The voluntary Simple life

I read about simplifying your life, not because you are pressed for money but because you realize that all the material possessions are really not necessary. I just got interested in this and I know the lifestyle goes beyond deciding not to buy a new purse or similar. It's also about spending time with your family (and not running around pushing kids from one activity to the next) etc. etc.

Has anyone here heard about it, thought about it or is maybe even practicing it?

Also, what do you do in your life you think is a conscious decision to simplify or free your life from societies "pressure" to keep up with the Joneses?

 

First of all, great topic. I'm glad you recognize that this culture is getting all that much more complex in one's desire to acquire anything and everything. Simplify is the correct word.

For me, I try to concentrate on the little things which can be accomplished throughout an entire day which people feel they no longer have time for. Whether it be helping a relative with chores, driving people to run their errands, etc. Believe it or not, alot of people now don't seem to have time for this kind of thing. Everyone wants to go to the mall and buy expensive clothes while we're still living in a down economic year. People should be doing less stressful activities and focusing more on family. That's my take.

 

When popular jeans costs anywhere from $150-300, it's a sign of the times and in California, the gas prices were the highest they've ever been in history seeing $4.00/gallon. I think it's just a matter of time until things are too expensive for the "average" person aka, middle class; it's a predestined strategy created by our own government. Personally, I don't mind what's happening. I know it's not like the "good ol' times" but hey, it is inevitable process of our evolution in America. Like others, I take the good with the bad, and still enjoy life.

 

This kind of stuff really interests me, and I suppose I'm a practiser to some extent, but not out of a lifestyle decision so much as because possessions and 'stuff' actually doesn't bother me...as kids we were brought up being reasonably poor so were taught not to buy on credit, that it isn't so important to have the latest things as long as you've got something reasonable to eat and where and some way to have fun. Now I think I probably only accumulate possessions when it comes to DVDs and CDs, I'm a maniac for buying that stuff, but because I love music and films not because I love possessions.

Ways to get out of the habit...hmm...I guess just to try and think as little as possible about how people perceive how you look or what you're wearing, and instead buy what you like and can afford so that you can wear the same clothes over a long period of time. I'm 23 this year but still wear clothes I bought at 17. I never buy fashion magazines as I hate other people telling me I should be buying something new every week: if I see something and like it enough to buy it, I'll wear it until it falls apart. Another thing is to take good care of what you do own, whatever it is, clothes, books, DVDs, machines, anything. And the last is that I try and avoid that whole fad that when you have something (e.g. a CD player/MP3 player/phone), you don't have to upgrade it every five seconds if the darn thing still works!! The last 3 mobiles I've had, for example, have been pre-owned by friends before they upgraded, then they give me the old model which is newer than any that I could afford and I swop my sim card over, bingo. Same with computers, CD player etc, I've owned all of them since at least 2002 or 2003 and as long as they do the job I don't care if they're not the latest thing...just an old fashioned background I guess has led me to be like this!

 

practicer is a real (although seldom used) word.

the british tend to use "s"'s where the americans use "c"'s...

 

Yeah, the S is not a misspelling, there is a difference between practice and practise.

 

"Thread recovered"
I like and admire MistressB`s ways to avoid the pressures of the society...

Personally, I think it is all about being humble and having self-confidence...Being able to be who I am without worrying about what the others think about me, my clothes, my car, etc...then life is very simple!

If I can afford the things that I like, I`ll buy them...if not, I`ll work at it, but never let it make me sick with craving! Also, I`ll buy the things I like or need, not the things I feel I should have to keep up with the trends!!


Another thing for me is the fact that I lived in Africa, saw how happy some very poor people can be, bcoz many over there have learnt to be satisfied with what they have instead of being frustrated about what they don`t have.
Just the thought of these people drives me away from that chronic craving that is so characteristic of western societies!

 

You're right, it's a really consumerist-Western thing to get your happiness out of things you want but you don't really need...sometimes I get sucked in and think "oh I really want that" but it passes. When you feel it as a young'un or a teenager it's only because you want to fit in with your friends and keep up with the crowd but that doesn't really matter so much when you get old enough to make your own priorities does it? I think most people would say that the most important thing to them is family or friends not stuff.

 

i have been living the simple life for the last 20 years, and was really raised that way also.

i belong to a CSA; organic garden, bike to work, drive environmentally friendly cars, I do eat meat, only organically and naturally raised meats, i dont buy material goods like trendy fashiony clothing, dont shop unless it is llbean, whole foods, local businesses, build environmentally friendly housing.

It is great lifestyle, check it out with www.simpleliving.com; www.realgoods/org; www.realsimple.com

 

Thank you all for posting, it's always interesting to see what everyone has to say.

While I like to dress nice I don't think it's about what other people say or think. I am not completely free of being vain or certain hang ups (unfortunately) but compared to when I was younger other people and their opinion of me don't interest me that much.

I think I am most frugal when it comes to electronics. My boyfriend can't understand why I still have this small TV I bought 6 years ago, I think it does the job and as long as it works I will have it. Same with my computer, cell phone etc.

Well I will check out the websites Tuckerreed recommended and see what other ideas I can pick up

 

i live off the grid in my vermont yurt in summer. no electricity, no phones or television. I love it.
when i am in the city, i dont own a cellphone, i only carry one for office use and then i leave it at work. I use my computer yes, but other than regular public television and going to pub for soccer and baseball, i dont watch tellie. I listen to public radio and radio via satellite.

there are great books at Barnes and Noble and Borders books on simple living. I am reading for my summer, 2 books on the subject matter.


1. Off the Grid by Eric Brende

2. Crunchy Cons by Ron Dreher

There are plenty of how to live simply books, Voluntary Simplicity, etc.

Growing up with so much money and things, my parents wanted my siblings and I to live a more simple, close to God and nature existence and for the most part it has stuck with me.

It is a big movement back east, up North and out on teh left coast. I dont know how it is in the midwest, sw and southeast much. except for Minneapolis and Madison Wisc., Grenell Iowa, i dont know of much there

 

here is a start

http://www.simpleliving.net/

we also do composting, car sharing, intentional communities, Co-housing, bike to work, downward mobile living, progressive farming, urban simple living, green living, etc.

we can talk about all of those, you dont have to end there chigirl. and I am sure in chicago area there are plenty of things. unless you just want to talk to others and you werent hoping I would answer, that is cool too

 

So far, this thread was a breath of fresh air for me to read, and not only that, but it reminds me of why I converted to Buddhism back in '03.


I heard a song before with lyrics that said something like: "It's not about having what you want. It's about wanting what you have."

 

Sardonic, in the next step of trying to find a theology that I really like, I'm going to spend this summer looking at Buddhism, having already explored Christianity and Islam. Any information on reading or practices that you could give me would be really useful?

 

Here's a site with some good general info:

http://www.fwbo.org/buddhism.html