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Living Simple, Free & Happy: How to Simplify, Declutter Your Home, and Reduce Stress, Debt & Waste
Upcycle Your Life
Get ready to trade in headaches and hassles for life skills, exchange clutter for money, transform eyesores into beautiful focal points in your home, and say goodbye to over-consumption and hello to genuine experiences.
Cristin Frank, the original Reduction Rebel, shows you the freedom and fulfillment you can have when you simplify your life. You'll learn how to use your talents, time, and space to combat stress, become more efficient, relieve money woes, open up opportunities, and provide unbelievable self-fulfillment.
Inside you'll find:
Simple techniques that eliminate clutter and keep it from returning A personalized plan to help you reclaim your time Practical (and profitable) ways to sell unused items in your home Tips to eliminate debt and curb consumption Step-by-step upcycling projects that transform old, unwanted furniture into beautiful, customized organizing systems Dozens of exercises that help you identify and honor your talents, values, and goals As Cristin says, "success is getting what we want." Let this book show you how to let go of what's holding you back so you can put your energy into your dreams and interests and build your success.235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 12, 2013
The latest in an anti-consumerism trend, this book offers some ideas for people who are perhaps at a different point in life than me, although the author seems to be around my age.
She begins by discussing how she and her husband paid off student loans and their mortgage in their 30s by cutting back to one car and having her stay home with their family, while recycling and repurposing cast-offs and garbage from neighbors to furnish their home. She's justifiably proud of the money she's saved, but her advice will not work for all families, and she is up-front about that. She styles herself as "the original Reduction Rebel" and gives many examples of how she and her family have turned trash into something they could use. She ties it all together by equating debt and rampant consumerism with unhappiness.
The book could have used more skilled editing. I found it jarring to encounter the wrong homonym many times: role/roll, affect/effect, etc at least once per chapter, and it diluted the author's message while revealing too much confidence in spell-check. I find this more and more in contemporary publishing. These editors need to really read the books they're putting out there.
As for the message, there's not a whole lot of new information here. Our great-grandmothers did this sort of thing from necessity, and many people living around the poverty level here and around the world do this not by choice, so this book has some uncomfortable class issues of which the author seems unaware. There is a long section of step-by-step DIY projects that might be helpful for someone starting out. As someone who already has all the furniture she will ever need, I don't see myself saving TV consoles from the neighbor's trash to upcycle into coffee tables; but for a young family there could be useful information within. As such, I hope my copy finds its way into the hands of this family and proves more useful than it has to me.
She begins by discussing how she and her husband paid off student loans and their mortgage in their 30s by cutting back to one car and having her stay home with their family, while recycling and repurposing cast-offs and garbage from neighbors to furnish their home. She's justifiably proud of the money she's saved, but her advice will not work for all families, and she is up-front about that. She styles herself as "the original Reduction Rebel" and gives many examples of how she and her family have turned trash into something they could use. She ties it all together by equating debt and rampant consumerism with unhappiness.
The book could have used more skilled editing. I found it jarring to encounter the wrong homonym many times: role/roll, affect/effect, etc at least once per chapter, and it diluted the author's message while revealing too much confidence in spell-check. I find this more and more in contemporary publishing. These editors need to really read the books they're putting out there.
As for the message, there's not a whole lot of new information here. Our great-grandmothers did this sort of thing from necessity, and many people living around the poverty level here and around the world do this not by choice, so this book has some uncomfortable class issues of which the author seems unaware. There is a long section of step-by-step DIY projects that might be helpful for someone starting out. As someone who already has all the furniture she will ever need, I don't see myself saving TV consoles from the neighbor's trash to upcycle into coffee tables; but for a young family there could be useful information within. As such, I hope my copy finds its way into the hands of this family and proves more useful than it has to me.
February 8, 2019
Whew. This book was something. First of all, it had some problematic crap in there about how you shouldn’t help people because then they never learn to do anything themselves. Lots of weird class issues. But forgetting all that, if you read this book, you can learn:
A) You’ll have a lot more time if you stop spending 40 minutes every morning on your hair
B) Don’t buy coffee, it’s expensive.
C) Sell the twenty four foot yacht you have sitting in your driveway that you only use once a year.
