On Simplicity

Yesterday, I wrote about how pets can help us learn to be selfless. Today, I’m going to hit on ways two and three that dogs–or any pets–can improve our lives (even while mercilessly complicating things).

#2: Dogs require you to be social.

Want to curl up with a book all night and get lost in your own thoughts? Too bad; Fido wants to play, and he won’t take no for an answer. Dogs understand that touch and play are essentials, and they force you to get in on the game.

And you know what? Even though I’m initially annoyed when Roo tells me it’s time to take a play break, I always feel refreshed and rejuvenated afterward. Forced social interaction–even when it’s wordless in nature–can be just what you need to keep your sanity and gain a new perspective on your schedule.

#3: A warm, fuzzy creature can contribute to a frugal life.

Many people write or talk about the costs of pet ownership, and they’re completely right. Foods, toys, vet visits and time are all drains on your money and energy. However, it’s vital to understand that pets can also lower some of your bills. Cold evening? Curl up next to Lassie instead of cranking the thermostat up. Bored? Play hide and seek with Rex instead of hitting the mall.

No money for a gym membership? Take Bingo for a walk each day and get in shape. Feeling stressed? Play with your pup before you call the shrink or shell out for a new homeopathic remedy. The true monetary costs of dogs tend to balance out in the long run, especially when the health benefits are taken into consideration.

What are your experiences with these? I loved yesterday’s stories of world-watching rats and spaghetti-stealing pooches, so keep ‘em coming!

Don’t believe the hype about simplicity. If the idea of voluntary simplicity makes you imagine monks or the Unabomber, it’s time for a reality check: read on!

You have to live an ascetic life to enjoy simplicity.

Not every person who practices voluntary simplicity lives in a spartan log cabin or a minimalist Zen haven. Similarly, it’s not about giving up possessions or meditating or being green. Enjoying simplicity is about being happy with less—less stress, less drama, less waste, and less hassle. Whether that simple lifestyle involves eternity pools and caviar or sparse flats and ramen is really a moot point.

Living simply means letting life’s pleasures pass you by.

One of the most common reactions to frugal or simple folks is, “Life is meant to be enjoyed! You never know what tomorrow might bring!” A life of simplicity, I can firmly attest, contains countless pleasures; they’re just different pleasures. The feeling of freedom, a quiet evening spent with your thoughts and a great wine, the pleasure of enjoying a home-cooked meal with a person you love, the possession of enough free time to indulge one’s whims: I think most voluntary simplifiers would count these among life’s greatest pleasures.

Living simply will make you rich.

Sorry. I’d love it if this was true, but there’s no guarantee that simplicity and Millionaire Next Door (link) type wealth go hand in hand. You may own nothing but travel everywhere, you may own the very best of a few things, or you may have very little and work even less. Simplicity isn’t a path to wealth, it’s just a lifestyle. However, if you’re spending far less than you earn and keeping committed expenses down, your future probably looks pretty bright financially.

People who practice voluntary simplicity are better than people with a lot of Stuff.

Your worth as a person has nothing to do with the amount of Stuff you have. This is true whether you have a lot of stuff or just a little. You have to do what’s right for you. Someone who makes responsible purchases, even if their home is full of unused doodads and Marie Osmond dolls, is no better or worse than the person who eschews such items.

Living simply is an act of willpower.

While everyone is different, I would argue that most people living a simple life don’t have to try very hard to do it. In reality, it would be very difficult for them to do anything other than live a simple life. More than anything, simplicity is often a preference that simply becomes a habit. Do you dream of peaceful days instead of harried hours? There’s your preference. The next step is to take action to make simplicity a habit by saying no sometimes, choosing experiences over Stuff, and really tuning in to the world around you.

Are there any other myths about simplicity you can think of? Are any of the stereotypes or common perceptions true? Add your thoughts in the conversation below—let us all know what you think.
photo credit: Roman Lashkin

“It’s been… what? Two years since I saw you? Three? What’s new with you, mister?”

“Well, I’ve got a house being built in Idaho, so I’ll be heading out there in a couple months. You know, stay with my parents in the meantime.”

“Yeah? That’s exciting for you. Well, the house I mean, not the living with your parents thing.”

“You should visit sometime. I think you might actually like living there.”

“Okay. Sure thing. I’ll just pack up and move to Idaho because you said so.”

