money Archives - Simplicity Relished

Why You Should Talk About Money (and how to do it effectively)

March 29, 2016

Never discuss politics or religion, many of us have been told. But what about money? To some, money shapes their politics, and it can easily become religion if we allow it to.

Most people I know refrain from discussing money in crude, numerical terms. In American culture, finance is considered personal and private. It is rude to ask people about their salaries, the price of their homes, or even the cost of their child’s tuition. We hate to divulge, so we also hate to ask.

And yet, we somehow love to talk about money– just in indirect ways. We can rarely discuss commerce without commenting on price; we’re constantly referencing what we can or can’t afford; we are, after all, living in the legacy of the leisure class and conspicuous consumption. We put rich people on television, and we somehow find their squandering of wealth entertaining.

So what’s the big deal? Why does money occupy such a strangely powerful position in our personal lives?

5 Mindset Changes That Limit Unnecessary Shopping

February 24, 2016

I have come a long way in this area. I used to be able to enter the first letter of my favorite brands into my search bar, and their full URLs would pop up. That’s how often I “window-shopped” online. Of course, said window-shopping quickly became real shopping.

There are many reasons to limit unnecessary shopping, but they might not be the ones that immediately come to mind. Avoiding unnecessary purchases can certainly save money, but saving money isn’t everyone’s highest priority. Perhaps there are things you desire more deeply than a stash of cash: courage, generosity, community, purpose, joy… and limiting your shopping can help with those things, too.

Give Impact: 7 Socially Responsible Gift Ideas

December 4, 2015

It’s no secret that we Americans spend billions of dollars every holiday season purchasing gifts for each other. It’s also no secret that many products we purchase are made in industries that have been neglectful (at best) when it comes to the lives of factory workers.

Most of the time, we shop for the best deals: what’s in it for me? Can I get this any cheaper? Can I finish this any faster? We often forget that we’re usually the last person in the story behind the item. Someone else gathered the materials, assembled them, packed them, shipped them, and put them out for display.

Can we really make a difference?

We’re all aware of the social problems associated with fast fashion and cheap food– but we can also feel powerless to change any of these systems of injustice. I have good news for you today: your purchases can make a positive impact on the lives of needy people around the world.

I’m passionate about this issue because I love gift giving. In recent years I’ve reined in my spending and given humbler gifts, but the process of selecting something special for someone special still makes my heart happy. So if you’re like me– and you’re not sitting out on gift giving this year– check out these amazing companies that are doing good things around the world!

Why I No Longer Equate My Time to Dollars

September 14, 2015

It’s easy for me to think about my hours in terms of dollars. I currently charge an hourly rate, so it’s natural to think about my time as money.

At first, it was just a business-minded strategy. When I am working, if I can minimize time between clients, then less of my potential earning time is wasted. I hated driving far away to see clients because it felt like I had willingly lowered my hourly rate.

As much “business sense” as this makes, I started thinking this way about a lot of things. Was it worth it for me to DIY something? Not if the number of hours required multiplied by my hourly rate exceeded purchasing it. Was it worth it for me to offer a favor to someone for free? Obviously not, because I charge an hourly rate, so the favor would be worth $xxx. Instead of doing something for free, I told myself, I could be making money instead.

What To Do This Weekend If You’re Avoiding The Mall

August 7, 2015

Let’s be honest. Wandering around the mall (or Walmart or Target) is a real American past-time.

A pretzel, a swimsuit, and a few shopping bags later, we find ourselves having spent more money than we had planned when we initially said we’d go “walk around.”

And if you’re trying to resist buying things you don’t need, a trip to the mall is probably not what the doctor ordered.

But it’s so hot outside.

I get it– the mall offers “free” air conditioning, right? Well, perhaps. It would be free if you didn’t drop a single dime while you were there. You get the point.

So what options do we have in the summer that don’t involve shopping and subsequently cluttering up our homes?

I’ve got a few ideas for you that will not only protect your wallet, but also possibly expand the list of options you have for any open weekends coming up.

Avoiding the mall? Here are 7 alternatives for your weekend via @daisylinshih #minimalism #budget

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5 Ways to be Generous within Your Financial Limits

July 17, 2015

“I want to be generous one day, when I’m more financially comfortable,” so many of us say.

“I’ll volunteer more of my time, when I get to where I want to in my career,” we also add.

“I’ll help people get opportunities, when I have all the connections,” we promise.

Why do we do this? Probably because we think that we’re not rich yet. We think we don’t have the resources to help others yet. We think there’s a point when we will wake up and say, “I have more than enough now. Now, I can help others.”

The problem with holding off generosity

A wise friend once told me that our actions shape our desires. Let me repeat that: our actions shape our desires.

Don’t we often expect it to be the other way round? We allow our desires– our wants, needs, wildest dreams– to shape what we do and say.

But, what we do and say also shapes who we are. We are creatures of habit, you and I, and if we deliberately make choices that push us in a certain direction, we begin to become those choices.

So what’s the problem with holding off generosity? Why can’t we wait till we’re making a comfortable income to donate? Why can’t we wait till we’ve landed our dream job to spare time for others?

It’s because when we’ve reached that point in our lives, our desires will have changed. That’s right: if you have a generous heart today– which I know you do– it doesn’t mean that you will STILL be generous 20 years from now.

You have to act on that generosity immediately. Otherwise, 20 years could go by without an act of generosity– and perhaps by then, that desire will be but a faint memory.

Generosity is dangerous

8 Purchases That Actually Make You Richer

May 5, 2015

Is it possible to spend money and become rich?

Yes, if you’re willing to recognize “richness” beyond the dollars in your pocket.

Most of the time, I try not to spend money unless I absolutely have to. Last week, I wrote a post about how Minimalism helps me save, and I heard a resounding “yes” from the blog community.

However, as I noted in that post, I’ll note here again: money and wealth are not the same thing. In fact, there are several things I’m happy to spend money on, because they make me richer.

How exactly do I spend money and grow in wealth? First, I redefine wealth. Wealth is an inventory of all the resources we have: time, energy, generosity of spirit, skills and abilities, and finally, money. Money is only a part of our wealth– in some cases, a small part.

I should note, also, that spending money on clutter and excess doesn’t count. Furthermore, the possibility of growing richer with certain purchases is certainly not an excuse for debt. No amount of irresponsible spending can maintain financial peace, much less build wealth.

But if we’re willing to spend thoughtfully, there are things you can buy that can make you richer. Here are 8 of them….Continue Reading

5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money

April 21, 2015

I don’t tend to talk about money on this blog. I prefer to write about ideas over numbers: minimalism, travel, and a handful of other passions. For whatever reason, sharing cold, hard numbers on a blog is scary to me, and I admire those who do. As a proponent of minimalism, however, I hope to convince you that it does achieve results.

Many people turn to minimalism in order to save money, to break poor habits, or simply to refocus their lives on non-material pursuits. And they should, because it works.

Why You Should Talk About Money (and how to do it effectively)

5 Mindset Changes That Limit Unnecessary Shopping

Give Impact: 7 Socially Responsible Gift Ideas

Can we really make a difference?

Why I No Longer Equate My Time to Dollars

What To Do This Weekend If You’re Avoiding The Mall

But it’s so hot outside.

5 Ways to be Generous within Your Financial Limits

The problem with holding off generosity

Generosity is dangerous

8 Purchases That Actually Make You Richer

5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money

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