You know whenever you go somewhere and you always pick up some sort of souvenir? Some dingy knick knacks that will most likely get broken some day or another? What if I told you that you shouldn't buy them anymore? Crazy, I know. But lately, that is how it's been for me. Our generation and past generations have learned that in order to be happy, we need to have a lot of possessions, but I am here to tell you that that is not the case in order to be happy.

I have cleaned out my closets, cabinets, my bathroom drawers, my kitchen, and pretty much every other space where I have things and downsized on things a lot. I have literally downsized so much that all my stuff fits on one side of my closet (I have a walk in closet, so I guess I could live in a studio if I wanted to with all of this downsizing). I am pretty sure I made more than five trips to Good Will.

If you think about it – yes, I know we love to indulge in the knick knacks – that money that we spend could have been used for something else, say that new car you want to have by the end of the year as a graduation present to yourself. My trick is that I put a photo in my wallet of something I really want to get so that every time I go to the mall and want to buy something, the first thing I see is that picture. And then I change my mind.

Also, we need to think of others who do not have what we have. I think that thought really pushed me into downsizing, because I did not want to buy a $300 bag cause I knew that someone out there wants that bag but they cannot have it because they cannot afford it. Our industry only believes in making things so that people can spend money, even if they do not really have that money. They only care about money.

I am not saying you have to live simply, I am just saying that it is a more enjoyable life because it will make you happier to cherish photos and memories than physical items. Photos, post cards, home videos, and memories go a long way; souvenirs can't really go that long. We end up throwing most of what we indulge in away or give it to Good Will anyway.

Living simply and frugally is so satisfying. At least, it has been for me because I know that I can easily find something. So give it a try and see how it makes you feel after. I guarantee you that you will feel amazing after donating or tossing things out of your life. Also, you will find things in your home that you totally forgot that you even had.

I personally feel that if we all live simply, we will all enjoy life more.