I know this is unAmerican, but sometimes life is easier and much less stressful to learn to do without.

I have been that way all my life. My dad taught me if I didn't have the money to get something...I really didn't need it.

I have been good with not having all the fancy shiny things out there.

YES!
There's an old saying that fits this idea - "I don't want to be possessed by my possessions".

Been doing that much of my life. Not always because I made a conscious choice, it was just the way things played out.

I don't know about in American... Here it's just bloody common sense... Sadly lacking in some I might add

@NoThanksLeon you know it is not a bad thing in some ways to sacrific and do without and some in the world because of there situation have no choice and simple things we take as automatic and for granted are not available too them