I feel like I have ruminated on quite a bit through my writings here. My project involved a lot of internal work, I didn't feel like I could really get to the "meat" of anything as far as steps to complete my work. The reading and research was fairly easy and very informative. The compiling of personal data wasn't much of a challenge either. The work I did was mental and emotional. How do I quantify that in a presentation?
I'm really not sure how to explain what it felt like to pick up an expensive wedge of cheese, look at the price, figure out my "life units" and put it back. It felt very strange. It felt like I was denying the little girl in me something she really wanted. I have had many many moments like this.
Part of the issue is the very common trap of, "I work hard to make money, so I should be able to spend that money on things I want." Of course, by truly analyzing my "wants" I can see that it's not serving my true needs. My true needs are more about time and my future. Another lipstick will not help me with anything. An expensive wedge of cheese is unhealthy as well as completely unnecessary. It doesn't even offer much temporary happiness, it's just another bad habit I picked up as my income went up.
The issues that truly get me down in life revolve around my work schedule and spending so much time on something that is unsatisfying. The answer is out there for me, it's right in front of me, but the changes and choices I have to make are complicated and emotionally difficult.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Downshifting vs. Voluntary Simplicity
Getting into the real research details of my project, I'm learning that there are two designations (at least) when it comes to changing spending habits. There are "downshifters" and "new frugality" or "voluntary simplicity". It's not too hard to learn the differences. Downshifting is probably what I'm doing, although the demographics for this category tend to skew older. Downshifter philosophy tends to lean towards having a more enriching life, having more time to spend with loved ones, and finding a budget and lifestyle that is more in tune with those values. Voluntary Simplicity is almost spartan living. Truly minimizing possessions, to the point of hardly owning anything. While a downshifter might drive an older car, someone following Voluntary Simplicity would not own a car at all, relying on walking, biking, and public transportation as needed.
I like the concept of Voluntary Simplicity. There is a communal feeling to the lifestyle that I appreciate, but in a lot of ways, it does separate people from their old friends. A new community can develop, but it's hard to have an average social life if you have no car and don't pay for dinners out or movies. This is the point where you would need to seek out Simple Living peers, because they are the only ones who would truly support and understand what you are doing. For this reason, Downshifting appeals to me more. I can remain in my community and easily maintain friendships and connections. I feel like I can make more choices, rather than rejecting everything I have come to know in my life.
There is a lot of appeal to the Voluntary Simplicity movement, but in my current living situation, it would be impossible.
I like the concept of Voluntary Simplicity. There is a communal feeling to the lifestyle that I appreciate, but in a lot of ways, it does separate people from their old friends. A new community can develop, but it's hard to have an average social life if you have no car and don't pay for dinners out or movies. This is the point where you would need to seek out Simple Living peers, because they are the only ones who would truly support and understand what you are doing. For this reason, Downshifting appeals to me more. I can remain in my community and easily maintain friendships and connections. I feel like I can make more choices, rather than rejecting everything I have come to know in my life.
There is a lot of appeal to the Voluntary Simplicity movement, but in my current living situation, it would be impossible.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Sliding back even farther
Already this month, I feel the pull of how I used to be. Spending money relieves my stress. Seeing money in my checking account seems to be a trigger for me to spend. I still get caught up in using my money for instant gratification rather than the future. It's obviously a deep problem, and not just with me.
My biggest spending seems to be on food, which doesn't surprise me. Although I enjoy cooking, I'm not good at meal planning and I also default to take-out food after a long day at work. It takes a lot of energy and preparation to have meals ready to go each day. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm single, so I feel like I have more freedom. That would make sense, but it's not great for me in the long run.
While starting to pull my monthly budgets for comparison, I can see that I made really drastic cuts in February, and then some old habits crept back up in March, and now this first week of April. Just because I'm more aware, it doesn't mean that the mental changes I need to make are easy.
My biggest spending seems to be on food, which doesn't surprise me. Although I enjoy cooking, I'm not good at meal planning and I also default to take-out food after a long day at work. It takes a lot of energy and preparation to have meals ready to go each day. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm single, so I feel like I have more freedom. That would make sense, but it's not great for me in the long run.
While starting to pull my monthly budgets for comparison, I can see that I made really drastic cuts in February, and then some old habits crept back up in March, and now this first week of April. Just because I'm more aware, it doesn't mean that the mental changes I need to make are easy.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Setbacks, but not too set back
The main, final goal of the Financial Integrity plan is stash away enough savings in an interest bearing type of account so you can live (frugally) off the interest. For many people, this can take a decade or more, and that is fine. The point is, there is a goal, it's a hugely motivating goal, and it will keep you on track.
So, I have analyzed my spending habits. I have budgeted tighter than ever and realized it's not such a huge pain in the ass and it can actually be quite satisfying. I have paid off all revolving debt and am left with the larger debt of a car loan and my student loans. To do this within 3 months is huge for me, and it shows that I have a lot more room to "play" with my budget than I thought. Phase 2 is coming on now where I move in with my boyfriend, but rather than find a larger space for both of us, we are both minimizing our lives and staying in his inexpensive 1 bedroom. We both have fears about this because it's a small space and it's not the most pleasant place to live. The money saved will make it worth it, though, if only for a year or two.
Now that those plans are underway and the calculations are done, I see that I am still very far from the ultimate goal of the program. I don't know how to handle this information because I took this on with a real sense of urgency and now it feels like I'm still stuck in my current situation for many years to come. I have to increase my savings and eliminate about $40,000 total in debt before I'm truly DOING IT and I don't know how I'm going to stick out my current job for that long. It's never as easy as finding a new job, both because of the current economy and also because if I'm just jumping from one situation to another similar situation, what's the point?
As I try to not be disheartened by this realization, I am focusing on the good. By researching the rise of modern marketing and the creation of consumer culture, I feel like I've broken (mostly) free from a really horrible cycle. My goals of lessening my imprint on the earth, of minimizing my contribution to worldwide labor abuses, and of mindlessly giving my money to false promisers, have all been met. The changes are happening, even if they are too slow for my taste.
So, I have analyzed my spending habits. I have budgeted tighter than ever and realized it's not such a huge pain in the ass and it can actually be quite satisfying. I have paid off all revolving debt and am left with the larger debt of a car loan and my student loans. To do this within 3 months is huge for me, and it shows that I have a lot more room to "play" with my budget than I thought. Phase 2 is coming on now where I move in with my boyfriend, but rather than find a larger space for both of us, we are both minimizing our lives and staying in his inexpensive 1 bedroom. We both have fears about this because it's a small space and it's not the most pleasant place to live. The money saved will make it worth it, though, if only for a year or two.
Now that those plans are underway and the calculations are done, I see that I am still very far from the ultimate goal of the program. I don't know how to handle this information because I took this on with a real sense of urgency and now it feels like I'm still stuck in my current situation for many years to come. I have to increase my savings and eliminate about $40,000 total in debt before I'm truly DOING IT and I don't know how I'm going to stick out my current job for that long. It's never as easy as finding a new job, both because of the current economy and also because if I'm just jumping from one situation to another similar situation, what's the point?
As I try to not be disheartened by this realization, I am focusing on the good. By researching the rise of modern marketing and the creation of consumer culture, I feel like I've broken (mostly) free from a really horrible cycle. My goals of lessening my imprint on the earth, of minimizing my contribution to worldwide labor abuses, and of mindlessly giving my money to false promisers, have all been met. The changes are happening, even if they are too slow for my taste.
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