Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Brian Gardner of No Sidebar.
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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.
KT says
Reading this it occured to me that Simple Living is a lot like losing weight or getting out of debt. We all want it and it’s achievable, but it isn’t easy. It takes a certain amount of willpower to block out the noise and the timewasters. It’s hard to be thin when you walk past a donut shop every day. It’s hard to save money when your peer group spends wildly. It’s hard to live simply when you’re constantly being asked to do more, know more, and be more.
David says
Great sentiment and some good ideas, but tracking my time, watching only network television, reverting to 1980 with my cell phone, and spending time trying to find free WiFi sounds like more work. There’s nothing wrong with having these conveniences if you’re mindful about how and how much you use them. Living a simpler life shouldn’t mean giving up on convenience or things that we enjoy. It’s a choice to be more connected and to focus on what’s more important, not a punishment.
Bob Pepe says
I agree, I think that many of these people are also talking about the money aspect of it. If money is tight, then these are ways to have these things on the cheap.
If money is not a problem, there is nothing wrong with cable or an iPhone
Tory Williams says
I agree , and I think some modern conveniences actually help you have a simple life . paying bills online .. Buying online ..all these things are simpler and cheaper .. IE.. Not purchasing stamps..
Less time paying online ..etc
Gigi Hanley says
I’m well aware that credit cards can get you in a heap of trouble but with care they can be helpful. Our credit card is from an airline and the accrued points allows us to visit our son in a distant state. We pay the bill in full every month so we pay no interest and our last trip cost us $13 each, round trip.
Simplify Life Blog says
Brian, these are all things I am working on. I really agree with cutting the cord, however unfortunately I have limited choices for my television.
I tried to run my tv on antenna first and I received no channels. I do not live in the country so I do not know what was the problem.
I had to get satellite just to have any type of entertainment besides dvds
I o not have the patient for any movies. I only go to theaters to be social.
Andrew says
Funny I’m the exact opposite! I love movies but not with friends. I feel like when I go to the movies with a group of buddies we don’t socialize nearly as much as if we had gone bowling or to dinner etc.
I try to keep movie groups as small as possible :)
Bob Pepe says
I went to a movie recently by myself and my wife thought it was weird. I said “I am watching a movie, I don’t want to socialize during it”…. she disagrees.. she still thinks I am weird
Bonni says
We have one credit card that accumulates points that we use toward groceries. We use the card and then immediately go home and pay that amount from our savings. when you use it to pay large items like a car (yep, did…..) or taxes, it adds up quickly and we have hundreds of dollars toward groceries at the supermarket where we applied for the card. I also always use my AirMiles card when possible and because we are not big on traveling those points also get saved and translate into groceries at Christmas when relatives invade…lol. Make your efforts a creative past time instead of a duty.
Eric B says
Between using Airvoice’s $10/month cell phone plan, Frontier Internet access ($30/month) instead of Comcast, and Netflix ($8.75/month) instead of cable, I estimate I’m spending $150/month less (while getting similar service) compared to most of my acquaintances.
You can save a lot if you just shop around…
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
Great points Brian! I feel like the older I get, the more I realize how time is my single most precious resource. Unlike money, there is never going to be a way to get or make more of it. I feel like I really safeguard my time now as a result. It helps me prioritize what is important to me and what I deem worthy of using it on.
Abbie says
I absolutely agree with 6 of your points Joshua, but have yet to figure out how to watch live sports without cable. We are a BIG sports watching family. It’s something that we all enjoy doing together. Do you know of any way around this dilemma?
Judy says
You can attend local games…college, high school, etc.
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.
Jennifer says
If you are watching sports together as a family, having a great time and creating good memories, keep the cable! Design your own life as you pick up good ideas from others. Dropping cable was an easy one for us (now that we’re just a couple again) but I have fond memories of a period when I watched college basketball on cable with my teenage son. It wasn’t really my thing, but it was a great way to bond with him.
Jess says
I think the key is eliminating the things that take away from the quality of your life, making more room for the things that matter most. I come from a sports-loving family myself, and sports are one of the main reasons I hold on to cable… that works for some, and not for others. I certainly don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all way of living simply!
Lori in Prescott says
You would be amazed at how much FREE sports there are from your computer. We simply cast them to our flat screen via Chromecast. My husband just watched the Masters for 4 days from his laptop to the big screen. Google it!
Alex says
firstrowsportseu streams everything from boxing to soccer to the superbowl. just have a good internet connection. I have watched a whole NFL season from there.
Amanda says
Look at sling. We got rid of cable and got that. It’s over the net tv service. They offer a sports package. It’s cheap, and most channels offer on demans5 for the past several days so no dvr or extra equipment.
Judy says
I love living a simple life. This world has gotten so complicated. I live in a house that was built in 1861. One day, as a test, I decided to live a day as if I was in 1861 (well almost) . No TV–no radio–no internet–no phone–etc. I worked around the home and sang songs from that era, like “Jimmy Crack Corn”…don’t laugh!!! It was really a peaceful day and I found I prayed more and spent more time with God. Because I wasn’t able to pick up a phone and say “Hi” to my sister for example, I thought about her and remembered her in prayers. I was so in touch with my surroundings and my animals, rather than just coasting through my day. Technology is great and we need it, especially for the medical field, but in our personal lives, we’ve lost something that our ancestors had. I wonder what the future holds. How will life be 300 years from now??? What will be??? @@
I’m afraid for the future generations.
Jess says
I appreciate the reminder that we don’t have to leave behind everything we know in order to simplify our lives.
I notice that when I take temporary breaks from my daily life, I’m more aware of the unnecessary clutter (physical, mental, digital) I could subtract from my life. I’m often inspired to declutter and simplify after returning home from a vacation. It’s a wonderful feeling.
The phone topic is of particular interest to me. I’ve contemplated downgrading to a basic flip phone on many occasions, but the truth of the matter is that the smartphone isn’t the distraction – it’s how I use it. I try to avoid downloading useless apps, and I do an “app sweep” every so often to delete anything I’m not using (or that I’m using too much). My iPhone allows me to carry a phone, camera, radio, e-reader, and calendar all in one, reducing what I need to carry with me daily and allowing me to travel lighter.
Pam says
I completely agree, Jess. I carried this a step farther and did away with my purse. My phone case has a place for 3 cards: my drivers license, debit card, and medical insurance card. All store loyalty cards are stored in a phone app, so my phone in my pocket and keys in my hand mean I am ready to be out the door, hands free, in a moments notice.