photo by Martin Bravenboer
Frugality topics are often about small ways to save. But what about the bigger ways? Many people voluntarily choose to make extreme changes to their lifestyles to live more simply. Have you ever felt like a slave to your own life? I’m not suggesting you live off the grid. But we’re fortunate to have many choices every day. Frugality can help you explore your values and pinpoint how to get from where you are now to where you want to be through choices.
Some people don’t want to do the hard work it takes to get the life they want. We’ve been conditioned to think more, more, more is best. We’ve grown dependent on many conveniences. Maybe you think you could change this or that, but don’t really want to. Don’t forget what money can’t buy, and question what it does. Next, work toward choosing the life you want through trade-offs. Sometimes giving up something means gaining something else that matters more. To get what you want, could you trade the following?
CARS: Could you downsize your vehicle? Be a one-car household? Many people don’t own a car at all. There are alternatives, such as walking, biking, car-pooling, car sharing and public transportation. It’s not a good option for everyone, but it might work for you. It worked for me. There is life beyond multiple cars and loans.
HOUSE: Could you downsize your home? Do you need all the space that you have? Maybe you want it, but at what cost? If you pared down the things you owned, how much space could you free up? Could you move somewhere cheaper? I did. It helped me reach a savings goal. It also taught me a lesson in humility. Think about everything under your roof. Visualize it on your front lawn. Mentally look at it all. How much more do you own than you need? Think about people that don’t own one-quarter of it. I don’t want you to feel guilty for what you have but to understand what you need. Could you sell anything to help you reach your goals? Is all that stuff worth it?
SHOWS: Could you get rid of cable? Or unplug entirely? We unplugged for a couple of years. Could you not go to movie theaters or rent movies?
SHOPPING: How long can you go without spending money? Could you live without jewelry? How much could you buy secondhand instead of new or on sale? Could you stop using your credit cards?
FOOD: Would you give up eating meat, snacks or convenience foods if you knew it would make a difference? Could you stop eating out? Could you grow a garden? Shop locally?
VACATIONS: Could you give up your vacations? Enjoy your own community or backyard? Consider day trips?
APPLIANCES: Would you be willing to live without a dryer, an oven, a stove, a microwave or full-sized refrigerator?
What have you given up? Or what would you give up if you had to? Big or small.
译文:
通过工作得到你想要的
节俭通常都围绕着小的方面.那么如果从大的方面来看呢?许多为了过上更简单的生活而故意选择在其生活方式上做些极端的改变.你有没有感觉你是生活的奴隶?我并不是建议不要正常生活.只是我们如此幸运,每天拥有许多的选择.节俭可以帮助探究到你的价值甚至精确到从如何知道你现在的位置到如何做出选择.
一些人不想经历过上他们想要生活之前的苦日子.我们被要求考虑更多一些,再多一些,越多越好.我们的成长依赖于太多的便利.也许你认为你可以改变这个或者那个,但又不是真的想这么做.不要忘了什么东西是金钱无法买到的,也记得询问这些东西是做什么用的.接着,通过各种交易让工作接近你想选择的生活.有时放弃一些东西意味获得其他更多的东西.为了得到你想要的,你能用以下的作为交易吗?
汽车:你能减小交通工具的体积吗?成为只有一辆车的家庭?许多人根本一辆车都不想要.因为有其他的选择,诸如步行,骑车,合伙使用骑车,共享骑车和公共交通工具.这并不是每个人的好选择,但却对你又用.生活远远不止多种多样的汽车和贷款.
房屋:你能减小房屋的面积吗?你需要你所拥有的所有空间吗?也许你需要,但要用来做什么呢?如果你减少你的所有物,你能节省多少空间呢?你能搬到便宜一点的地方吗?我可以.这样帮我达到了节约目标,也为我上了一节关于谦卑的一课.想想在你屋顶下所有的东西.在想像这些都在你的草坪上.从精神上看这一切.你拥有的比你需要的多多少?想想那些连这些东西的四分之一都没有的人吧.我并不是让你有犯罪感而是要你明白你所拥有的.你能卖了所有的东西来帮你到达目的吗?它们又值得吗?
节目秀:你能没有电缆吗?或者全部拔掉?我们拔掉很多年了.你能不去电影院或租影碟吗?
购物:不能花钱你能逛多久?没有珠宝你能活吗?你能买多少二手货而非新的或打折的呢?你能停止使用信用卡吗?
食物:加入你知道不吃肉类,蛇和快餐食品能够带来变化,你愿意吗?你能不外出就餐吗?你能栽植出一个花园吗?能在当地购物吗?
假期:你能放弃你的假期吗?在自己的社区或后院玩耍?考虑短途旅行?
用具:你乐意生活中没有干衣机,烤箱,炉灶,微波炉或全长型的冰箱吗?
你放弃了什么?或有什么是你不得不放弃的?或大或小.