Posted in Simple and Frugal Living
You have worked, studied, researched, and lived a life that is frugal. Somewhere down the road you have some children to add to the mix. Those children reach school age and life changes again. Were you frugal throughout that entire time? Likely not. None of us are completely frugal all the time. Most of us welcome a more simple life, but experiences periods of life when life begins to control us. Is there a link between frugality and simplicity?
In a simple lifestyle, less is more. That may mean a wide variety of things. Living simply may mean having a non-chaotic schedule. It can mean a life of frugality. Your family may practice simple living by choosing minimal purchases that have a pre-requisite of much thought and prayer before a purchase. It can mean a life filled with all of these components. So where doe syour definition lie?
The best way for you to implement simplicity is to use your current life as a starting point. Now, think of your ideal life. How would it be different? All that's left is to formulate a plan and move forward. Let's take a look at some of the big ideas you can change in your life to make some of these changes.
- Look at your calendar. Is everyday filled with appointments and errands away from home? Make a change. Can you reschedule some of your obligations so that you have only 1 or 2 crazy days per week? Knowing that you have scheduled days at home may assist you in getting through those chaotic days away from the homestead. This can be one of the hardest to adjust, but it is crucial. Look back over time. Was there a period in your life when simplicity ruled your schedule? Ask yourself waht were you doing differently then. Perhaps it was a few years ago when your children were younger and now they have schedules that have gunked up the works. Allow your children to take on only what is going to fit into YOUR lifestyle. Honestly, if my is harried, everyone will pay.
- Look at your spending habits. If you are making many purchases regularly, consider scaling back. Aside from groceries, determine what is a need and a necessity. Does your family really need another DVD, and on the day of its release? Do you really need more scrapbooking supplies to scrapbook?(oh, please don't make me answer this...please, please, please.) Is it necessary to get the newest video game? Are convenience foods really giving back to your life that validates their cost? Anything that isn't a necessity takes time, energy, & money to purchase. Ask yourself if you weren't to purchase any non-necessities for 30 days, would your lifestyle be significantly impaired? Be honest with yourself. I always say no initially to this question, but then that sale pops up that I can't resist and WHAMMO! I am purchasing again. The bottom line is, the more you purchase the more you have to take care of.
- Is there a big ticket item you are thinking about acquiring? While you have been price comparing and researching which is the best buy, have you asked yourself if this will contribute or retract from a simple lifestyle?
There are many other factors to consider, but these are some of the big ones. The truth is, if you want to have a simple relaxed life, you have to work at it. Saying no to people is a must. If you say yes to everything, your life will always remain chaotic. So choose your commitments carefully. Also consider your homestead a commitment. Keep in mind the priorities God has set up for your life..1)God, 2)Spouse, 3)Children, 4)Employment, 5)everything else. If your homeschool support group has taken over the #1 spot, it's time to regroup. If you belong to a woman's group at your church has taken over the #2 spot, it's time to revisit. If you volunteer at a shelter for battered women and it has taken over the #3 spot, you are in the wrong place. All of the above mentioned commitments are worthy, no doubt. However, are they more worthy than following God's hierarchy for life? I know that being frugal can be quite a bit of work. Yet being frugal (unless it takes over your life) contributes to simplicity.
Some of the hardest decisions to make in life, are when to scale back and re-focus your priorities in the right order. We feel guilt and emotional manipulation to the commitments we have made. I have something to say, that I have to say to myself when chaos comes a calling...
If your friends, co-workers, co-volunteers, brothers & sisters in Christ, do not accept or try to discourage you from a simple life and following God's priorities for your life, their opinion is not worth your guilt. You see, if they are who they say they are to your life, they will respect your decisions and efforts to return to God's lifestyle. It's that simple.
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
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