Simplify your life…

From my weekly Iconoculture news feed on the cultural trends of our times comes this story. In crunch time, affluent Boomers are starting to simplify. Too much stuff? Enter “the Simplifier.” The new psychographic, identified by marketing expert John A. Quelch, is a middle-aged affluent looking to downsize during the downturn because she wants to, not because she has to (Harvard Business Publishing 10.15.08).

Consumers with assured wealth look around at all their stuff and feel more sheepish than proud. Why? It embarrasses them. Gas-guzzling SUVs no longer signal success, just irresponsibility. Conspicuous consumption may be out, but Simplifiers are still spending. They want to amass experiences, not possessions, and would rather savor pleasures like foreign travel than pile up yet more toys.

Even before the economic crisis, empty-nest affluents were starting to simplify. Now they're downsizing even more. Who needs a huge house when you're on the road half the time, for business and/or pleasure? The future looks bright for experience-purveyors, whether they're selling fine dining, extreme sports or adventure treks. But luxury-goods manufacturers may need to reposition their products. Truly authentic brands can flourish in this environment if they deliver a distinctive consumer experience laced with social responsibility.

From a real estate perspective, I see this in the number of people whom I work with who are looking for the “small town America” experience that Milford offers. I also often hear that the clients are downsizing and wants a “landing pad” – someplace where they can go between their travels. Many have other homes, in other climates; but desire a Michigan home base.

Depending upon what stage of the desire to simplify the client is in, it can be challenging. Many would-be down-sizers/simplifiers still ask for places that have all of the amenities of their McMansion and enough room to put all of their current possessions in. That’s not simplifying, but many have yet to get to the stage of letting go of some of the possessions that have so defined their lives to this point. Since age is catching up with most of these people, they are also asking for everything on one floor, which is tough to meet in an older Village like Milford and still be close enough to downtown to walk to dinner. Some of the newer condo complexes in our area are addressing those needs.

If you’re ready to simplify your life and you’re in my little patch of the world in southeastern Michigan, give me a call and I’ll see what I can find for your landing pad. For more on simplifying your life, read the Simple Living Manifesto at Zenlife.com or read some articles from the list below:

Stuff-onomics: Hidden Side of What You Own
Going Barefoot
Living Simplified: 10 Things You Can Do Today to Simplify Your Life
Bruce Lee’s Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape
Quitting Things and Flakiness: The #1 Productivity Anti-Hack
How to Live With Just 100 Things
A Simple Life Is A Good Life
How To Simplify Your Life
Live Frugal, but Stop to Smell the Roses
How to live simply in a 39 foot RV
Complexity is Highly Overrated
Simplicity: The Ultimate Sophistication
The Tao of Roo: Lessons in Simplicity from My Dog
People vs. Things
13 Reasons to Switch Back to Paper
How To Live A Life Less Ordinary
Do Your Kids A Favor By Saying No
10 Simple Ways to Beat Impulse Buying
50 Ways to Celebrate Life Every Day
“Simplify, Simplify!” — In the Footsteps of Thoreau
Simplicity …what we can learn about usability.
Voluntary Simplicity Movement Re-Emerges
11 Fun & Frugal Summertime Activities
The Four Laws of Simplicity, and How to Apply Them to Life
The Truth About Money and Happiness
Does Your Wallet Have A Leak?
50 Very Simple Ways to Be Romantic
Time Management, Simplified: How to Be Productive With No Worries
Why Less Is More And How To Unlock the Web
A Simple Living Guide to Buying “Stuff”