Top 5 articles of 2019

5. Books. Do we need them anymore?

Why do we keep books? To read them again? How many do we ever read a second time? I worked it out.For me not many.

This lead to a second post on my technique for streamlining my book collection.

4. Living in a converted barn.

This was something my wife and I tried on a trip away this year. Check out the pictures. I still reckon it could be possible long-term. We really don't need as much space as we have.

3. What's your retirement age?

It's not 67. At least it doesn't have to be. If we spend less, compulsory work can become optional at a very early age. It could even be in your 30s.

2. The automatic guest room

On the same trip as number 4, we stayed with a friend who (with some clever furniture) converts her living room into another bedroom. It's a clever way to be able to have guests, but without paying a heap of money for a bigger place.

1. Don't dump on charities

This time last year, Marie Kondo's documentary hit Netflix - and decluttering became trendy. Combined with post-Christmas cleanup, new year's resolutions and (in Australia) summer holidays) donations to charity surged.

Trouble is that it already costs charities 8-figure sums each year to dispose of the "donations" left outside their store.

In my post I put forward a better solution

Want more?

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Happy New Year

Hope your 2020 is a year of less. Less stuff, less clutter, less expenses, less debt, less pressure and less stress. :)

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My mug shot

This is every mug I own. How many did I buy? Zero. They seem to just appear. I don't even drink tea or coffee. In winter I have might have a hot chocolate or cocoa. So 9 mugs seems like a lot. How does this happen? I reckon most mugs are gifts. There are two reasons for this. 1. It's a safe bet. People need to drink. It's kind of like buying your dad socks for father's day. But the difference is that socks wear out and need replacing. Cups don't. One of these mugs i received as a kid in the 90s. It still works fine. Now it has 8 friends. 2. It's often for what's on the mug. It might be a greeting card-style message, or a sports team logo, or something humorous. It's a good thing that something functional can also provide an inspiring message or pleasant memory as you use it. But the problem comes when we have too much. If I use the cup my sister gave me at Christmas, then I'm not using the 'awesome brother' one she already gave m...

Less Clutter More Cash - now available

Do you feel like you have too much stuff? Is your home full of things you never use? Would you like to swap them for cash? We did My wife and I have sold more than 550 items online as we downsize and we've learnt a bit along the way. I've put some of our best tips into this handy ebook. I hope you can use these tips so you too can have less clutter and more cash. Enter your email address below to receive the book for free. Less Clutter More Cash Get my new ebook for free. PS. This will subscribe to the But Wait There's Less email list, so you'll know when the new updated version of the book is available. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Four Thousand Weeks - Time and How to Use It

First question. Why 4000 weeks? That's the average human lifespan. If you're reading this you've probably used up 1000 already. If you're a bit older you may have only 2000 left. Maybe just 1000. That can be a startling thought - given how quickly each week goes by. There's so much wisdom in this book, it's hard to summarise it briefly. But I'll give it a go.... Face the Finitude If time was infinite, we could work for 40 years and not miss out on anything. We could spend frivolously as we could always earn more money later. But in the real world there are time limits. Even if we have enough money to escape the nine-to-five, our time (though more plentiful) is finite. Just like money, we will run out if we fritter it away on low-value options. "Face the Finitude" has become one of my internal phrases now. It's my reminder that I don't have infinite time to waste. It may be helpful to think of it like money. eg. I might like something, but d...

But wait... there's less!

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