Principles
- Reduce [my material consumption and credit card debt]
- Reuse [what I already have]
- Recycle [what I don’t need/want anymore]
- Repair [what is broken but still usable]
- Restore [from old to near new]
Off limits (these are my weak spots)
- home decorator magazines
- new books
- new clothes
- knick-knacks (i.e. any useless decorative object that can fit in my hand)
- cosmetics
- furniture needing restoration until the pieces I already have are restored
Exceptions
- Replacement of a major item beyond repair. (e.g. vacuum cleaner, window blinds, carpet, etc.)
- Second-hand books and clothes BUT only if I really need them.
- New shoes BUT only if I really need them.
- New presents for people are OK, but the wrap and cards will be made where possible.
- Other major purchases (e.g. I’d like a coffee table) must be second-hand
- Materials for craft or DIY projects - BUT one project must be completed before a new one is begun.
Use of credit (i.e. debt cards)
For bills, petrol and groceries only. Not that it’s huge, but after reading Save Karyn, my aim is to significantly reduce my credit card debt, stop fueling a lifestyle with debt, and become more fiscally responsible.
Decluttering
Getting rid of books, clothes, hidden cupboard horrors, craft projects that I never started, and anything else that I just don’t use anymore or doesn’t bring me joy, or make me smile. Depending on the item in question, it will either be sold on ebay, given away, or donated to the Op Shop.
Why am I doing this?
Because I can’t stand having all this stuff - having to look after it, dust it, store it - and spending so much time thinking about it. Flicking through home decorating mags just makes it worse because I see all this other nice stuff that would be nice to have that I actually don’t need. It’s become a burden and a drain on my finances. And I think about how much hassle it would be to pack it all up if I moved, or the hassle of someone else having to deal with it all when I die. Blunt but true.
Time is money, and the more time I waste accumulating crap is less time spent doing other more worthwhile things like going for a walk, meeting someone for coffee and a chat, or spending time with God. And spending money on useless stuff is money that I could be saving for an overseas holiday or investing towards my dream bookstore (i.e. the beige concept).
If it works out that I can live on less (which I’m pretty sure I can) then I could also consider working part-time and actually enjoy and be part of the community where I live but hardly spend much time at present because I’m commuting 2 hours a day.
Hooooooray! And amen to that! c x
Hey Lesley,
Love your insights here. I added you to my links on our blog. Good luck and let me know if you get weak - I’ll write you about how much I look forward to visiting your bookstore one day and you’ll want to save up :)
Thanks Barry. I’m enjoying your site too. Will let you know when the bookstore opens!
hi lesley.
ive been thinking the exact same thoughts with my life. thank you for putting it in such a clear and succinct way. how you going with it? i know the thing about books. i love books. but yes, reducing credit debt is a big one. it takes lots of self discipline to say NO to buying things that look cool for the home, yet once it gets home… is almost completely useless, except for the fact it looks good! :)
Hi Van. I think I’ve been doing OK. Haven’t bought anything new this year on the banned list, except for some foundation and some undies. So far so good. Second-hand is OK, and I have bought some books, clothes, and a DVD, but really my material consumption has been remarkably low. I’m still decluttering - inherited a bunch of things when my parents moved house last year - and it’s surprising how much junk you have lying around. I’m also discovering many forgotten things - generally around the same time as I need one of them, funnily enough.
The 5 things that I am finding helpful are: (1) turning off the TV and not being exposed to advertising; (2) not buying home decorating mags for the same reason. Although I do have a free subscription to one courtesy of my phone supplier, but I haven’t even bothered to read the last issue.; (3) the FlyLady movement for decluttering (go to: http://www.flylady.net); (4) actively choosing NOT to buy stuff and stating the reasons WHY, hence this page, and finally (5) being accountable to one or two key friends.
Check out the Alternatives for Simple Living link on the right for more ideas.
So it’s been three months - how am tracking?
1. General Principles
I think I’ve done quite well if I do say so myself. Material consumption drastically reduced, and credit card debt almost non-existent. I’ve been pretty good about reusing or repairing what I already have, and giving away what I don’t need or want anymore. But there are still plenty of clothes that can go, and books too.
2. The Off-Limits Scorecard
* home decorator magazines (1) Bought in a moment of weakness. Funnily enough, I still haven’t read it all the way through. All the houses look the same - maybe I am becoming sensitised.
* new books (2) One was reduced from $30 to $5, and the other just looked really interesting. Still, I probably could have found both second-hand, or gone to the library instead.
* new clothes (0)
* knick-knacks (0)
* cosmetics (1) Bought some foundation.
* furniture needing restoration (0)
3. Use of Credit Cards
Was meant to be for bills, petrol and groceries only. I did buy some second-hand cane chairs just the other day. It was a splurge, but I knew that at the time, and I already had the money saved to pay for them. I have also bought a couple of second-hand uni text-books from Amazon with the card.
4. Decluttering
This has been going OK. Just doing a shelf or a drawer at a time. Still a way to go, but I have chucked out a mountain of paper, and have a few boxes ready to go to Vinnies.
5. Why am I doing this?
It’s quite clear that I can live on less. Will be talking with the boss on Friday about going down to a 4 day week from July, with a three-month trial. I did consider taking long-service for the 5th day, but now that I know I can live on less, I’m comfortable taking the pay-cut and saving the long-service for another time. Will have to adjust the budget a little, but that’s OK. If it doesn’t work out, I can either go back to work 5 days, or get a flatmate and bring in some income that way, or embrace the part-time work concept wholeheartedly and get a second part-time job doing something completely different. It’s a funny position to be in, and to be honest it feels a bit selfish. Going part-time is a lifestyle choice, and I am well aware that I am in the very fortunate position of having options where so many others don’t. I want to make sure that I don’t squander the bonus day.
6. No TV
This wasn’t in the original Compact, but I have been going without TV since 1 January 2008, and haven’t missed it as much as I thought I would! I did watch some at M&Ds just last week (watching with other people is allowed) and could feel myself slipping into a semi-catatonic state. I also watched a movie last weekend, which I had seen before - twice. I was bored and a bit lonely, so it’s good to know what the motivating forces and triggers are. Next time, I’ll “phone a friend”. (Tee-hee!) Nope, not missing TV. Not getting to bed any earlier though. In a way, TV used to act as a bit of a timekeeper, with the end of a show signalling bed-time. Interestingly, the internet has filled the hole TV left behind. The whole idea of turning off the box was to read more, and have some intentional God time. Lent did kick-start a daily bible reading habit so that’s been good. I would like to write more too, and try my hand at another creative pursuit, so I may institute an internet free evening.
For the most part, I think I’m doing OK. If the stages of group formation can be applied here, the past three months have been the Formation stage. The next stage is Storming, where The Compact ceases to be a ‘fun little experiment’, the rubber really hits the road, and the talk has to walk.
Next accountability check-up: 30 June 2008
oh, im sooo inspired by your progress!!! i havent been quite as disciplined, although my priorities has been to get rid of my clutter and im getting there. i agree with you on so many fronts about living with less. it IS possible and i believe will enhance life rather than what some may think as ‘doing without’. as an active choice- its very freeing to let go of what is considered societal ‘norms’ i.e. not watching tele and saying goodbye! to advertising… hear hear!
So it’s been six months - how am tracking? In a nutshell? I fell off the wagon.
1. General Principles
Not so good. The credit card took a bashing with bills and uni fees, and some unnecessary purchases. Not sure what happened. Boredom? Self satisfaction? Or just plain gluttony.
2. The Off-Limits Scorecard
* home decorator magazines (at least 5) Bought out of boredom than anything else. They aren’t even that interesting. All the houses look the same, and are owned by affluent double-income anglo-philes.
* new books (2) I think. There may have been more. And I bought some new CDs too. Oh dear.
* new clothes (7) Work clothes for winter - 3 jumpers, 2 shirts, and a coat.
* knick-knacks (0)
* cosmetics (0)
* furniture needing restoration (0)
3. Use of Credit Cards
Complacency meant that this blew out more than I expected. Bought some big garden pots, and some curtains. A radio program talking about the lunacy of having a credit card debt at 18% interest and a few thousand in a savings account getting 6% interest made me think. Need to look at either ditching the card altogether and using a debit card instead, or switching to a No Frills card with a much lower interest rate.
4. Decluttering
While I have done some more decluttering, facing the mountain of junk in the garage has been too overwhelming so I’ve just ignored it. Result being that everytime I drive into the garage I’m faced with it again, and again, and again, until I just feel guilty for not getting done what I set out to do. Need to remember the FlyLady mantra of 15 minutes and get back on track.
5. Why am I doing this?
The original motivation hasn’t changed. Plus I’ve just come back from a workshop seminar on money, how we use it, etc. so that is providing a much needed kick in the pants. Last time I wrote about hoping to go part-time, but the boss has said No. Even so, the first three months proved that I can live on less. There is also extra income now because I have a new flatmate. I want to draw up a proper budget and be accountable to someone about what I spend, save, and give away. So that’s an additional goal for the next 3 months.
6. No TV
This was going really well until I got a flatmate. We generally watch it together so it’s more of a community thing, but I still need to be careful about (a) the time spent, and (b) the programs. Re-reading last month’s evaluation and it seems like everything went to pot around the time that I took some leave and the flatmate arrived. The daily bible reading dropped off. TV increased. Spending increased. Were the changes a trigger? Uni work has taken up more time this semester so there hasn’t been much opportunity to do anything more creative, or even to read more.
OK, so this was meant to be the walk-the-talk Storming stage. I think it’s fair to say that I have failed really well! Right here and now I am recommitting to the original plan. Need to set up some structures to handle the TV watching, an internet-free night, and some accountability to get back on track. It will also be useful to think about what went wrong, and why. And also how it’s linked with my faith journey, because I’m sure there is a connection.
Next accountability check-up: 30 September 2008
Don’t be so harsh on yourself! You’re a mindful, compassionate being who just made some human slip-ups. It’s very hard to make a commitment like this in the world we live in now, so bravo for your guts in trying. Dust your feet off, start over again!
Thanks verb2_be - I do tend to be my own worst critic. I have recommitted to the original concept and started over. Are you doing The Compact too?