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By eliza_cross, on March 27th, 2012%
 Photo by Chris Reed “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand. Instead of a million, count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
What does financial simplicity mean to you? For me, it’s the feeling that we are in control of our money, rather than having our financial situation control us. It’s the peace that comes from living within our means. It’s a good night’s sleep, with a minimum of money worries.
Here are some of the ways we try to simplify the finances in our household:
- Specific, achievable goals for retirement, college, vacations and other large purchases.
- A minimum of bills, delivered and paid electronically to reduce paper.
- Bills paid on time. Because my income fluctuates as a writer, at the beginning of each month I make a list of bills, in order of the due date, and a monthly budget. This system has virtually eliminated late payments and fees.
- Money set aside regularly for annual bills like taxes and insurance. I have a special savings account to save for large annual expenses, and figure out how much to contribute each month so the big bills are usually covered.
- A neat, orderly system. Okay, I’m still working on better organization. But I do keep up with filing papers on a fairly consistent basis, and I’m moving on converting more paperwork to digital files and online billing.
- Meaningful sharing of our abundance with those less fortunate. Giving is a priority, and it gets budgeted along with our other expenses.
- Savings set aside each month and added to regularly. Savings is another line item on the budget.
- Discipline. At the end of each month I calculate our net worth, which is the only way I’ve found to truly stay honest about the state of our finances.
Have you found additional ways to simplify how you manage money? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
By eliza_cross, on December 26th, 2011%
 Photo by John Michael Mayer Ah, another Christmas is behind us. I hope you had a splendid celebration and enjoyed a special day with your loved ones.
As the holiday season winds down, the end of December signals the inevitable reconciliation of how much money was spent versus what was budgeted. Perhaps, like me, you’re also beginning to think about your goals and hopes for the coming year.
It’s common to think about lighter eating and exercising after all of the indulgences of the holidays, but January is also a great time to get back on track financially. To that end, what if you cut all nonessential spending for 31 days? Hundreds of people have successfully completed the January Money Diet while finding plenty of creative ways to have fun and live large without spending cash.
Care to join us? All you have to do is leave a comment on the January Money Diet page stating your intention to take the challenge. Every day in January I’ll post a new task or idea to help you start 2012 financially strong. If you prefer to have the daily postings delivered by e-mail, it’s free to subscribe here.
Many people discover that breaking the spending habit is a change they carry throughout the year–saving their money for the things and experiences that are truly important, and spending less on the empty frivolities that can deplete cash so easily.
I hope you’ll join us for the January Money Diet, and here’s to a happy, healthy, financially strong 2012!
Hugs,
By eliza_cross, on December 12th, 2011%
In three weeks, we’ll embark on the third annual January Money Diet. Care to join us? If you’d like to save more money, reduce debt and spend less during the coming year, join now and start 2012 financially strong.
It’s a simple challenge, really; starting January 1, we just don’t spend a nickel on anything but the utmost essentials for 31 days.
In lieu of spending cash, we find other ways to indulge, have fun and live large. Throughout the month, you’ll find postings with a variety of ideas, recipes, photos, links and tips to help you stick to the money diet — and pocket the cash.
To participate, simply leave a comment over on the January Money Diet page confirming your participation. You’ll find a button you can post on your own website if you like, and you’ll be automatically entered for the drawing of a deluxe Happy Simple Living prize basket at the end of the month. I hope you’ll join us, and here’s to a financially fit, fun-filled 2012!
By eliza_cross, on November 21st, 2011%
Just in time for the holidays, we’re giving away a copy of James A. Roberts’ insightful new book Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don’t have in Search of Happiness We Can’t Buy, just published by HarperOne. Presenting a compelling case against materialism, Roberts illustrates with both historical data and the latest research how chasing The American Dream has put too many people on what he calls “the treadmill of consumption.” From a global viewpoint, Roberts’ findings support what many already sense, that striving for bigger, better and more has contributed to our current state of economic uncertainty.
For anyone who has ever dreamed of winning the lottery, the research findings comparing lottery winners’ happiness ratings versus average consumers and those of accident victims are fascinating and eye-opening. In fact, as much as Madison Avenue tries to convince us otherwise, Roberts’ research shows that people with a stronger focus on material aspirations consistently feel lower levels of psychological well-being.
