I started simplifying about two years ago. Sent tons of stuff to charity, allowed magazine subscriptions to expire, got rid of the bottled water delivery service, sold the good car and kept the old one, and lots more. It was worth it. Cash equals freedom.
Same here. I canceled my cable as well. I work from home so I spend virtually nothing on gas, my wife and I cook all our own meals and grow as many veggies as we can. Between my mom and our garden, we grow almost ALL our own veggies. Aside from the watermelon.
We are working on paying all credit cards down to zero now. Only two more to go and we are debt free aside from our home.
This article makes a lot of sense. I'd personally rather spend my money on experiences and good memories than stuff that will degrade and have to be replaced for years to come.
This is good general advice for anyone, but the best part of this mindset is that it decouples the old fallacy of "poverty equals simplicity." Simplicity is awesome, but costly. Survival is complicated. Presenting a less consumer-intense lifestyle as a worthwhile LUXURY is an important step toward breaking down the American tendency to equate waste with prosperity.
Now, I've had my share of bumps and I do tend to want electronic whatsits and other useless junk,and due to some bad judgement did get myself in a pickle back in '05, but I've watched people way out of my pay range who were a lot more miserable than me. I'm not nearly as simple or scaled down as these folks featured here, but I had avoided the siren call of taking out more and bigger loans that other people in my age group gave in to.
It's nice to see signs that things are turning around and that people are figuring out that the end of the last phase of the economy need not be the end of the world...and that, in fact, it could be much better. It's especially wonderful to see people remember that they are not their job, and that there are things more important than working overtime to get a bigger car.
The thinking in evidence here is one of the things I love about my home country: the notion that downsizing is a GOOD thing, and that it makes people happier, just reeks of American optimism, and I love it. Some people would rather die than change, but to see people say "you know what? It's time for a change anyway," gives me hope for the future that I've not had ever since the Palin-Americans have started dominating the airwaves. Let's let the morons fend for themselves, as they say (somewhat rightly, I think) the rest of us should, and get on with life already!
knoxiouseduAug 10, 2010
Alternate title: "Consumers find ways to not be American."
soc7Aug 10, 2010
I started simplifying about two years ago. Sent tons of stuff to charity, allowed magazine subscriptions to expire, got rid of the bottled water delivery service, sold the good car and kept the old one, and lots more. It was worth it. Cash equals freedom.
Closed AccountAug 10, 2010
Same here. I canceled my cable as well. I work from home so I spend virtually nothing on gas, my wife and I cook all our own meals and grow as many veggies as we can. Between my mom and our garden, we grow almost ALL our own veggies. Aside from the watermelon.
We are working on paying all credit cards down to zero now. Only two more to go and we are debt free aside from our home.
soc7Aug 10, 2010
OK. I'll Digg you back. But that doesn't mean we're swapping spit in the shower.
Closed AccountAug 10, 2010
HAH, my spit is highly valued in remote chinese villages as a cure for blindness.
Sure you don't want to reconsider?
soc7Aug 10, 2010
Well, my vision has been getting worse lately.......
Closed AccountAug 10, 2010
I digg soc7's comments now and then. He isn't a troll like NoLibs and Ironhide.
soc7Aug 10, 2010
I'd be the last person to accuse myself of being consistent in my comments.
Closed AccountAug 11, 2010
Very wise, and the converse is also true. Debt is slavery.
cranelakeAug 10, 2010
I hate the word consumers. It reduces human beings to great big gaping mouths devouring a whole lot of useless junk.
Everyone should try purging themselves of stuff. It's like taking a cold shower on a hot summers day.
AJgriffinAug 10, 2010
It does feel pretty good to get rid of stuff sometimes.
vtbarreraAug 11, 2010
This article makes a lot of sense. I'd personally rather spend my money on experiences and good memories than stuff that will degrade and have to be replaced for years to come.
redcolumbineAug 11, 2010
This is good general advice for anyone, but the best part of this mindset is that it decouples the old fallacy of "poverty equals simplicity." Simplicity is awesome, but costly. Survival is complicated. Presenting a less consumer-intense lifestyle as a worthwhile LUXURY is an important step toward breaking down the American tendency to equate waste with prosperity.
regeyaAug 14, 2010
Now, I've had my share of bumps and I do tend to want electronic whatsits and other useless junk,and due to some bad judgement did get myself in a pickle back in '05, but I've watched people way out of my pay range who were a lot more miserable than me. I'm not nearly as simple or scaled down as these folks featured here, but I had avoided the siren call of taking out more and bigger loans that other people in my age group gave in to.
It's nice to see signs that things are turning around and that people are figuring out that the end of the last phase of the economy need not be the end of the world...and that, in fact, it could be much better. It's especially wonderful to see people remember that they are not their job, and that there are things more important than working overtime to get a bigger car.
The thinking in evidence here is one of the things I love about my home country: the notion that downsizing is a GOOD thing, and that it makes people happier, just reeks of American optimism, and I love it. Some people would rather die than change, but to see people say "you know what? It's time for a change anyway," gives me hope for the future that I've not had ever since the Palin-Americans have started dominating the airwaves. Let's let the morons fend for themselves, as they say (somewhat rightly, I think) the rest of us should, and get on with life already!