My photo mojo has just abandoned me these past few weeks so I'm going to have to rely on an old pic for today's post. I was trying to capture a similar look while out on my early morning walk with Chigger today but I had waited too late; the sun was too high and the mists we've been having had mostly dissipated.
At any rate, this is going to be a shorter post, I think. I just wanted to share a link to a site that I thought some of you, who are on the minimalist wagon with me, might enjoy if you didn't already know about it. I've been reading posts on Becoming Minimalist for some time now and have really enjoyed what I have found. And if you are not sure about living a life based on reduced consumerism, this site might help explain what it's all about. Most people just assume that minimalism means doing without- most everything. But that's simply not true. It simply means reserving your hard earned money and time for the items and people in your life that are truly important, not things that our misbegotten society tells you is important. Some of the statistics that he provides on just how far our western society has fallen down the greed hole is truly mind-boggling. It is scary really, how much our media controls our minds and impulses, and ultimately, our pocketbook.
Now, unless you are some self-sufficient super person, we all have to buy some goods, and that's okay. In fact, after I finish this and a few other chores I'm off to town to buy some groceries! And I'll most likely treat myself to a nice lunch since it will be an all day trip. But the key here is that because I do not indulge in "sport shopping" as I like to call it, for crap I have absolutely no true use for, I can afford to have a nice day off from my regular jobs with a nice lunch while I stock us back up on a few things and run some other needed errands.
I'll try to write a little more about my minimalist practices later but in the meantime check out the site. The articles are very well written and include everything from not buying so much, to decluttering what you have (something most people want to do), to just making more time for yourself. I think it has a little something for anybody that wants to live a more conscious life.
Now, I'm off to clean the chicken coop and get all the critters ready for my day out!
5 comments:
I'll definitely check the site out. We are on a fall cleaning kick right now where every couple weeks we pick a room or two for deep cleaning. As part of the cleaning, we are reviewing stuff to see if we still want to hang onto it or get rid of it. The garage sale pile in our basement is getting larger and larger. I'm not sure we will be able to wait until spring.
Back from reading a number of articles and I want to say that the one I enjoyed the most was the Latte Factor. It certainly describes my life well.
I was a few years into my first job out of college and was wondering why I was not saving more money when I was earning way more than I had ever earned before. For about half a year, I wrote down what I spent on every single thing on a piece of paper and threw it in a box. I then added everything up in categories and was amazed at how much things add up a nickel and dime at a time. Since then I have always been a saver which is why I could stop working so early in life when my peers with the same salaries and same length of time at the job are still working. They have a lot of nice toys, live in far nicer and larger homes and go on lots of expensive vacations but don't have much to show for it when it comes to their savings account.
When they learn what I have saved, they can't believe it. They always point out that the value of all their houses, toys and vacations don't add up to what I saved. But like that blog you link pointed out, wealth is more directly linked to spending habits than savings habits. Also, when you spend that money wisely over a long period of time, the extra money invested wisely has had lots of time to grow much larger.
Sadly though, I find that rarely are people ever able to change their ways. The keeping up with the Joneses belief is just too deeply ingrained.
hey Ed! Yeah, I thought you especially might enjoy the site although I know you are pretty far along in the money-saving department.
I had a similar epiphany after I had been a journeyman carpenter for a few years and was making pretty good. I realized I was wasting quite a bit! I think probably that is common with folks who finally realize a goal of having more than enough money, whatever their station. Luckily, I realized what I was doing wrong but often kick myself for not realizing it sooner. The one thing my first husband was good for was that he believed in saving his money and encouraged me to do it too and I did. Ultimately that was one thing that helped me be able to leave him cold turkey!
I'm afraid that the consumerism bug is too strong for most people too. Mostly because they simply will not isolate themselves from main stream media that pushes it so relentlessly.
I think I should read about this. I clean up donate lots of things then go buy more stuff. WTH!
Hey Jo! Yeah, I used to do that too! lol! finally got over it though.
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