Choosing to Simplify
What are you willing to give up? In today’s economy, many people are looking for ways to trim the budget. Senior editor Claire talks about different perspectives on cutting back.
Learn to manage your time better with our free online interactive life lesson “Time Management“!
Are you ready to “simplify your life”? If so, what is one thing that you wouldn’t be willing to give up?
I like to deal with small things at a time in my life with the Lord, as he deal with small things in my life. I deal with in inch or second at a time and it works.
It’s fantastic that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as well as from our argument made here.
Dear hcg program, Glad that you enjoyed this information. Hope to hear back from you again as you discover other insightful things this site offers.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Olivia!
You have definitely made choices that have a huge impact on your lifestyle and not everyone is willing to do that. But it is definitely a challenge to rethink what we think is a necessity and what is in actuality only a want…..
My husband and I made the choice to downsize before we got married two years ago and we decided that just living a Godly life is a downsize in itself. We decided to be a single income family and that for now I will just do small jobs such as substitute teaching, personal sewing jobs and personal interior design jobs out of the home for some extra money, so that I can create a clean welcoming atmosphere for him since he is the one going to work all day. I also cook at home instead of us eating out because that can get very expensive. When we have children, I plan on homeschooling rather than sending them to some expensive Christian school, because a public school is just out of the question. I know that when I was a child I always wanted to spend more time with my family rather than going to school for a ridiculous 7 hours. What child doesn’t want to be with his/her family? God created family and it is meant to be cherished. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go…” I would much rather teach my own children than have someone else put opinions into their developing minds.
My husband and I just graduated college a couple years ago and then got married and we have been struggling like everyone else who graduated college. Every employer wants experience but how is a college grad suppose to have experience? God did eventually bless us with a job about 6 months after graduation, but it was still not enough to even have our own apartment. We had to simplify by living with his parents and we are still living there now. Thank the Lord that now after 2 years from graduating college, my husband will have a job in one month as an Airman in the Air Force. I truly believe though, that if more Americans chose to not be so selfish but to be a single income family it would open up more jobs for more families. Yes some would have to downsize from that large house, but it would give others a fighting chance.
Evangeline, how does simplifying impact your ability to know the intricate details of other’ lives?
wanting to know intricate details of others’ lives
hardworking mom, You’ve got a tough situation for sure. I don’t know if God is testing you, but it’s always better to be a part of a church community. They might be able to help you and can definitely offer you emotional support. Is there a church in your area that you could look into?
I know that it’s hard to ask for help, but it may be time to see if there are community resources that you could use. There is probably a food bank in your area that would make it so that you don’t have to go hungry. I know how hard it is to walk into a place like that, but for many people food bank use is temporary. You are not alone. According to Feed America, “in 2010, 48.8 million Americans lived in food insecure households”. Almost 49 million people – that is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population. I don’t know where you live, but 9 US states have higher than the national average when it comes to people who have issues putting food on the table. Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Florida, California and North Carolina are all above average. So if you live in one of these areas, you’re really REALLY not alone.
Food is the most important thing, so deal with it first. Let the food bank help. Many food banks can also point you to other community services. They might know of a clinic where you can get your finger treated. If it would help to talk privately to a mentor we have free, confidential mentoring available by email. Simply use this form to request a mentor.
My story
4 years ago I thought I had it all, a husband of 19 years ,two wonderful daughters, a beautyful home, camper,trucks,cars, but then I got sick with cancer that I did beat, but husband cheated,left and married another woman 6 weeks after the divorce, I lost everything except my two daughters and an old truck, here I am 4 years later expecting my first grandchild, I am struggling with my bills, have no insurance I work for a small company that does not offer any insurance, i’ve had a broken finger and a knuckle for 4 weeks now, some days there is not enough food for me and my two daughters so i go without. is it really possible that God is testing me?
I use to go to church all the time but through all this started doubting my faith and have not been going to church in the past year but i still believe and pray.
Any suggestions from anyone?
Thanks so much for the update Andi! So great to hear how God has provided for you and was at work long before you could truly see it! He is indeed faithful to provide for us.
