Joshua Becker's Blog, page 18

7 Personal Finance Principles Made Easier Through Minimalism

Personal finance is an important topic. I write about it often.

When I use the phrase “personal finance,” I’m talking about the personal decisions and disciplines we incorporate into our lives concerning the finances in our personal possession.

What is interesting to me about personal finance is that many of the same principles are repeated over and over again by money experts, advisers, and writers.

But not all of these principles get applied by people (which is why they get continually repeated).

From my side of the minimalism conversation, I can see clearly why so many of the most common financial principles are hard to implement for people.

In the US, according to some studies, we spend $1,500/month on nonessentials. By choosing to buy only the things we need, we provide more margin to follow these principles we keep hearing repeated.

Will buying only what we need solve every personal finance crisis in the world? Of course not.

But it’ll solve the crisis for more people than you think… maybe even you.

Minimalism isn’t just about owning fewer things; it’s about reshaping our attitudes and habits around consumption and finding contentment in less. This approach, as many are discovering, isn’t just freeing up space in our homes but is paving the way for a healthier financial life.

Here are seven universally recommended personal finance principles and how they become more attainable through minimalism:

1. Spend Less Than You Earn

The foundation of financial wisdom, yet often hard to implement in practice.

With minimalism, our wants decrease and we learn better how to discern between needs and desires.

This means we naturally spend less, making it easier to live below our means—and it doesn’t take long to realize it is not a sacrifice to do so.

2. Save Consistently

As we limit our purchases to only what adds value to our lives, we’ll find that we aren’t as inclined to make impulse buys.

With fewer unplanned expenditures, setting aside a consistent portion of our income becomes much simpler. “Save a little bit every month,” something you’ve been told from the very beginning, suddenly becomes achievable.

3. Avoid Credit Card Debt

For the first time ever, Americans hold $1T in credit card debt.

This is a problem. Credit card debt builds and builds and will eventually consume your time, money, and focus.

This type of debt can be tempting, especially when we’re eyeing the latest gadgets or fashion.

But with a minimalist mindset, we’re less swayed by trends, making it less tempting to go into debt for short-term pleasures.

4. Start Retirement Savings Early

Compound interest is on your side when you start saving for retirement early.

When we embrace the idea of buying only what we need, we find opportunity to prioritize our future selves, leading us to start that retirement fund earlier and benefiting from the magic of compound interest.

5. Maintain an Emergency Fund

Having a small fund of savings for little emergencies is wise and helpful in our financial lives. Dave Ramsey recommends $1,000 as a starting number—that number sounds good to me although $1,000 is buying less and less these days.

Again, you can begin to see the connection here, without the constant influx of non-essential items, more of our money can be directed towards building (and maintaining) this safety net.

This means when life throws its inevitable curveballs, we’re financially equipped to handle them.

Minimalism makes these personal finance principles, which you’ve heard repeatedly, easier and easier. Let’s add two more.

6. Diversify your Investments

Will every person who pursues minimalism have extra funds available to invest? Not necessarily.

But “diversify your investments” is very common personal finance advice—and it’s good advice. It’s never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket.

For many people who overspend, their home becomes their only long-term investment (plus maybe a little bit deducted from their paycheck into retirement). Buying less offers an on-ramp of extra funds to invest in more places than your home.

7. Plan for Big Purchases

Every once in a while, a significant purchase is required. Maybe it’s a new car, a home renovation, or a much-needed vacation to recharge.

Almost every financial expert will advise us to save up over time, and plan for these big-ticket items.

Minimalism, again, makes this easier to do.

There are many life-giving benefits that we discovered living a minimalist life. And becoming more intentional with our finances was definitely one of them!

If you’ve been hearing this type of personal finance advice your entire life but have always struggled to follow it, let me recommend an idea to you: Buy only what you need. You’ll love it!

Is Having a Lot of Money Really Something to Be Proud Of?

In today’s world, we praise and celebrate people with money.

Magazines rank them, television networks and websites celebrate their success. Books are written about how to join them.

Closer to home, people with money are often treated differently in our local organizations and at our dinner parties. Most people, it seems to me, would like to join them and have extra money in the bank.

In fact, if you were to ask a roomful of people, “How many of you would like to be rich?” Almost every hand would go up.

Having a lot of money is a symbol of achievement in our society that most people aspire to acquire.

Even from a young age, many of us fantasized about having a lot of money when we get older and how awesome that would be. And as we get older, it is something we work hard to achieve.

But let’s pause for a moment and entertain a new, and slightly uncomfortable, thought:

Is having a lot of money really something we should be proud of?

Why are we celebrating it? Why are we chasing it? Maybe it’s not something to proud of… maybe it’s something we should be embarrassed about instead?

Before I go any further, let me start with two assumptions about money that should get us thinking differently:

1. There are, almost always, outside factors that played a role in one’s accumulation of money.

Many people who have money were born with it—and I’m not always talking about inheriting a fortune. (Merely starting life in the middle class makes living a middle class lifestyle infinitely easier to achieve.)

