Cheaper Your Pleasures, the Richer You’ll Be

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned on my minimalist journey is this: simple pleasures don’t have to cost much, and often, the cheaper they are, the richer you feel.

Minimalism, at its heart, is about removing what isn’t necessary so that the simple becomes exquisite. It shows up in art, music, architecture, and for me… it shows up in everyday living.

When I apply this idea to my well-being, everything becomes lighter. I live richly without spending much. I feel satisfied without the need for more. And I experience abundance in the smallest, quietest moments.

I don’t need money to enjoy the beautiful parts of life. A walk in nature is free. Smiling at a stranger is free. Showing love and kindness costs nothing — yet somehow, it’s the thing that always comes back to me tenfold.

“That man is rich whose pleasures are cheapest.” — Henry David Thoreau

Longing for Simpler Times

If I could step back into the simplicity of earlier times, I would. Even as a little girl, I used to pretend I lived in a wooden cabin two hundred years ago. Life then was slower, more intentional. Heating a home took effort. Cooking a meal took time. Clothes were sewn by hand. There was a rhythm to life that I’ve always been drawn to; a kind of gentle, humble magic.

Thoreau felt the same pull. In 1845, he moved into the woods to escape the noise of modern society. In Walden, he describes the joy he found in watching the animals, observing the seasons, and living in quiet communion with nature.

I believe each of us carries that longing inside — to slow down, to savor, to feel the depth of simple living.

Many years ago, I even tried my hand at off-grid life in the Appalachian Mountains. Those years gave me countless gifts and insights, and honestly, it was the cheapest period of my adult life. But more importantly, it rewired me.

Instead of searching for outside stimulation, I learned to find joy in the small, quiet moments. I became more patient, more grounded, more connected to myself and the Earth.

That season eventually came to an end, but the lessons never left me.

Romanticizing the Day

Traveling has shown me how people all around the world live simply. And no matter where I am; whether it's a quiet mountainside or a tropical coastline, I find joy in the simplest pleasures.

Wandering through palm-lined paths. Watching giant leaves sway softly in the wind. Noticing a tiny hermit crab emerging from its shell, or a stray dog choosing me as a temporary friend.

One of my favorite simple pleasures is balancing rocks while listening to the waves crash on the shore. It’s meditative, rhythmic, and completely free.

These small moments bring me back to myself. They remind me that abundance isn’t something you buy — it’s something you feel.

The Richness of Time With Loved Ones

Of all the pleasures in my life, nothing compares to time with my family. Because my grown children live around the world, every moment we share feels sacred.

When I visit my son and his family in Costa Rica, my heart is full. Playing with my grandsons, watching them learn, seeing their joy… these are the treasures I hold closest.

No luxury could ever replace those moments. They are my real wealth.

What True Wealth Really Means

Yes, simple pleasures save money. but the deeper truth to me is this: wealth isn’t measured by the size of your bank account.

By traditional standards, I am not a wealthy woman. I don’t own millions of dollars or a collection of extravagant things. But I feel rich every single day.

I am wealthy in love. I am rich in joy. I have an abundance of experiences because every day feels like a new adventure.

And gratitude turns every small moment into something beautiful.

This, to me, is prosperity: a life where simple pleasures fill your heart, where you’re not chasing more, and where you feel rich because you deeply appreciate what you already have.

If you’re longing for a richer life, start by lowering the cost of your pleasures, and raising your awareness of the beauty already around you.

Your richness is waiting in the simple moments.