You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap): How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can Too

by Tammy Strobel

Once, Tammy Strobel and her husband were living a normal middle-class lifestyle: driving two cars, commuting long distances, and living well beyond their means. Now they are living the voluntary downsizing — or smart-sizing — dream. In this book Strobel combines research on well-being with numerous real-world examples to offer practical inspiration. Her fresh take on our things, our work, and our relationships spells out micro-actions that anyone can take to step into a life that’s more conscious and connected, sustainable and sustaining, heartfelt and happy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Memoir, Personal Development, Psychology, Lifestyle, Finance

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2012

About the author

Hi! I’m Tammy Strobel. I'm a writer, photographer, and cat lover.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like the asshole I am for not liking this more...

But it was kind of a hot mess.

It was ALL over the place and the writing was...just not very good...which it pains me to say as the author talked endlessly about how writing was her passion and how she followed her dream - for which I greatly admire her.

But the sweetness and genuinely good heartedness exuded by the author does not negate the fact that this was a rough read. She jumped all over the place and became very repetitive throughout. I don't regret reading the books as there were definitely some meaningful nuggets of information, I just wish the book would have been more fluid and cohesive.

She talked a lot about giving up her car, biking everywhere, the community at large, and becoming more "involved" in said community...which I appreciate on a surface level...but just get nauseous thinking about when it actually comes down to it.

In short, I'm too much of a complete ASSHOLE for this book. The thought of meeting up with a cycling group of strangers to discuss co-op vegetables makes me want to hurl. Which is why I'm probably going to hell.

But hey, at least I'll do it with less stuff.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the most incredible book that I have read this year simply because it hit home so closely. For years I have said that I want to be a minimalist and own as little as possible so that I can focus on what is important in life.....LIVING! Our stuff really and truly gets in the way of our goals, ambitions and life itself. We seem to try to buy bigger and better things to improve our lives but that seems to actually have an adverse affect on us. We acquire and hang onto stuff and surround ourselves in a sea of meaningless things which obscure all that is really important......living the life we desire. Tammy shows us in this book how she and her husband simplified their lives by getting rid of all the excess an focusing on living. Since I read this book I have started to take stock of my own life and look around the house to see what is really important.
I have so much stuff that is unused that it really doesn't mean anything to me. So.......I am getting rid of all my excess stuff now. I plan on moving from my 1400 sf home with 1 acre of yard and landscape to a much smaller space.....probably around 400 - 500 sf. I quit watching TV 2 months ago and that really freed up a lot of time. Since reading this book I have been giving so many things away to friends and co-workers. I feel less burdened now and I have just scratched the surface. I am extremely excited and can't wait to finally have an Efficient life from here out......THANK YOU TAMMY FOR GETTING ME KICK STARTED!!!!!!

[Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to live in a tiny house trailer anytime soon, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Tammy Strobel's metamorphosis from a materialistic, diamond-loving lady into a successful writer who lives in a home the size of some people's closets. I find that when you're surrounded by pretty excessive consumerism, it's useful to read books like these regularly so that you don't feel so alone in fighting the urge to buy everything in sight. We've spent the past couple of years purging our lives of glorified junk--it's a relief, really--and I came away from this book feeling like we're still on the right path.

[Book Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS! Author Tammy Strobel encouraged me to (1) identify what makes me happy (what "sings" to me), (2) simplify my life to maximize my happiness, (3) Calculate how large a house I need/want, (4) list what I value and structure my life to reflect my values, (5) give time, not money, to charities.

[JHM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this brief, friendly, inspiring book. I've been getting started with downsizing/rightsizing for a couple of months, and I got an immediate dose of encouragement from reading Tammy's story and her "micro-action" tips. I've never thought of myself as being particularly materialistic or competitive in my lifestyle, but this book opened my eyes to my culturally-shaped expectations of the kind of lifestyle I'm "supposed to have" as a middle class adult.

The question is not "How affluent a lifestyle can you afford?" but "What kind of lifestyle best supports what you *truly* want?"