D) While you’re selling your twenty four foot yacht, also sell your jet ski, snowmobiles, and ATVs.
E) Sew your own curtains and make all your own furniture out of stuff you find by the side of the road.
F) Why do you even have a convertible in storage when you didn’t even drive it last year?
G) Get rid of stuff, you’ll have less stuff.
H) Don’t eat TV dinners, grow your own organic garden.
I) You don’t need to weave your own fabric, let’s not go crazy here.
J) Roof your own house.
K) People don’t even make their own ice cubes any more.
In conclusion, this is why Marie Kondo is doing so well. Because most books of this type are crap. Don’t bother reading this.
A) You’ll have a lot more time if you stop spending 40 minutes every morning on your hair
B) Don’t buy coffee, it’s expensive.
C) Sell the twenty four foot yacht you have sitting in your driveway that you only use once a year.
D) While you’re selling your twenty four foot yacht, also sell your jet ski, snowmobiles, and ATVs.
E) Sew your own curtains and make all your own furniture out of stuff you find by the side of the road.
F) Why do you even have a convertible in storage when you didn’t even drive it last year?
G) Get rid of stuff, you’ll have less stuff.
H) Don’t eat TV dinners, grow your own organic garden.
I) You don’t need to weave your own fabric, let’s not go crazy here.
J) Roof your own house.
K) People don’t even make their own ice cubes any more.
In conclusion, this is why Marie Kondo is doing so well. Because most books of this type are crap. Don’t bother reading this.
December 18, 2017
Kind a fun book. It had some good ideas.
August 27, 2015
One day, I will find a decluttering/organizing book that does not rest on the assumption that you are (a) married, (b) have kids, (c) own your own home. Today, however, is not that day.
Living Simple, Free & Happy takes the cutesy premise of "Reduction Rebels", people who upcycle and declutter and reuse rather than buy new things, to inspire people to get themselves out of debt and live a simple life. While the idea is nice, some of the author's suggestions are a little alarming. She maintains that because she's a stay-at-home mom and they have a landline, and her husband is either at work or at home, they didn't really need a cell phone. They can just borrow someone else's phone if they really need help! I ask you if this would be workable for 99% of the population. It's similar to the assumption that everyone lives within bicycling distance of work or can take the bus, which as a native Houstonian, I can tell you is simply not true. In some cities, sure, but not here.
Additionally, she has an entire chapter on upcycling, which is a neat idea that has shot itself in the foot so many times by now that it seems to be limping along feebly. The definition of upcycling is taking old things and making them "new again" or better by decorating, reusing, repurposing, etc. The reality is taking old things and making them uglier or cheap-looking. Half of the things she had were even more hideous than when they began or plain odd, like the coffee table door (I will note, however, that some did look quite nice, such as the changing-table-turned-wine-caddy; one wonders why they didn't use only those pictures). On a related note, the photos themselves are unattractive. They look like they were taken in the 70s, with a faint yellowish/brown tinge to all of them. I would have chalked it up to cheap publishing except she had an entire section on how she bought a camera and included tips on photography.
Then why am I giving this three stars instead of two? Because the ideas are sound. The concepts are sound. Why are we throwing up our hands and resigning ourselves to paying our student loans into our thirties or forties? Why are we okay with shoving our garages or closets full of junk and then going out and buying more?
What I love about this book is that she focuses on the spiritual element as well as the physical, and I'm not talking about, "God is in the simple life!" aphorisms so many of these blogs seem to spout off. Instead, she urges people to find their passion and pursue it and to revel in the feeling of self-reliance and accomplishment. Those are great messages that I will always support. There's also the fact that she uses this to create a holistic book that identifies the why's rather than the how's. So many of these books focus solely on decluttering and organizing, then give a chapter or two on maintenance. If I know human nature - mostly based on a close childhood study of my mother, who routinely did this - most people get fed up with their clutter, devote a weekend to clearing it out, then a week later slowly let it go until next year, when they get fed up again.
By identifying why we're doing this and the end goals, Cristin Frank encourages the reader to keep up with it in a realistic way that people might actually stick to.
All in all, there's not a lot of useful information so much as a good message here - but sometimes that's all you need.
