana, this has been my philosophy as well. I am choosing not to buy from Amazon because it gives me some power in the world that I often feel so powerless. I know you have thoughts about corporate boycotts, but for me having the power to say no to Amazon makes me feel good. It’s not a social media buzz word thing for me, it’s exerting my independence from them. This is why I’m pushing back against Substack. I get to choose these things. I get to choose who gets my money. I get to choose who hosts my work. Choosing simplicity and sacrifice over capitulating to oligarchs, for me, is one of the biggest ways to resist.
I completely agree! It’s one of the most certain ways we can claim power in a world where they leave very little for us to claim. (The conversations after my post on Amazon boycotts definitely fed this thinking for me!)
I have a friend who argues with me all of the time about this - that consumers shouldn't have to be the ones to make sacrifices and me quitting Amazon makes zero difference ~ but since Amazon isn't doing the work, I do what I feel is right for my soul. It's why I buy store brand pasta and Q-tips and applesauce but pay extra for local milk sold in glass bottles, butter from my local creamery, and organic, free range eggs who I can look up online to see their pastures. Does this actually make a difference to the large conglomerates? Nope. But it *does* make a difference to the little guys :-) It's why I buy mostly new books (yay authors getting paid), and used clothes (yay for corporations NOT making more money!). I'm choosing where my small income goes, and that feels good.
I love all of this, Katy! You’re so right that these moves make a difference to the little guys. AND directing our energy in this way makes a difference to us, too.
I share your perspective. This world runs on money and is driven by money. We all have power in this way, and collective action makes it even more powerful If more of us adopt voluntary simplicity, we can shift economic activity to our own communities and away from the behemoths that are wrecking our world, who knows what kind of other changes would arise as a result?
Yes, I think finding our just right spot is a worthwhile pursuit. The pace and access to resources (broadly defined) that allow us to thrive. Being clear on our priorities, from our innate motivation ( rather than artificially stimulated by advertising), is so supportive in helping us strategize and focus our efforts. In this slow-pocalyspe I do think we can still be in the accumulation phase, shoring up resources, skills, and connections so that we can more easily face future challenges.
Absolutely — everyone's "right spot" will be different, so we're probably all in slightly different modes right now. I was gearing up for earning *more* and being in an accumulation phase, and it just occurred to me recently that simplicity is what I really want right now and I can figure out how to make that work instead.
Same. I commented below with other detail (thanks for your reply!), but I hadn't explicitly said that some of what was clouding me was thinking I needed/wanted to gear up for earning (and thus working) more ... but it quickly became clear, and then glaring, to me that, no, as enticing as that illusion of security may be, what I truly need and desire right now is *s l o w i n g* down and the simplicity of that. It's tough (really tough! especially as the primary earner in my marriage) to say, yeah I'm going to make less (by choice!) this year than the last several. But, like you, I can figure this out. Because it's what I'm being called to do.
Your use of the word "wonton" (for the previous form of your financial freedom) in place of the word I think you might have been searching for - wanton - makes me unreasonably, absurdly happy.
Wontons are wonderful, fancy food stuffs, bursting with fabulous flavors.
Calling a woman wanton can be just a prettier way to slut-shame, and basically nobody says of men that their behavior is wanton unless it is actively cruel.
Can I wish us all an abundance of wontons instead??? 🥰
I grew up Quaker, and had started trying to extract myself from consumerism before the election, but the election but it into full swing. Things I have been successful in: darning my socks, making my own laundry detergent, only buying second hand close. Things I have not been successful in: curbing my book hoarding tendencies (if anything I am worse now) and not eating out so much. I did buy 10 pounds of rice and 6 pounds of beans, so if the shit goes down I won't starve. 😁
Love that you're looking at both your "successful" and "not successful" endeavors — hope you're not judging yourself for that! It's good just to understand what works for you and what doesn't.
I have never quite broken away from budget culture because I've never made much money. One good thing is when the people around me are panicking about their retirement accounts, I just shrug. I don't have much put back anyway, and I never thought I would be able to retire. You can't lose what you don't have!
I'm really enjoying feeling like "I can't lose what I don't have." It can feel a little like complacency; that's something I struggled with writing this essay. But in this climate, in particular, opting out instead of fighting for scraps truly feels like resistance and resilience.