And there are other factors, outside one’s control, that almost certainly resulted in one’s accumulation of excess: the country or city of our birth, the families we were born into, world events, even the innate talents and abilities we were given at birth play a part.

These advantages often pave a smoother road to prosperity for some than for others.

Of course, this isn’t to downplay the hard work that someone might put in to acquire wealth, it’s just an acknowledgment that there were other factors, outside your control, that contributed to that accumulation.

Which brings me to my second point:

2. Money doesn’t always measure effort (or talent).

Having a lot of money does not necessarily mean you’ve outworked others or are more talented.

In my life, I’ve encountered countless individuals, particularly in the nonprofit sector, who are incredibly skilled and dedicated. They could have potentially made lots of money but chose instead to funnel their talents toward noble causes. Some, knowing full-well, what they were giving up to pursue the work they chose.

Additionally, I think of the countless parents who’ve prioritized raising their children over building bank balances. They, too, have made a significant impact with their work and talents, it’s just not reflected in their net worth.

They chose to chase something else instead.

I want to mention those two points because I think they are important in helping us reframe the accumulation of money in the first place.

But it’s this next thought that really makes me wonder if having a lot of money is something to be proud of:

3. Every dollar held in our bank account is a dollar that could be used to help someone else.

Consider this, when we hold onto more money than we need, we do so at the expense of others. Our excess could provide food, family, education, work-training, and/or opportunity to people who desperately need it.

Over 25% of the world’s population lives on less than $4/day. Literally, every extra dollar in our bank account is a dollar that could be spent to meet the needs of others.

And here we are, with extra money sitting in bank accounts, investments, or even just things we bought and forgot about. Holding onto extra money means missed opportunities. I wonder if the awareness of that reality should motivate us more than it does.

Keeping more money for ourselves than we need is a sign that we could be helping others, but are choosing not to. There may be any number of reasons for that decision (and some of them might be healthy), but a large number of reasons are not (greed and worry come to mind right off the top of my head).

Now, I can’t claim to know the personal circumstances of every individual reading this.

But perhaps today, more than anything else, I just want to raise a question that you’ve maybe never considered:

Is having a lot of money really something to be proud of?

Or is it something we should actually be embarrassed about—given all the need around us?

Before I end, it might be helpful for me to clarify a few things that I’m not saying:

I’m not glamorizing poverty or suggesting it’s a more virtuous state. All financial states come with their challenges and lessons, and poverty isn’t inherently more noble.I’m not advising against saving money. Just as ants store up food for the winter, it’s wise for us to prepare for the future. I’m just wondering if there’s a point where saving for our unknown future should be more heavily weighed against someone’s actual need today.This isn’t an article discouraging ambition. Every single one of us should be working as hard as we can to become the best versions of ourselves in order to bring about the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Hard work (paid or unpaid) is not something to be avoided.I’m not arguing for earning less. Everyone should earn a fair wage for their efforts. This isn’t about purposefully earning less than you are worth or the value you bring to an organization. If you’re doing a job, you deserve to be paid well for it. I’m just wondering where we should find pride with the money that we’ve earned.Nor is this a political stance. Regardless of the system of government, disparities are going to exist. This isn’t about advocating for a political system that forces individual decisions, this is about each of us making decisions with the financial wealth we have—regardless of the government system.This isn’t an article about “those rich people”. This is a conversation for us all to consider and evaluate the excess we have accumulated. We are wealthy. And the person’s financial ethic we should care most about is our own.

Again, I’m not going to pretend to have all the answers for everyone’s unique financial circumstances.

I’m just wondering in a world where financial excess is the goal of many, is that even something we should be trying to achieve?

Is having a lot of money really something to be proud of?

Maybe it’s revealing more about our heart than we realize—and not in a good way.

15 Little Ways to Bring Intentionality Into Your Day

Too often, given the noise, rush, and demands of our modern lives, it can feel from time to time that our days are in the driver’s seat—calling the shots, choosing our actions, picking our mood, and rushing past us in a blur.

We sometimes drift through days, reacting rather than acting, being led rather than leading.

But remember this: How you spend your days is how you spend your life.

And by infusing intentionality into our daily routines, we can regain control, ensuring that our days reflect the life we genuinely desire.

While big changes can sometimes make this happen, often, all we need are small actions to bring about more intentionality in our day and lives.

Here are 15 little ways to do that:

1. Use a Morning Routine

Establishing a set routine for your mornings can instill a sense of control at the start of your day. This consistency can act as an anchor, grounding you and preparing you for whatever lies ahead.

2. Take a Digital Break

Designate periods in your day when you step away from screens. This conscious detachment allows you to reconnect with the real world around you.

3. Take a Nature Break

Carve out time, even if brief, to connect with the outdoors. It might be a short walk or simply listening to the rustle of leaves, reminding you of life’s natural rhythms.