Living Simple, Free & Happy takes the cutesy premise of "Reduction Rebels", people who upcycle and declutter and reuse rather than buy new things, to inspire people to get themselves out of debt and live a simple life. While the idea is nice, some of the author's suggestions are a little alarming. She maintains that because she's a stay-at-home mom and they have a landline, and her husband is either at work or at home, they didn't really need a cell phone. They can just borrow someone else's phone if they really need help! I ask you if this would be workable for 99% of the population. It's similar to the assumption that everyone lives within bicycling distance of work or can take the bus, which as a native Houstonian, I can tell you is simply not true. In some cities, sure, but not here.
Additionally, she has an entire chapter on upcycling, which is a neat idea that has shot itself in the foot so many times by now that it seems to be limping along feebly. The definition of upcycling is taking old things and making them "new again" or better by decorating, reusing, repurposing, etc. The reality is taking old things and making them uglier or cheap-looking. Half of the things she had were even more hideous than when they began or plain odd, like the coffee table door (I will note, however, that some did look quite nice, such as the changing-table-turned-wine-caddy; one wonders why they didn't use only those pictures). On a related note, the photos themselves are unattractive. They look like they were taken in the 70s, with a faint yellowish/brown tinge to all of them. I would have chalked it up to cheap publishing except she had an entire section on how she bought a camera and included tips on photography.
Then why am I giving this three stars instead of two? Because the ideas are sound. The concepts are sound. Why are we throwing up our hands and resigning ourselves to paying our student loans into our thirties or forties? Why are we okay with shoving our garages or closets full of junk and then going out and buying more?
What I love about this book is that she focuses on the spiritual element as well as the physical, and I'm not talking about, "God is in the simple life!" aphorisms so many of these blogs seem to spout off. Instead, she urges people to find their passion and pursue it and to revel in the feeling of self-reliance and accomplishment. Those are great messages that I will always support. There's also the fact that she uses this to create a holistic book that identifies the why's rather than the how's. So many of these books focus solely on decluttering and organizing, then give a chapter or two on maintenance. If I know human nature - mostly based on a close childhood study of my mother, who routinely did this - most people get fed up with their clutter, devote a weekend to clearing it out, then a week later slowly let it go until next year, when they get fed up again.
By identifying why we're doing this and the end goals, Cristin Frank encourages the reader to keep up with it in a realistic way that people might actually stick to.
All in all, there's not a lot of useful information so much as a good message here - but sometimes that's all you need.
April 21, 2015
There was a way bigger focus on upcycling in this book than I expected. And unfortunately the majority of the examples in the book were really not that great. As much as I like duct tape I would not want to cover a whole table in it. And the coffee table made from a door and a chair sawn in half was just weird. I'd really rather not have a table if that was my only option. I do like the idea of using what you have and I have seen some cool upcycling projects, unfortunately just not in this book. There's also the fact that this book is about living simple but by the time you start adding up all the supplies and tools and time needed for the projects it just seems like a lot of time-consuming clutter.
August 11, 2016
I kind of loved this little book. I loved that she shared what worked for her family, and didn't profess to share anything that promised more.
The book got me started thinking about how I can do things differently while achieving similar results. As that was likely the intent behind the book itself (to get people thinking critically about their own situations), that's why I love it. Not because it gave me a detailed plan on "how to simplify," but because it immediately got me thinking about how I will : )
The book got me started thinking about how I can do things differently while achieving similar results. As that was likely the intent behind the book itself (to get people thinking critically about their own situations), that's why I love it. Not because it gave me a detailed plan on "how to simplify," but because it immediately got me thinking about how I will : )
December 23, 2013
This is a very good cheerleader book for convincing/reminding/encouraging you to look at what you don't need or use in your home. I've been feeling stymied for months, unsure how to get from a to b with all of the things ive collected over the years. The answer is - you can't, unless you want to resemble the 'Junk Lady' puppet from Jim Henson's Labyrinth. It's not a book Id want to hold on to forever but its definitely a good one to borrow from the library. I suspect the author herself would approve.