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough! I stumbled across Tammy Strobel's blog last week, downloaded the book to my Kindle from amazon.co.uk (I'm not sure if it's out yet in print) and devoured it in just a few days. It resonated perfectly with me; in fact, I've already completed many of the action steps suggested in the book. We've all heard the saying of how the things you own end up owning you, but in my opinion, no one has ever explained it so well and revealed the full extent of this truth better than Tammy Strobel. The book would be worth buying simply for that reason alone.

[Tawni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turns out this is a get rid of everything and live in a 20 foot square house on wheels with your Husband and Bike everywhere with no car. Not really my cup of tea but did make me get rid of some stuff.

[Donna Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read and so terribly relevant in these times.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems like every 10 years or so, a book comes along that nudges us toward what really matters in life. This is that book for the younger generation. Tammy Strobel, the blogster for Rowdy Kittens, explains how she and her husband let go of their comparatively lavish lifestyle and went tiny. As someone considerably older than her, I'm amazed that she packed so much into the relatively short period of time between college graduation and her current simplified life. Amusing when someone so young can describe her past self as "the old Tammy"!

I enjoyed this book. Knowing something about the limitations of tiny house living (zoning ordinances and the need for water and electricity being just a couple of them), I know that attaining this lifestyle isn't quite as easy as throwing up a tiny house and hooking it up to the sewer. Our mega-corporate society militates against this sort of thing. They rented space in the backyard of a friend in Portland, for instance--using a hose for water and plugging into the friend's electricity somehow. Now they're living, I believe, in the yard of her husband's family in Northern California, again, plugged in to their grid. Nonetheless, the dreamers among us show us what's possible, and that I really liked about Stobel's work.

At 53, I'm single, I don't own a home, and I'm staring down a retirement I can no longer say I'm prepared for. I had some savings in 403B's from a variety of nonprofit jobs I've held, and a small pension from work I used to do. It would be impossible for me to live on that money, now that Wall Street and the banks have stolen so much of it. It looks like Congress is going to wipe out much of what I've had stored up in Social Security. What to do? I know I am not alone. There are millions of people in my boat, who've lost so much due to the economic downturn or will lose so much because of the bankster's crazy interest on student loans. So, in spite of the drawbacks, Tammy's approach is looking pretty good.

I went to my closet to start simplifying my wardrobe. Immediately, I gave Good Will three big bins of clothing. Tammy suggested choosing 33 items that you'll wear exclusively for the next 30 days. The 33 items excluded workout clothes and underwear (and I'm assuming socks), but included everything else. I couldn't do it. I have a dress-up job. I hate my dress-up job. It's not me at all, but it's the job I've got. Plus, we've got a change of seasons coming up on us. In the Midwest, temps aren't quite so moderate as they are along the coast. We go from 10 below zero to 50 above in the course of a week during the winter. Tammy indicates, though, that nothing she writes is cast in concrete. She emphasizes, "do what works for you." So, I decided on a compromise for myself. And, another thing she emphasizes, it takes time to winnow down. So, maybe next year, I'll be in a position to fit into a smaller space.

I liked this book a lot. GREAT references and resources mentioned throughout, and conveniently listed in the back in footnotes and resource sections. I found her to be a delightful writer. Her blog is also pretty terrific. Check it out.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

...You Can Buy Happiness is a blend of the story of Tammy’s personal journey into minimalism, the stories of fellow bloggers, and suggestions about how to take a similar journey in your own life. Really, this isn’t that much different from RK itself, which may be why it works. Tammy’s strength is teaching through story and her own personal discoveries, so it makes sense that she do the same when she writes a book....

Full review available here: http://shelfofwonders.wordpress.com/2...

[Diana Baur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not a preachy, you-should-be-simplifying bible, but rather a clear, succinct explanation of how simplifying and de-cluttering is a step-by-step life choice process that can lead to so many positive outcomes. Well written and edited, I look forward to more of Tammy's books in the future.

[Wendy Phraner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. Tammy is so inspiring! I admire her for all that she has done (and continues to do) to lead a grateful, simplistic, happy life. It's not often that I give out 5 stars, but I that's how much I enjoyed this book!

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

It basically felt like the author wrote this book so she can put all her friends and family in it. Would only recommend for a beginner minimalist.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of practical, not preachy, information. I even enjoyed reading the endnotes for goodness sake!

