Calculated consumption?

It has become a fad of sorts to downsize on material possessions and conspicuous lifestyle in some quarters. Largely because of the money squeeze brought about by the financial crisis, people do away with excess goods, move to smaller apartments or houses and pledge to live withing a budget. Unthinkablly just several years ago, some Americans take to bikes instead of cruising around in SUVs and rediscover the pleasures of living simply. Less is more as many realize that the idea that you need to get bigger to be happy is false.