Do you live a simple life?

[sparkysgirl]

What steps have you made to live a simple life?
is it cheaper to be simple?
what is your definition of simple?

[pearlieq]

I don't think I'd qualify my life as simple.

To me "simple living" brings up kind of a Tightwad Gazette-ish world of never going out, growing my own food, and knitting my own socks. That world is not attractive to me at all. My financial security is a priority, but I also want to enjoy the world and the experiences and conveniences it has to offer.

I make efforts to simplify my life, but simple living is not really my goal.

[genmed]

Great questions. This is something I've been trying to figure out for a while. Simple for me has meant spending only the time and money on things needed to make me happy. Steps I've taken to live a "simpler life" include going back to school to do my dream job, eliminating anything extra that I don't want or use (usually by giving it away), convincing family members I really don't "need" anything for holidays/birthdays, giving myself permission to spend time on things I enjoy, spending lots of time hiking and biking.
Is it cheaper to be simple -- yes in some ways as I've really cut down on spending money on anything that was not making me happy:
Running around and giving gifts to every relative for the holidays,
Going out to dinner with friends
At the same time I've also spent some additional money
I've always wanted a dog!
Hiring people to do things that in terms of my time and hassle factor aren't worth it (installing windows, putting up drywall) Yes we can do these things, but if it takes less time to work for the cost (overtime) and I really hate doing it..

[dossin1]

I wouldn't call myself a "simple lifer" but I have pared down a few things. One principle I always read about in simplicity books is the idea that we are so overwhelmed with stuff in our society that we can't accomplish what we really want to do. But as far as the back to basics making all your own stuff, I'm not into that.

[mom-from-missouri]

I'd say we are getting there. My new husband shares the same goals I do and that is a huge help as we both are going in the same direction. Its nice that he supports me in being a SAHM (except for the 2 hours a day I work at the school), and in our plans for home schooling next year. Hopefully, this will also encourage our kids to see what is important in life. Having a nitendo, or learning how to garden and budget. While I think living the "simple life" may not be for everyone, I think everyone should be exposed to it, and learn some basics, as you never know when you may need to fall back on some of those skills and things you learned.
I think it is easier and cheaper to be 'simple'
We farm 2 farms. One is all paid for, the other almost paid for. If we were to loose our jobs, have a recession, depression, stock market crash-we would not starve. We have our meet, our garden, fruit in the orchard, the knowledge & abilibty to perserve our food, we have our own wood to burn-even fireplaces and woodstove to cook and heat with. We have fish in the pond, cows we could milk....I can sew our clothes--in a pinch we could ride a horse to town if need be. We have not gone all the way simple, as we still use fuel, but if needed, we could plow with the horses, or make our own fuel. We help educate our children. We don't spend big money on electronic gagets-we can live without them. Our entertainment is sometimes the TV, but it is also often a board game or reading a book as well.

[Thrifty Ray]

I have a simpler life than I had 2 years ago and beyond.

I now work from home, spend an amazing amount of time with my family (parents, kids, grandkids) I cook and bake alot more. Much of my home decor is handmade. I knit. The library is my favorite place to browse. We heat our home solely with our wood stove, since our wood is basically free.

But I am still a work in progress. I have too much stuff from my work-outside-the-home days. Those little trinkets that I thought were the 'it' I needed to feel fulfilled. So I am working on whittling down. My goal is to have many less things by the end of 2007.

We are not so simple that we dont enjoy taking a vacation (although, vacation usually means camping--which we love), going to dinner or lunch once in a while, buying a designer coffee occasionally. My spluge now is usually a wonderful smelling candle...I LOVE burning candles.

We rarely rent or buy movies. We spend alot of time working in our wood-yard processing firewood.

Simple to me means slowing down, paring down, so you have more time to enjoy the people and activities you love. Finding joy in lifes 'freebies' (sunsets, wild animals, rain, etc. ) so that you dont have to spend (and consequently MAKE) money for entertainment.

[PRICEPLUS]

My life is not particularly simple at this time although I would like it to be so. I am buying less and less and I am divesting myself of things!

[PrincessPerky]

simpler than many..but not as simple as some.

less stuff than many, more than some.

less 'todo' outside the home, more todo options inside.

slower pace than many, faster than some.

One day I thought about that wife swap, where someone lives your life for a couple days, that would entail writing it down..anyway while my todo list is long..but most of it is optional, I don't have to bake for sunday school, I want to...I don't have to make beds daily, I like the clean look better. I don't have to teach as much or as often (really they can learn without me, or even wait a year) but I like to. I don't have to cook 'with trimmings' but I like the trimmings...I don't have to embroider..I like to.

so simply put I have simple (few) obligations, but lots of optional work.

[fairy74]

It's simpler than it used to be, DH and I have pared down a lot but we still enjoy some indulgences. I think if we had a lot of land where we could grow things, raise things that it would get simpler, but there are always trade offs.

[Fern]

I think i lead a very simple life, mainly because I do not have children. My time really is my own; there are pros and cons to that.

Working in my hometown means no need to travel much. So i work locally, shop locally and really don't stray too far from home except for weekend recreational activities. I also try not to be a big consumer, and living in a relatively small house also simplifies things.

