One of the things I love most about travel is stepping into an environment that shatters your assumptions and norms, forcing you to re-consider your life.
Here are five things I’ve learned during the last 3 weeks in Paris:
#1: Own REAL Things.
Last week I walked past an umbrella repair shop. Let’s think about that for a second: an umbrella repair shop. Can you imagine owning an umbrella that’s so good it merits repair?
Probably not. Most of our possessions are disposable junk. If something breaks, we throw it away and buy another one. We replace rather than repair.
So Lesson #1: Own real things. Don’t equate “frugality” with buying the cheapest, plastic, mass-produced piece of crap on the Walmart clearance rack. Sure, it’s cheap, but it’s also garbage. It won’t stand the test of time.
It’s better — in my view — to own and use things that are made from solid materials, like stone and wood and quality fibers. Things that have craftsmanship and durability. Things that will stand the test of time.
When the soles of your shoes wear down, re-sole them. When your umbrella rips, stitch it. When you lose weight, tailor your clothes. Don’t fill your life with disposable junk. Your possessions should be fewer, but better.
#2: “New” Does Not Equal “Better”
This goes hand-in-hand with the previous point: “New” does not equal “better” if something is well-made.
People in the U.S. tend to prefer “new construction” homes. That’s because most American homes are disposable — nothing more than drywall on a slab foundation. They weren’t built to last. After only 30 or 40 years, they start falling apart. Isn’t something wrong with that picture?
In Europe, the older homes have stood for centuries. And barring any massive war or natural disaster, they will stand for centuries more. They were built to last.
Lesson #2: To whatever degree is possible within your own life, build things to last.
- If you’re launching your own business, focus on creating a legacy and succession, not just on next quarter’s revenues.
- If you write, create content that leaves a legacy, not just article-spun crap that’s geared for search engines.
- If you’re buying a home, look for something that’s sturdy and well-built. A “real house” never has a true owner, only a series of caretakers.
#3: Resources Are Precious
This observation literally stopped me in my tracks: Pizza Hut makes deliveries on scooters. (Check out the photo at the top of this post).
That makes total sense, when you think about it. Why do you need a whole car to deliver a pizza, when a scooter will do? If you’re delivering a few pizza boxes, you don’t need to lug your entire empty backseat and trunk along for the ride.
So Lesson #3: Resources are precious, so don’t waste any more than you need. Money, gasoline, and even air space are valuable commodities.
#4: Live Small & Efficient
Compared to a typical American home, my home is small. I don’t have a garage, dining room, hallway closet, or a laundry room.
Our washer/dryer are in the kitchen. We eat around the kitchen island. We park our cars on the street, and we store Will’s tools and my gardening supplies in a corner of the living room.
As a result, many frugal tactics that I read simply don’t work for me.
- “Buy in bulk.” Really? Where on earth am I supposed to store 96 rolls of toilet paper?
- “Host a garage sale.” Really? Where am I supposed to store all that junk in the meantime?
Then I went to Eric’s apartment in Paris. Eric and his girlfriend are both in their late 20s / early 30s. They work for a major international company. Their space is fairly typical for a young professional couple. It’s 269 square feet (25 square meters).
Suddenly, my inability to store bulk items from CostCo didn’t seem so bad. Small is relative. And I could minimize more, curate my possessions, find more efficient storage solutions.
Lesson #4: Live small. This goes hand-in-hand with not wasting resources. Maintaining a large house costs a lot of money and energy. Focus on living more efficiently, rather than living largely.
#5: If You Have Space, Use It
On the flip side, our “ample space” allows us to maintain a do-it-yourself lifestyle. When the dishwasher breaks, we can grab tools (from our living room) to fix it. When our gutters get clogged, we climb a ladder to clean it. And although I store gardening supplies in my living room, I’m able to grow fresh tomatoes, peppers and broccoli throughout the summer.
