Photo: www.rupertjeffries.com
There’s nothing like a major life change to give one some perspective and clarity. A couple of months ago I ended a long term relationship. I thought he was ‘the one’ and that we’d be together for good.
Things didn’t work out that way and I found myself looking for a new place to live. My challenge was to find something cheap that wasn’t too depressing. And I did. On a long term temporary basis I am renting a room in a fabulous house in the neighborhood in which I always wanted to live.
I have three housemates. This arrangement allows me to live in a place I couldn’t afford on my own without forking over a ridiculous amount of rent. I can focus on growing my business, save money, and get used to being single. (That last part I’m really enjoying by the way!)
But I’ve learned something very interesting and I’d like to share it with my Geezeo family.
When I moved into the house I brought only what I needed to function on a daily basis and my family photos. The plan was to bring over the non-essentials in dribs and drabs as time permitted. I sold off my collection of vintage clothing and handbags. I kept only the clothes and shoes that fit into my available closet space and gave the rest to charity. That was eight weeks ago. I haven’t brought another thing into my space and I have absolutely no desire to do so. I have what I need and everything else is just clutter.
I do not miss any of my possessions. I don’t wish to be surrounded by clothes, books, DVD’s, flea market art, kitchen gadgets, or excess beauty products. I have what I need and (gasp!) that’s all I need. I am getting along just fine without these various objects I believed were important enough to spend my time and money accumulating.
I didn’t consider myself a Shopaholic but I certainly bought a lot of stuff.
How many hours have I used earning money then shopping?
How many thousands of dollars went toward bringing this stuff into my life?
What else could I have done with all that time and money?
These questions have forced me to think much harder about my financial choices and those seemingly small purchases that added up to a houseful of stuff I really didn’t need.
I’m thinking much harder now before buying an item I’d have to bring home. If I’m doing fine without something then I just don’t need it. I’m not rationalizing a purchase by convincing myself that what I’m buying is useful.
Living with house mates has helped me develop some simpler habits. With limited fridge space it just doesn’t make sense to buy more food than I can realistically use for the week. No more stocking up on things that I may or may not get around to cooking. I also don’t want to be the house couch potato. Cable is included in my rent but I don’t watch much television anymore. If I had to pay extra for cable I could easily do without. Spare time is now spent exercising, socializing, or working.
I use my car to drive to the train station, for trips to the supermarket, and when work requires that I drive to a client’s home. If a chore can be easily done without driving I don’t use the car.
I have shifted from a pretty typical American lifestyle to something much simpler. And it’s really nice. I believe happiness is a choice. Even when things seem bad I’m still thankful and thrilled to be me because I have a great life. Discovering that I can choose to live with much less is a new level of happiness. Living simply has taken away so much of the pressure related to improving my finances. I don’t feel deprived because I’m not allowing my perceived needs to become bigger than my actual needs.
To all the users who Confess to overspending, there is hope. It is possible to change your habits. If I can do it anyone can. Stick with Geezeo, keep using the tools and sharing your stories. We’re here for you!
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