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Simple Living - 30 days to less stuff and more life

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Need a bit more simple in your life but unsure where to start? Simple Living is written for you. Using minimalist principles I have created a 30 day course, taking less than 1 hour a day that I guarantee will give you a simpler life.

Simple Living‘s 30 days balances both tangible clutter as well as intangible clutter. This is not a course about cleaning. This course and these lessons are about change. Not only will you have a simpler and cleaner home after this course but the steps have been put in place for it to stay that way.

This course is created to tackle thirty different clutter areas, showing you where they are and how to start working with them. After the course you will have the skills and tools to keep working in the areas that you personally still need to work in.

This course is created to answer the question “Where do I begin?” and “How do I start?”

If you will commit to 60 minutes for 30 days I guarantee you will see dramatic change.

89 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2012

160 people are currently reading
789 people want to read

About the author

Lorilee Lippincott

8 books9 followers

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5 stars
121 (23%)
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142 (27%)
3 stars
180 (35%)
2 stars
46 (8%)
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24 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
112 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2013
I wanted to share a few excerpts from the book that really hit home with me.

1. "You are not your stuff and your stuff doesn't define you"!!!!! I LOVE that sentence!

2. "Your stuff isn't your memories"!!!!

3. "Your stuff doesn't dictate your economic value, yourself worth, or importance"!!!

And she is so right!! Our stuff doesn't define us at all! If we lost all of our worldly possessions, would it matter? No, not really. As long as my family and our pets are safe, that is all that would matter. STUFF can be replaced. Our family and friends can't.

Reading this book made me realize too that life is too short for drama and stress. We all know we aren't promised tomorrow, so we need to live each day to the fullest. Is it worth feeling stressed when you walk into your home? NO!

I am planning to incorporate some of the suggestions the author discusses in the book. What is it worth having all of this "stuff" when there isn't time to even USE it? And it really is silly buying more storage products to keep STORING more stuff!!

I highly recommend everyone to read this book! Folks, it's time to "simplify and de-stress"! I borrowed this book from our local library in order to do this review
Profile Image for Kim Browers.
142 reviews
July 14, 2017
As a semi-professional organizer (and still actively simplifying my own life), I was impressed by the approachability and organization of this book. Each chapter marks an exercise for a day, for a total of 30 exercises. These steps, when taken, can start someone down the daunting path of decluttering and minimalizing their life. The exercises were simple, and really great ideas. I would recommend this to all my clients and intend to read it several times myself!
Profile Image for Priscila Morais Santos.
117 reviews
February 25, 2017
I'll probably not declutter my home in just 30 days but the author gives some really interesting tips on how to choose what to keep and what to throw away or donate. I'll definitely go back to this book soon, some chapters are very useful.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
371 reviews
June 24, 2019
Some of the ideas were really radical... especially those at relationships and a few of the other areas that I don’t really consider to be areas that need organization... maybe those I already have organized as I needed.
Profile Image for Cathy.
78 reviews3 followers
April 17, 2020
It's a great place to start in your journal to living with less. The ideas are quick enough to make a visible difference, with the flexibility to take it to the next level. Common sense plus a dose of reality. A very pleasant read.
Profile Image for Chrissy.
753 reviews
June 7, 2019
Basic, common sense information. Nice refresher though
1,124 reviews
January 1, 2020
Maybe I wasn't in the right mindset for this book, but I didn't think it contained any new information that hasn't been covered in other books of this kind.
Profile Image for Erin.
272 reviews3 followers
September 28, 2012
If you're craving a bit of simplicity in your life, then Simple Living: Thirty Days to Less Stuff and More Life is for you. It's one of those practical little books whose main purpose is to deliver results. You don't have to be an aspiring minimalist, and you don't have to count your possessions. All you have to do is follow Lorilee's clear, easy steps to start seeing big changes in your life.

Simple Living touches on your physical environment, as you'd expect, but in some ways you might not have considered before. For instance, have you ever thought about what's on your fridge? Or how about what's taking up real estate in your bedroom? Lorilee will teach you to see your living space with new eyes.

