Greetings --
I'm Begonia from San Francisco, almost 48 years old, and elated to be here! I came across MMM via some comments on a minimalist blog, maybe Courtney Carver's or Life Edited.
I started to get serious about reining in the spending and simplifying my life when I was considering buying a condo in the Bay Area last year. The reality check was monstrous and the tiny house option seemed like the best way to go. That's on hold, and I'm still renting in this crazy expensive town, but the cool thing is that I'm just a few months away from throwing in the towel at a job I should have left years ago.
Because of some rotten financial decisions of my youth, I'm a long way from FI, but I decided I'm done with full-time work so I'm turning my side hustle into my main source of income come September. I've done the math and it's going to work. I'm debt free with the exception of a car lease that ends next year, been stashing cash for almost a year (about $15K), buying consignment clothes, making my own cosmetics, cooking and freezing up a storm, recycling, removing, reconsidering life goals and values. I still have some face-punch-worthy habits (dry cleaning, getting the Sunday NYT delivered, a sick cell phone plan) but I'm weaning myself in the next month.
I'm committed to having a lot more fun and spontaneity in my life, being connected to people and communities that enrich me, and pursuing my creative dreams. Doing what life's all about (finally)!