Thot it was time I let all you good folks know the latest: Andy, my husband graduated from college and is now a Licensed Funeral Director. It was a tuff 2 1/2 years but God was OH SO FAITHFUL. We will be living on 1/2 what he used to make but due to all the choices and decisions made 2 1/2 years ago to down size – despite it being difficult as many of you are already aware – it is working. Now that school is over [tuff when you're almost 60] we can rest awhile and begin to enjoy life as a couple again [no more long hours of study] and are reconnecting with old friends. One plus: we have a veggie garden at our daughter’s home a short distance away – this had been a concern in giving up a backyard and I work in the flower gardens around our building as my body allows.
So Cindy, Cheryl, Cathy, Constance and Doria have you gals found change in your circumstances since this article was posted?
a good article we live in a apartment aka condo, its nicve to simplify
Eloise, NO apology is needed sister. I knew your heart was sharing where you are at and I praise God you have been able to achieve this worthy goal; I just wanted to encourage you to keep holding all these women and their families up before His throne as they are trying to deal w/all the issues life has dropped into their laps as they aim for living a simple life yet making ends meet and having some freedom and dignity to enjoy life as well.
Kudos Cathy to helping your kids… I know many parents who are helping their children this way; The Canadian National Magazine MacLeans had as their head line this week; Generation Screwed: Lower incomes; Worse jobs: Higher TAxes: Bleaker futures; What boomers are leaving their children…
so Kudos to you for helping your kids to get established in this tuff economy the world had become :-D I believe God will honour this.
Thanks Cathy for your prayers; yes, come June he will finish the intership period and will be looking for a job in his new profession… SURE appreciate any prayers. Be blessed as you help your children to have a firm foundation to start their adult lives with :-D
I love everyone’s comments. My husband and I have a goal to be debt free and are trying to get rid of it, but with 4 children, 3 in college, it is challenging. The kids are paying most of their own way, but college is so unbelievable expensive in this country. My husband and I have to help them here and there and take on more debt. I notice in this economy, the more schooling you have the better you are able to survive layoffs, so hopefully it will all be worth it. Eloise, we both hope to be where you are in the near future, but no matter how hard we try, it is hard to live without going into debt. Just having a house payment is debt. WE could sell and rent, but then you get punished for selling by paying higher taxes. But thanks for reminding us that is a great, worthy goal. I love your sharing Andi. So glad to hear your husband is done with his college and will now be able to look for a good job. Will continue to pray for you all.
I apologize, I did not mean any harm. I quoted scriptures because I am trying to learn God’s Word to each category of life. To me, His Word is a manual to life’s situations, and I usually have to read, study and apply His more than once. I shared my story to help someone else, believing someone will help me. Forgive me, I am not boasting. I am believing to help someone in need. In the name of Jesus Christ, God Bless.
Eloise,
Now that’s a mighty fine position to be in; but as you can see it is a struggle for others to make ends meet and to keep negotiating the twists and turns the road of life has thrown our way; I encourage you to pray for all the gals and families represented in this conversation thread for everyone wants to be at the point you have been able to arrive at. We know the scriptures. We want to simplify; most of us have gone to extremes in order to do this; but again I ask that you pray for all who are working toward being where you are.
I praise my heavenly Father, no debt since 1995. By His grace and mercy. I am doing my best to take one step at a time.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1John 2:15
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8
Doria, Thanks for your prayer today :-D We are waiting upon successful graduation for my husband next June and a job in his new profession; then there will be more $$$ [not tons but life will be more comfortable :-D]
I’m wondering how the other ladies are doing; have your circumstances changed at all? Have you been able to see the Lord speaking into your lives and helping to provide?
Sure hope to hear from y’all :-D
Lord, please rain your blessings upon Moses, Andi, and all who are depending upon your showers of blessings to satisfy their thirsts. Help us to trust you in all circumstances and give thanks for however You choose to bless. Bring those who love You alongside them to lend helping hands to their circumstances.
I thank you for the comments today that have blessed my soul.
Father God, You have heard rev Moses cry for help as he has thrown it out to be lifted up before you. Father Your word says YOU are Father and Mother to the orphans and widows and so today I stand w/Moses and ask You Lord God to open the windows of heaven and help Moses w/these very practical needs that he has use of for Your honour and glory alone Lord God! Father supply Moses needs and his heart desires also as they are purified by your refiner’s fire. Lord Moses is asking all of us on this discussion of living simply to STAND w/him today and so Lord I pray that we will surround him in prayer; that Moses will be encouraged in his daily walk w/You as His Lord and Saviour. I Jesus name I ask these things….
amen and amen…..
