Going “tiny” is not a revolution for me.
It is however, a navigational beacon as to where I would like to be in my current lifestyle. My name is Kevin Gilkes, and together with my wife, run the Scissors & Drumsticks blog which launched summer 2010. Over there, I write and vlog about all sorts of subjects from gardening, cooking, and food preservation to saving money in the working household and maintaining our so-called “real estate investment”; a suburban home in Virginia Beach, VA.
Here at Tiny r(E)volution, I can share my focus of scaling back and minimizing with you without being seen as hypocritical or even receiving strange looks for wanting to scale back. Let’s face it. I live in a sub-division, work in a corporate setting, pull shift hours, raise three children along with my supportive wife, and pay an astronomical amount of bills and debt. I am the “American Dream.” In a time of layoffs and unsecured credit we are getting along fine. Why slow down now? Maybe because as a family we have realized that the current pace will only encourage us to further become a product of ourselves and American greed by wanting more and more only to realize it is never enough.
Until recently, we were taught that money is the key to a successful life. Sure, everyone needs money to pay for things, but one doesn’t need it to live. One needs money for only one thing – buying stuff. It’s the kind of stuff we are willing to buy with our money or even feel obligated to buy which separates us from the rest. I have come to the realization that my family can operate a bit smoother if it weren’t for all the stuff.
My main goal for writing for the r(E)volution is to educate more people about minimalism on a family-sized scale. I am talking about minimalists in the realm of folks like me who can’t just exist in 200 sq. ft. and who have children and even pets to consider. I am writing for to help discover a working man’s minimalism.
Some of you may be natural minimalists and never have had the burden of trying out a new focus such as this. Some of you may be converts and can really relate to my story. Don’t get me wrong, the Gilkes’ are not drowning in a sea of stuff and debt and we certainly are not hoarders by any means. We have a nicely decorated, well-cared-for home and we can even pay all our bills. We just feel like there is more and we want to find it. We just want to do life a little bit differently.
Kevin, good for you. It’s always better to be ahead of the money game than behind trying to catch up. I admire your wisdom in wanting to simplify life with less stuff. I’m in the middle of doing the same. The garden has been expanded and the basement food storage area is being built. I’m not really into storing up a year’s supply of food or anything like that, but I just want to be proactive in food buying or preserving this year. Buying what I use on sale for when I need it or preserving food for winter consumption. It just makes better sense to me. I’m looking forward to your input on this blog.
Have a minimalist day.
Thanks for the reply Nebraska Dave. We’re going t take this one “Tiny” step at a time. Thanks for reading
Nicely said.. we can’t all live in 200 sq ft, though I truly admire those that can! There are ways we can all do “better” without being extreme, where we may not be able to. I will also look forward to your posts. Thanks.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We, too, are suburbanites with the kids, dog, 2 cats, etc… But we’re trying to leave a smaller footprint & pare down our belongings. Maybe a tiny house will work in retirement, but not right now. Though, obviously, I’m a tiny house fan. 🙂