Review: You Can Buy Happiness (and it's Cheap) by Tammy Strobel

Title: You Can Buy Happiness (and it’s Cheap): How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can Too

Author: Tammy Strobel

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 209

Published: 2012

I have been thinking a lot lately about how to simplify my life.  As I have gotten older, I realized that I do not like to spend a lot of time cleaning and maintaining things in my home (who does, really?).  But after reading this book, I now know that I do not have to, if I just have less stuff.  Therefore, I began my quest to find books that helped me get my head in the right place.  Let’s be honest…it can be very hard to not want to go shopping to get the newest trend whether it is in clothing fashion, or something for my house.  But this book helped me realize the freeing, happy life I can live if I stop accumulating stuff.

I found this book to be very engaging and thought-provoking.  Each chapter presents real examples of how the author simplified her life, followed by actionable thoughts and steps the reader can take.  The book never came across as preachy, which made me like it even more.  While Tammy took downsizing to a whole new level by moving in to a tiny, 150 sq. ft. house (a feat that does not interest me); I was looking for a book that could help me get in the right mindset of less is more.

The most profound idea that I took away from this book is that the stuff we own does not create the memories that fulfill our lives.  New clothes will temporarily make us happy, but following the high of owning something new is a low when you realize you have to pay the bill for the item, take the time to store it, clean it, etc.  I would rather live with less stuff that I have to clean and maintain so I can take more vacations and make memories with loved ones.  I have enough furniture and space.  I have enough towels and linens so I do not need to buy the ones I found on sale.  I have enough clothing and shoes, especially when I realize I do not need to do laundry for a month AND have run out of space in 4 closets.  I have enough kitchen gadgets and tools to make any recipe I could ever dream of.  Since I have all of the things I already need, I have finally curbed my desire to buy more.  I do not feel the need to stop at the store, just to see what might be on sale.  Instead, I now have more free time to do the things that are important to me, including spending time with my family and friends, playing with my dog, and reading.  

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants the tools and tips to live a more simplistic life that focuses on creating relationships and memories, something that fulfills me in ways I never realized.

5 out of 5 stars  

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Reviewed by Laura Beth

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