Sometimes it's easier to define what something is not, rather than what it is. This is one of those cases.
As stated in the Prologue and used in the The Keys: The Textbook to a Successful Life, simple does not mean a life of lack or living on the cheap, in the broadest sense. Rather, it is really used to mean abundance at a place and level few people have ever experienced. The first level is economic and lifestyle simplicity.
As defined by Dictionary.com, simple means easy to understand, deal with, and use, not elaborate or artificial but plain.
True, a simple life does mean the lack of things, but they are the things we don't need. Let's stop right here for a moment and take a look at that concept. One of the things you have to do to lead a simpler life is to be able to define needs versus wants. It's amazing how little we really need. When you get beyond the basics, everything else is a want.
In Western culture we suffer from the great disease of More. We have the desire to own a lot of "stuff." This desire to acquire things is so prevalent that as the late comedian George Carlin said, "We have to buy a bigger house so we have a place for all our stuff." And one of the most insane businesses is storage units, where people can put the stuff they don't use and don't have room for at home. Personal finance expert, Suze Orman says one of the dumbest things we do in life is buy things "to impress people we don't like, or don't know."
What's behind this need to have all this stuff? Basically, it's the inability to nurture relationships. In other words, replacing people with possessions. But things aren't very satisfying, so there is the feeling that to fill that void, we need to buy more stuff. Things don't talk to you, share your joy or your pain and never give a hug. They just sit there. There is a point at which you become possessed by the possessions.
We also feel that the stuff we have is an indicator of our status. An interesting question comes up here: why do you care what other people think of you and what you own? Social status is a major contributor to the disease of More. We brag and boast about things we have when in fact no one really cares.
By choice I don't own a lot of stuff...live rather modestly, and yes I do have some things I don't need, but make life more pleasant. The things I do own I've acquired based on three principles. The first as taught by speaker Virl Mento, who said that, other than seasonal things and decorative items of high quality (good art and collectibles or things having a real sentimental value, and not couch art and cheap things that take up space and have to dusted frequently), if you don't use something at least once every 90 days you have no business owning it. Think about all the things you have around your house and in other places that you never use.
The second criteria I use is that, other than food and personal items, I think about a purchase 72 hours. In that span of time I either have forgotten about it, or have decided not to buy it, although there are times I do.
The third criteria is, especially for household things, is it something I want to have to dust, wash or mess with. Right there is a major killer.
Think of all the money you've spent buying things you don't use, don't want, and may even have to pay to store. How crazy is that?
Financial experts say the best way is to live by the 80-10-10 Rule. Learn to live on 80% of your net income (that's after taxes), use 10% to pay yourself for investments and savings, and the final 10% is for charitable contributions, emergencies and life's little luxuries, that you'll use frequently.
Think about a few things: How much house do you really need? Are you buying that luxury automobile instead of a more economical model simply to impress? Why are you paying extra money to buy clothes with some company's name on it? If they want you to advertise for them, shouldn't they be giving away the stuff, or paying you? These questions, and others like them, are not as crazy as they appear on the surface.
I do believe in buying the best quality you can afford for many things. Buying a high-end mattress not only contributes to better rest, but really will last longer. Cheap furniture does not hold up well or for very long. Spend the extra money, if you can afford it, to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and meats for your family. They are better for you.
There may come a time when you will feel the need to simplify your life, and I highly encourage you to do so. There is one good thing that can come from all of this: what you don't want to keep, sell it in eBay. You'd amazed at what people will buy, and rather than owning the junk, you can have the cash to pay off a debt, or have a nice weekend away.
I am Ric Morgan, author of The Keys: The Textbook to a Successful Life. The book is about the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple and Smart) philosophy and talks about three major keys...thought, choice and action...plus a smaller secret key, and a set of lessons that will help you learn how to live a smarter, simpler and saner life. It retails for $15 (plus shipping) on Amazon.com, but you can buy it for $10 (shipping included) at http://www.thekeysbook.com There are several editions available including one in large-print, an e-Book and one called The Keys for Teens. The short (80 pages) book has been called, by John Fleming of WDRC in Hartford, Connecticut, a condensation of the "Wisdom of the Ages in an easy to read book with a lot of clarity. The amount of wisdom is astonishing."
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