4. Drink Water

An act as simple as drinking water serves as a reminder to nourish ourselves. The next time you feel hungry or stressed, pour yourself a large glass of water, and hydrate.

5. Maintain a Gratitude Journal

Before bed, write down three things that brought you joy. This daily practice helps highlight the small, everyday blessings that enrich our lives.

6. Read with Purpose

Choose material that nourishes your soul. Whether it’s an inspiring article or a meaningful book, let the words and thoughts challenge your brain, elevate your spirit, and broaden your perspective.

7. Ask Questions

Make an effort to dive deeper into conversations, fostering genuine connections and learning from others’ experiences and insights. Asking good questions requires good listening and presence. Our interest usually brings us closer to the people in our lives.

8. Craft a 3-Item To-Do List

Streamline your tasks, focusing on just three primary goals for the day. This approach ensures purposeful actions and less scatter. I’ve used it for years—you’ll love it.

9. Sit Quietly with Yourself

Dedicate five minutes to be in silence. It’s a moment to recenter and align with your innermost thoughts and feelings. If you can go longer on an occasional basis, please do. Solitude does wonder for the soul.

10. Preplan Minor Decisions

Decide on minor elements of your day in advance, like your meals or attire. This proactive approach conserves mental energy for more impactful decisions.

11. Nightly Reflection

Take time to ponder your day. Recognize moments of being present, your attitude throughout the day, and always consider how you’d like to act differently tomorrow.

12. Give a Compliment

By intentionally giving a compliment each day, you are required to actively seek the good around you. And by expressing that appreciation, you not only uplift others but also train yourself to notice life’s beauties.

13. Smile

Beyond brightening your mood with a rush of feel-good hormones, a simple smile can radiate positivity to those around you. That’s what the science says.

14. Eat a Healthy Snack

Making a conscious choice to nourish your body with something beneficial reinforces the practice of intentional living.

15. Active Listening

Truly tune into conversations, hearing not just words but emotions and underlying sentiments. This deepens bonds and showcases genuine interest.

Will these 15 little acts cure all of life’s ills and remove all of life’s stress? No, certainly not.

However, when done consistently, I believe they provide an opportunity to help us reclaim control over our lives. I incorporate all of them from time-to-time, but especially when I need intentionality the most.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Embrace the freedom that comes from less.

Minimalism isn’t just about owning fewer possessions. It’s also about an intentional promotion of our highest values in life by removing anything that distracts us from them. It’s about finding the freedom to live the life you desire.

As we journey together toward an intentional and minimalist lifestyle, it’s helpful to find constant inspiration for motivation.

So, make yourself comfortable with a hot cup of tea or coffee this weekend, and take some time to read and reflect on these personally curated articles that are here to inspire simplicity and intentionality in your life.

7 Life-Changing Lessons I Learned from Decluttering | No Sidebar by Dee Nowak. A lifetime of travel and years as an expat have taught me to stay organized and never accumulate more than you can easily pack.

I Tried the 12:12:12 Decluttering Challenge and I’m Never Looking Back | Yahoo by Jullia Joson. A go-to easy and attainable decluttering method to help me keep on top of storage and organization.

Crunching The Numbers: Is Your Storage Unit Worth The Expense? | Forbes by Joshua Becker. Renting a storage unit isn’t just about solving an immediate need for space; it’s an ongoing financial commitment that demands periodic evaluation.

7 Reasons to Not Hide Purchases From Your Spouse | Simple Money by Jennifer Hayes. Transparency isn’t just for windows; it’s the foundation of a strong and loving relationship.

Everything You Need to Know About How Digital Minimalism Can Make Relationships Better | India Times by Sumedha Tripathi. In a world where technology has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives, it’s all too easy to lose sight of what truly matters—our relationships.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

10 Things Your Capsule Wardrobe Needs (That Aren’t Clothes) | YouTube by Joshua Becker. The secret to a successful capsule wardrobe goes beyond the clothes themselves.

12 Small Ways to Choose Happiness Today | YouTube by Joshua Becker. No matter our circumstances, there are little choices we can make each day to foster a positive outlook and a mind attuned towards joy.

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Becker Method Professional Certification Course | Joshua Becker. If you are a Professional Organizer, Move Manager, or anyone passionate about guiding others towards a simpler lifestyle, I created the Becker Method Certified Professional Training Course just for you.

Over the next six weeks, I’m going to dive deep into the strategies and techniques that have helped Becoming Minimalist transform countless lives over the past 15 years. The registration deadline for me first training is this Sunday night. If you want to help others own less, I created this for you.

The Rise of “This-Just-Started-Working-For-Me” Wisdom

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.” —Doug Larson 

The Internet is amazing.

It is literally a treasure of information and inspiration—available at our fingertips whenever (and almost everywhere) we desire.