Simple Living also extends the idea of simplifying into other areas of your life, including scheduling, meal planning, and money, to name a few. And Lorilee doesn't just throw things at you haphazardly -- the book begins and ends with an exploration of your personal vision, so that your journey into simplifying is grounded in why you're taking it in the first place.

Throughout the book, Lorilee gives you glimpses into how her family has applied the very same principles she is teaching you and how doing so has brought simplicity and order to their lives. If you're looking for practical simplifying strategies you can implement right away, then grab a copy of Simple Living and start in on the lessons. You'll begin to see and feel the difference immediately!
Profile Image for Richard Tubb.
Author 6 books31 followers
April 7, 2015
As someone who has consumed a ton of books on time management, organisation and efficient living, I didn't expect to find anything new in this book -- but was pleasantly surprised!

Author Lorille Lippincott is a advocate of minimalism -- simple living -- and the concepts she shares in this book go beyond just removing household clutter and de-junking and into changing your life to focus on the things that are important to you above all else.

The chapters are short and easy to read and give plenty of ideas and links to further reading. While I was familiar with a lot of the concepts shared, they were good re-enforcement, and I found myself exploring a number of the minimalist lifestyle blogs that the book shared which I was previously unaware of.

For anyone feeling they have too much stuff in their life -- both in terms possessions and "things" going on -- this is a recommended read.

Profile Image for Cora.
647 reviews20 followers
August 14, 2015
This is one of the best and most practical minimal/simple living books I've read. It goes through thirty days and each day has info, an assignment and extra credit. Whether you're just getting into the idea of simple living or have been doing it for a while, I'd recommend this book either way. I've read other Christian books about simple living/minimalist and they were not very good. This author is Christian but she only mentions it a few times and this book is so good that I'd recommend it to everyone. I think the best thing to do is read the book completely through, it's short so it shouldn't take too long (maybe try out a few of the assignments as you go but just keep reading through all of them). Then once you finish, go back through from the beginning and take the time to do each assignment. They do not have to be done in order, so if you get stuck on one or just can't get into it - skip it, bookmark it and come back to it later.
Profile Image for Christine.
890 reviews14 followers
February 10, 2013
This book has a plethora of clutter clearing ideas, set in a 30 day plan. It would be a lot of work, and impossible to manage in 30 days unless you did not have employment outside of the home. She does discuss physical clutter, mental clutter, meal clutter, etc, but, when done, you won't have necessarily have cleaned out your house. Instead, she suggests you create another 30-60 days of projects for yourself based on your beginnings with this book.

If you have not read anything on clutter busting and simplicity, this book covers most of the topics you need. For two classics on these topics, see Luhrs -The Simple Living Guide for an inspirational set of ideas and profiles of people living the simple lifestyle, and Kingston - Clear your clutter with Feng shui.
Profile Image for Catherine Gillespie.
763 reviews46 followers
February 7, 2015
Simple Living – 30 days to less stuff and more life was helpful for me in that phase and I think it’s a good short introduction to getting organized and paring things down if you haven’t gotten into that sort of thing before, or a good refresher if you’ve read other, longer books on the subject.

The book contains suggestions for how to pare down your stuff, your commitments, your schedule, and your responsibilities not just for the sake of minimalism or asceticism, but so that you can free up time for the things and pursuits and people that are really important to you.

{Read my full review here}
Profile Image for David.
Author 5 books9 followers
June 3, 2013
Outstanding advice. I love the friend-standing-next-to-you voice Lorilee chose to write in. She is motivational and her book is loaded with practical advice in easily accessible bites.

If you ever wanted to deaccumulate or declutter and didn't know where to begin, this is it!

I've already begun to take her advice. And my wife and I have talked on our Sabbath about how we want to reread together. Then we're going to work as a team to simplify, deaccumulate, and put into practice this minimalist lifestyle laid out in Simple Living.

