Simple Living in a Nutshell
Simple living is reducing the clutter of life and space down to the essentials of what is important; allowing what remains to stand out and bring value. Kind of like the picture to the left, if there were many other colored flowers around the yellow one you would see beauty of ALL the flowers, but with only one flower, you see the beauty in it down to the delicate details.
Simple living has been going on for many, many years – Hindu and Buddhist from the east and in west with Shakers, Mennonites, Amish and Quakers. They practice a life moving away from wealth and technology. Though simple living is a part of these religions, it is more a philosphy and lifestyle that could, in a sense, become it’s own religion. Much like the voluntary simplicity movement in the US and the downshifting taking place in parts of Europe.
People who are active in their simplicity voluntarily reduce their need for consumable goods and put a monetary value on their time as it relates to what they buy. For instance, If you make 100 day at work and a sofa costs 500, you just spent a week working to buy that sofa- you want to make darn sure it is worth your time and lasts you as long as possible.
This reduction of stuff in our lives not only simplifies the clutter around us, but also the stress ‘clutter’ in our lives. If you are only working towards maintaining the few things of value in your life, you have a better direction as well as less stress about ‘keeping up with the neighbors’.
With less consumable goods in our life, being able to reuse/recycle an item to make it last longer, also allows you to live with a ‘smaller footprint’ in the world. And I believe that there is not a religion out there that says we shouldn’t take care of the world provided us.
Technology in the simple life is a personal decision. If you feel removing it might be best for you, test it out and see what you can do without. However, minimizing the technology to only the items that bring VALUE to your life and not distraction, might be the first step to make.
Where do you start?
- Reuse items – Coffee in travel mugs and not styrofoam, use rags instead of paper towels.
- Reconnect – Spend time with family, no distractions, outdoors, alone.
- Rethink – Ask yourself if you need the item, is it worth the money you make, will it be used, be of value.
- Reevaluate – Take a look at your bills and see where you can lower consumption; add a low-flow showerhead, conserver water, lights, etc.
- Reduce – Live in a smaller space. Less to take care of and less to worry about.
One of the biggest influences on our life is advertising and the pressure to ‘fit in’ to a certain cookie-cutter mold. Break out and break away!
- Some links of interest: The Church of Stop Shopping and Simpleliving.net
- Books of interest: Your Money or Your Life and Walden
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Dawn C. is site owner of Frugalforlife.com and is residing in Colorado with her spouse, Teri, of 11 years. Dawn can be reached at Frugalforlife@gmail.com
Hi Dawn,
Great blog. Looking forward to reading more.
From Sally – part of the European downshifting movement;)
I have the same unwrapped roll of paper towels under my kitchen sink that I bought when I moved into my house 19 Years ago.
I use Terry Cloth Bar Towels to clean up everything and Newspaper if its real Nasty.
I also Do Not use Paper Napkins, Paper Plates, or Plastic Utensils.
If you think I carry it too far maybe an Economics lesson is in order..}:~D
Average family uses 2 rolls of Towels, a large package of Paper Napkins, a package of Paper Plaste and we’ll forget about the Plastic Utensils for now…
2 Rolls Towels $2 Week x 52 $104
1 Pack of Napkins $1 week x 52 52
1 Pack Paper Plates $1 x 52 52
Total of $208 a year times 19 years I’ve LITERALLY not “Thrown Away” $3952…even WITHOUT factoring in Interest.
~ Roland