The Internet has torn down traditional barriers, where now almost anyone can become an author, a guru, an expert, or an influencer. There is no need to go through a gatekeeper to publish your voice. Anybody can publish and teach what they know.

I stand as proof—dating all the way back to 2008.

I’ve been blessed for the last 15 years to have a voice and community on the Internet (and my guess is that some of you do too).

Yes, as with many things in life, the very tool that brings us so much opportunity has its drawbacks.

There’s an aspect of this anybody can have a voice landscape that sometimes gives me pause.

I call it the rise of “This-Just-Started-Working-For-Me” Wisdom.

My guess is that the idea is not entirely new. But it may be louder and more prevalent than ever before.

You see, in a world where anyone can publish their voice, there is constant pressure to stay relevant and not be replaced by the cool new thing.

The pressure (both external and internal) to publish content, to be liked, to chase pageviews and email subscribers, and to be followed on social media can be intense.

And this pressure can result in a tendency for creators to jump on quick conclusions and project them as universal truths.

They discover something new, try it out for a few days, and quickly begin talking about it as a means to pump out new and fresh content. “This-Just-Started-Working-For-Me” Wisdom.

For instance, someone finds a new diet that seems miraculous and works for two weeks, and suddenly tells the world about it. Or they hear about a new parenting technique that works wonders one Saturday afternoon and feel compelled to declare it a revolution in child-rearing.

But are people really testing these new “discoveries?”

Is everyone allowing time to reveal whether these nuggets of wisdom have lasting value?

Sometimes I think people (myself included at times) are so eager to share something they’ve learned that they don’t give themselves the opportunity to truly experience, understand, and assess what they’ve learned. Lasting wisdom takes time to discern.

The diet becomes unsustainable and the 10 lbs lost in two weeks comes back, plus 5 more pounds. The parenting hack that momentarily kept your kids quiet leaves them feeling isolated in the long run.

Meanwhile, the “expert” has moved on to the next lifestyle change that seems to be working and needs to be shared with everyone.

And once you recognize it, you begin to see it everywhere:

Investment Tips: Someone has immediate success in the stock market with a particular strategy or individual stock and immediately starts sharing it as a fail-proof way to get rich quick.

Exercise Routines: After experiencing some initial success or endorphin highs with a new workout regimen, people might advocate for it as the ultimate fitness solution. However, such routines may not be sustainable or suitable for all body types or health conditions.

Productivity Hacks: Someone discovers a new app or method that seems to make them hyper-productive for a few days and immediately begin promoting it, without considering the longer-term implications or if the hack can survive the initial fascination and commitment.

Natural Remedies: Some might try a natural or home remedy for a health issue and, upon seeing immediate relief, tout it as a miracle cure—overlooking any number of other factors that might have been in play, including the well-known placebo effect.

Relationship tips, spiritual advice, get-rich-quick schemes, tech products, life hacks, the list goes on and on.

Because this type of untested wisdom is everywhere, we need to be on guard. The stakes are incredibly high.

This is about more than just wasting time on foolish ideas. We could end up following advice that does more harm than good.

There’s a way to avoid this. Whether it’s the teachings of ancient philosophies, the writings of spiritual leaders, or simply the advice from our grandparents, we have a wealth of knowledge available to us that has stood the test of time. There is tried-and-true wisdom available to all of us—we just need to make the effort to go look.

Because it’s probably not trending on Twitter or Reddit.

We should listen to people who’ve lived more life than us. Our grandparents, our elders—they’ve seen a lot and they have wisdom that’s stood up over time. We should study the lives of people we admire and ask them questions. Look for wisdom that has stood the test of time for multiple generations.

I often talk about minimalism, which I know full-well has roots going way back. It is timeless wisdom about choosing what really matters in life. That’s the kind of wisdom that sticks around.

So, what do we do the next time we come across a “This-Just-Started-Working-For-Me Wisdom” article? I think we should stop and ask ourselves some questions. How long has this author been practicing this advice? Will it last? Does it line up with what we’ve learned from people who’ve been around longer than we have?

There’s no doubt the advice they are offering may actually be healthy, life-changing advice. But there’s also a chance it won’t stand the test of time.

At the end of the day, our lives are built on the choices we make and the things we allow into our heart, mind, and soul. Let’s make room for wisdom that’s been tested, that’s been around the block a few times.

If we do, I think we’ll find our lives become richer and fuller. And that’s always a wise choice.

Raising Capable Kids: Why Doing Less for Your Kids Means More

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Mary Heffernan, Founder of Five Marys Farms.

“Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.” —Stephen Hawking 

In our suburban life, before leaving behind the busy life we’d built in Silicon Valley to become cattle ranchers with our four young daughters, I didn’t expect much of the girls.

We filled their sippy cups and made their snacks for them. I set out projects or created activities for them to do to keep them occupied and entertained. Their laundry was usually picked up off of the floor for them, washed, folded, and put back in their closets. Of course they were expected to pick up their toys and clear their plates and do some easy tasks to help occasionally, but they didn’t really help with anything substantial or learn to do things on their own. 

