In our country, the work ethic is very strong. I remember my first job out of college, which offered two-week vacations for each of the first 5 years, increasing to three weeks in years 6 thru 10, and then 4 weeks after that. After a year or so, I also noticed that this policy seemed to be more talk than walk as most of the senior folks were encouraged to take cash in lieu of the time off. Vacations were always, it seemed, a discouraged fringe benefit.

I have read, several times, that the Europeans are typically given five weeks of paid vacation after only one year of employment. Their priorities clearly are different than in America. While I am reluctant to offer any judgment as to what the standard should be, I will say that I personally have taken heat many times for working a 4-day workweek. Leisure time seems to get a bum rap from the establishment community.

Elaine St. James knows the drill only too well. She was a real estate professional who found herself working sixty-hour weeks and leading a hectic life that was all out of balance to her real wants and needs. After taking a hard look at her life, she decided to simplify, reduce her living expenses, slash her work schedule, and otherwise redefine her life. And this book is in part a result of that outcome.

Actually, this book is the 4th of a series of books, all with titles that include the “simple” word, or some derivative thereof. Clearly, it’s a big deal for Elaine. This title is about 300 pages long, but it includes 85 chapters! That’s less than 4 pages, average. Here you will find lots of bite-sized advice for those who seek a less complicated existence. There is a presumption by the author that cutting back on one’s workweek is a possibility for most, and on that point, I would tend to disagree. Had I made such an attempt in my first several post-college jobs, I’m sure I would have been shown the door. I think, largely due to the work ethic practiced in the U.S., such an option is very dependent on one’s career choice.

So why this book? It’s because of the second presumption; namely, that happiness is not found in things, but rather, in ourselves. We are taught to believe that our needs are far greater than our income, and as such, we enslave ourselves to a work ethic that demands we spread ourselves thin, and oftentimes incur excessive debt.

Those of you who may be familiar with my brand of financial “gospel” know that I consider how we spend money to be a gold mine of opportunity. All dollars are allocated to either taxes, consumption or investments. And for many of us, our dollars that get channeled to the consumption part are far too great. Simplifying our lives allows us to lower our living costs and effectively speed up our quest for financial freedom.

Simplification however is far easier to spell than it is to practice. Most would approach it by a process of denial; that is, like dieting, just consuming less. Denial however doesn’t work too well for most, particularly if the underlying values, in this instance money and happiness, remain unchanged.

This book offers solid advice in the simplicity department, and provides useful ideas about time management, goal setting, money management, and even taxes. I was particularly surprised with her matter-of-fact discussion about housing costs and how most consumers are conditioned, thru marketing, to over-purchase at the expense of other goals, particularly retirement and college funding. It is very refreshing to hear one from the real estate business actually take a poke at that sacred cow. Many welcome the idea of simplifying their lives, but have no practical formula for achieving it. If you find yourself hopelessly caught up in a whirlwind of day-in, day-out frantic lifestyle, and particularly if you aren’t enjoying the ride, this book may be a good answer for you. Attaining satisfactory financial freedom seldom happens by accident. If you are earning more but enjoying it less, and you long for financial freedom, adopting a simpler, less expensive lifestyle may do wonders for you.