May 29, 2014
This book was pretty terrible. There were a few nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout, but there was not enough to justify reading this book. The author came off as very judgmental and self-righteous, and a lot of her ideas make no sense at all. She also offered some design options with refurbished pieces. Some designs were good while other made did not make aesthetic or functional sense. The entire book was just her rambling on. Reading this book was like being stuck at a dinner party in a boring conversation you cannot get out of.
January 18, 2016
Nothing revolutionary or mind blowing. It's a quick read with some steps broken down for up cycling projects, but nothing I plan to do soon. It lacked concrete advice on where to start with finances and purging belongings, and everything else was just eh.
March 21, 2014
Maybe I've read too many of these simplify books but this one just didn't do it for me. It has some good information but I didn't find it all that inspiring.
July 19, 2018
Typical decluttering book. Great if you've never read anything like this before, but doesn't really add anything new.
February 18, 2018
This book is helpful, but not revolutionary or inspirational. If you want ideas on how to organize, store, or re-arrange, this is no the book for you.
Some of the tips are elementary, and “handy” ideas for creating options for inexpensive furniture or organizational structures are straight from the 1970s.
Some of the tips are elementary, and “handy” ideas for creating options for inexpensive furniture or organizational structures are straight from the 1970s.
March 20, 2019
It's okay if you are starting out with becoming frugal and need a pep talk with a how to added in. It seemed very repetitive in the first few chapters, and the how to sections were good. Definitely not everyone's book of choice. I ended up skipping most of the second book, as I was already familiar with the how to projects.
December 18, 2020
A lot of general information on frugality, but to be honest, when an author boasts about paying her house in six years, or mentions her part-time side business paid 30% more than her job, I expect specifics how this was achieved. That she doesn’t talk about it leads me to believe she’s hiding something and that common folks like you and me can’t replicate what she did.
June 16, 2017
This had more substance than the Antonia Kidman version, but with a particular focus on reusing items found on the side of the road. 50% pep talk to eschew materialism, 50% craft how-to. Weird and reasonably interesting.
December 11, 2017
Picked this up for some decluttering inspiration and found it had a lot of good, common sense life advice too. It also inspired me to try some small home improvement projects like reupholstering my dining chair seats.
April 12, 2018
No really useful ideas, just the same old stuff rehashed. If you’ve been practicing simplicity and frugality there’s nothing new here. It reminded me a bit of Amy Dacyczyn’s Tightwad Gazette, which was also a bit over the top for me.
February 26, 2019
Started off ok with the introductory chapter but then dissolved into more of a craft book. I thought the title was misleading and skipped most of the part of the book that focused on craft projects.
July 18, 2020
Would reread it in the future whenever we move for frugal home deco ideas.
March 19, 2021
Newly acquisition from the local public library, I gave it a try and it's okay.
Nothing groundbreaking or really new.
Not bad either.
Okay.
Nothing groundbreaking or really new.
Not bad either.
Okay.
September 29, 2021
The best but I've read on decluttering, seeing goals, doing visiting boards, upcycling, mashing space everything. Very positive and taught me a lot. Marked l pages to go back and do exercises
March 8, 2017
A good reminder to focus on whats important in your life.
June 24, 2014
Is there anyone out there who doesn't want to reduce stress, debt, and waste? Cristin Frank has decluttered and upcycled her way to paying off her 30-year mortgage in under 7 years, and her first book, Living Simple, Free & Happy shares her secrets on how to clear your home, life, and schedule of things that weigh you down.
Frank is the champion of the Reduction Rebel lifestyle— using your talents and common sense to get out of the cycle of mass-production, as well as being able to saying no to things you don't want and saying yes to things you do.
Instead of buying a showroom of furniture after she and her husband bought their home, Frank scouted curbside freebies and freshened them up with everything from Mod Podge to duct tape. Things she had and didn't need, she sold to make money and make room for new opportunities.
Read the rest of the review on ShoestringMag.com
Frank is the champion of the Reduction Rebel lifestyle— using your talents and common sense to get out of the cycle of mass-production, as well as being able to saying no to things you don't want and saying yes to things you do.
Instead of buying a showroom of furniture after she and her husband bought their home, Frank scouted curbside freebies and freshened them up with everything from Mod Podge to duct tape. Things she had and didn't need, she sold to make money and make room for new opportunities.