I think people innately want to care for their children’s every need and express their love by being caretakers. I did too. But, I was robbing them of the opportunity to learn to do these things for themselves and experiencing the satisfaction that comes with being self-sufficient and independent. 

When we moved to the country, everything changed.

By necessity, I couldn’t cater to their every need—I didn’t have time! I quickly realized only when they had to step up to the plate, that my kids could actually do all of these things themselves. Every kid is capable of tasks that you might not expect. So raise your expectations! Besides the fact that the chores are getting done, they feel so proud and accomplished of what they’ve done, especially when it’s truly helpful and contributes to the family or community.

One of the first shifts I noticed on this topic was when the girls started seeing needs on their own and filling them. Every year we have a group of ‘bottle babies.’ Bottle babies are baby lambs that need to be fed from a bottle (this can happen for various reasons). The girls started setting their alarms and waking up early to make bottles for the lambs and feeding them. We didn’t ask them to do this—they just started seeing it needed to be done, and doing it! 

I remember reading somewhere that instead of telling children we are proud of them, we should ask them if they are proud of themselves. I think that is important to remember—we want them to do things for their own self-satisfaction more than to make someone else happy or proud of them. 

I love the benefits that we get from living now in close quarters and I know the girls will have such great memories from when they were young, all bunked together in our little home.

With that said, part of setting up your kids for success while doing chores is creating spaces that you all will be able to manage without becoming totally overwhelmed with stuff. We can’t ask our kids to do chores that we wouldn’t do ourselves. So one of my favorite ways to make a small living space more manageable is to organize our house by seasons. Pull your clothes out that you aren’t wearing that season and store them somewhere else (garage, shed, storage container, storage facility nearby, etc.). Owning less makes managing a small (and large) space easier for everyone. 

While it’s important to create environments that set your kids up for success, it’s also important to allow natural consequences to take their course.

When my kids were younger, people often used to ask how I let them make dinner without using the stove… we do let them use the stove! The girls understand that the pots and pans are hot and it’s a big responsibility to use and they are cautious and respectful of the risk. If they grab a hot pan without an oven mitt once, they will burn their hand and not do it again. We’ve all done it! There are mistakes you learn from once and don’t make again. It might take giving up some of your control and letting them use tools outside of your comfort zone, but balancing safety and letting them learn to use these tools is usually worth it in the end. 

My husband, Brian, and I are firm believers in balancing a life of work and play, and we want our kids to practice that too. Not all days are a long list of chores or responsibilities. Some days it’s just ‘put your backpack on and go play outside in the sunshine!’

I am passionate about creating a lifestyle that allows my kids to be capable, independent individuals who enjoy working and also getting outside and dirty in nature.

You don’t need a bunch of technology, a lot of space, or a room full of stuff to practice that. Just keep it simple, model your own creativity and capability, and allow space for your kids to do the same! 

I remember one of my favorite memories from childhood—and it was so simple. Before I was 8 years old, my family lived in a house up on a canyon. We had a lot of freedom to go explore the canyon (it was in the days when your mom would just tell you to be home before dark!) We would rally up some of the neighbor kids, pack snacks in a backpack, and be gone all day. That freedom to explore, build a fort with sticks, pack our own food… that was so formative for me.

We had a great mom to let us do that despite the price she made for our outdoor memories… we would come back with poison oak every single time! But, she never told us ‘No, you can’t go play outside because you’ll get poison oak.’ She would strip our clothes, do the laundry, and get us into the shower. She knew that time outside was worth it for us. 

I make it a point to do the same for my girls. I want them to be together outside, because when you’re outside you have the opportunity to use your imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills. No matter where you live, there is always some sort of nature around you.

We live in the country, so it’s pretty easy for us. But, even when you live in the city, there are public pools and public parks. Even laying down on the sidewalk and making shapes out of clouds are something that kids remember! 

Let them do this alone sometimes too. I actually think it’s important that I’m not there facilitating their play all of the time. It allows them the opportunity to build relationships with each other and problem-solve on their own, before running to me or their dad.

I remember reading somewhere that the best thing you can do when raising kids is to create a strong family culture within your own family, and the way you do that is to create family traditions—knowing that there are small things that are important to you as a family. 

If being outdoors is something you want to be more proactive about—create those traditions outside! They definitely don’t need to be going to Hawaii every year for vacation. It’s the little things that they remember.

Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, we go on a family hike to get a Christmas tree. Every Easter, we go outside and do an ‘egg drop’ challenge (when you decorate and package up your egg and drop it outside from a ladder, window, or tree.) Little traditions that don’t need to cost a lot of money or take up a lot of time. You definitely need to tweak your expectations—your kids won’t come back clean! They might have unruly hair, bug bites, scratches, and dirty clothes. But, let me tell you… getting outside is always worth it.