When space is truly small — like 269 sq. ft. — that DIY-culture just isn’t possible. You’re not going to paint your own walls; where would you store the trays, cans and rollers when you’re finished? You’re not going to grow your own fresh vegetables and herbs; at most, you’ll have space for a few container-grown plants.
If you choose to occupy a larger space, utilize it. You have an opportunity to fix your own appliances, grow your own produce, to craft your own beer. Use it.
Learn How To Escape the 9-5
Get free updates on building wealth and living to the fullest.
Zero spam.
Have you read the Not So Big House? It’s a beautiful discussion of home design. Bigger does not equal better. Small can be attractive, comfortable and inspiring vs. a McMansion.
@Joe — I’ve never read it … sounds interesting! My favorite book on home design (and city design) is A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander. It’s a classic.
I bought an umbrella years ago for $20 and it had a lifetime warranty. I returned it when one of the spokes broke and they replaced it. It was a smart purchase! I always invested in assets that increase in value. It started with my first home and then income property. Along the way, we accumulated antique furniture, silver pieces, jewelry, collectibles etc. I view it as multiple income streams! When downsize again, we will probably sell off some of these things.
@krantcents — An umbrella with a lifetime warranty … that’s what I like to hear!!
definitely worth spending money on high quality goods. For instance, I bought a rucksack costing £10 which broke within 3 days. Bought another, same thing. Went for a £30 one and it’s lasted brilliantly
Very true, Being from South Africa, where people live in houses that are stupidly huge and way too expensive, skimp their budgets and work long hours to finance the thing for 20-30 years and never enjoy the home interiors. I too once had a swimming pool I never enjoyed other than servicing the whole year, every year. I feel so good living in a comfortable yet smaller space now. We use every room, which we’ve never been able to do before. My friends (3 kids) are constructing a 7 all en-suite bedrooms house with a swimming pool, a gym, etc. I find it so wasteful, as the cost can buy them a good 4 bed home with two more rental properties. They claim they are happy with it, whilst they drive for 2 hours to go to their respective jobs daily. From where I stand its insanity.
Glad you are having a great time abroad, Paula! It’s very true about other countries, and I’ve found in my travels around the world, that most countries do value their resources a lot more than we (seemingly) do here in the U.S.
I believe in the less is more and quality vs. quantity aspect too. I’ve had this beautiful, brown leather briefcase I got over 15 years ago, and I get compliments on it ALL the time. People can’t believe how old it is, and how good it still looks. It has compartments for so many things. I purchased that briefcase for a little shy of $400, and I just now have to take it in to get the strap fixed/replaced. It was WELL worth the money, versus me buying some cheap briefcase for $50/60 that falls apart; looks bad, and needs to be replaced every 6 months to a year. It’s not about flash and impressing people, it’s about longevity and practicality.
Some may not believe this is true, but you do “get what you pay for.”
Another awe inspiring post. Thank you!
I’ve started slowly making higher quality purchases. I tend to be a lot happier with the purchase and the items last forever. Your point about the amount of space we live in is really important. I live in a smaller space and I LOVE it. However, I do fight the urge to fill it up with stuff from time to time. I have been in the process of getting rid of stuff and I feel really empowered. I’ve lived in Paris and in Asia (as a kid). Both places don’t have a ton of space, but people make the space that they have work. Btw, some of the new buildings that I see being built really freak me out. They are built so quickly I sometimes can’t believe it!
Great article and I think you hit a big part of life in general. It’s not wanting more, it’s appreciating what you already have, with a focus on family and friends and not acquiring more “stuff”.
I guess the KISS adage fits right in here. Keepin It Simple. Buying quality stuff that lasts and provides value…long term for our buck. Its also a financially prudent way to lead our lives, the less we have to buy an item the more we can save. Maybe I will sum it with this quote from Leonardo Da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Awesome post!
Love posts like this.
We forget to build better and not bigger even though better is long run thinking.