[Katerina Molchanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book: very well written, supported by good researches, reflects the journey and position of the author... Good thinking (including things that are not for me).

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if I would've read this when it was new, I would have been really blown away, but at this point, I've read too many similar things. No shade, tho!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tammy Strobel, author of the widely-loved Rowdy Kittens blog, opens up about what it means to simplify. For every person, she admits, the process of simplification is unique. I loved this book because it really hit home for me in a lot of ways. Moving into a tiny house isn't really an option for me right now, but this book absolutely motivated me to gather up things I don't use and give them away or sell them, as well as think about the role that 'stuff' plays in my life. Additionally, this book makes about the best case I've ever heard against taking on excess consumer debt. Living cheap and debt-free takes discipline, but it opens up so many doors down the road, and not just from a financial standpoint. Simplicity, Strobel argues, is a way of life that helps us focus on relationships and time: two of life's most significant commodities, instead of filling our lives and homes with useless clutter that not only costs us money, but also means we can't take advantage of other opportunities down the road.

Although Tammy takes extreme measures to simplify her life over a period of years, the overall message of this book is overwhelmingly positive. It was a quick and refreshing read and had lots of practical tips for reflection and action. Recommend.

[Dori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thought provoking book on "simple living." I appreciated the interviews she did with people who are simplifying their lives in creative ways. Makes you realize there are a lot of different ways to approach the idea of "simplicity" in your own life! Although the author takes simplicity to a level that I would perhaps find uncomfortable (selling both her and her husband's two cars, living in a custom built 128 square foot mini house, etc.), I found her example inspiring nonetheless. It made me look at my life through new eyes. Ultimately, it challenged me to find ways I can simplify, live more frugally, "find joy in the tiny pleasures" each day holds, nurture my relationships/develop my community, and ultimately focus on "loving life, not stuff."

[Janssen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was pretty good. Obviously, she and her husband are on the pretty extreme end of minimalism, with their 128 square foot house and no cars, but I thought even if you have no interest in that level of commitment, there was a lot of interesting information and inspiring actionable things you can do to keep your stuff and the acquisition of it from running your life.

[Jorge Rodighiero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much self-biography, some snippets of other people biographies, too little "how you can too"

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was more annoying than helpful. It's really more a memoir than a self-help book.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing. Good stuff. Loved it!

[Hannah Pape · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF; The overall premise of this book is good, (live simply, relationships matter more than things, less consumerism to make time for what matters, etc.) although I felt there was an overemphasis on the author’s decision to live in a tiny home without a vehicle (neither of which takes into consideration large families or living in the suburbs without public transportation). As for the writing, it was lackluster at best. All in all, I feel like the message would be better condensed into a blog post.

[Logan Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tips for living simply and downsizing

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and relatable. Loved it! Now in true minimalist or simpler life fashion, I will share it with someone else who could use it! :)

[Raman K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminder on simplifying your life so that you can work towards achieving goals and not get wrapped up in materialism.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good easy read that continues to reinforce the life I want to live 😬🙃 someday

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wholesome

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book embodies the mantra that I could never put into words. It inspired me to refocus on enjoying more of the simple things. How easy it is to get caught up in the fast paced life! While I may not be the future owner of a tiny house like the author is, I will certainly adopt some of her life's principles and wisdom. Fun, quick read!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I was hoping to gain increased motivation for living a more minimalistic lifestyle. Instead I found too much about the writer’s personal life, and I didn’t feel I could relate to her. It seemed like everyone in this book she spoke about, including herself and her husband, had advanced degrees yet at the end she's complaining about being in debt. How long can it take to pay off 5,000 dollars when you're living what is supposed to be a cheap lifestyle and living on Master's degree and PHD degree salaries? If these people are having issues, I feel it's hopeless for me on just one salary with only an Associate's degree. It makes me feel like simple living must not really be that cheap after all. She spoke a great deal too about not having a car, but I live in Illinois and the last thing I want to do is bike ride on icy streets into oncoming traffic. The book didn't seem to connect well either from one subject to another either. There’s nothing significant I can say I’ve taken away from this book. Perhaps it’s a good autobiography if you like that sort of thing, but I was looking for something else .