Some Inside Scoop: An Interview with Courtney Carver

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Courtney Carver of Be More with Less through her blog and Twitter over the past month or two. After hearing about my spending fast and aggressive debt repayment plan a few weeks ago, Courtney was kind enough to forward me a copy of her new ebook Simple Ways to be More with Less. Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive a copy of her newest creation.

To help us get to know Courtney a little deeper, she agreed to answer some questions I had for her. Some of my questions arose from reading her blog, and others surfaced after reading her ebook. Either way, I’m excited to share with you a little more of Courtney’s world!

Ex-Consumer: On your blog, Be More with Less, you talk a lot about being a moderate minimalist. What triggered you to begin down the path towards minimalism?

Courtney: I think we are all in different places in life and apply minimalism differently. For instance, had I discovered minimalism earlier in life, my approach would be different than it is now that I have a family and responsibilities. I think some are scared off by the “burn all your stuff” method and can benefit from knowing that a more gradual, intentional approach works too.

Ex-Consumer: I know you have a husband, daughter, dog and two mischievous cats. How do your husband and daughter feel about your shift to minimalism?

Courtney: I think they were scared at first, but now they are both on board. I don’t know if my daughter would consider herself as a minimalist, but I’ve noticed her room is much less cluttered than it used to be. She still complains a little that we don’t have TV, but we spend much more time together because of that change. I was away recently and my husband told me that he got rid of three things while I was gone, and I am still wondering what they are. I love that he is having fun with this.

Ex-Consumer: You’ve mentioned that you would ultimately like to live on a beach in Mexico. Do you have an approximate number of months or years before you hope to make your dream a reality? Is your husband on board?

Courtney: Yes, my husband is on board! We love spending time in Mexico. We do plan to visit some other spots but know that we want to be by the water. Our daughter will be finished with high school in two years, so depending on what she does next will determine when and what we do. We don’t have a specific date in mind, but we are having a blast making plans and daydreaming.

Ex-Consumer: In your new e-book, Simple Ways to be More with Less, you list 27 ways to be more with less.  I don’t want to give too much away, but one of these 27 items really caught my attention: to eat chia seeds. I’m always interested in ways to increase health and vitality, and this was the first time I’d ever heard of chia seeds. How long have you been incorporating chia seeds in your diet? Do you eat them every day?

Courtney: I started eating chia seeds last year. I don’t eat them every day, but love putting them on oatmeal and in protein shakes.

Ex-Consumer: In July of 2010, you achieved my dream of becoming non-mortgage debt free (congratulations!). How has that changed your life? What kind of reactions do people give you when you mention that you live debt free?

Courtney: Becoming debt free changed my life in so many ways. Increased cash flow, less stress and thinking differently about how I spend money were only a few of the benefits. I think people are inspired by hearing my debt free story. I know that hearing other people get out of debt helped to keep me motivated on my journey.

Ex-Consumer: You’ve been talking a lot lately about your newly launched Smalltopia. Tell us a little bit about the amazing multiple income stream location independent small business you’ve built.

Courtney: I broke down everything in a recent post, but I would add that now that I have the basics outlined, I can start to see the possibility of growth in doing things that I love. I think it is really important to be transparent in generating revenue online.

Ex-Consumer: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Courtney: I would just add a big thank you for sharing my story with your readers. I’m so glad you and I have had an opportunity connect and collaborate.

Ex-Consumer: Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us! It’s been great getting to know you better.

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Courtney has a gentle and encouraging writing style that helps to nudge us in the right direction. She is positive, helpful and hopeful. Her new ebook, Simple Ways to be More with Less, is all of these things too.

Courtney’s ebook also has sections by the following contributing authors:

• Leo Babauta | Simplicity blogger and author, Leo created Zen Habits, one of the top 25 blogs according to TIME magazine.
• Joshua Becker | The creator of Becoming Minimalist, Joshua blogs to inspire you to live with less.
• Everett Bogue | Cybernetic yogi blogging at evbogue.com.
• Dan Goodwin | Creativity coach, author and blogger from A Big Creative Yes.
• Jonathan Mead | Through his blog, Illuminated Mind, Mead helps people kill their day jobs and get paid to be who they are.
• Tammy Strobel | Founder and blogger behind Rowdy Kittens, Tammy challenges her readers to change the world through simple living.

I came away from this ebook feeling inspired and encouraged. If you want a reminder about what is important in this life, you’ll want to read this book.

Disclosure: The above ebook links are affiliate links, which means I would receive a small commission if you chose to purchase Courtney’s book. I would never recommend a book or product that I didn’t use or read, and find to be a valuable addition to my life and well-being. Thank you for your support!

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