According to this article, an engineer from Vermont has designed a more simple and sustainable life for himself. He minimizes his yearly impact on the environment and his pocketbook by consuming less and living for $5,000 a year.
He argues: “This belt-tightening is good for us,” he says. “We’re swimming in a society that’s super consumptive. Right now is such a beautiful opportunity for us to become sustainable.”
His book, Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth, seems worth checking out. I'm also intrigued by a book that influenced his own thinking: Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence.
I definitely don't see myself living on $5,000 a year, but I bet I can get ideas about how to continue to reduce. I'm going to see if I can find these in the Houston Public Library system...
7 comments:
Great tip-I'm going to check this book out. My hope is that this economic mess will make people reconsider their lifestyles & maybe make some people consider living more simply.
Best!
Oooooh we'll have to check that out. I haven't heard of him, but the boy loves the "Your Money or Your Life" book. We're also big fans of "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh (http://www.amazon.com/Its-All-Too-Much-Living/dp/0743292650/ref=ed_oe_p) We call it "the stuff book". It really got us kick started on paring down.
I had to read 'Your Money or Your Life' for a class in college and highly recommend it. Personally, I think living on $5k or less per year is unsustainable in and of itself, but there's certainly alot to be said for living a life of intentional frugality.
I've read this book and I really like it. The approach that he takes is time consuming and incredibly detailed, but incorporating aspects of it as been helpful for us.
He also speaks extensively of population control, but in a sensitive way.
you can get your money or your life for cheap at half price books.
I'd love to live on $5k a year, but it's not possible for me, not where I live.
Rent is $800+ dollars. Sure, I could live somewhere where the rent is $300 a month, but with the more expensive apartment, I can walk to work or ride my bike.
Most of the luxuries most books like this cut out are things I need for my job. I need the internet and I need a phone.
There's not much you can cut out from my life and it's still not $5k a year :/
I love this idea: http://www.rentachook.com.au/. Thought you might like it too.
Post a Comment