The thing is that retirement isn’t necessarily optional. I used to be pretty laid back about my retirement account but now that I’m actually retired, I’m much more worried.
This is always on my mind! Saving for retirement isn't a viable option for most people, but a lot of us will still have to stop or slow down working at some point, so how do we square that? I don't think there's a satisfying answer, but it's important to name this reality — especially for folks like me, in our 30s/40s, feeling like we'll be able to work forever!
Great post! I have been positioning myself since 2020 to find a simpler way to live. I will be teaching in the Galápagos Islands for the next 4 years. I make $9000/mo now and will take an $8000 pay cut but it’s worth it to have peace of mind and to give the middle finger to capitalism.
DANA. I'm keeping this essay in my inbox for a bit, both because I'll probably re-read it and simply as a visual cue/reminder of what matters. You articulated *so* much of what I've been processing for myself since the election (including a distaste for the other language of minimalism and frugality!).
I've only ever been interested in living my small, simple, spacious life as a self-employed person not working a full 40 hour week. But then increased earnings the last few years hijacked me quite a bit -- more consumption, more distraction, more stuff. Not more happiness or peace of mind or contentment.
Immediately after the election, I was clear-eyed about what this moment is calling for me to do. To, again, simplify. And yet the harmful chaos overwhelming us all can sometimes cloud that clarity at times for me. Hence my gratitude to you for this essay. I really, really hope it can perhaps evolve into something of a series to carry us through these coming months and years.
Thank you, Hannah! It sounds like we've had very similar paths, and I've had exactly the experience and feelings you describe here. I'll certainly keep writing about my journey back into simplicity as I learn/discover more!
Dana, thank you for so clearly articulating what I've been feeling myself for a while now. I keep thinking about how we are in this world where we're being treated like pawns on a chess board by people who have convinced us that buying cheap junk and scrolling endlessly online and working ourselves to early death are the paths to happiness and that oh hey, it's just a coincidence that this path has also made them outrageously wealthy at the expense of us and our planet. A small part of my resistance to what's going on has been opting out when possible, but now that you've given me a term to describe it - voluntary simplicity - I feel like it is perhaps more impactful than I'd previously thought!
What a ridiculous state the world is in! lol? I found that giving it this name really helped things click for me, too. It’s like I have a clearly articulated mission that makes it easier to make decisions: Is this helping me live more simply?
This paragraph 100% expresses where I'm at right now. I'm cooking more at home using simple ingredients, I'm playing more games with my kids at night, and overall just slowing down and being intentional with my time and money.
The level of simplicity is different for everyone, but it boils down to some form of conscious consumption and sustainable living. Voluntary simplicity often means skipping new clothes and opting for thrift-store shopping and sewing your own. It could mean driving less and using less electricity. Eating homegrown foods and home-cooked meals. Buying from independent artisans and local businesses instead of corporate giants. Occupying your time with service, joy, connection and community rather than hustling in the pursuit of wealth.
I'm curious about all the privilege that possibly contributed to being able to choose to live on $12,000/year: having willing friends with couches, being able-bodied, not having significant medical expenses or mental health needs, not being financially responsible for any pets/elderly relatives, having a partner (?), living in an area with low cost of living or being able to easily relocate, etc.
There definitely is some! A big part of it was the era; cost of living was much lower relative to income at the time. (And, for perspective, $12,000 from 2014 would be about $16,000 today... though freelance writing pay hasn't actually grown with inflation!)
My partner and I went through these years together, and he brought home similar pay — so our household was around $20K/year. Willing friends and family with couches and guest rooms were a huge help. We rented for ourselves most of the time, though, in major cities, at a time when *some* areas of these cities were still affordable. No kids, no pets, and our parents were still young and working. He has a chronic illness, and his life was changed by the passage of the ACA; before that, we relied on emergency rooms and racked up medical debt. We each do work that's not location-dependent, and I benefit from good health that lets me generally keep stable work.
