Not long ago, boredom felt like a personal failure. I’d be standing in line or sitting in traffic and immediately reach for my phone—scrolling, swiping, reading headlines I’d forget in five minutes. Anything to fill the silence. The idea of just being bored seemed unproductive, almost lazy, especially in a world where efficiency and constant stimulation are praised like virtues.
Have you ever felt a pang of guilt when you splurged on that designer handbag, even though your bank account assured you it was perfectly okay? You're not alone. In a world where financial prudence is often equated with personal virtue, spending on ourselves can sometimes feel like a slippery slope toward irresponsibility. But why do we feel guilty about indulging in life’s little luxuries even when we can comfortably afford them? Understanding this perplexing guilt, especially from a woman's perspective, is a journey that blends psychology, culture, and personal finance.
I didn’t become a minimalist because of Marie Kondo. It started with the drawer in my kitchen that wouldn’t close. You know the one—stuffed with measuring spoons, mystery batteries, takeout menus from restaurants I hadn’t ordered from since 2018, and a tape measure I’d already replaced twice. It was less of a drawer and more of a quiet existential crisis.