I hope that God will supply your needs Moses and I hope that God has supplied the needs of the gals who have shared in this discussion; an update would be most welcome and appreciated ladies!
We are now living on $15.00 an hour, which is a large cut from what my husband was getting while in college; the gov’t does not pay for his Internship Year. My meds are expensive and he still has to pay almost 1.000.00 for school fees [even though he is technicaly not in school; figure that one out??? We can't ... lol and grrrrr].
But God will supply ALL our needs and on this we stand.
Sure hope to have an update on your circumstances ladies :-D Be blessed
Andi
please i need some to assist me i,m an orphan from liberia , i need some books cd dvd to encourage me in my spiritual life and journey
Hi Constance, [Andi here]
I’ve got Sjogren’s Syndrome which also includes Fibro [years ago I was told it is the most painful condition there is]. You sound like us; small seniors buidling, one BR; the whole bit. Yeah, I think God moved us here because it’s all I can look after now. Which is a good and wonderful and freeing thing!
I do some work in the flower gardens [about an hour or two a week] as the illness allows.
[I've learned to work w/it rather than to force past a certain point and then pay big time; this is the best w/Fibro too by the way; work and rest then work and rest again]
I pray that your husband will find a solution to the disability and I know that God is faithful to His kids…just keep praying and humbly asking as you stand upon all the promises in His word.
I try to watch our grand daughter but can only do about 1/2 day;including her sleeping time…. so not much energy left but she is a joy.
I hope to visit our son and his family in Norway next week if the back log is not too long; saved and sacrificed for the trip [I've been wondering how many more times this old body will let me visit]
My husband will finish his college in a couple of weeks and will enter one year of Internship. We will have to live on even less…gulp….wow…even less….. during this next year. God has provided for all of our needs so we can contninue to wait and allow Him to supply them …. and pray that Andy will have a good job next year and we’ll be able to give more back to the Kingdom!
Be blessed and encouraged that He is faithful and will help … it’s just hard living on the edge at times eh? [we’ve been doing this the past 20 years… and actually w/out a mortgage we have been able to heave a huge sigh of relief and enjoy our ‘small world’ that has freed us up to enjoy people and life rather then spending all our time trying to hold things together. Know what I mean???
Be blessed
Andi
Hi All,
Listening to you all has given me encouragement. I have been unemployed for 20 months. My husband and I wre blessed by help of our sons and daughter-in-laws to help us get into senior housing. Its a one bed room on the thrid flour that has an elevator. We are in an end unit so we have lots of windows and a lot of light! The lord blessed us and continues as I look for a job. We are on one income ( unemployment that ends July 31). I have kept asking the Lord why? and all I get is why not?. I have been learning to slow down I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and it goes in cycles that can be horrific. So I guess that is one reason why the Lord has seen fit for me not finding a job right now. We have learned to leave within our means which has been hard. Our joy is our first granddaughter to which we baby sit. 3 days at our place and 2 days at their place. My husband has no job and his disability ran out in Dec of ’09, he has been trying to get Disability Social Security but, has been denied twice so he is trying for a thrid time. He has degenertive disc diease of his back and is in content pain, the DSSI folks say it is not severe enough-go figure. I try not to worry about income, but it is difficult-the Lord always has come through dispite my concerns so, I continue to increase and extend my faith.
thank you all for your comments I have surely been bless by them.
Constance
guess nid a stronger prayer
Cheryl, I’m wondering how things are going for you now. Have you made a decision?
Cindy….lol….would you believe my husband is Andy w/the ‘Y’ on the end?
Glad it encouraged you. Keep in touch perhaps to let us know how and when God will take care of your needs and perhaps even begin to satisfy the desires of your heart?
HE is such a creative Father; I encourage you to keep your spiritual eyes and ears open to any possibility He may cause to cross your path. Be blessed dear sister
oops sorry, Andi
thank you andy, I need a little encouragement once in a while.
Oh Cindy, it doesn’t sound as if you can make anymore changes except it seems you could live on one and save the other for your ‘just in case fund?’
That’s what we’ve done ever since we were married; never allowed the small amount I could make to become a part of our ‘standard of living.’
I pray God helps, leads and guides you in HIS infinite wisdom, mercy and grace….much grace. May HE grant you favour in the eyes of others and allow you to have some of your hopes and dreams become reality…. especially for your realtionship w/your grandkids.
God can do amazing things in ways we NEVER expect.