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Mary Heffernan and her husband, Brian, left behind the busy life they’d built in Silicon Valley to become cattle ranchers with their four young daughters–all named Mary. Together they own and operate Five Marys Farms. Mary’s new book, The Hands-On Ranch Book: How to Tie a Knot, Start a Garden, Saddle a Horse, and Everything Else People Used to Know How to Do will be released on September 26. It is available for pre-order now.

Elevate Your Impact: Become a Leader in Decluttering with the Becker Method Certified Professional Training Course

In today’s world, clutter isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a persistent challenge affecting mental health, relationships, and quality of life. Never before in human history have people owned as many possessions as they do today.

And with consumerism on the rise, people increasingly feel trapped in their own homes, weighed down by possessions that contribute little to their well-being.

As individuals seek out solutions to take back control of their spaces and lives, the demand for experts who can guide them through this transformation is soaring.

If you are a Professional Organizer, Move Manager, or Productivity Expert—or just someone who is passionate about helping others own less—I have exciting news for you.

I’m thrilled to introduce a new opportunity to elevate your expertise: the Becker Method Certified Professional Training Course, designed to equip you with the most effective skills and resources to help others declutter their homes and own less.

Why This Course? Why Now?

For more than 15 years, I have helped people own less through this blog, my books, the Uncluttered Course, my YouTube channel, and the Clutterfree App.

The revolution is underway, but there is still so much to do!

The opportunity for you to make a significant impact in the lives of others, through your professional circle and beyond is immense.

This Professional Training course, and the accompanying resources, are designed to not just inform, but to transform, enabling you to become a leader in the decluttering movement—helping others own less and live more.

Professional Benefits:Stand Out in Your Industry: Gain specialized knowledge and a certification badge, elevating your credibility and attracting clients who seek proven expertise.Save Time with Ready-Made Resources: Registration in the Professional Training Course comes with access to any and all digital resources I have created.Purpose-Driven Client Acquisition: Once certified, you will be personally endorsed and listed on the Becker Method Certified website.Earn Education Hours for Your Association: This course counts towards professional development hours, keeping you ahead in your industry.Increase Your Earning Potential: The more effectively you can help people, the more revenue you can generate for your business.What You’ll Learn

The six-week certification course is filled with my 15 years of experience resulting in valuable content designed to make you an authority in decluttering. Here are the six topics I cover in-depth during the training:

Guiding to Less: Techniques to inspire and motivate clients toward a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle.Uncluttering Basics: Master the seven-step Becker Method for effective decluttering—this is a behind-the-scenes explanation of the strategy presented in my books and the Uncluttered Course.Clearing the Clutter: Advanced strategies and techniques for helping people remove their unneeded possessions.Decluttering Dialogues: Specific responses and strategies to common questions and objections that may arise during the decluttering process.Conquering Roadblocks: Tools and tips for overcoming obstacles (and excuses) that can halt or slow down progress.Maintaining Simplicity: Methods for instilling lasting habits in your clients for a sustained clutterfree life.

In addition to the core content, participants will receive access to 5 bonus personal-development videos, 3 live group coaching calls with me, and a vibrant, interactive community forum for additional learning and networking opportunities.

How to Join

Registration is open until Sunday, September 24, and the course begins on Monday, September 25. At a price of $1,299, the course represents an investment in your professional growth and long-term success.

After completing the course and passing the final examination with an 85% score or higher, you’ll officially be a Becker Method Certified Expert.

Experts with at least one-year of professional experience will be listed as Certified Professionals.

Participants without at least one-year of professional experience will be listed as Certified Individuals.

Make a Lasting Impact

This course is about much more than merely “tidying up.” And it is more than how to help people organize their possessions.

It is a thoughtful, strategic, purpose-driven method to help people own less, overcome consumerism, and live bigger, better lives because of it.

It’s about empowering you to lead others toward meaningful change. Your guidance can help people find more than just a cleaner space—it can help them find more time, more peace, and more purpose. It can change the world for the people you want to help most.

Are you ready to be a part of that transformation?

Sign Up for the Becker Method Certified Professional Training Course Today

If you are committed to deepening your professional impact and becoming a key player in the transformative journey of decluttering, don’t miss this unique opportunity.

Join us now to amplify your skills, your influence, and your passion to change lives.

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PS: If you are a reader of this blog who wants to hire a professional declutterer to come to your home, trained in the exact methods, strategy, and approach that I have taught on this blog and books for the last 15 years, Becker Method Certified Professionals will soon be listed on this site. Professional Declutterers, trained by me, are coming soon and can be found here.

If you have any questions about the Certification Course or Hiring a Becker Method Certified Professional, don’t hesitate to ask in the Comment Section below.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.

Encouragement provides us with motivation. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.

Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.

Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

Americans Say These 3 Things Define Wealth—None of Them Require Making A Lot of Money | CNBC by Kamaron McNair. Here are three things that mean more to people when it comes to defining wealth.

