Is "Simple Living" Just Another Term for "Giving Up"?

[Myscha Theriault]

I think there are points to be made on both sides, but speaking for myself, it is a means to an end. Certainly, once my husband and I break through the next "ceiling" so to speak, there are a few additional luxuries we would like to incorporate into our lifestyle. But we certainly aren't interested in doing so before we are ready, particularly at the expense of other projects and ideas we are trying out (and funding). For now, keeping things simple not only give us more money to fund projects, travel and business ideas, it also gives us the time.

Just my two cents . . . the other comments have been interesting to read as well.

[FrugalNYC]

I think frugality is a mindset. Coming from a background or a family that is frugal tends to either keep you that way or make you go to the extreme of wanting everything you can buy (not just afford). Just my 2 Cents. Personally I think "Simple Living" has its many advantages. Living in NYC tends to make that a little harder, but life is a journey after all, you get what you put into it.

[khorrell]

Wildgift, your comment about Real Simple magazine gave me my only LOL all day today. Thank you!

[Bernadette]

Originally Posted by indieretailer

Are there people giving up going up to greater heights in their careers only because they don't have what it takes and are now "simplicity poseurs".

Intriguing question.

I spent several years in a high-pressure, upwardly mobile kind of job. Although it (and the spending that went with it) were thrilling for a while, ultimately it was that experience that taught me that I really craved the simple life.

As others have said, simplifying is actually hard work. So I doubt that many get into it by default. It took me years to reach my present state of not-muchness.

Now that I've been in the simple life for many years, though, I would find it hard work to go back into the fast lane. Not that I would ever want to. Still, maybe you could say I don't have what it takes, and that I never did have what it takes, because I was so eager to get out of hard-working yuppiedom.

In short, it seems a question that's too complex to answer. One person's poseur is anothers wannabe and another's hopeful newbie.

[kav122]

To me, frugality and simplicity are a spiritual journey. Not going to the mall, not watching tv, not gorging on McD's, not buying too many clothes, too many things, not one-upping the neighbors---to me, all of that is a disconnect between spirituality and your soul. My family didn't take a vow of poverty or anything, but you know, we do what we can to find appreciation in the little things. I also agree that living simply is not easier. It is hard to find good, healthy 3 square meals a day plus snacks for your family. It's hard to not "splurge" on that really awesome thing that you want but ultimately does not fit into your family goals. It's hard to remember that having a new outfit does not make you a better mom/wife/daughter/whatever. As much as I have cravings for these things at times, I don't think that it is because I can't hack it as a big wig, I just think that I am taking a better path for my family by not accumulating stuff, even if it is hard at times to resist the urge to BUY BUY BUY. I guess I revolted more against the mass consumerism than anything else. I do think that it is interesting that it is so trendy to be "green", but also don't think that it is a competition of who can be more simple. I hope it is a mass movement and we all evolve.

[lucille]

Simple living, frugality and poverty are all quite different things.

Simple living is more about focusing on what you really need or what benefits your life and discarding (in some manner) the rest. I worked the rat race and was considered successful but I found it rather hollow and not something I had any desire to sustain long term. I may have had more money but for what? A new car to keep up that career image? More crap I really don't need? I personally found the balance to be off. After I was done paying day care, a percentage of meals at restaurants, the additional clothing required for work, the costs for all the extra trappings that went with maintaining the career what did I actually have left? I had about the same left that I would have had doing something else for a living, but I would have more time, more happiness, time for my kids and more of my sanity. So why go through all of that to pretty much end up in a lesser place? Maybe since I didn't live for the status or the job itself it was easier for me to go do something else that made more sense.

I find that I spend less energy worrying or thinking about consuming things. Since were more focused on buying things with longevity that we like rather than fashion or trends, once purchased it is pretty much a done subject. I'm not thinking about what we want for our next bed or our next living room set because barring some incident of extensive damage were not going to be having a "next" version of those things.

[hermione]

I like to think of simple or frugal living not as giving up, but as "saving up" in order to "live it up" one day. But it would be different for everyone, I suppose, depending on your station in life - how old you are, what your goals are, etc.

I found this a really thought-provoking question and actually wrote a post about it on my blog where I go into more detail of why we live the way we do.

[AFHWW]

I like to think of it as using my money mindfully. I've been a big spender with lots of debt that I didn't know how I would repay. It was terribly stressful. Now I think about where my money goes and how I want to use it. That means I don't do some things I might otherwise do, but it also means I have money for the little indulgences that mean the most to me. To me, the peace of mind is worth a little sacrifice.

[Mary Webber]

WOW, this discussion has really reverberated with me. We live simply and as green as possible, raising most of our own food on a little under two acres of land in the middle of a small town. I've had lots of different careers from mulit-media public relations (as a Family Thirft Counselor) to teaching middle school to (now) real estate appraising, and I've been lucky - and determined -enough to meld them all together with the way we choose to live. And let me tell you, Amy is so right on... Living simply is, quite simply, damned hard work!!

This is a wonderful conversation and I look forward to reading more.

[blueberry]

I'm a college student and have 2 jobs. I don't have thousands of extra dollars, but I do make an effort to save money and still live comfortably. I'm frugal when it comes to clothes and shoes and I try to look for used/refurbished electronics and textbooks, but I make it a point to not skimp on having maxed out car insurance and I try to only buy organic foods. I save money by only drinking water, but I buy a water filter for my faucet as a replacement for syrupy beverages. I like living simply and I try to get rid of my extra junk. It is the best way to do it since there are tons of people who want this extra stuff more than i do. I definitely drive a used car and try to use public transportation when possible, especially since it helps increase sustainability. Since I go to State and live on campus, we focus a lot on conservation and innovation, so I'm always looking for ways to decrease my eco-footprint.