The idea that one does not need to grow a big bank balance to be happy in a big way is catching on – ever since the bitter experience of the booming crisis when everything swelled big and ballooned only to be punctured.

Tammy and her husband Logan Smith had initially everything – an apartment with two bedrooms, two cars and enough crockery to serve two score guests. Their income too was high. But something was lacking – a sense of peace and happiness.

Getting the inspiration from books and the Internet the Strobels, both in their early thirties, one fine day decided to live simply. They began donating their stuff to charity – books, shoes, warm clothes, pots and even television set. They disposed of their cars too and moved to a studio with a comfortable kitchen cover 400 square feet. They decided to take up the challenge of surviving with 100 items.

Today the couple has enough funds for holidays, for supporting extended family members with the education of their children and above all pay off their debts. Logan Smith is completing his doctoral thesis, while Tammy works from home on the Internet and has enough time even after paying bills to do volunteer work and indulge in yoga. The possessions include two bikes, two pots, four plats and three pairs of shoes among few other bare necessities.

Tammy now firmly believes that “the acquisition of material goods doesn’t bring about happiness”.

The Strobels brought about this change prior to the recession but legions of others since then are learning to get wise. They are reconsidering their lifestyles and bringing about a major shift in the patterns of national consumption.

Marshal Cohen of NPD Group said, “We’re moving from a conspicuous consumption – which is ‘buy without regard’ – to a calculated consumption”.

Sandwiched between foreclosures and unemployment the consumers are now concentrating on savings and spending far less than what they did in decades. The experts feel that this pattern will continue. Last June consumer savings was 6.4% (after tax) as per recent government report. The rate for many years had been 1% or 2%. In May too consumer spending and personal earnings were basically flat. It seems consumer spending is not going to make a return soon.

It may not make the economy happy, dependent as it is on consumer spending, but it is making the consumers happy.

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