6 Tips to Save Time and Add Satisfaction to Your Life | No Sidebar by Karen Trefzger. Our privilege and affluence keep our lives in a constant whirl. Most of us don’t have to worry about where our next meal will come from. Instead, we’re worried about the weight we want to lose, the new smart gadget we want to buy, or whether we can afford that trip to Cancún.

The 30 Greatest Decluttering Tips of All Time | Apartment Therapy by Shifrah Combiths. “Keep what you need and what makes you happy” is enough of a north star for some people. But many people need a little extra guidance to help decide what’s worth keeping. These 30 time-tested decluttering tips can help.

Americans’ Credit Card Debt is Now $1 Trillion. Here are 10 Things We Should Stop Spending Money On | Simple Money by Lawrence Stern. It’s time, I think, for all us to reevaluate our spending habits and financial priorities.

The Price of Love: Why Millennials and Gen Zs are Running Up Major Dating Debt | The Conversation by Omar H. Fares and Seung Hwan (Mark) Lee. There are a few issues fueling it, including the desire to signal status and the persuasive retail marketing of luxury as being synonymous with love, creating that false sense of connection between luxury and love.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

Minimalism vs Consumerism: The Benefits of Choosing a Simple Life | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Minimalism allows us to reclaim our time, our finances, our spaces, and our peace of mind. But minimalism isn’t just about personal gain. By stepping off the consumer treadmill, we are better able to contribute to our communities and the world.

How to Pack in Just a Carry On | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Those who have made the switch to packing lighter often find the benefits far outweigh the initial uncertainty. Here’s how to pack everything you need on vacation in just a single carry on.

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The Uncluttered Course | Becoming Minimalist by Joshua Becker. Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter and struggling to let go of possessions that no longer serve you? The Uncluttered Course is back and ready to guide you towards a simplified, clutter-free life. With step-by-step guidance, weekly challenges, and a supportive community, this course will give you the tools you need to achieve your decluttering goals. If you want to declutter and just need some extra help to get you there, sign up for the Uncluttered Course today. We get started in just 10 days.

Unlock a Life of Freedom: Why You Need The Uncluttered Course Now More Than Ever

Minimalism isn’t just a design aesthetic or a lifestyle trend; it’s a way of life that can fundamentally transform the way you think, live, and interact with the world.

It can calm your home and your mind. But how do you go from the idea of “owning less” to actually implementing it into your daily existence—especially when you feel overwhelmed at the thought of starting (or finishing)?

Meet Uncluttered—a 12-week online course I created to bridge this gap and personally help you through the complexities of decluttering your home and life. And now, with our September Edition starting in less than two weeks, the timing has never been more perfect to dive in. I only offer the course three times each year and this is your last chance to take it.

Why Now is More Crucial Than Ever

We’re living in unprecedented times where the pace of life, consumerism, and information overload have reached overwhelming levels. This is an age of distraction, where we are inundated with choices, responsibilities, easy consumption, and digital entanglements more than ever before.

What this leads to is not just physical clutter, but emotional and mental clutter as well.

The principles of minimalism are more valuable now than ever—so is the structured path that Uncluttered provides.

The pandemic has taught us the importance of home as a sanctuary, and as many of us continue to work and spend more time in our living spaces, optimizing them for peace and productivity is no longer optional—it’s essential.

So, when I say you need this course ‘now more than ever,’ I truly mean it. The societal trends of excess, fast-paced living, and the erosion of quiet spaces make this the perfect time to regain control and make room for what truly matters.

I am more passionate about helping people own less today than ever before!

Excess Doesn’t Satisfy

Here’s the inconvenient truth: all this excess never brings happiness.

On the contrary, it robs us of our most valuable resources: time, money, energy, and focus.

If you ever feel like life is a perpetual hamster wheel, it’s time to step off and take control. Uncluttered offers you this chance to seize back the reins of your life.

More Than a Course—A Community

But Uncluttered is more than just a set of video tutorials and weekly challenges. It is a vibrant, active community of like-minded individuals who are on the exact same journey as you—asking the same questions, struggling with the same emotions.

The power of this collective wisdom and mutual support cannot be overstated.

In Uncluttered, you’ll discover a community that talks to and relies on each other 24/7, providing that extra layer of motivation and accountability. You’re never alone on your journey; we’re all in this together.

Real Lives, Real Transformations

75,000 people can’t be wrong! Since its inception, the Uncluttered program has empowered tens of thousands, from all over the world, to reclaim their spaces and, more importantly, their lives.

From newlyweds setting up a minimalist home to families of eight finding ways to maximize spaces, the course has proven to be life-changing. You’re not just getting theory—you’re getting practical, actionable steps that have a track record of real-world success.

I’m proud that Uncluttered is the most effective online decluttering course available.

Structured Freedom: The Uncluttered Plan

Maybe you’re one of those people who can pick up a book, get inspired, and transform your living space in a weekend. If so, there’s no need to sign up for a course.

