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 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.

7 Reasons We Buy Things We Don’t Need (and how to avoid them)

February 20, 2015

Here’s something I’ve done frequently.

I go to the grocery store for one item, and I come back with five. Or, I go to the mall to replace something that has ripped or fallen apart, and I come back with a few new pieces of clothing. Or maybe I’m ordering something online, and free shipping makes spending $50 seem like a good idea.

Why do I do this? Well, mostly because I give myself reasons to. And Amazon doesn’t mind!

Lately, I’ve been avoiding shopping. My weakness is Whole Foods, where I can’t seem to stop purchasing new spices, dried goods, bulk items like nuts and seeds and beans, and random bits of produce. None of this stuff really goes to waste, but I should be able to walk into a store and walk out with only what I planned to purchase. Right?

So, I thought about the reasons that I give myself whenever I end up buying more than I planned (or budgeted) for. And now, every time I hear myself stating these reasons, I’ll pause and think twice.

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

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

7 Reasons We Buy Things We Don’t Need (and how to avoid them)

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