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Take a moment to look around you. Does everything within your reach bring you happiness or add value to your life? If so, kudos to you! But for most of us, that’s probably not the case. We might be wasting money on things we don’t need when we could be saving by embracing a simple living lifestyle.
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How growing up in Haiti shaped my approach to simple living
Growing up in Haiti, we didn’t think much of it when the electricity went out for a few hours—it was just a part of life. There were plenty of things that kept us occupied.
In fact, it was an opportunity to hang out and ride our bikes with friends in the neighborhood.
Mobile phones and the internet were hardly common. Computers were mostly limited to word processing and Excel spreadsheets, or they were just bulky machines taking up space.
Them ol’ good days.
Fast forward to when I moved to the States, and I noticed that adults had a different reason for sending kids outside: to keep the bills low. Leaving the lights, fan, or TV on was a big deal because it was costing them money.
It wasn’t until I started paying my share of the bills that I realized why our parents always encouraged us to go outside and experiment with planting seeds in the backyard.
We were naturally self-sufficient without even having to think about it. From a young age, we knew how to do so much—washing our clothes by hand, cooking, raising animals, and learning from past struggles and alternative ways of surviving.
Growing up, whatever clothes we bought during the summer had to last us the entire year, and that was just normal. Nowadays, with the constant barrage of ads on TV, it takes real willpower not to give in to the pressure to buy more. Now, in my forties, as a homeowner with two kids, I truly understand why embracing a simple lifestyle is the way to go
What is simple living?
Simple living is a way of life. It’s about what you say yes to, what you value, and how you make the most of the resources you have. It’s about eliminating the excess and focusing on what truly matters.
Simple living means stepping away from advertising and marketing trends. It’s about choosing less and being intentional with what you allow into your home and life.
Simple living looks different for everyone. What might be simple living to me could seem extreme to you. Each person has their own comfort level and tolerance for the things in their life.
5 Easy Ways to Start Saving Money While Living Simple
Here are five ways that have been working for me and that I believe can help you live the simple life you desire while reducing stress:
1. Declutter, sell what you can, and toss the rest
There’s a reason why decluttering is the first step for anyone embracing a simple living lifestyle—because it works. When you make a habit of making the most of what you have, your creativity and productivity naturally increase.
In our house, we have a rule: if you come across something that’s been in a box or out of sight for six months, it needs to go. Why not make a buck or two by selling it? And if it can’t be sold, then it’s time to throw it out.
Every object should serve a purpose.
2. Cut back on Subscriptions
Take a close look at all your subscriptions, from streaming services to cloud storage. Review your bank statements and add up all those small fees—this will give you a clearer picture of your expenses.
Grab a notepad and start listing your subscriptions. Ask yourself, which TV streaming services do you use the most? Keep the top one on your list and unsubscribe from the rest. If you can make it through a month without them, you can do it for another month. You see where I’m going, right?
Now, let’s take the case of paying for cloud storage.
As a photographer, I understand the importance of preserving images, and using the cloud for storage offers peace of mind. Storing them on the cloud provides a sense of security, knowing your pictures can be retrieved even if you lose your device
However, as an IT engineer, I view it as a risky business. Once your data is on the cloud, you don’t truly own it.
Imagine a scenario where the cloud service provider locks you out indefinitely or experiences network issues like the CrowdStrike outage we saw recently.
My recommendation is to establish a monthly routine for backing up your phone data on your computer. Additionally, create your own backups by saving your data on an external hard drive. This will save you money in the long run and ensure that you truly own your pictures.
3. Grow your own food
Living in a densely populated area can make it challenging to grow your own garden. However, if you have access to even a small piece of land, there are many ways to utilize it for growing your own food.
Knowing exactly what you’ll be consuming is a significant advantage. By growing your own food, you have full control over what goes into and onto your crops.
In the past, I’ve successfully grown small crops like tomatoes, beans, and peppers. Last week, I’ve cleared the overgrown weeds in the backyard, getting it ready for future planting.
Achieving self-sufficiency is essential for a simple, sustainable lifestyle. While it may require some initial investment, it can eventually sustain itself and be rewarding if approached with the right knowledge.
4. Automate your income
One of the most stressful things is constantly checking your bank account to see if you have enough funds for your next purchase. It’s like living paycheck to paycheck.
You don’t want to be that person.
Pay yourself first by automating a portion of your income into savings and investments. This way, you get comfortable living within your means and align your lifestyle with what you have left.
5. Do It Yourself (DIY) whenever possible.
We’re fortunate to live in an era where you can find information on just about anything online. While some projects might require a professional to get it right the first time, that doesn’t mean you’re incapable—especially if you have the time to invest in learning.
As you can see, the wife was tired of everyone slipping on the carpeted stairs and couldn’t stand the 25-year-old antique lantern pendant lights, so they had to go. By taking on the projects ourselves, I’m confident we saved a few hundred dollars.”.
Mental health benefits of simple living
- Boost Creativity
- More time for what matters
- Buy with a purpose
- Save Money
- Appreciate what you have
- Experience life fully
- Reduces stress
- Strengthens Family bond
Related post: Ways to save money on a tight budget
How to find joy in simple living
If you can’t resist the urge to indulge in materialistic things, it’s wise to avoid both the items and those who promote them. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Remember, no one else can bring you joy; only you can change your attitude toward your way of living.
Some of the people I learn from are virtual. They don’t know I exist, but by reading or listening to their experiences and advice, I’ve gained valuable insights. For me, it’s like trading time for a future mistake. Simple things like that bring me joy. Spending time with my wife, enjoying a drink, and laughing together after a productive day also brings me happiness.
True joy also comes from discipline and giving yourself time to grow. You’ll notice how this approach positively impacts your health, potentially reducing the need for medical expenses.
Conclusion
I strongly believe that your upbringing and surroundings play a significant role in shaping how you perceive life. However, you have the power to change your perspective if it no longer aligns with who you are. What I define as simple living might mean something completely different to you, and that’s perfectly okay.
The key is to avoid complicating your life, as lasting happiness doesn’t come from external sources. No matter how much you spend on something, there’s always a risk involved. If the goal is to achieve wealth, the only true path is through simple living.
It’s your turn now. This week, take a step toward simplifying your life—tidy up one room in your home, learn a quick skill and do it yourself, or review your subscriptions and cancel a service you no longer need. If you’ve already done something similar, I’d love to hear about your own experiences with simple living and how it’s impacted your life.
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Gio founded TheGrowthFocusedGuy in January 2020 because he was fed up with debt.
His mission is to document his journey to Financial Independence in order to motivate and inspire others to get out of debt and begin building generational wealth.
