At the start of 2017 I wrote: I start 2017 with a firm belief that less is more and freedom is everything. I want time, for my family, creativity, spiritual growth and development, I want quality of life. Be it The Minimalists blog and documentary (on Netflix), Mister Mustache’s musings on radical saving, Uber Frugal Challenge from Mrs Frugalwoods, my friends who inspire me with their focused saving or Alain de Botton’s video below, I came to realise that less is more and an alternative to stressful and forced career and income growth may be much more appealing minimalist living and spend reduction, or ‘voluntary poverty’ as de Botton defines it. Minimalist living reduces noise and brings priorities into focus. It is freedom that comes with this lifestyle that I am after.

It is the end of 2017 and I am happy with my progress – my spending habits have been transformed, I hit the previously unimaginable save rate of 15% of my income (30% next?), I am moving to a more flexible job, which will free up time and headspace for my projects. I will earn less but I will also spend less and have more freedom. It is an experiment. Here is to a simpler, minimalist 2018!