What Our Generation Knew About Living Simply (and Why It Still Matters)

Photo source: openverse, Michael Carnahan, Flickr

Long before “minimalism” became a trend, our generation was already practising simple living. It was not a lifestyle choice we read about in a magazine. It was how most Kiwi households got by, and it shaped the way many of us still think today.

Growing up, we learned to make do with what we had. Clothes were mended rather than replaced. Meals were cooked from scratch using whatever was in season. Nothing was wasted, from leftover food to worn-out furniture that always found a second life. This was not about deprivation. It was about respect for resources and for the effort it took to earn them.

Simple living also meant valuing time over things. Sundays were for family, gardens, or a walk along the beach, not for shopping. Entertainment came from conversation, books, and community gatherings rather than constant screens. Life moved a little slower, and there was room to actually enjoy it.

There is a quiet wisdom in that way of living that still holds up today. Many seniors across New Zealand are rediscovering these habits, not out of necessity, but because they genuinely improve wellbeing. Decluttering a home, cooking simple meals, and spending less on things that do not truly matter can ease financial pressure and reduce stress. It also creates more space, physically and mentally, for the things that bring real joy such as whanau, friendships, and hobbies.

Simple living does not mean giving things up. It means being more intentional about what we keep in our lives. A smaller, well-loved wardrobe. A tidy home that is easy to manage. A weekly budget that leaves room for the occasional treat without guilt. These small choices add up to a calmer, more grounded way of life.

For many of us, this is not a new discovery but a return to values we already know well. Our generation understood that contentment rarely comes from accumulation. It comes from having enough, appreciating it, and sharing what we can with others.

As life gets busier and more complicated for younger generations, there is real value in passing on what we learned. Simple living was never about having less for the sake of it. It was, and still is, about living well.