Dana, this has been my philosophy as well. I am choosing not to buy from Amazon because it gives me some power in the world that I often feel so powerless. I know you have thoughts about corporate boycotts, but for me having the power to say no to Amazon makes me feel good. It’s not a social media buzz word thing for me, it’s exerting my independence from them. This is why I’m pushing back against Substack. I get to choose these things. I get to choose who gets my money. I get to choose who hosts my work. Choosing simplicity and sacrifice over capitulating to oligarchs, for me, is one of the biggest ways to resist.
I completely agree! It’s one of the most certain ways we can claim power in a world where they leave very little for us to claim. (The conversations after my post on Amazon boycotts definitely fed this thinking for me!)
I have a friend who argues with me all of the time about this - that consumers shouldn't have to be the ones to make sacrifices and me quitting Amazon makes zero difference ~ but since Amazon isn't doing the work, I do what I feel is right for my soul. It's why I buy store brand pasta and Q-tips and applesauce but pay extra for local milk sold in glass bottles, butter from my local creamery, and organic, free range eggs who I can look up online to see their pastures. Does this actually make a difference to the large conglomerates? Nope. But it *does* make a difference to the little guys :-) It's why I buy mostly new books (yay authors getting paid), and used clothes (yay for corporations NOT making more money!). I'm choosing where my small income goes, and that feels good.
I love all of this, Katy! You’re so right that these moves make a difference to the little guys. AND directing our energy in this way makes a difference to us, too.
I share your perspective. This world runs on money and is driven by money. We all have power in this way, and collective action makes it even more powerful If more of us adopt voluntary simplicity, we can shift economic activity to our own communities and away from the behemoths that are wrecking our world, who knows what kind of other changes would arise as a result?
Yes, I think finding our just right spot is a worthwhile pursuit. The pace and access to resources (broadly defined) that allow us to thrive. Being clear on our priorities, from our innate motivation ( rather than artificially stimulated by advertising), is so supportive in helping us strategize and focus our efforts. In this slow-pocalyspe I do think we can still be in the accumulation phase, shoring up resources, skills, and connections so that we can more easily face future challenges.
Absolutely — everyone's "right spot" will be different, so we're probably all in slightly different modes right now. I was gearing up for earning *more* and being in an accumulation phase, and it just occurred to me recently that simplicity is what I really want right now and I can figure out how to make that work instead.
Same. I commented below with other detail (thanks for your reply!), but I hadn't explicitly said that some of what was clouding me was thinking I needed/wanted to gear up for earning (and thus working) more ... but it quickly became clear, and then glaring, to me that, no, as enticing as that illusion of security may be, what I truly need and desire right now is *s l o w i n g* down and the simplicity of that. It's tough (really tough! especially as the primary earner in my marriage) to say, yeah I'm going to make less (by choice!) this year than the last several. But, like you, I can figure this out. Because it's what I'm being called to do.
Dana-
Your use of the word "wonton" (for the previous form of your financial freedom) in place of the word I think you might have been searching for - wanton - makes me unreasonably, absurdly happy.
Wontons are wonderful, fancy food stuffs, bursting with fabulous flavors.
Calling a woman wanton can be just a prettier way to slut-shame, and basically nobody says of men that their behavior is wanton unless it is actively cruel.
Can I wish us all an abundance of wontons instead??? 🥰
Ha! Thank you for calling this out and for sharing your delight 💖 I’m going to update this, though!
I grew up Quaker, and had started trying to extract myself from consumerism before the election, but the election but it into full swing. Things I have been successful in: darning my socks, making my own laundry detergent, only buying second hand close. Things I have not been successful in: curbing my book hoarding tendencies (if anything I am worse now) and not eating out so much. I did buy 10 pounds of rice and 6 pounds of beans, so if the shit goes down I won't starve. 😁
Love that you're looking at both your "successful" and "not successful" endeavors — hope you're not judging yourself for that! It's good just to understand what works for you and what doesn't.
I have never quite broken away from budget culture because I've never made much money. One good thing is when the people around me are panicking about their retirement accounts, I just shrug. I don't have much put back anyway, and I never thought I would be able to retire. You can't lose what you don't have!
I'm really enjoying feeling like "I can't lose what I don't have." It can feel a little like complacency; that's something I struggled with writing this essay. But in this climate, in particular, opting out instead of fighting for scraps truly feels like resistance and resilience.