Well, about one year later to the date, I packed up and moved to Idaho because he said so. I hate it when my husband is right.

It’s been two years today since B and I loaded up the moving van in the blistering heat, waved goodbye to longtime friends, and ventured to the Gem State. With just one short weekend visit under my belt, I was nervous and excited. As the lights of Boise became visible through the thick, inky darkness of the mountain pass, my breath caught in my throat. This was real.

I’ve been questioned about the move and done some questioning myself, but in the end, it has resulted in some pretty wonderful things. Here’s what I’ve learned in the transition from city life to rural home.

1. People are nice. They’re not nice all the time, and some are never nice at all, but in general, people are still friendly. I was actually taken aback the first few times that people said “hello” to me for no good reason. (It also becomes too easy to take that for granted.)

2. There’s culture all around us. You don’t have to live in a big city to be around intelligent, creative people. You do, however, need to make more of an effort to seek out cultural events. People who assume that anywhere not on a coast lacks culture are, quite simply, kidding themselves.

3. Being in a minority can be awkward, yet satisfying. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who held vastly different opinions and beliefs than my own. It was kind of scary at first, but I got over it relatively quickly. Most people will agree to disagree, provided you’re not trying to offload your beliefs on them.

4. Alienating people is rarely a good idea. That person you cut in front of in the post office? Yeah, they know 10 people who know you, including your boss. The kid at the drive through, taking your order? Yeah, he’ll be your city council person someday, in charge of zoning your neighborhood. In a small town, everyone’s a contact in some way. If you’re going to antagonize someone, you’d better have a darn good reason.

5. You can be happy anywhere you choose. Happiness comes from within, not without. While the right locale can truly make your heart sing, the wrong one does not condemn you to a miserable life. ( I’m talking about safe, reasonably well-populated areas with jobs and modern conveniences, not war zones or refugee camps.) Happiness is a choice, one we can make each day regardless of geography.

So what’s your opinion? Am I way off base? Do you long to leave the city or would you eat candle wax before becoming rural? Hop into the comments and share what you think!

photo credit: bucklava

For my husband and I, financial independence is the cornerstone of the simple life we want to live. That means we work very hard to save money in the hopes of being able to retire sooner rather than later. We can’t wait to be at the stage of life where we work for fun, with no regard for the day-to-day necessity of work. To stay motivated (and to stay in touch with our dreams), we’ll sit and talk from time to time about what we’d do in life if money wasn’t an issue.

The Money Talk That’s Actually Fun

There are no rules to these talks; nothing is considered stupid or ridiculous. Nothing’s off-limits and no judgements are made. It’s like an unwritten policy. Some of the gems that have come out of these crazy dreaming sessions include the following:

1. Buying more land and building a personal go-kart track, complete with splits around trees and spin-out curves.
2. Spend six months traveling to all of our closest friends and leaving gigantic checks behind.
3. Earning endless degrees in subjects of all kinds.
4. Building a house with secret passages, hidden rooms, and a three-story slide.

Now, we’re not exactly going to start a special ING go-kart savings account tomorrow. These musings aren’t the standard “figure it out, create a plan for making it happen, and go to work” sorts of ideas. At this point, they’re larks and whims, meant for mental savoring more than concrete action. So why bother then?

What’s the Point of Dreaming about Unrealistic Things?

The point for us is twofold:

• To open our minds outside of the typical trappings of wealth and success. We know the fancy cigar, Louboutin heels, diamond-encrusted spatula style of wealth isn’t for us. So, it’s up to us to decide what our ultimate far-fetched dreams are. These ideas help us realize just how much control we exert over own choices.
• To create a more visceral reminder of why we’re saving. We know that we want to retire early (actually, it’s more just the option that we want), but that goal is completely intangible. If I try really hard, I can conjure up an image of me waking with a sense of freedom to simply work when the mood strikes, but that dream isn’t very action-oriented. On the other hand, I can feel the wind in my hair as I dodge my husband (cackling wildly behind me) around a tree on our custom go-kart track. Now that’s some good motivation to live simply and keep saving!

In the end, we dream because it creates new possibilities. It gives us motivation. We do it because we can. If you’ve reached the point where all your needs are covered and you’re seeking motivation to cut back, try dreaming big, crazy, unrealistic things. You might be surprised at just how far they take you.