But if you’re not, Uncluttered has you covered. In fact, you are exactly the person I built the course for!

With a week-by-week plan that guides you room-by-room, you’ll have a clear roadmap. It’s about structured freedom—having enough guidance to feel supported but enough flexibility to make it uniquely yours.

Get Personalized Answers, Directly From Me

You’re unique, and so are your challenges and questions.

One of the most valuable aspects of Uncluttered is the ability to ask me questions in a smaller, intimate setting.

Whether it’s about overcoming emotional attachments to possessions or tackling clutter in specific spaces, you’ll get personalized insights that a blog post or a video could never deliver.

Beyond Home—A Life Philosophy

The Uncluttered Course isn’t just about removing things; it’s about adding value. It goes beyond tidying up your living room or clearing out your wardrobe. It extends to making intentional decisions, in every area of life, that align with your true self.

When you live with less clutter, every action, every thought, and every moment becomes an expression of your highest values.

That’s why this course is about more than declutteirng a house—it’s about reevaluating life, learning new habits, overcoming consumerism, even experimenting with assumptions you’ve held your entire life.

Time is Ticking—Act Now!

But again, I only lead the course three times a year.

And registration closes soon: Sunday September 17.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. You owe it to yourself to at least give it a try. And with lifetime access, you can revisit the course material whenever you want, as life inevitably changes.

Money-Back Guarantee: A Risk-Free Journey

I believe so strongly in the transformative power of Uncluttered that I offer a full refund guarantee. If you find that the course doesn’t help you declutter your home, I’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

I want everyone to be successful in this journey—and have created the course to be that for you.

Special Bonus: Unlock A Sweet Discount

The Uncluttered Course costs $99 (USD).

You can find a 25% off discount code in the back of my book: The Minimalist Home.

The book is not required for the course, but it’s often cheaper to buy the book and use the code than pay full price—so I always like to mention it. It’s a win-win!

You can find more information about the Uncluttered Course here: Get Uncluttered today >>

Excess Possessions Are Wasted Potential

There is no doubt that possessions can be incredibly useful.

A car transports us to work, the grocery store, or a parent’s house. A home gives us a place to rest, grow, and raise a family. Computers and tools offer us the capacity to solve complex problems and accomplish tasks more efficiently.

Physical possessions help us accomplish more.

But that doesn’t mean that owning more helps us accomplish more.

In fact, just the opposite is true. Excess possessions have a way of slowing us down and even wasting our true potential.

Possessions serve a role in our lives by increasing our potential. But too many possessions actually detract from it.

This, for me, is why minimalism is so important. And why I believe it is important for everybody!

Owning excess possessions wastes your potential.  

Chasing and accumulating things we don’t need uses up our money, time, energy, and attention.

Think of your closet, as an example. Some clothes are needed, certainly. But too many clothes, crammed in a closet, many of which you haven’t worn in months or years, isn’t just fabric taking up space. It’s money you could have spent elsewhere. It represents time wasted shopping, returning, and deciding what to pick out every morning. Just think, for a minute, of how you could have spent that money instead.

I don’t offer this example to guilt us or make us feel overly negative—I just mean it as one practical example of how excess possessions waste our potential.

And the more we think of the money and time wasted on things we don’t need, the more lost potential we begin to see.

The tech gadget you researched for hours, only to purchase and rarely use. The hobby supplies you bought but never used. The ‘popular fad’ item that has sit unused in your drawers for years. The rooms in your home that nobody enters. The gifts you bought for others that were never used. Even all the toys you bought for your kids that you thought would get played with but never do.

Again, that list isn’t just wasted money; it’s lost opportunity. That time could have been spent on activities that genuinely enrich your life—maybe writing that novel you’ve always wanted to pen, starting a garden, taking a trip with your kids, or supporting a cause you are passionate about.

These are not easy truths to face, especially because we live in a society that often equates material abundance with success. But it is a life-changing realization that invites us to dream bigger dreams for our lives.

Every unused item represents not just clutter but also a diversion of resources from activities and goals that could truly enrich us and align with our values.

This is the cornerstone of minimalism: owning the optimal number of things to make our lives better, more efficient, and more in line with our true selves.

The goal isn’t to live with as little as possible but to make room for what genuinely contributes to our well-being and expands our potential.

Your life is a canvas for limitless potential. But every stroke matters. With every unnecessary item we buy, we trade a bit of our freedom, our focus, our resources, and yes, our potential.

So here’s the challenge for all of us: Remove the pursuit of anything that is distracting you from your greatest values and highest potential. And if an item in your life doesn’t serve a purpose or bring you joy, consider freeing yourself from it.

Start today. Start now. Unburden yourself of the excess and see how much more room you have to grow, to breathe, and to pursue what genuinely matters to you. Reclaim your time, your resources, and your potential. I can’t think of anything more valuable than that.