In my case, my perception of possessions is one of the factors that has led me to living car-light.

When I was growing up, we heard the term stewardship quite often in the church. This had a lot to do with being responsible with what we had as well as living within our means. Our money, our possessions and our abilities were seen as being gifts from God and as a result, there was a response of humility and thanks. Wasting was considered wrong and purchases were to be made carefully.

In my own family, it was also emphasized because my grandparents had immigrated to Canada in the 1920s and arrived with nothing except a travel debt. Then, a few years later, they also had to contend with the Depression. Frugality and thrift were not just abstract concepts for them. My parents kept up with frugal living and somehow, it made an impact on me too.

I don't see frugality as a hardship but as a way of life — the only way that makes sense for me.