Guitarist Mike Lenich and his wife and quilt maker Linda reached Financial Independence in 1999 after following the Your Money or Your Life program for eight years. Once they finished paying off their home in South Holland, IL (just south of Chicago) in 1996, they were able to ratchet up their savings toward their goal of financial freedom. Mike continued to work and commute to his management job with Com-Ed, the local power company while Linda expanded her quilt-making hobby into a profitable small business.

But when we first interviewed Mike and Linda for Getting a Life in December 1995 things weren’t quite so rosy. They were feeling like the “lone ranger” Mike reported back then. They felt like cultural outcasts. No one in their area, it seemed, was saving or even living within their means. “Keeping up with the Joneses” and “More is better” were the orders of the day in their neighborhood and social scene. It was taking a lot of willpower to stay on the simplicity and frugality wagon.

Shortly after our interview however several things happened that changed all that. We provided the Leniches with contact names and numbers of several other people we knew about in the Chicago area that were following the Your Money or Your Life program. They got together to discuss issues and share ideas about living simply and frugally. Mike and Linda were interviewed for an article about Voluntary Simplicity for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. The reporter was so impressed that he even put his own family on the simplicity path! Later Mike and Linda appeared in the audience of the Oprah! television show in an episode on simplicity and Your Money or Your Life. They’ve been written up for several other articles and interviewed on a number of talk shows over the last few years.

Mike and Linda, along with some other Chicago area simple livers started Voluntary Simplicity-Chicago as a support and discussion group for people interested in simplifying their lives. They continue to meet once-a-month in Chicago and discuss the many issues facing simple livers in a materialistic culture.

Linda purchased a commercial quilting machine and continues to pursue her hobby/business at a leisurely pace. Since reaching Financial Independence and leaving his management job at the power company back in 1999, Mike expanded his guitar hobby and now sings and plays in local venues on a regular basis. He also works one day a week at the local hardware store which gives him a way to connect with his neighbors and discuss local issues as well as pick up a little pocket change. Mike volunteers each year to help elderly folks complete their income taxes and is an active member of the Simplicity Forum. The Leniches have become real Voluntary Simplicity leaders and spokespersons and report life couldn’t be better!

For more information on VS-Chicago go to: http://www.angelfire.com/biz/VSChicago