Reflecting on my past, the times I recall most vividly and with the greatest satisfaction are never the result of something I purchased. Even our family’s 1996 Honda Accord, which carried me through highschool…

Tight economic times call for creative solutions. But some of the best solutions are the ones that have stood the test of time. Thankfully, there’s a beautiful tradition of low-cost meals that are still…

When we think about simplifying our lives, I think the natural tendency is to focus on adding more structure and effort to our lives. We want to tackle our disorganized homes, cut out excess…

I’ll admit, I’m not one who is naturally given to rest. My default mode is work—not because I’m particularly ambitious, but because I’m restless and bored easily. My “work hard, play hard” personality has…

If you’re like me, the list of things you think you need to live a happy life is probably quite long. It could be a long list of material possessions, but more than likely…

I love the Christmas season, but sometimes I wonder why we feel the need to make everything bigger, better, and flashier each year. Maybe you don’t feel that way, but my wife and I…

For too long I used way too much of my brainpower thinking about what other people thought about me, and trying to change those thoughts to be as positive as possible. I know I’m…

For most of my life, Sundays were for two things that I really enjoyed: church and rest. Unfortunately, over time, that restful Sunday left a bigger and bigger mountain of responsibility for me to…

I know that for many people financial stress has been a feature of modern life. This past week I was having lunch with my brother and we were trying to figure out why our…

For much of my life I’ve tried to live frugally, and for the 12+ years of my married life I’ve tried to avoid spending wastefully. My assumption has always been that you get diminishing…

Minimalism, to me, stands as one of the most significant lifestyle movements and philosophies of our generation. In an era of rapid growth, excess, and nonstop modern living, thousands of people have united around…

I admit there are days when I let myself feel a little down. I’m not doing my best work, and so I feel guilty. I’m not prioritizing my marriage, and so I feel a…