tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post6166756134878999996..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Not spendingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-36581221218949122132012-06-17T18:37:08.673+10:002012-06-17T18:37:08.673+10:00I do work full time and as I live on my own can af...I do work full time and as I live on my own can afford a few more luxuries. I choose to live simply, grow my food, cook from scratch,sew and knit, it is not about how much money you make but how much you spend and I don't have a large TV and most of my friends, think I am strange as I don't have all the mod cons. I always think do I really need it before I buy. It is so good to read your blog and know there are others like me out there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11240416311403335348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-85080412621939723402011-09-10T20:37:36.824+10:002011-09-10T20:37:36.824+10:00Great post! We have cut back on our spending, our ...Great post! We have cut back on our spending, our belongings and, consequently, the amount of time we have to work away from home. It's all relative. <br /><br />My friends, acquaintances and coworkers don't understand how we can survive with just two part time jobs. I tell everyone that you can shrink your lifestyle to live on whatever income you have, if you really want to. Most don't want to. It's that simple. <br /><br />It's worth it to us. Perhaps not to them. We happily do without a lot of things that society considers necessary and do not miss them.Sheryl at Providence Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07127223943390691667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72205052001815733982007-12-05T17:07:00.000+10:002007-12-05T17:07:00.000+10:00We were brought up to belive that you "are" what y...We were brought up to belive that you "are" what you can do....not what you possess.....if that makes sense!lilymarlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12370053859106368722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72198375884735385082007-07-19T21:34:00.000+10:002007-07-19T21:34:00.000+10:00I grew up poor. So we couldn't have everything we ...I grew up poor. So we couldn't have everything we wanted. So myself and my siblings all went crazy in our early 20's, making our own money, credit cards piling in (and debt piling high). We consumed heavily, because we could for the first time in our lives. My sister's almost out from under the mess, and I think she was the smartest of the three of us. My brother's still in deep. It's a difficult thing to curb your appetite for anything really if you feel deprived. I'm glad with age comes wisdom, but it's a tough lesson to learn the hard way. I plan to do everything I can to help my children understand the differents between money/things and real happiness.<BR/>It's sad to hear that Australia has an overconsumption problem as well. I guess I thought it was an American problem only.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83617776304787053472007-07-19T12:56:00.000+10:002007-07-19T12:56:00.000+10:00Addit,I really loved your previous blog "things I ...Addit,<BR/>I really loved your previous blog "things I wish my Mother had told me"...this is such a beautiful sentence. The last few years I have seen the world so differently and grown up in a way. I always seem to let my mind wander to "I wish my Mother had told me more about the world...I have been discussing this with my friends who have daughters - there is so much wisdom with age that we all need to recognise the importance of handing on knowledge. I really enjoy reading your blogs and I think it somehow replaces the conversations I miss having with my mother. Thanks again for your wonderful words !<BR/>BellaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-47920669285731796152007-07-19T12:37:00.000+10:002007-07-19T12:37:00.000+10:00I notice that a few comments mention the sensitivi...I notice that a few comments mention the sensitivity of others to the concepts of simple living. I am so thankful to see that it is a common problem. I note the same sensitivity from many of my friends. Jenny, my friends are different to your friends, they think I am rich because I choose to live simply and not work. They keep wanting to know how I do it and I cant but help notice greed and envy in their eyes whilst they repeat "We can't afford to do it". That really irritates me as these people are often more financial abundant than myself. I just tell them that it is all about being "rich on the inside" and it is a daily struggle to live more harmoniously with nature and the world. The anxious focus on money and the questioning has taken some time to ignore.<BR/>BellaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-35112985465262013352007-07-19T11:12:00.000+10:002007-07-19T11:12:00.000+10:00For me, the lure of buying is strongest at the end...For me, the lure of buying is strongest at the end of a difficult day at work, when I want to 'treat' myself, and yet i almost never buy anything I deeply desire (which I think is different from wanting). The things I value most are time and peace; ironically, these slip further from my grasp each time I buy a little want because I then have to work just a little longer in order to cover the money I just spent. I think part of the evil genius of advertising is its ability to draw us from the path we want to take. I'm not denying my own responsibility in this but I think it can be hard thing to fight.Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14346897774489967919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-10257296199310095082007-07-19T10:31:00.000+10:002007-07-19T10:31:00.000+10:00I too grew up with frugal parents and never felt t...I too grew up with frugal parents and never felt that I missed out. I didn't own a new bike till I was 12, but I always had a bike to ride and always plent of friends to ride them with. It saddens me how a lot of todays children think that second hand or used isn't good enough. My children ( nearly 14 & 11) love getting bags of clothes from others. Being a single parent means I too live frugally, because I want to spend my money on the important things in life. Thanks for your elegant summary Rhonda.Lishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00066863074405512584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-26397806253463714252007-07-19T10:09:00.000+10:002007-07-19T10:09:00.000+10:00I grew up with very frugal parents, we never misse...I grew up with very frugal parents, we never missed out on the important things, but there was no unnecessary spending and things were repaired many times. I had a time in my life when I started earning real money, as compared to the many low paying cash in hand jobs that allowed not much more than survival, then I was wasteful with my money. Even then I wasn't much of a consumer, but now my journey has brought me to a place where I actually don't like to give my money to those large greedy businesses. We are comfortable and happy (I think) and hopefully setting examples for the children that will benefit them later in life.<BR/><BR/>LennyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-13756728749011760662007-07-19T09:30:00.000+10:002007-07-19T09:30:00.000+10:00Sadly overconsumption is huge on my husbands side ...Sadly overconsumption is huge on my husbands side of the family but thankfully not on my side :) I feel that my inlaws think I don't like to spend money out of guilt as I'm currently not earning any myself,(hubbie is is a high earning job) but I'd rather be frugal with everything ~ we still live comfortably, eat well etc. and as I'm a practical person if something doesn't have a good "use" and be at a good price I won't get it.Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07636304236237630746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3358676060173101922007-07-19T09:20:00.000+10:002007-07-19T09:20:00.000+10:00We don't have much in the way of disposable income...We don't have much in the way of disposable income so it is relatively easy for us not to overconsume ( though many in our situation are seriously in debt). However when discussions with family and friends turn to the effects of materialism and overconsumption it is assumed by some that we take the position we do because we aren't rich and if we had more money we would be the same as everyone else.I'm certain we wouldn't be but it is frustrating to get into these conversations because people get very defensive. It really isn't a rich versus poor argument, it's about treading lightly, not taking more than your share, looking after what we have and that includes the earth. It should be just as easy to take this position if you have a surplus of cash or struggling to make ends meet. Surely it leads to a fairer more caring society.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659929017085133209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-76745262694014331882007-07-19T07:42:00.000+10:002007-07-19T07:42:00.000+10:00p.s. what an absolutely gorgeous picture that is i...p.s. what an absolutely gorgeous picture that is in your post today!!Simply Authentichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149087342124493037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-31798007492721457012007-07-19T07:41:00.000+10:002007-07-19T07:41:00.000+10:00So very true and well put. I have been feeling th...So very true and well put. I have been feeling the need to write about our over consumption but as it's a sensitive topic for many of my friends and family members, it's difficult for me to know how to approach my feelings on the topic. But now it's beginning to block my posting in general. I am always so impressed by how eloquently others are able to write about it. The happy and full life does come from less objects. It feels so awkward to me when I do "have" to spend money anymore as I spend it so rarely now. Thank you once again for your wonderful words!Simply Authentichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149087342124493037noreply@blogger.com