Read the rest of the review on ShoestringMag.com
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January 22, 2015
This book was full of useful projects, websites, and sources into living simple and with less clutter/debt/waste/etc. I was interested in how Frank (author) set up goals and plans to make your life more simple. The goal of this book was to live with more self reliance and to buy or use things in your own that will benefit you and not become a problem in your life. (example: three cars, or extra items that are not needed.) The resources and advice in this book were helpful, but I felt like it was a little demanding at other points. In my opinion the book juggled a lot with living with less and then living with less entertainment. The author clearly states it is your life and live it the way you want to, but the book seems demanding in that you can't live happier if you have a lot of material goods. That is just my general opinion, but overall I think this book is a good start if you're getting into becoming more sustainable, wanting to do more DIY projects, or looking to make less of an impact with what you buy or what you do to the world around you.
August 23, 2015
Although I wasn't greatly attracted to this book I was able to find a few ideas and quotes for thought to complement my task of 'letting go'. The recycling of furniture was a large turn off as it really didn't fit my ideas of interior design and the pictures only added to this. The concepts of possessions owning you as you have to tidy the garage, store and clean them etc. really had me thinking more about my inability to 'let go' of items. The thought of not only more space but good karma having others enjoy them and importantly being ALOT more discriminating in what I bring into my home (bought or given) is value adding to the clutter and organisation books/information I have read and researched. Questioning and reasoning to hang onto things was helpful.
Not the best book but what I did gain was deeper contemplation that was interesting in itself.
Not the best book but what I did gain was deeper contemplation that was interesting in itself.
January 24, 2015
The tone this author took really rubbed me the wrong way.
There were very little advice on actually downsizing or living simple, and a lot of advice on garbage picking, and 'refurbishing items that you have garbage picked.
Unfortunately, the photos of the repurposed & refurbished items in the book did not look very good - most were dark. The items in the photos themselves did not also look that great as an example.
I understand that part of the author's statement is that you will get better by doing, but if you are going to write a book about repurposing and refinishing items, maybe make sure that the small details on said item have been looked at, and that you get good photos of the example?
There were very little advice on actually downsizing or living simple, and a lot of advice on garbage picking, and 'refurbishing items that you have garbage picked.
Unfortunately, the photos of the repurposed & refurbished items in the book did not look very good - most were dark. The items in the photos themselves did not also look that great as an example.
I understand that part of the author's statement is that you will get better by doing, but if you are going to write a book about repurposing and refinishing items, maybe make sure that the small details on said item have been looked at, and that you get good photos of the example?
March 5, 2014
This book isn't perfect (some sections could have been left out and some of the messages are repetitive), but I'm giving it 5 stars because the message and insights are great (and the book is short enough as is).
Although the book is based mostly on anecdotes and emotional arguments (i.e. this is not scientific), I felt that the steps to and reasons for simplifying your life resonated very well.
If you're feeling over-stressed, questioning taking on more debt, or just looking for some more reasons to continue your quest to slim down your obligations, this is a great read.
Although the book is based mostly on anecdotes and emotional arguments (i.e. this is not scientific), I felt that the steps to and reasons for simplifying your life resonated very well.
If you're feeling over-stressed, questioning taking on more debt, or just looking for some more reasons to continue your quest to slim down your obligations, this is a great read.
August 13, 2014
The most interesting take-away from this book was: consider the time attached to new things. For example, that silk shirt will require special cleaning and careful wear, so maybe the cotton one next to it will suit your lifestyle more. That point is interesting the first time you read it, but chapter after chapter repeats it and I lost interest. I finished it out of determination but gained little after the first chapter. Maybe skim this book at your library, but I wouldn't bother checking it out.
March 15, 2016
This book takes on decluttering and reduction of debt and waste. There are personal stories, exercises, as well as lots and lots of ideas on how to use what you have and upcycle discarded items.
Admittedly, this was not the book that I need in my simplifying and minimizing journey but I would suggest it to someone getting their own place for the first time, maybe someone starting out and in need of a general guidebook.
Admittedly, this was not the book that I need in my simplifying and minimizing journey but I would suggest it to someone getting their own place for the first time, maybe someone starting out and in need of a general guidebook.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews