Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Brian Gardner of No Sidebar.
Last updated:
Today’s world has many luxuries that are supposed to make life easier. At times they may, but other times, they make things more complicated.
Meanwhile, there are lots of people who dream of simple living. They picture spending their days sitting by a lake and enjoying nature. This dream is often interrupted by reality, but it does not have to be that way. There are things we can do to begin living a simple life.
When people hear “simplify your life“, they may think it means moving into a home in the middle of the woods and living off the land. But that is not necessarily a simpler life—and it may not be for everyone.
Instead, choose things that can keep you in the modern world, but still make life easier.
How to Live a Simple Life
- Get a basic cell phone.
It would be nice to say that a cell phone was not necessary at all, but pay phones have disappeared and if you need to call someone in an emergency, you will need a cell phone.
Instead of getting a smartphone with data and texting, opt for a basic cell phone that only makes or receives calls. There are plans that allow you to get a phone for less than $50 and offer free minutes to talk with every month.
- Cut the cable cord.
Many people are spending well in excess of $100 a month on cable television that gives them 500 different channels. Out of all those channels, most people watch 10 to 15.
Instead of having a cable bill, use over-the-air stations you receive for free. Add a streaming service and you will never miss cable. Without cable, you can go back to an old, reliable method of entertainment—talking to one another.
- Get rid of credit cards.
Credit cards are nice. They allow people to buy things they otherwise could not afford and pay for it over time. They also become a burden that drags many people down each month.
Instead of using credit cards, only buy what you can afford. Stick to that plan and the fear of not being able to pay the bills will quickly disappear.
- Declutter the home.
A search around the home will find many things that are not needed or are no longer used. Find different ways to declutter your life and get rid of the things that are no longer necessary. It is even possible to make some money selling these things that can be used to help in other areas, such as paying off credit card debt.
- Get rid of monthly expenses that are not needed.
Many people are paying for gym memberships, mobile internet service, and many other monthly services they barely use. They have often put the monthly payments on their credit card so they do not even realize how much they are spending and not using.
There are often ways to get the same things that you get from these pay services without having to pay. Gym memberships can be replaced with exercising at a local park or walking around the neighborhood. If you need internet service away from home, look for Wi-Fi hot spots. They are found at many restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops. It might take effort to do this at first, but once it becomes a habit, it is easy to do.
- Start to track your expenses.
One thing people will benefit from doing is tracking the money they spend. It is the best way to find out when you are spending money and what you are spending it on. It is possible you will find you are spending a lot of money you don’t need to. You may find that second car is an expense you may not need. You could take public transportation to work and get by without a second car and all of its headaches. When you realize that, it becomes possible to make changes.
- Track your time.
Pay attention to how much time you are spending doing things. Look for ways to cut down on time you think is being wasted on unnecessary things.
Time and money are two of the most valuable resources people have. When life gets simpler, the amount of these two things that a person has available will rise. That is the benefit of a simpler life in today’s world.
The great thing about this list is that people have choices. They can choose to do one of them, all of them, or some of them. They can start out with just one and then add some others later.
Life is about choices. Choosing simple living is something that is becoming a popular thing to do.
Simple Living FAQ
What’s the difference between minimalism and simple living?
Minimalism, most commonly, pertains to physical possessions. It means living with just the right amount of things and removing the excess. It means removing anything that distracts us from living with intentionality and freedom.
Simple living, on the other hand, is broader in scope and pertains to focus. A simple life is not filled with complications and distractions, it is a life that is lived focused on things that matter to the person. It can also have varying extremes. For some, it’s as simple as cutting their cable bills and getting rid of the TV, while others can go as far as living “off the grid.”
Minimalism and simple living have a lot in common and many aspects intersect.
What are the benefits of simple living?
Simplifying your life frees up more time, money, and mental bandwidth.
Will simple living save me money?
Lowering your expenses will save you money and put you in a better financial position, as long as those cut expenses aren’t replaced by something else.
Gail says
Another way of decluttering is by using the items you already have.
Pull out some of those lotions under your bathroom sink, put them on the counter and use them each day, until they are gone.
Take out that rice cooker, use it and see if that’s how you want to make your rice (I did, and found a pot on the stove was just as easy) so I donated it. These are just a couple of examples, but,
You get the idea! It becomes easier to get rid of stuff once you
see first hand how it is working in your life.
Judy says
I do the same thing! :)
carlina says
I’ve used this method and it worked! Funny, i got rid of many items using them off and did with my rice cooker exactly the same you did. Also went from a drip coffee pot to a french press to a cone directly over my cup using an organic reusable filter. Best coffee ever! Simplifying is easy and awesome!
Deb J. says
I use my rice cooker for steaming vegetables. I’ve never cooked rice in it. lol
Vi Henderson says
Yes I have done exactly that too with lotions etc and my rice cooker.
I declutter my pantry in the same way every now and then by putting packets, tins etc on the kitchen bench and using up items. It leads to more creative cooking
Angela @ Setting My Intention says
It’s reassuring to see that most of these we as a family have done and are in the process of doing. Our efforts are being focused now on decluttering but money tracking is the next step! Thanks for the encouragement that we can take steps to simplify where we are right now in our lives
kariane says
These are great suggestions. I carry a 10+ year old flip phone. People tease me for it constantly, but it does what I need it to do. Also, people who know me know that I don’t ever keep my cell phone turned on — I only use it for emergencies. So no one expects to be able to reach me all the time. I see other people tethered to their phones and feeling compelled to answer immediately, and I feel relieved that’s not my life.
I would take the cutting cable one step further. I would vote to get rid of your television. We got rid of ours several years ago and haven’t looked back. Not only is it better for kids (there are lots of studies that kids are more imaginative and do better in school when they watch less TV), but it also makes it easier to be present with the people in the room with you (mostly your family!) if there’s no television playing in the background.
Annie says
I am the same way with my phone. If I hear, “the 90s called, they want their phone back,” one more time I’ll bop that person with a Nerf baseball bat! Seriously, I tell them I will get a smartphone when they buy it for me and pay for the plan too!
Cat says
I recently had to make the decision whether or not to get a new (read: used) TV after my ex moved out and took his. I decided to get one, and it’s hooked up to my cable connection but only gets the approx 15 channels that you get for free. I wouldn’t even know how many, I watch about 2 or 3 of them occasionally, otherwise I watch series or movies from DVDs or hard disk. I don’t do random channel flipping. It does NOT run in the background when I have people over – it would drive me nuts.
@Credit cards, I only have one that I have to pay off every month anyway, and I hardly ever use it, it’s mainly for traveling.
I am debt free, but I don’t have a mortgage – it’s good old “paying rent”. A mortgage would be pretty much the only debt I’d accept to have. Can’t buy any place in Munich (Germany) though, unless you’re a millionaire…
I have become a bit of a smart phone addict, but then I hardly ever boot up my laptop anymore when I’m home, because I can check mails and facebook on my phone. I just need to learn NOT to pick it up every couple of minutes. It works on some days…
@money tracking: I have started it since my ex moved out and I have to be more careful how much I spend, since I’m now paying the rent on my own…
@time tracking: I have a paper calendar in which I put all my appointments and regular activities, but I don’t track EVERYTHING.
Stacy says
We have credit cards with cash back (one for 3% on gas, another for 2% on everything else). We got these after we figured out our spending plan which we’ve followed for several years. We don’t buy more than we can afford and we pay the cards off in full every month. We’ll save the cash back for Christmas presents or something for us at the end of the year
joan says
I was about to say much the same. Credit cards aren’t bad; just be smart about using them !
Courtney says
Agreed. I hate when people make blanket statements about getting rid of credit cards. Sure, if you can’t use it responsibly, then it’s probably best not to have one. However, if you can, it makes way more sense to have one and use it. Like many people do, I get cash back on mine, and then pay the balance off in full every month. Instead of getting “nothing” for money I would be spending anyway, I’ve gotten tons of other purchases for “free” with my rewards. Why not take advantage?
HM says
You’re a credit card company’s worst nightmare! lol
Marcia Wilwerding says
We use a cash back credit card just for gasoline purchases, then pay it off each month like we would the electric or gas bill. We also use it to pay large bills or make more expensive purchases for which we could have paid with cash on hand, then pay it immediately online as if we had paid for these things with a debit card or cash. The cash back is worth it with the right card.
Eric Ungs says
Cutting cable, almost 6 years ago, was the best thing we did. When we had cable, at times, I wouldn’t even watch anything. I would just surf and bounce from channel to channel. It was almost exhausting. But, since then, coupling that with removing the TV from our main living space all together has had such a tremendous impact on our family. Highly recommend. I would love to try a basic phone. But, with the work I do I feel like I need it. Nice recommendations Brian!
Lori in Prescott says
No tv for 15 years. $7.99/mo. for Netflix. I stream in the winter and have DVD’s shipped in the summer. I listen to NPR when I am in the car. No newspaper or magazine subscriptions. Many people use the library for those. I decided that I really DON’T want to hear about everything going on in the entire world. Someone always seems to want to inform me anyway. So I guess I get my news on a one on one verbal level.
Mel says
Six months ago, when my contract was finally completed with my carrier, I cancelled my plan. My phone has sat in a drawer ever since. I thought going phone free would be a difficult change to make. I was so wrong! I can honestly say that I don’t miss it. My lifestyle is simple enough that for me, having a phone was just a luxury item.
BrownVagabonder says
One of the ways I start off my day simply is by sitting in a quiet, dark place for an hour when I wake up. As soon as I wake up in the morning (using a really quiet easy-on-the-system alarm), I sit up straight in my bed, close my eyes, and contemplate my dreams, my day, my thoughts, my to-do list. I just sit and think about my life. I let gratitude pour deep into my heart, and let it seep into every pore of my body. I sit and reflect on how lucky I am to have the family I have, the job, the friends, the condo, the stuff, the health, and whatever else.
By the time, I am done with this quiet hour of solitude and quiet, I have set up my day to be on the right path. I feel good starting off. I feel quiet and happy and content starting off.
Tracy B. says
What a terrific idea!
Barb says
What a wonderful way to start the day! Sooo much better than checking Facebook, emails, etc.
Aries says
…And your probably unemployed
Helen says
you’re even!
Justine says
Try adding some bible reading to that hour (Psalms and Proverbs) and you’ll be amazed at the fruit it yields.
shawn says
Great suggestion Justine!
Terri says
An HOUR??? At my age, its a mad dash to the bathroom as soon as I am conscious. Would sitting in the bathroom for that hour count?
Meliên Moon says
I agree Terri! I am a middle school who wakes up super late! I do not have time for that!!
But other than that, this is a fantastic list. I have convinced my parents to do almost everything on here, and life is so much nicer!
NoWoreez says
Love it!
Elaine says
Me, too. (Terri, I have that same set of bears — one girl and two boys, different names, of course.) I’m feeling a kinship with you.
Danielle says
Time is the resource that everyone seems to forget about!
Great list.
Phil POGSON says
Tracking our time – so simple, yet so often forgotten (by me at least)
Linda Stoll says
mmm … my phone’s slowly but surely become an appendage growing out of my hand. It’s not doing much to make my life less complex.
But I love the convenience.
Now what?
Jules says
On point no. 1: I highly recommend hecking out Tracphones (and no, they don’t pay me to say this). I’ve had Tracphones from the very beginning but they are really upping their game lately.
I have an Android LG2 that I can text, phone, and browse from just like the more expensive phones. I buy minutes and they triple them – triple them for texts, for phone calls, for browsing – everything. I spend on average $10 a month to have this phone and can’t understand why more people aren’t moving in this direction. It is a huge cost savings over what all my friends are paying for their high-end phones and expensive phone plans.
Dana says
I also have a Tracphone that just makes calls and texts. I loved that phone. Well, I HAD one….
Then my husband decided to upgrade me to the LG2. I hate it because it’s not as simple as my older phone. However, if you’re used to a smartphone, I’d think the LG2 would be a great option for a lower-priced smartphone.
Mandy Tirado says
We have Tracfones too. Absolutely love ours!
Bob Pepe says
People are moving away from Two-year Contracts and expensive phones. Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Consumer Cellular are just a few. There are many plans out there to choose from.
Regardless of the plan or phone, it is important to just put the phone away sometimes. I left my phone at home recently and was out and about for 3 hours without it and it was liberating!! We all need to unplug more often..
BTW.. I am using two cell phones LG4 and iPhone 6+.. one work and one personal… but I am still a Minimalist in training..
Lori in Prescott says
Tracfone. Walmart. 2 styles. Cheaper than cheap.
Kit says
You are right.Smart phones are drainers.If we have a computer at home no need for 1 on a phone.A cheep call only phone 4 me now.Humans have been chasing a non existing tail for way too long.Its exhausting and futile.The simple life for me.Im happier just thougjts of getting there.Peace to all ????????????????????☁????????????