Living with Less: America's Quest for Simplicity

LIVING WITH LESS AMERICA'S QUEST FOR SIMPLICITY THE MINIMALIST CONVERSION: STEP ONE STEP TWO WE SPEND YEARS WORKING TO PAY THE MORTGAGE, BUY NICER CARS, MORE GADGETS, TRENDIER CLOTHES. LEAVING US WITH PILES CLEANING OUT, MOVING, OR JUST TRING TO FREE UP SOME SPACE, WE REALIZE NOT ONLY THAT THESE PREVIOUS PURCHASES HAVEN'T BROUGHT US MEANING, BUT THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY DISTRACTED US FROM WHAT IS MOST MEANINGFUL. AND PILES OF STUFF. HOW IT HAPPENS [HOUSING] WE HAVE THREE TIMES AS MUCH SPACE PER PERSON IN OUR HOMES (COMPARED TO 1950). AVG. HOUSE SIZE: FAMILY MEMBERS LEAVING: PER HOUSE: 1950 983 SQ. FT. 292 SQ. FT. 3.37 PEOPLE PER PERSON 2011 2480 SQ. FT. 2.6 PEOPLE 954 SQ. FT. PER PERSON THE AVERAGE U.S. RESIDENT HAS AS MUCH INDIVIDUAL SPACE IN THEIR HOUSE AS AN ENTIRE 1950'S FAMILY WOULD HAVE SHARED. [SHOPPING] [MAINTENANCE] WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME FILLING THAT WHICH TAKES UP MORE TIME MAINTAINING SPACE WITH STUFF. WITH THE AVERAGE ALL THAT STUFF. AMERICAN SPENDING 43.2 MINUTES PER DAY SHOPPING. WITH 21.5 HOURS WEEKLY TAKEN UP BY UNPAID HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING: • THAT'S 261 HOURS A YEAR, OR THE EQUIVALENT OF 6 AND A HALF WORK WEEKS. 11.1 HOURS SPENT ON MAINTAINING THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE. [THIS NUMBER INCLUDES CLEANING, LAUNDRY, SEWING, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, LAWN AND GARDEN CARE, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, AND PURCHASING OF GOODS AND SERVICES] x3 AMERICAN WOMEN TOP THIS STAT WITH AN ASTOUNDING 399 HOURS AND 46 MINUTES WITH THIS NUMBER ALMOST TRIPLING FROM SPENT SHOPPING PER YEAR. AGES 24-65, AS WE GET MORE STUFF 24 MAINTENANCE TIME 6.7 HOURS A WEEK THAT'S 8 AND 1/2 YEARS OF 65 MAINTENANCE TIME SHOPPING IF YOU LIVE TO BE 63. 18 HOURS PER WEEK WHICH LEAVES US ABSOLUTELY LIVING FOR STUFF WORK MAINTENANCE SHOPPING 40 HOURS 5.04 HOURS 21.5 HOURS 66.54 HOURS/WEEK OR 9.5 HOURS PER DAY Pa 9.5 HOURS 1.5 HOURS PREPERATION/ COMMUTE TO WORK LIVING FOR STUFF 5 HOURS 8 HOURS LIVE LIFE SLEEPING 19 HOURS = LIVING FOR STUFF 5 HOURS = LIVING LIFE THIS, HOWEVER, IS AN AVERAGE. WITH MANY PEOPLE CHOOSING TO LIVE A LOT MORE, WITHA LOT LESS. WHICH IS BETTER FOR YOU. THE PARADOX OF CHOICE: MORE CHOICES IN CONSUMERISM = LESS COMFORT AND = MORE ANXIETY. SCENARIO ONE: OR, SCENARIO TWO: BOAT WANTING TO FOCUS ON WELL BEING OF CHILDREN OR PRIVATE OR TRIP SCHOOL FOR KIDS LEADS TO SPENDING TIME WITH CHILD, IF THEY AREN'T DOING WELL, PERHAPS MOVING TO A BETTER SCHOOL DISTRICT, HIRING A LONELY MISSING THE POINT TUTOR, SIGNING THEM UP FOR ACTIVITIES OR MANY OR RAINY-DAY EXPENSIVE FUND DINNERS CONSUMER WANTING TO WANTING TO FOCUS ON FOCUS ON FRIENDS RELATIONSHIP LEADS TO SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS, LEADS TO SPENDING TIME ON HAVING SPENDING MONEY ON COOKOUTS, TRIPS. "REAL" EXPERIENCES WITH SOMEONE EQUIPMENT FOR NEW SHARED HOBBY. PUT THESE FIRST AND THESE TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. AND BETTER FOR THE PLANET AS ONE AVERAGE AMERICAN CONSUMER CREATES 17.2 METRIC TONNES OF CARBON DIOXIDE ANNUALLY. WHILE PLACES LIKE DENMARK LIVE ON 8.4 NEW ZEALAND= 7.8 AND EVEN CHINA = 7.2 17.2 8.4 7.8 7.2 METRIC TONNES OF CARBON DIOXIDE WHICH HELPS US ALL LIVE MORE. PERHAPS WITHOUT OUR FANCY GADGETS. AND INSTANTLY CUSTOM WRAPPED DOO-DADS. BUT WITH OUR DOGS, CATS, CHILDREN, FRIENDS...AND MAYBE SOME BEER. BROUGHT TO YOU BY masters-in-human-resources.org [CITATIONS] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/opinion/sunday/living-with-less-a-lot-less.html?pagewanted-all&_r=O http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/25/time-spent-shopping-falls_n_1624328.html http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/average-women-spend-399-hours-shopping-year-survey-finds-article-1.116819 http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2009/07/art3full.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice:_Why_More_Is_Less http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita AMERICA DENMARK NEW ZEALAND CHINA