First, a huge congratulations to Faith on completion of her book, Family-Sized Minimalism! Faith has been working on this for many months (along with working at her “regular” job, homeschooling her three children and continuing on with minimaliz-ing her home). I know a lot of midnight oil was burned in the creation and revision of this book and, after reading an advance copy, I can honestly say it was well worth it. Congrats, Faith!!
A Book for Everyone
After reading this book I was struck by how balanced the approach was. It doesn’t matter if you live in a huge McMansion in the suburbs, or a small urban dwelling, there are ideas, inspiration and concepts anyone can embrace to reap the benefits of minimalism.
How-To + Inspiration
I’ve purchased a few e-books that were less than stellar. I was disappointed not only by the lack of content but the organization of it. Amateur and not worth the $ I spent on it.
This book is rich with content. It’s packed with step-by-step decluttering plans for every room of the home and the inspiration and motivation to get the hard work done. The first chapter details the fascinating journey Faith’s family took to become a combined household of 10. If you think you can’t de-clutter, if you think there are too many kids or people in your home, if you think it is too big and daunting a task to even start, read this book.
I only link to books I loved and found to be well worth the money here. Books that I read, re-read and then saw my life change because I was practicing the principles discussed in them. Books that gave back to me exponentially in time and money. This is one of those books. I read it and got fired up to do better, to sell a few more things, to carve out more time for my family and myself, to revisit what I was holding onto and why.
Things I Love from Family-Sized Minimalism
- Benefits: ever get stuck on explaining to others why you are getting rid of most of your wardrobe and kitchen gadgets? Faith provides a strong list of the benefits to getting minimal-ish. It will get you excited for another round of decluttering and also give you easy ways to discuss minimalism with friends and family.
- Non-extreme: the living with 100 things movement isn’t for the masses. The gentle and insightful approach to minimalism that Faith explains in the book, really is for everyone.
- Focus on Families: there are challenges – kids toys! – that minimalist families face. This is the first book I have read that specifically addresses them and provides a detailed guide on how to tackle them. The new minimalist movement started with single 20-somethings living out a backpack. The how-to guide to minimalism that is written from this perspective isn’t so practical for a family of five with a mortgage. Faith knows you have roots and she shows you how to respect them – your home, your mementos, your cherished photographs – while still reaping the benefits of minimalism.
If you want to get started, or take things to the next level, consider investing in Family-Sized Minimalism.
*Faith is offering a 100% money-back guarantee on the book. I love her commitment to stand behind her product!
Affiliate information + Red Cross donation
For transparency I want to include that any books purchased via the links on my blog earn me an affiliate fee. So far my earnings haven’t matched my hosting and website costs but I hope they do some day!
My brother and his family are living in southern Japan right now and my mother was supposed to fly to Tokyo this weekend for a three-week tour of Japan. I’m feeling very thankful that my family is alive and well.
For the next 48 hours, for each purchase of Family-Sized Minimalism via the links on my site, I will donate $5 to the Red Cross.
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I’m very glad to hear that your family’s okay, Rachel.
I’ve been decluttering now for, get this, 3 YEARS! I kid you not. It’s awful — 2 steps forward and 3 steps back — mainly because of a combination of (1) living with a packrat, (2) having an 8yo and a 6yo who buy their own toys with their allowance, and (3) loss of focus due to spreading myself too thin tackling too many projects at once. Decluttering is only one of my many things on my to-do list.
I love your blog and the fact that you’re a fellow Canadian… who happens to live in my beloved Vancouver, which I still miss 12 years after moving back here to Winnipeg.
Thank you for bringing Faith’s ebook to our attention. I’m going to need it, and I will definitely be getting it through you. 🙂
Thanks, Nenette.
Focusing on the positive: you’ve been at it for three years and haven’t given up. The longer I am on this road the more I see it’s a process and a lifestyle shift and I’m never going to have that “done” feeling.
Your beloved Vancouver is a touch rainy today. We’ve actually looked at Winnipeg as a city to move to. We’re tired of the real estate prices here. Big problem is that we are wimps about the cold.
Thanks for commenting and keep at the decluttering!