The thing is that retirement isn’t necessarily optional. I used to be pretty laid back about my retirement account but now that I’m actually retired, I’m much more worried.
This is always on my mind! Saving for retirement isn't a viable option for most people, but a lot of us will still have to stop or slow down working at some point, so how do we square that? I don't think there's a satisfying answer, but it's important to name this reality — especially for folks like me, in our 30s/40s, feeling like we'll be able to work forever!
Yes! Thoreau got it right: “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”
Great post! I have been positioning myself since 2020 to find a simpler way to live. I will be teaching in the Galápagos Islands for the next 4 years. I make $9000/mo now and will take an $8000 pay cut but it’s worth it to have peace of mind and to give the middle finger to capitalism.
What an incredible shift! I hope you enjoy this next phase 💖
DANA. I'm keeping this essay in my inbox for a bit, both because I'll probably re-read it and simply as a visual cue/reminder of what matters. You articulated *so* much of what I've been processing for myself since the election (including a distaste for the other language of minimalism and frugality!).
I've only ever been interested in living my small, simple, spacious life as a self-employed person not working a full 40 hour week. But then increased earnings the last few years hijacked me quite a bit -- more consumption, more distraction, more stuff. Not more happiness or peace of mind or contentment.
Immediately after the election, I was clear-eyed about what this moment is calling for me to do. To, again, simplify. And yet the harmful chaos overwhelming us all can sometimes cloud that clarity at times for me. Hence my gratitude to you for this essay. I really, really hope it can perhaps evolve into something of a series to carry us through these coming months and years.
Thank you, Hannah! It sounds like we've had very similar paths, and I've had exactly the experience and feelings you describe here. I'll certainly keep writing about my journey back into simplicity as I learn/discover more!
I really appreciate how you framed this.
Thank you! Glad it's resonating.
Nourishing, hopeful, a balm. Thank you for this POV.
💖💖💖
Dana, thank you for so clearly articulating what I've been feeling myself for a while now. I keep thinking about how we are in this world where we're being treated like pawns on a chess board by people who have convinced us that buying cheap junk and scrolling endlessly online and working ourselves to early death are the paths to happiness and that oh hey, it's just a coincidence that this path has also made them outrageously wealthy at the expense of us and our planet. A small part of my resistance to what's going on has been opting out when possible, but now that you've given me a term to describe it - voluntary simplicity - I feel like it is perhaps more impactful than I'd previously thought!
What a ridiculous state the world is in! lol? I found that giving it this name really helped things click for me, too. It’s like I have a clearly articulated mission that makes it easier to make decisions: Is this helping me live more simply?
This paragraph 100% expresses where I'm at right now. I'm cooking more at home using simple ingredients, I'm playing more games with my kids at night, and overall just slowing down and being intentional with my time and money.
The level of simplicity is different for everyone, but it boils down to some form of conscious consumption and sustainable living. Voluntary simplicity often means skipping new clothes and opting for thrift-store shopping and sewing your own. It could mean driving less and using less electricity. Eating homegrown foods and home-cooked meals. Buying from independent artisans and local businesses instead of corporate giants. Occupying your time with service, joy, connection and community rather than hustling in the pursuit of wealth.
I'm curious about all the privilege that possibly contributed to being able to choose to live on $12,000/year: having willing friends with couches, being able-bodied, not having significant medical expenses or mental health needs, not being financially responsible for any pets/elderly relatives, having a partner (?), living in an area with low cost of living or being able to easily relocate, etc.
There definitely is some! A big part of it was the era; cost of living was much lower relative to income at the time. (And, for perspective, $12,000 from 2014 would be about $16,000 today... though freelance writing pay hasn't actually grown with inflation!)
My partner and I went through these years together, and he brought home similar pay — so our household was around $20K/year. Willing friends and family with couches and guest rooms were a huge help. We rented for ourselves most of the time, though, in major cities, at a time when *some* areas of these cities were still affordable. No kids, no pets, and our parents were still young and working. He has a chronic illness, and his life was changed by the passage of the ACA; before that, we relied on emergency rooms and racked up medical debt. We each do work that's not location-dependent, and I benefit from good health that lets me generally keep stable work.