[Aleta]

I started my simplfying with a friend who is a decorator helping me with color on the walls and rearranging my furniture, paintings, and yes the nicknacks. I REALLY knew that I needed to get rid of stuff, so she was instrumental. I took everything our that she said to go and put it in a box. Only things I really loved stayed. Next, I had a party with my friends and gave away some things. I also donated. I feel so less stressed with all of this stuff. Little by litlle, I'm getting rid of stuff. I ask myself, "if I move would I take this with me". I'm a paper junkie so I'm working on that. Now, for the holidays, I took some furniture out of my living room/dining room and discovered how spacious it could really look and be. Even for dusting and cleaning - it's easier.

As for renting movies, I rented one yesterday for the first time in a long time. It was a treat. I don't think that it is about doing without; it's about making better choices and curtailing your spending habits.

Vacations are a must. I need the down time away from my home. I always come back with a different perspective.

[Broken Arrow]

I don't technically qualify for what others would see as "simple living". For example, I still have one video game machine, and I like my MP3. Still, I do think that I would qualify as "simpler living". In that, I mean everything I own has a place or purpose. Nothing is clutter.

[tinapbeana]

all4money had a great line in one of her blog entries (where her husband ebay'd off one of his collectibles). basically, he realized that even though it was something he treasured, it wasn't something that would become an heirloom in his family so why hold onto it? i like this way of thinking. combine it with the 'take a picture and get rid of it' trick, this might work.

[poundwise]

I think the definitions that could applied to 'simple life' are wide and varied.

In one manner of speaking, I do not want a simple life. I want to be involved in many things both for my own satisfaction and to contribute to the well-being of others. I like always having something going on or, at least, something in the planning stages.

Even in this, though, I strive for a life less-cluttered and more ordered.

[Aleta]

I agree with poundwise that there are many different definitions. I say that because I subscribe to Simple Living by Janet Ruhrs and she by no means lives wihout doing without. Her simplicity meant getting away from a job that was hectic and a busy life in the city. To me, it's about taking those things out of your life that stresses you. Sometimes things that we do are habits handed down to us, not things of our choice. So, simplifying is making your life less hectic and a peaceful invironment that you can function in.

[Gruntina]

In a different perspective of "simple living", my day to day life is a lot simpler. I no longer choose jobs that requires overtime, or overload on stress or a job that has "homework". (I rather choose a stress free low paying job than a very stressfull higher paying job) Choosing a less stressful job allows me to go home stress free. My future spouse does not need to hear negative things from me all the time complaining about the job. Not working overtime or feeling too exhausted from working allows me more time to plan grocery shopping so nothing is done at the last minute and can shop for sales, coupons. This also leads to more pleasant home cooking. I also picked a simple small home that does not require a lot of stuff and learned to not want so many things.

Our activities are simple as hiking up the mountain that we live on, planting in our yard and etc where it does not require us to do a lot of advance planning, complex projects and so on.

Living this way actually has us save money and not need so much of it. For many years I was living “life on the edge” in the city of San Francisco and a big time spender but had way too much drama that goes along with it.

Now I am at peace, happy, well rested, organized, and think more clearly about the things I need to do. In that definition, I am living a simple life.

[MonkeyMama]

In the area I live in I feel we live a very simple life.

I am sure many of you would argue I don't. IT is all so relative!!!!!

Generally, instead of plopping thousands of dollars every year to constantly entertain our toddler and baby with amusement park trips, concerts, and endless activities, I am more likely to take them to the park or for a walk. OR stay home and draw pictures with them and play play doh. Etc. You get the point. I often get the whole - poor kids, deprived look because I generally don't spend money to do activities with them, there is SO MUCH they can do without spending all that money. I have no idea why 2-year-olds need to go to Wiggles concerts at $50 a pop. Or a 3yo needs to go to the movies every week and an amusement park every weekend. IS it just me????

We drive older cars and mostly have hand-me-down furniture. We home cook 99% of our meals. I don't wear makeup, spend money on beauty, and could care less about name brands.

Because of being a little frugal my hubby does not have to work and overall it makes our lifestyle very simple. I would like to get to a point where we can both work part-time and meet all our financial goals. We will get there not too long. To me that is simple. We have a few luxuries, but we just try not to go overboard.

Every thing we have done in our young lives is to get to a point where we had a simpler existence, that we didn't have to work a lot of hours or have a fancy lifestyle to support.

The long and short is yes and no I guess. I know a lot of people who leave even simpler lives. I guess we have found the right balance for us though.

To me simpler is cheaper. & that is my aim... IT is less stressfull too.

[vsjhoc]

I've moved around a lot, sometimes as far as 12,000 miles from one home to another. That has really helped me pare down my possessions. You look at your things differently when you have to pay someone to move them.

[vishenda]

Not only is it cheaper, it's ironically more fulfilling. Simple means not following anything, but being yourself; not trying to be sophisticated yet not deprving yourself. It is about setting own definitions and own boundaries.
1) Reduce any options/choices in my daily life - namely keep a consistent schedule that I spent a good amount of time preparing/improving.

2) Not necessarily; this depends entirely on the options/choices I've eliminated. For example, I choose to get a coffee immediately upon getting to work, instead of from a cafe on the way (money saver), but I've also decided to pay to launder anything that would otherwise require ironing (money spender).

[JoyJoy]

Hubby retired in June, 2006, and with me already retired (medically), we tend to do as we please as all three of our sons live out of state. Hubby and I don't entertain a lot. We enjoy the simple things in life, a walk, reading with discussion time afterwards, our computer games (his being Everquest and mine are Doublecross and Spades when I do decide to play...), going for an ice cream cone and now we're remodeling the house together and it's fun! Simple pleasures are the best!