I’m all about simplicity and constantly look for shortcuts. However, I’m also a big proponent of making your own things, from cooking to sewing. Do these two values contradict each other? Isn’t is simpler just to buy something instead of making it? I don’t think so, and I’ve got a few reasons why.

When I buy something, I have to settle for what’s available. Whatever the best option at the store is, that’s what I’m stuck with. But when I make something, I can customize it to my exact specifications. This means I get everything I want, and nothing I don’t. This is true of both cooking, sewing, and making furniture or even cards and journals. I could order a fancy dish at a restaurant, but the truth is that I’d probably rather leave half the ingredients out. I could go buy a new dress at the store, but I’d rather make one in the exact style and color I want.

Once you’ve got skills, everything’s easy. Most things are only hard the first few times you try them. After that, the learning curve levels off. Then, you can take those skills and transfer them to new areas. Consider trimming your hair. Sure, the first couple of times it would be easier to just go to a professional and have it trimmed. But after a few times, it’s not hard at all. Now you’re heading to the salon half as often, you have more free time (it only takes a few minutes at home vs. an hour to drive there and back from your stylist), and you’re cutting your partner’s hair, too.

There’s no crunch in crunch time. So you need a card/gift/potluck dish/hem fixed and you don’t have time to get to the store. No worries, because you already know how to do that at home. Some potential mega-stress has become no big deal because you’ve stopped relying on outside sources.

Going to the store isn’t all that easy anyway. Shopping is no picnic. There’s a whole lot of research, driving around, trekking the mall, and endless searching that goes into shopping. All that, with no guarantee I’ll find what I’m looking for? No, thanks. I’ll just get to work on my own solution and be done by the time I would’ve been just hitting the parking lot.

The next time you’re ready to buy something that you could easily make or do yourself, be realistic. Will it really be easier to buy? Or does it just seem easier?

What do you do to skip the store? Any recommendations for things we could do ourselves just as easily as buying them?

photo credit: Athenamama

Storage stores seduce you with promises of simplicity, order, and decluttering bliss. The truth? It’s just more stuff. Even worse, it’s more expensive than the stuff you put in it half the time. That Container Store catalog? Consider it organization porn.

What Is Meta Stuff?

So what is Meta Stuff? Meta Stuff is the item(s) you buy to… hold your stuff. That’s all it does. It doesn’t clean the house for you, it doesn’t cook dinner, it doesn’t make you smarter. It just takes all the stuff you already have and…. holds it.

From plastic Rubbermaid containers to individual snack bar carriers, Meta Stuff is everywhere. You can buy a container specifically for your Christmas ornaments. You can also find items to hold soda cans, a single baking soda box (seriously), and toilet paper. You name it, there’s a way to store it. So, if I love to be organized, what’s the problem?

The Problem with Meta Stuff

My problem with Meta Stuff is that it’s still stuff. It doesn’t transform your stored items into something useful. In fact, it adds an unnecessary layer between you and the items you use.

Plus, Meta Stuff is expensive. Am I seriously supposed to pay $15.99 for a toothbrush holder that’s going to get spit all over it? Most people would be better off putting their money into higher quality items or–better yet–saving the extra dough instead of spending it on stuff to hold stuff.

Meta Stuff is, in most cases, just another layer of clutter. It’s another item to move, to clean, and to insure.

Meta Stuff encourages people to buy more to fill up the containers. Like Why We Buy discussed, the size of a container affects our perception of how much we have. If your game rack has 50 slots and you only have 20 games, it’s easy to feel like you need more.

Are All Storage Containers Bad?

No, I don’t hate all storage containers. Some are truly great and provide a benefit that makes them worth the space and money they require. (Toilet brush holders immediately come to mind.) The problem is that many people don’t get creative. While a plastic Christmas ornament container can cost up to $30, you can use an empty case of bottled beer for free; it’s got ornament-sized cardboard separators and everything.

Storage containers are good when they add utility to items that didn’t have it before. Storage containers are good when they free up space or keep your stuff out of sight. But they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg or be fingernail chipping factories to be effective.