One chapter that didn’t ring quite true for me was “Heaven Help Us: The Prosperity Gospel,” which seemed to be trying to make the case that the majority of large churches try to persuade believers to donate money by dangling the promise of increased personal riches. Every religion has its bad apples, of course, but for most people I know the concept of sowing and reaping isn’t about giving to get more, it’s about giving so we all have enough. One of the best aspects of reduced spending and consumption, in my humble opinion, is the opportunity to share more with charitable organizations and those in need. Near the end of the book in a chapter entitled “Your Money or Your Life,” Roberts, too, acknowledges our deep-seated desire to live a life of meaning and examines how, as a society, we have gotten so far away from that basic need in our passion to accumulate material possessions.
My favorite section, not surprisingly, is the practical, “how-to” chapter, “Step Away From the Shopping Cart,” with Roberts’ “25 Tweaks to Financial Tranquility.” Ahhh, don’t you just love the sound of that? I can take a deep breath and feel more peaceful just thinking about financial tranquility. Here the author presents specific ideas to curb in spending, from “just say no to the mall” to giving yourself 24 hours to cool off and carefully consider before making a purchase over $100.
To win a brand-new copy of this thought-provoking book, leave a comment below about how you’re simplifying the holidays this year. The giveaway ends on Sunday, November 27 at midnight MST. I’ll draw one random name from all the comments and announce the winner on Monday, November 28. Good luck, and I can’t wait to hear your comments.
Hugs,
By eliza_cross, on September 26th, 2011%
Congratulations to Bill Keithler, winner of the book “Buyology.” I used Random.org to choose one winner from the commenters, and he was lucky #12. Thanks to everyone who participated! I’ll be doing more prize drawings like this one, so check back often. To be among the first to hear about giveaways, you can also receive Happy Simple Living updates via e-mail if you prefer; just click here to enter your e-mail address.
By eliza_cross, on April 25th, 2011%
“There were times my pants were so thin I could sit on a dime and tell if it was heads or tails. ” — Spencer Tracy
Like many people, my college years were some of my leanest financial times. I remember going to the gas station and putting 50 cents worth of gas in the tank once just to get by for one more day. Another time my roommate and I were completely out of food when the Welcome Wagon lady stopped by our rat-hole apartment and gave us coupons for a free quart of milk, a loaf of bread and a half gallon of ice cream at the local grocery store. We redeemed the coupons but didn’t buy a single other thing, and the cashier turned out to be a fellow student who gave us a hard time whenever he saw us on campus.
At the time it’s no fun being broke, although in retrospect the experience can provide great motivation to make better financial decisions. I asked some of my fellow bloggers from the personal finance network Yakezie to answer the question “How broke have you been?” and I think you’ll enjoy their responses:
“I was so broke I re-used coffee grounds!” ~ Family Money Values
“I was so broke I got used to the taste of Keystone Light. (The good and bad of being a broke college kid!)” ~ Narrow Bridge
“I was so broke I did my grocery shopping at the $1 store. I discovered that a one dollar chicken equals $50 in medical costs! ~ Todd’s Wanderings
“I was so broke I had to use my credit card to buy a $1 drink at McDonald’s after my debit card was declined. The sad thing was, I wasn’t sure if I had $1 available on the credit card either!” ~ So Over Debt
“I was so broke that I used duct tape to fix the holes in my fake Keds from Target.” ~ Money Crush
“I was so broke that on lunch break, I would go to the local 7/11, buy a bag of Fritos (BBQ were my favorite), open the bag and load it up with their free nacho cheese and chili. It was filling, and only cost 59 cents!” ~ Wealth Artisan
“I was so broke while studying abroad in Japan that I brown-bagged (even in a foreign country!) canned tuna fish sandwiches most lunches instead of enjoying the cuisine.” ~ Frugal Confessions
“I’ve been so broke that I now have a habit of checking the return change slot at the toll booths.” ~ Financial Success for Young Adults
“I am STILL so broke that I reuse aluminum foil.” ~ Freelance PF
How about you – how broke have you been? You know we’d love to hear your stories.
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