While money does indeed contribute to happiness, it often leads us to bite off more than we can chew! I often praise a simpler, less consumerist lifestyle. But you may find it hard to embark on this kind of adventure. But it would be to your advantage.

Read on to find out why and how you can live on little but better.

An emergency signaled!

Living on a shoestring but living better means finding happiness in living on a tight budget. But living on a shoestring scares a lot of people. That’s hardly surprising. Our society is one of hyper-consumption. When you’ve got into the habit of consuming more than you need, it’s not so easy to change your habits.

To understand the need to live on little but better, we need to look at some telling statistics.

Let’s look at the problem of food waste: did you know that, as you read this sentence, 41,200 kilograms (90830.452 pounds) of food are being thrown away worldwide? This staggering figure adds up to more than a billion tons of wasted food a year, while in many countries people are dying of hunger. Question: why do we produce so much when we’re the first to throw the surplus in the garbage can?

Clearly, our society is hyper-consumptive. Yet we’re not necessarily happier. Suicide, depression and heart disease are just as common among the rich as the poor. Living on little but living better is not their option. But does a life of hyper-consumption necessarily lead to happiness? Clearly not.

So we have to recognize that the problem lies elsewhere. You need to return to a less consumerist, more fulfilling way of life. Is this paradoxical? No, on the contrary. Thousands of people do it every day and are better off for it. Why shouldn’t you?

Yes, if you want to be happy, learn to live on little and manage a tight budget. The secret to living on little but better can be broken down into 4 key tips.

Living on little and very well: it’s worth it, be convinced!

THE FIRST OBSTACLE TO LEARNING TO LIVE ON LITTLE IS PSYCHOLOGICAL: for many of us, it’s downright impossible. We find a thousand reasons not to do it: we’re going to miss out on our life; we’re going to miss out on something important; and so on.

But think about the advantages of living simply:

YOU’LL SAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SPACE: to live on little, you’ll have to get rid of possessions you no longer use. Almost everyone who’s done it has noticed that their home is bigger, because it’s less cluttered. As a result, they enjoyed living at home more.

YOU’LL BECOME A RESPONSIBLE MANAGER: rather than buying on a whim, living leaner and better will help you think before you buy. The money you save will always be put to good use. It will be used to do good for your loved ones, to treat yourself to unforgettable trips, training courses or experiences, and perhaps even to pay off your debts sooner than expected.

Other advantages of living frugally

YOU’LL HAVE MORE TIME FOR YOURSELF: people spend an inordinate amount of time looking after superfluous possessions. For example, if it takes you around 40 minutes to wash and clean a car. That’s a lot, isn’t it? Just think of all the time you spend polishing and shining up all kinds of furniture and crockery… could that time be put to better use? In any case, you’ll have more time for yourself and your loved ones if you live on less. What’s more, you’ll be able to devote more time to improving your happiness.

YOU’LL BE LESS STRESSED AND LESS SICK: the efforts you make to maintain many possessions have an impact on your health. They cause a lot of stress. The fewer possessions you have, the fewer things you have to maintain. As a result, your life is less hectic and you’re not as prone to stress as other people. Think about it: so-called “primitive” populations such as the aborigines of Australia, or the Indians of the Amazon rainforest, have very little stress. Why is that? Because their way of life, in connection with nature, is very simple and minimalist. Could this be pure coincidence?

So you can indeed live lightly, but live better. But how do you go about it?

Live small but live better: differentiate between desire and need

To live on little and enjoy true happiness, you need to differentiate between your wants and your needs. It’s mainly because we don’t always make this distinction that we consume so much.

Your needs don’t necessarily change, or change very little. You probably need a car, a place to live, presentable clothes, food and care for your family. Living on little but better means focusing on your needs.

Your desires, on the other hand, can be very varied, and constantly changing. For example, you don’t necessarily need 2 cars. Or you can continue to live even if you don’t own the latest car. If a few shirts keep you looking presentable, a closet of shirts isn’t essential. On the other hand, systematically treating yourself to a vacation out of the country every year may not be a priority. You can also survive without a plethora of video games.

Take the time to differentiate between your wants and your needs. Once you’ve defined the 5 or 6 things you really need to live, you can move on to the next stage.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
Let’s face it, we’re all attached to our possessions. Sometimes viscerally. So starting to live on a tight budget isn’t easy. That’s why you need to do things gradually. Here are 5 steps to simplify your life and learn to live on a shoestring:

ESTIMATE AND REDUCE YOUR EXPENSES
This is the first point when you want to live on little but better. Find out where your money is going. Take a close look at what you spend on cable, telephone, coffee and so on. Could you do without them? Find out what you spend on clothes, entertainment or extras. Can you do better with less, for example by going shopping once every 2 months instead of once a week? Limit superfluous spending in all areas.

START WITH THE OBVIOUS
Clearly, some things are no longer necessary. To live on little but better, start by getting rid of those obsolete, perhaps completely damaged things. This will give you the impetus you need for a more thorough sorting out. Don’t think you can reduce your wardrobe by 75% in a single day. Instead, decide to get rid of a garment you no longer wear every 2 weeks.

GET RID OF SUPERFLUOUS ITEMS METHODICALLY
Consumerism is a way of life. So you need to concentrate on one thing at a time. Otherwise, you’ll be even more stressed about getting rid of everything at once. For example, decide to put your wardrobe in order for the next 2 months. Then move on to the garage; then the living room; then the bedrooms; and so on.

FOCUS ON YOUR NEEDS
Remember the needs assessment mentioned earlier? Well, now’s your chance to use it. No matter how much money you earn, invest it in urgent needs and save the rest.

But don’t forget to set aside some money for relaxation. It’s a necessity. But make sure you do things that are cheap or even free: cycling with your family, having a picnic in the woods, playing soccer in your garden, lounging in the sun sipping fruit juice, and so on. You’ll soon notice that the most popular pleasures are sometimes the cheapest, so you’ll be able to enjoy life to the full.

THINK “SUBSTITUTION” AND “NO DEBT”.
Learn to replace the more expensive with the less expensive. For example, drink water instead of the fruit juices you see so much of on TV. They’re not necessary. Cook at home instead of going out to eat. Before you spend any money, always ask yourself the question: “Can we do something simpler and cheaper?” and choose that option.

Also, consider paying off your debts. The fewer debts you have, the richer and better invested your money will be. This may mean getting rid of your credit card in favor of cash. This habit will help you to keep better track of your day-to-day spending, so you can live on little but better.

GIVE AND BE HAPPY!
“Live simply so others can simply live” – Gandhi

What’s the point of all the money you’ve saved by living frugally? Well, if you’re going to use it to buy anything and everything, that would be a shame, wouldn’t it? Think of more interesting investments instead. We all have them. Or treat your family and friends. This money can also be used to buy better quality equipment.

In any case, remember that you’re always happier when you give. Living on a tight budget isn’t about being poor. It’s about choosing a lifestyle that puts your needs first. If you do this, and help others at the same time, you’re bound to be happier. A minimalist lifestyle brings great joy. Anyone who’s tried it will tell you so.

So, when’s your next venture into living leaner and better, and experiencing the pleasures of a minimalist lifestyle?