A couple of friends who are in dire straights had a daughter approach them to see if grandma would be the regular baby-sitter for their children. When they said yes, the daughter said; we’re going to purchase a home w/a granny suite in it [it's 1200 sq ft]. Our friends are over-joyed even as they are delightfully shocked.
I share their story as another example of how FAther God can surprise us and take care of us.
Again I pray that HE will supply all that you need and give you HIS comfort and peace as you seek HIM in your life.
Im not sure how much more I can downsize. We have no cable or satellite, no home phone, we lost our house and we live in a camper. They say to live on one income but im a secretary and i dont make that much and if we try to live on his income and he gets sick then what? Rent now days is at least 700.00 or more and that would take one of my 2 paychecks. How do people make it these days? I would at least like to have a house so my grandkids can come over and spend the nights.
nice to here how you are dedicated to help would like to hear more
Dear Peazy, Thank You so much for your thoughts and how you’ve put them to words. I have reprinted them at :http://www.health-adventure-coach.com/health/spiritualhealth/ under the heading ‘Simplicity’.
I am going to adopt your words as my own as I feel them but you were able to put those heartfelt desires into words.
Blessings
Lori Clinch Adams
Simplicity of Life.
Its an amiable goal but
not an easy one as the world
is constantly bombarding is
to move towards that which
is complex. I love the verse
where Jesus says..Come unto
me all ya that are weary and
heavy laden and ye shall find
rest unto your souls.
This tells my heart that for one
to find true simplicity, one must
look continually to Jesus who is
the author and finisher of our
faith. His life was one of simplicity
yet He was rich as far as the kingdom
of God. This is also my goal, to keep
Jesus Christ as the center of my life
then all things come into a proper
perspective.This will effect every
area of the life we have here in this
world and we will make it our lifestyle
to not be over consumers and be able to
think of others needs, such as the poor.
God is good..seek Him through Jesus Christ
the Lord and true simplicity is yours…
peazy
Letting go can be difficult for sure. Our kids could still stay w/us but we usually go to them; they have the ‘guest room!…..works well.
Somethings I took photos of because I realized it is/was not the ‘thing’ itself that I would miss but rather it was the ‘fear of loss of the memories’ attached that would be forgotten. This helped my husband to let go of tons of his ‘stuff’ he’d been holding on to for over 30 years [like college notes for goodness sakes........LOL]
Having let stuff GO is freeing; try it in small quantities to check it out.
And please remember that it was a ‘process’ that took many months from beginning to end. God whispered last Nov to begin to renovate to get ready to sell; We moved into our new smaller digs in Sept.
Like Cathy says, it was indeed a ‘Life Changing Event.’
I pray you both will find the correct path as HE leads and guides. Be blessed
Your reflection sounds so motivating Andi, to simplify. My husband and I are going through the same thing as you and Cheryl. I have been encouraging my husband to think about selling our four bedroom house now that my two youngest of four children have just gone off to college. My husband and I both work nd make a good income, but all our money goes toward house and debt. Now he has agreed to sell and now I am the one balking. I feel embarrassed that I will be the only one of my friends that might no longer have a home of their own. Our kids will be coming back and forth, home from college, etc. So Cheryl, I hear you, this is a life changing event. It is going to be difficult. Please keep me in your prayers and I will continue to lift you up as we go through this process.
I am wanting to downsize since my children are now on their own. Can’t manage repairs on my 3 story (if you count the full basement) to get it ready to sell. Thinking about one of those “we buy houses”…not to make a profit, just to get out from the mortgage…had to refinance when the husband walked out 10 years ago. Need lots of prayer and someone to help through the processes…decisions are hard for me at this stage of life. Giving up the house is like the last mark of maintaining our home for my children…and what about being able to have grandchildren to spend the night in their mother’s or their daddy’s old room…it’s hard.
Husband lost job last Dec. Worked constant p/t at 1/2 old pay. I’m disabled. Felt God led to sell our 3 bedroom home, move to a city w/great public transit. Thanking HIM for whispering this in our ear. Took 6 months to accomplish;
Result so far: husband in college to retrain, no mortgage, smaller living space that I can mainly take care of, found hours, peace and lots of time w/daughter, her family & old friends, STRESS gone, gone, gone,no more robbing Peter to pay Paul, JOY has returned as God led us to be pro-active and embrace the simply life fully. Laughter reigns in our lives once more as