Do yourself a kindness . . . read it. Do it!
Profile Image for Melissa.
10 reviews4 followers
October 6, 2012
This book has everything. It’s the perfect choice for an family or individual who wants to live intentionally and simplify their lives but have no idea how to get started. Lorilee Lippincott breaks everything down in easy to digest, bite size pieces. It covers everything from email to your daily diet and everything in between. Simple Living 30 Days to Less Stuff and More Life will have you living an intentional and simple life in no time!
Profile Image for Jen Clause.
38 reviews
April 14, 2013
It was a quick read on the plane on my way home from a Haiti mission trip...where life is definitely simpler...I thought it had some good points...in the American culture, you are going against the norm when you attempt some of the things in this book...the result is you are less attached to stuff and more connected to what really matters to you...something we all want! It addresses all aspects of your life inside and out...how to live intentionally according to your values...
Profile Image for Jim Burke.
21 reviews
February 7, 2015
This book had some very practical advice about reducing clutter and living a simpler existence. The author has put all of this into practice, so she knows what she's talking about. She obviously is passionate about helping others, and that is where the book admirably succeeds. I skipped the final section because the author talks about religion far too much for my taste. To each their own, but overall, the book is well worth checking out.
Profile Image for Su.
341 reviews12 followers
October 12, 2016
Everybody's doing minimalism--although this book may have come out ahead of the current craze (I'm not sure when it began). Good suggestions, especially for families with kids. Definitely more fun to read than some other minimalist books. Not wild about the occasional suggestion that I should check out her blog--if you're a blogger who writes a book, the book needs to be able to stand on its own, IMO.
Profile Image for Tanya.
376 reviews
October 8, 2012
This book is very much like other simplifying and decluttering books. She does a good job of breaking tasks down into small steps. I'm feeling challenged to try 30 days to less stuff, but I would probably set my own 30 tasks using hers a as a guideline. I like the idea of committing to only 30-60 minutes a day. That seems very doable.
Profile Image for Lori.
557 reviews11 followers
March 3, 2013
I came across this as a free Pixel of Ink book. Its pretty good. Easy, short read with simplistic ideas for cleaning clutter in various aspects of your home, work and life. It helps that I have reached the stage of "wanting to rid myself of some stuff, but not knowing where to start." Even tips on eliminating junk mail which I liked!
Profile Image for Loverlypurple.
212 reviews
September 3, 2016
This ebook has some really good strategies to live a minimalist lifestyle. With good directions for each day and with some extra goals thrown in. I read the book all the way through in one sitting and I'm now going back to day 1 to complete each mission. I think this will definitely help with stress as it will be more relaxing in a cleared out home.
424 reviews
March 22, 2015
Enjoyed the book it made me smile, we have fifty five years of stuff in our house. I want all this stuff around just so the kid,s will have to clean it out. O by the way a lot of it is there's,. sure will bring back memories. All kidding aside it sounds good but is it realistic. Just clean up ,reuse ,throw out .
Profile Image for Renee'.
3 reviews
February 5, 2025
Love Simple Living!

I was thrilled to find I already do many of the things suggested, and am excited to start work on more! Best advice in the book is Opting out of mailings and phone calls. I did that immediately! Take advantage of the advice - it is so wonderful to have clean, clutter-free spaces, and I am excited to create more!
Profile Image for Martin Raybould.
508 reviews5 followers
January 1, 2014
Some good advice in general about healthy living and removing clutter but did not appreciate the idea that this simpler life allows more space for God. I prefer to think of this lifestyle has a humanitarian benefit - why bring religion into it?
Profile Image for Kathryn.
3,393 reviews32 followers
May 16, 2015
The majority of her suggestions I have already implemented in our home. Much of this book revolves around a family with children. Our daughter is grown, so those were areas of the book that weren't pertinent for us.
Profile Image for your mom.
285 reviews24 followers
March 28, 2013
I wasn't very inspired by this book. I am sure others would find it very helpful, but for me it was just okay.
Profile Image for Jeenow.
3 reviews4 followers
April 18, 2013
It's very useful and helpful for me.
Profile Image for Jade Gonzales.
46 reviews46 followers
March 27, 2013
Good book. It explains in the simplest way how to be a minimalist. This book actually helps me. I've been wanting to be a minimalist. Less is more :)
Profile Image for Joni.
6 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2013
Loved this! I have been striving to live a minimalist life for a long time and this book really gives you chores to get it done!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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