There is a foolproof trick to save money and, as a bonus, time. It can be summed up in two words: consume less. It is both very simple, but very difficult to put into practice for many people.
The recipe is obviously not new. From the beginning of the 1980s, an American found a name for it, voluntary simplicity. Here, the expression was popularized by Serge Mongeau, who praised it in a book that became a classic after its 1998 update.
At a time when inflation is forcing changes in the budget and climate change is worrying people like never before, now the Ecosociété house is republishing again Voluntary simplicity. The timing is right. If it is, the words of Serge Mongeau have never been so relevant.
At the end of the line, the 86-year-old author agrees. “I look at my book from time to time and I say to myself: “My God, it is still totally relevant!” »
Just read Valérie Simard’s file on global clothing production, which has doubled over the past 20 years.1 to be convinced. Of course, the population did not jump as much. THE walk-in are full and renew themselves more and more quickly. Moreover, according to the firm McKinsey, we bought 60% more clothes in 2014 than in 2000. We bet that the trend continued.
Are social networks there for something? A young influencer told my colleague that she feels the need to shop before going on a trip just to wear new clothes in her souvenir photos. “It makes no sense,” she admitted.
We have uncontrollable urges to buy, own and exhibit goods, colleague Émilie Côté reported in early April in another illuminating report.2 on the money. The historian Catherine Tourangeau reminded us that many people, although they are “educated”, consider that they have “lost control”.
Result: we have an astronomical amount of things today compared to 50 years ago. It’s not a matter of intelligence. The human is not as rational as he likes to believe.
This even leads us to buy decorations… for Easter. There were two rows full of them at Winners in March. Guess it sells.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Serge Mongeau, author of Voluntary simplicity
“What we are going through is too much. Too much for our needs. We could be satisfied with much less and have a more satisfying life”, pleads Serge Mongeau, who practiced medicine “before health insurance”, a profession which he abandoned to have more time with his family.
Rest assured, you don’t have to make such drastic decisions to embrace voluntary simplicity.
You can do it a little, a lot or passionately. Take it step by step, at your own pace. And this, even if we love life and its pleasures.
Take Vicky Payeur as an example. The young woman ended up with $16,000 in debt because of her overconsumption. “Since then, I have sold 80% of my possessions, I have paid off my debts and I am sharing my tips for becoming free and happy,” she wrote on her site vivreavecmoins.com, a platform she uses to transmit his personal finance stuff.
Over-consuming means losing power over your life, confirms Serge Mongeau. “Look how the debt is growing! »
In Canada, 46-55 year olds have an average debt of $32,508, not counting the mortgage, according to Equifax. That’s a lot of stress and wasted money in interest.
Can we avoid going there without having a beige life that tends towards pale brown? Absolutely, replies the author, who never praises a “heroic, bare and miserable” life. Because happiness “does not come from the things we own, but from what we live”.
Former Bloc MP Marcel Lussier, who won $70 million in the lottery last year, would no doubt agree. He has kept his modest bungalow where he has been growing raspberries and tomatoes for 40 years. “For me, that’s normal life, and I don’t need more,” he told the Montreal Journal3.
Without judging anyone, Serge Mongeau is not surprised that we seek happiness in having. Modern life is less socially rich and work less rewarding, which affects our self-esteem. So we compensate…
For my part, I find it rather paradoxical that so much is consumed in a society where everyone runs. Buying takes a lot of time! Even online. Top spenders spend more than 44 hours a month shopping online, according to Statista (2017 data). The average is around 14 hours. That’s not counting all the time spent in stores and supermarkets.
Whether it’s to thumb your nose at inflation, to reduce debt, to save money, to save time or to save the planet, it can’t hurt to think about your (over)consumption.
What do you think ?