Money can’t buy happiness, according to the New York Times News service.

An employed project manager at a California investment firm discovered that despite a job and steady salary she was unhappy in the “work-spend treadmill.”

So she stepped off. Inspired by blogs and books about living simply the 31-year-old (and her husband) donated a significant portion of their belongings to charity and downsized. Significantly downsized–choosing to live on just 100 personal items each (includes wardrobe and toiletries).

Three years into the personal project the couple is happy and debt-free.