A Chinese woman became famous because of her extremely simple lifestyle. She spends as little money as possible, even if it means giving up some of life's small pleasures.
Consumerism may be at an all-time high in the developed world right now, but the trend towards a minimalist lifestyle is also becoming increasingly popular. In China, hundreds of thousands of people are sharing "money-saving tips" on private social media groups, with some members standing out for their modest lifestyle.
One such person is Wang Shenai, a 32-year-old woman from Nanjing and a member of an online group of 400.000 people called the Frugal Women's Federation.
Wang Shenai participated in Tencent's "Talking to Strangers" program, discussing her money-saving strategies and views on consumerism and minimalism in a lengthy interview. The 32-year-old said she grew up poor and that her family was always trying to save as much money as they could.
Her mother tossed the coins to the ground to teach her that the money was hard to find.
While most people feel happier when they spend money on things they think will bring them happiness, Wang says she has always been happier when she saves money. Spending money makes her feel anxious and vulnerable, while saving her finances gives her a sense of security.
Wang does not hesitate to use used things, even furniture, if that means saving money, she only spends 100 yuan on lingerie every year, while all other clothes are donations from friends who no longer want to wear them, and going out for drinks or a meal with friends is considered too expensive so he will not do it.
These confessions made her famous on the internet, with people calling her a "stingy" and saying that she must be suffering from a mental illness. However, she responded to her critics, saying that she never encouraged anyone to follow her example and that every person is different and free to do whatever he wants!