Alternatives to Expensive Storage Containers

If you’re ready to get creative, you can source all kinds of cool storage containers in your own house. Best of all, they’re free. Try:

• Milk jugs–cut off the tops and they’ll hold lots of stuff
• Mailing and packing boxes–the ultimate in sophisticated simplicity
• Baskets
• Rubber bands–yes, they still work!
• Cereal boxes–perfect magazine/paperwork holders
• Coffee cans or jugs–awesome for storing nuts, bolts, & garage stuff
• Tackle boxes–if you no longer have tackle, they’re awesome for jewelry
• Fancy shopping bags and brown bags
• Beer boxes–they actually look pretty cool stacked together with filing or games
• Prescription pill bottles–more common than film cannisters these days anyway
• Old dressers–my favorite for everything from sewing supplies to DVD storage
• Cappuccino tins

There are tons more ideas, so please add on any you think of or currently use! Next time you’re tempted by that salacious Container Store mailing, avert your eyes and be thankful you’ve surrounded by better storage options.

photo credit: midwestforlife

I recently read Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill. I found it to be loaded with insight as well as very entertaining. In it, Underhill describes methods stores use to encourage buyers to shop, or the mistakes they’re making that make people to leave empty-handed.

The book is fascinating and troubling. Paco Underhill has no problem with people shopping till they drop, but that didn’t make me respect his viewpoint any less. I came away feeling that Underhill has a lot of respect for consumers, despite his tendency to see dollar signs in every store aisle.

Regardless of how you feel about the books or the tactics described, if you’re trying to simplify, consider this an owner’s manual to your shopping urge. Smart consumers can use Underhill’s advice to trick themselves into buying less.

Ten Ways to Use Stores’ Problems to Your Advantage

1. Make your shopping trip as uncomfortable as possible. The more comfortable you are, the more likely you’ll keep shopping. So, try things like choosing awkward shopping bags or wearing uncomfortable clothes—anything to keep you from relaxing.
2. Give yourself a reason to leave as soon as possible. There’s a strong correlation between the amount of time you spend in a store and the number of items you buy. If you can get out quickly, you’ll be helping yourself keep the bill small.
   1. Shop right before an event you can’t be late for.
   2. Keep somebody waiting. (I’ll pack Roo in the car if the weather is okay. Imagining him in the car, barking a passersby is enough to make me dash instead of dawdle at the grocery store.
   3. Put yourself on a timer. Reward yourself (not with buying something!) if you make it out before it goes off. Think: a cool glass of iced tea, 10 extra minutes to browse the Internet, or taking a bubble bath. Or, just race yourself to set a new record with each trip.
3. Limit the use of your hands. If you can’t pick it up, you probably won’t buy it, so keep your hands full.
   1. Take a purse that won’t sling over your shoulder.
   2. Grab an empty manila folder.
   3. Hold your keys.
   4. Take a shopping list and a pen, and keep them in your hand.
4. Don’t take the kids to the grocery store. Do take them to Saks. Grocery stores are landmines for highly advertised products aimed at kids. Your budget will never get out alive! But in other stores the reverse is true; having to deal with kids makes you want to hurry up and get home. Bonus: if you bring a stroller, you may not even be able to access all aisles or displays!
5. Window shop in awkward aisles instead of secluded corners. Underhill swears that after having your butt brushed by passerby more than a few times, you’ll be out of there.
6. Politely disengage from talking with salespeople. Yeah, they may be nice, and friendly service is great, but never forget that salespeople are there to sell you. Anytime you have contact with a sales person, you’re increasing the odds that you’ll walk out of the store carrying something.
7. Frequent stores with terrible lighting in the changing rooms. Under the right lighting, you can look healthier, skinnier, and simply more fabulous. These conditions blind you to the fact that the clothes aren’t making you any more gorgeous than you were when you walked in; it’s the lighting. While it’s unflattering, bad lighting can keep from falling in love with clothing you don’t need.
8. Take the smallest cart or basket possible. Better yet, grab only what you can carry. Underhill’s company found that people gauge the size of their purchase based on the size of the cart. Larger carts encourage you to buy more, as do larger baskets and bags. Sticking with your hands places extreme limitations on what you can comfortably carry to the register.
9. Shop alone. A shopping buddy significantly increases your risk of buying more. (”That looks great on you!” “I can’t live without mine…”Oh, just try it on, for goodness’ sake!”)
10. Be careful of what you read. Remember that pretty much all brochures and signage is designed to make you buy something, return to the store, or try a new service. Bring something of your own to gaze at instead of reading signs while at the checkout or when you’re waiting for service. Or, just strike up a conversation with the person next to you.