Hi, I’m Renée!
I started Living Better With Less in 2013 during a very nomadic time in my life. What once was a humble Tumblr blog quickly grew into an Instagram account, and now here we are on substack—full circle eh?—because sometimes, you just need a bit more space for longer thoughts and broader conversations. Over the last decade, LBWL has evolved into a philosophy I live by (or try to, anyway:), rooted in simplicity, striving for lasting quality, and finding freedom in less. Long before minimalism was a trend and sustainability a buzzword, I was out here dropping little notes on living with “less clutter, less waste, less stuff” and more intention.
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The thrill of thrifting something one-of-a-kind.
Browsing estate sales and antique markets for hours on end to find the perfect treasure with a story.
Old cars don't go too fast. Old dogs lyin' on the grass. Old homes full of ghosts. I love them old things most ♫
Natural fibers over synthetic—always.
Carrying your own cup, bag, and dignity in a world obsessed with plastic and convenience.
Saving every single glass jar!
Repurposing, upcycling, using what you have.
Mending and repairing what you love before replacing it.
Refusing single-use waste. Saying NO to takeaway cups, cutlery, containers, no thank you to branded merch, corporate swag, unwanted freebies, one-time-use costumes, themed outfits, cheap seasonal decor, custom T-shirts for every trip, wedding, or birthday only to be worn once and end up in a in a landfill forever.
Picking up litter—instead of walking past it. “not my trash, still my planet”
Using your library card on the reg. Not just for the abundance of free books, audiobooks, dvds, and classes, but for the people watching too;)
Muting, skipping, and outright refusing to watch/listen to commercials or ads—we can’t be bought!
Spending with intention on things you love and that will last.
Boycotting brands and companies that don’t align, no matter how tempting or convenient they may be.
Supporting local whenever possible.
Questioning consumer culture and capitalism in general.
Growing your own food, even if it’s just herbs on a windowsill.
Selling everything you own, buying a van, and driving until you find your own piece of land.
Dreaming of building an energy-efficient, self-sustaining homestead.
Living in rhythm with nature.
Slowing down, simplifying, and savoring the little things.
How many did you get? Did we just become best friends!?!
Join me as I navigate that sweet spot between sustainability, style, and living better with less—on my own terms.
What is “Living Better With Less?
(Side-project, turned blog, turned way of life)
“Simplifying your life isn’t necessarily about owning less, it’s about rethinking what you choose to bring into your life. Removing unnecessary distractions. Recognizing that everything is made up of energy—energy that can control how you think, how you feel and how you engage. Consuming and purchasing with intention. Buying things only when you need them and investing in the things that last. You don’t need “stuff” to make you happy. When you maintain fewer, better things, you have more freedom to do the things you love. Less consumption, less waste, less time doing the things you don’t love, making more time for the things you do. That’s #livingbetterwithless”
—copy & pasted directly from the good ol' Tumblr
Paywall free!
Living Better With Less may be my full time way of living, but it’s not how I earn my living. I made the conscious decision to not hide my content behind a paywall for a few reasons:
I’ve been running my own design business since 2010 and never set out for LBWL to be a primary source of income. I have many other revenue streams, all of which you can find on my website, this is a space for keeping it simple.
Paywalls are overly complicated and I find them distracting and withholding.
I also want to help as many people as possible, regardless of budget, so making LBWL available to anyone who needs it feels way more aligned.
Taking a cue from Aja Barber — I don’t want to be another white woman in this space asking for money. Instead it’s important for me to consciously amplify the voices of those who have historically been marginalized, silenced, and excluded. These are the same communities that, by design, are the most vulnerable to climate impacts—specifically people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, low-income populations, people with disabilities, and immigrants. Here are some voices to support in this space and Patreon:
Aja Barber • Jesica Elis • Aminatou Sow • Ellen Jones • Christine Platt • Phil Lewis • Roxane Gay • Sustainable Baddie • Ismatu Gwendolyn • Saeed Jones
For those of you who would like to support this blog/newsletter/stack-a-rooney and the LBWL ethos, you can Subscribe (if you haven’t already;) and share it with someone you think would like it too! Leave a comment or a like on a post—engagement is always helpful. And if you would like to contribute to Living Better With Less, you can make a small donation here.
It means a lot if you’ve read this far. Thanks for being here!
x Renée
@reneemudd
For more about Living Better With Less or just to say hello, you can email me at hello@livingbetterwithless.com.
