Guide to Simplifying your life:
- Identify what’s most important to you.
- Eliminate everything else.
May 18, 2009
Have you downsized your life yet? Or are you thinking you might need to?
Guide to Simplifying your life:
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26 comments:
Not yet Keith, but I've done a lot in the past 2 years to make my life a bit easier...sold my car wash business, sold some other real estate holdings, put my 401k money into a safe money market and set aside about 15% of my combined retirement money to play the markets rather than rely on my company's recommendations....also emphasized friends, family, and traveling. Barely use myspace (still use FB, but not as much). Watch TV only if I am at the gym. Kept up with routine mainenance on my car. Took a few classes in things I am interested in, rather than just turn into a vegetable.
I still have too much junk. Where does it come from, honestly? I am looking to get rid of it. Sorry landfill.
Since getting let go on 4/24 four months into my first job at a CPA firm after completing my M.Acc degree, I've begun a serious downsizing.
I am NOT even looking for other jobs now. Every public accounting firm in town did mass layoffs at the end of busy season. 6500 people came to a job fair here last week. Instead I am only studying to sit for (and pass) the CPA exam within the next 6 months.
Now I'm getting rid of EVERYTHING I own that won't fit in a U-Haul trailer, giving away books, furniture, household goods to friends and to the Cleveland Furniture Bank.
Moving out of my apartment when my LEASE ends in August, couch-cruising and saving $$$ for a few months. Then plan to bring my M.Acc. and CPA and move west contributing to the MSM-lamented "brain drain" from the Midwest.
Cleveland is the next Detroit, there is NO FUTURE here. When GM and Chrysler collapse, the long-term structural economic decline of the Midwest will be permanent, irreversible.
Like Keith posted a few days ago, I am downsizing and keeping only the "things" that enable me to "do"... car, bicycle, skis, weights, laptop, don't need much else to live.
"Big hat, no cattle.... small hat, lots of cattle."
Less show more substance, rather have true wealth than things to impress other people. Investing in my children's private school education. Nothing more valuable than that.
-- Small Hat
More = Less
I downsized while the bubble grew and put the money in savings. I simply can't downsize any more. Now I am taking vacations, helping friends, and puttering around at work.
I just came back from a week at a friends cattle ranch. Big hat, friends cattle, tons of fun, zero dollars.
Back in moms basement, buying distressed assets and holding.
Going to best buy to get another flat screen.How is renting tools?
Downsized my Rolex collection from 9 to 4, and I bought more guns and ammo. :)
I haven't had much of a need to downsize, but I am looking to simplify.
Just last night I found myself in front of the computer - for no particular reason other than it was there. This has been happening increasingly; I walk by it, and I find myself sitting down at it. I realized what was once a nice accessory to my life had become seemingly intrinsic to my existence.
So, I’m thinking it’s time to start leaving the PC off more than on, and ditto with the Playstation 3. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be able to get my apartment clean some day…
Time to get somewhat “off the grid….”
M.
I haven't had much of a need to downsize, but I am looking to simplify.
Just last night I found myself in front of the computer - for no particular reason other than it was there. This has been happening increasingly; I walk by it, and I find myself sitting down at it. I realized what was once a nice accessory to my life had become seemingly intrinsic to my existence.
So, I’m thinking it’s time to start leaving the PC off more than on, and ditto with the Playstation 3. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be able to get my apartment clean some day…
Time to get somewhat “off the grid….”
M.
No, I outright own the things I bought. I am not a credit junkie. Further, I make purchases knowing that I will have them until they no longer work. I don't need to buy a new TV evertime a better one comes out. I am fine with what I have. Enjoying a little consumption based on the fruits of my production is fine. I have not lived a life that I need to downsize from. Though I do own many nice things, I live within my means.
"Downsized my Rolex collection from 9 to 4, and I bought more guns and ammo. :)"
I will take a Rolex, that has always been out of my means, but very attainable. Help a guy out!?!?!
Yes, big time. I'm moving, and I'm getting rid of tons and tons of crap and junk. Amazing how much crap one collects over the years. If it hasn't been repeatedly used over the last 12 months, it's gone.
What a great feeling it is.
Sold vacant lot @ height of the bubble...took proceeds and paid mortgage down to $40K.
I own the vehicles,not the bank.I called the cable company and explained how the new increase blew my budet up so they lowered the monthly by $70. Eat out less & save more
Is that line in front of Best Buy people who are trying to return stuff?
Other than my paid off car, my sofa, my tv, and a few boxes of cookware, household items and clothing, I own nothing. I am working 3 days a week at a job I enjoy. I do have a small credit card balance that I am paying down, but that's all I owe. Still renting, still loving it. Down sizing is great. Learn to live with what you have. It can be done.
Buh buh buh the recession is over, isn't it? Why would I have to downsize then?
Under 75 word essay. From the early 80s:
There was no reason to go anywhere.
A MacDonald’s hamburger in Paris
was the same as in New York.
And anyway, the view
was urban sprawl
from any vantage point.
Better to stay inside,
safely behind bars,
and enjoy your choice of virtual reality.
No need for nature,
no need for human interaction.
As long as your artificial heart
was working,
all you really needed
was a couch,
a mouth
and an asshole.
All I see is everything is coming down. Wages,prices, living standards, expectations. 401k's will fluctuate but not go up. In the 70s gold was a good investment. And govt bonds, once Voelker did his thing.
I am so glad I am not a slave to that mortgage and property taxes!
At the same time I would like a place that I can not be kicked out of.
But the neighbors? They used to be nice. No pitbulls. They were unheard of. Everyone had the same values. It wasn't a case of "Well how do you know it was MY kids?"
Well I saw them.
"Well how do you know it was MY kids?"
Nation of inmbeciles.
I did a typo. Imbeciles.
"All I see is everything is coming down."
------------------------
Um...bought any food or gas recently?
IMO, Gas is up because it's summer. It happens every year.
I don't see much pricing power for goods when unemployment is so high and people are not spending like they used to.
But I agree, Mammoth, food might be an exception, unfortunately.
Returned to hustling at auctions and selling stuff. I have downsized by getting rid of my extra cars. I signed over an antique auto to my oldest son, gave him another car for daily transport and just sold off another old car to a dealer who can fix it up and sell it to another collector at a cheaper cost that I could have done.
End result: one used car (2004)between wife and I who are retired and one antique 65 mustang still running 11 years after I bought it at an auction.
GOD, some of these comments had me rolling on the floor!
Saw this shytt-storm coming 3 years ago, when I worked for the man in Orange...(hold the tomatos)
-Bought out the lease on my wheels, down-sized the crib, in fact, decided to rent instead of buy for the foreseeable future.
Warning--I think they are going to pull out all the stops soon to get people to buy homes, then later this year, they are going to JACK your property taxes like you have never seen.
The smartest man-or woman in the room will pare down, save, rent instead of buy if they dont own already, and live as tight as they can.
Debt and Material possessions = SLAVERY.
It would be so nice to see much of America figure this out before it is too late, and start living FREE!! Just like we did with cutting back on gas when it went up, we can yank our accounts from these criminal banks, downsize our consumption and STICK IT TO THE PHUCKING MANNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!
You've forgotten Step 3: Repeat as needed.
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