Two weeks ago I defined a simple life as “a lifestyle that consciously and intentionally chooses to consume less.” Last week, I talked about a biblical basis for simplicity. This week’s article will give some practical things to try if you want to live more simply.
Richard Foster, whom I referred to last week, gives ten principles, paraphrased here:
- Buy things based on their usefulness, not their status.
- Reject anything that produces an addiction in you.
- Give stuff away. De-accumulate.
- Beware time saving gadgets.
- Enjoy things without owning them.
- Develop a deep appreciation for God’s creation.
- Be skeptical of “buy now, pay later.”
- Use plain and honest speech.
- Reject anything that breeds oppression of others.
- Shun things that distract you from seeking first the Kingdom of God.
Below are some further ideas for simple living I’ve gathered up.
Simple Goods
- Lower your standards—just a little. Is it all that important to have the newest, fanciest, and shiniest one of everything?
- Buy it on sale.
- Buy it used. Sell it used. You’ll spend less money and end up with less junk cluttering up your living space.
- Look for a way to use something you already have to meet a new need. It is fun to solve problems by re-purposing stuff you already have. Think Apollo 13 .
- Borrow and lend stuff to your neighbors. Some things are used so seldom that sharing makes sense.
- Use up what you’ve already got before buying more, especially with food, and you’ll end up wasting less.
- Shopping hints—never go grocery shopping while hungry. Combine several errands into one trip, even if it means writing down an itinerary.
- Use the public library, including interlibrary loan, instead of buying books.
Simple Services
- Look for a simpler way to do X. Consider edging the sidewalk with hand tools instead of buying another polluting machine to do it.
- Do it yourself—house and car repairs, for example. Cook more meals from scratch instead of buying prepackaged or going out.
- Learn some practical skills so you can do it yourself. If the outlay for tools isn’t prohibitive, you can learn things like changing oil and cutting hair. The internet is full of “how to” guides.
- Join a coop—babysitting, vegetable, etc. Save money and make some friends at the same time.
- Take advantage of the internet and phone to save errands. Have your paycheck direct deposited and bills directly debited.
- Enlist the help of family and friends for big jobs. Treat them to homemade pizza after they help you paint your living room.
- Find some friends or family to play soccer/dance/swim/walk with instead of paying for a health club membership.
A Tip of the Hat to Mommy
Many young mothers are especially skilled at implementing the simple lifestyle. Those who stay home with kids instead of bringing income in from an outside job often turn to frugality as a way to stretch the family income. They do a great job and post all their clever ideas on their blogs which are gathered together in places like this and this. Before we had blogs, there were women who wrote their examples of saving money into newsletters and books.
The Down Side—Time, Tools, Skills vs. Money
One reason people buy machines and hire people is to save time (other times it is for lack of skill). People who are willing to live the simple life have to admit there is sometimes a trade off between spending money and spending time. For example, if you are going to change the oil in your own car or grow your own vegetables, you have to have certain things: a place to work, the correct tools, a certain skill set, and a certain amount of time. A person who wants to live a simple life will need to weigh the options and figure out if it is feasible for him to gain the skills, acquire the tools, and use the time to do things for himself rather than paying someone else to do them. In some cases the answer will be no. In other cases, it will be an enriching opportunity to learn a new skill, engage the family in a new activity, or turn a hobby into a fruitful benefit.
Next week I plan to finish off this series with a look at some examples of appropriate technology—taking “simple” to a new level.
Maybe I’m missing something. Is simple living any different than common-sense frugality? If you’re poor, does that automatically mean you’re living the simple life?
Poorer people might have to new a few of those things more, like focus on use instead of status. But given that Americans as a group have a negative saving rate, it’s safe to say not many are living a simple life. At least I assume running up credit card debt is not a sign of living a simple life.
I think Americans need to understand that debt is slavery. A lot of people concerned with status are up to the eyeballs in debt. That’s not prosperity; its freaking bondage.
Simple living might not look very different from common-sense frugality. Those of us who have grown up that way would likely view it as such and may live that way no matter how much disposable income we have. But like Jasen points out, not everybody has the common sense to stay out of debt, especially credit card debt. Simple living is consciously spending less than you have, so debt is not an issue.
As for poor, that’s a different question. With apologies to the economists here, “poor” is so often an attitude more than an absolute number, IMHO, and doesn’t bear much resemblance to simple living unless you’re talking about voluntary poverty. (Though I understand you weren’t really talking about the extended meaning of the word ‘poor’.)
For fun, I’ll mention that I just got back from Half Priced Books and bought three wedding-planning books to give to bride, groom, and mother of bride when I visit them in Houston tonight. When I got to the checkout counter I asked for a further discount because the cover was torn, so I got a quarter-priced book.