Simple Living Guide

The SImple Living Guide

Every time that we are up against a move I go into deep simple mode. My kids will probably hate me for this when they re older, but it really helps to maintain the sanity in all this. Also, I just recently participated in a thread in Darla Shines' happy housewives club that reminded of the joy of simplicity. I know I've blogged about this before, but some of them have PMed me asking for details, so I thought I'd share with all of you.

To give you an image of what the meaning behind simple living is, I'll quote from my response in the thread:

" SO here's where I learned all this: basic training. I can make you a list of the things I "owned" when I was in basic.

3 set s of uniforms,
3 sets of PT uniforms
2 pairs of boots
1 pair of tennis shoes
My bible
My journal
My prayer book
Paper for writing letters
A couple pens
Stamps
six sets of bras and undies and socks
one dress uniform
a toothbrush
a bar of soap
a washcloth
a towel
a canteen
a razor
a bottle of lotion (that i used on my face, hair, and body!)

and thats IT!!!

But you know what? I've NEVER felt better about life then when things were that simple. You have what you need, you stay busy so you don't get bored, and you enjoy fellowship and teamwork and community with others. If you have to go somewhere, you can have your whole life packed up in one duffel in less than thirty minutes. Laundry day is easy and enjoyable. These are incredible lessons in simplicity for us----- I feel like in society today we allow our possessions to creep into our homes and overwhelm us completely. I know people who have entire attics and garages full of THINGS that now hang over them like a dark cloud of "extra things to do." I know people who live in appartments half the size of their actual apartment because they are so cluttered with "things.""

Also, simple living looks different for every family because every family has different needs. For example, I enjoy knitting, so I keep knitting stuff. Another woman may enjoy decorating, so she might keep little trinkets around the house. Get me?

What follows is my basic plan for home simplification. Modify it as needed.

STEP ONE: Assess.

Go through each room of your house with a pad and pen. Under each room heading, list the "NEEDS" and "WANTS." put a check mark next to the things you already have, and S next to the things you can sell and an X next to the things you can just give away/throw away. If you do not already own one of the things on your list for that room, then highlight it and decide if you need to buy it or if you can get it from somewhere else (craigslist, freecycle, etc) Be ruthless.

Create a "packing list" of personal posessions. If a flood were headed your way in a half hour, what would go in your bag? These are your "needs." Everything else is a want.

STEP TWO: Implement.

Get out the trashbags. Dump trash in one, giveaways in another. Set aside.

STEP THREE: Re-evaluate.

Repeat step one and two.

STEP FOUR: Last things.

With the money you have from the sales of unnecessaries, refurnish with the things on the highlighted list.

STEP FIVE: Repeat.

Yearly.

Hope it helps!