<p>As we get older and our kids move on with their lives having a large inefficient house with to much room and more expensive to run appliances just doesn't make much sense. I made the leap to go off-grid in a small 14x14 cabin and left behind the big house, pool, 4 car garage and debt, bills and stress of the rat race about 15 years ago.
Now I own a small local business and only work when I want as I want. Money is no longer an issue and I have the time (and money) to spend helping my kids and enjoying my hobbies of traveling, writing, producing songs and education videos.
Think about it ?
LaMar
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29
Downsizing and Simplifying Life ?
Started by solarman, May 05 2012 06:08 AM
79 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 05 May 2012 - 08:10 AM
I could actually say that I am living a simple life already.
I only use electric fan and not aircon, I wash my cloths and clean my dishes using my hands, and I drink tap water.
Yes simple life can cause lesser bills and stress in life. ;) and it is pro environment.
I only use electric fan and not aircon, I wash my cloths and clean my dishes using my hands, and I drink tap water.
Yes simple life can cause lesser bills and stress in life. ;) and it is pro environment.
#3
Posted 05 May 2012 - 10:09 AM
Downsizing is definitely environmentally friendly, in ways you may not have considered. Because you don't have the stress of earning enough to pay your way and service your debts, you're healthier, so you're not making demands on the health services. Also, with a smaller living space, it takes less energy to heat it.
We downsized about 4 years ago, and I wish we'd done it sooner. There's less space to look after, less expense, and less work. It's a win-win situation, and it's also eco-friendly.
We downsized about 4 years ago, and I wish we'd done it sooner. There's less space to look after, less expense, and less work. It's a win-win situation, and it's also eco-friendly.
#4
Posted 05 May 2012 - 10:20 AM
It seems to make a lot of sense to downsize. You sure make it sound beneficial and liberating. It appears you cut cost and let loose of many worries. So many people are stuck on material things and are unable to release them. You are blessed to be so happy and free.
#5
Posted 05 May 2012 - 10:26 AM
Agree with you both, downsizing isn't just environmental friendly but a better way to enjoy life and being in America seems to be weird that someone had to was clothes and dishes by hand, but perfectly possible and the main way people do it outside the USA.
In addition, a small living place is also easier to clean, reducing the amount of cleaning products to buy every now and then.
In addition, a small living place is also easier to clean, reducing the amount of cleaning products to buy every now and then.
#6
Posted 05 May 2012 - 10:30 AM
Sandra Piddock, on 05 May 2012 - 10:09 AM, said:
Downsizing is definitely environmentally friendly, in ways you may not have considered. Because you don't have the stress of earning enough to pay your way and service your debts, you're healthier, so you're not making demands on the health services. Also, with a smaller living space, it takes less energy to heat it.
We downsized about 4 years ago, and I wish we'd done it sooner. There's less space to look after, less expense, and less work. It's a win-win situation, and it's also eco-friendly.
We downsized about 4 years ago, and I wish we'd done it sooner. There's less space to look after, less expense, and less work. It's a win-win situation, and it's also eco-friendly.
Thanks Sandra, another thing to consider is as we get older cleaning and maintaining a large home is harder and if we have to hire someone to do it then it is another expense. Getting around in a large home is harder as we age and wasted space is more expensive to heat and cool.
A small home well designed with large doorways and access for a wheelchair if needed lets people stay in their homes much longer.
Plus the money you save can help with health insurance and medical costs if needed.
Lots of reasons and benefits to downsizing!
#7
Posted 05 May 2012 - 10:35 AM
aphil, on 05 May 2012 - 10:20 AM, said:
It seems to make a lot of sense to downsize. You sure make it sound beneficial and liberating. It appears you cut cost and let loose of many worries. So many people are stuck on material things and are unable to release them. You are blessed to be so happy and free.
Hi Aphil, it is liberating in many ways. I am only 48 but my kids are grown and I am again single. I don't need a large home and enjoy traveling and adventuring so my cabin is my home base and I now that I am semi-retired and can enjoy the second half of my life doing the things I enjoy and still have a place to call home and have family vist and stay when they want with no expense.
It is very freeing to get rid of all that stuff that kept me tied to the rat race!
LaMar
#8
Posted 05 May 2012 - 10:35 AM
MyDigitalpoint, on 05 May 2012 - 10:26 AM, said:
Agree with you both, downsizing isn't just environmental friendly but a better way to enjoy life and being in America seems to be weird that someone had to was clothes and dishes by hand, but perfectly possible and the main way people do it outside the USA.
In addition, a small living place is also easier to clean, reducing the amount of cleaning products to buy every now and then.
In addition, a small living place is also easier to clean, reducing the amount of cleaning products to buy every now and then.
Exactly!
#9
Posted 05 May 2012 - 04:59 PM
I've been packing boxes and giving items away for months now. I love it.
The house is smallish anyway-1200 sq. ft and with too much stuff, it was getting cluttered.
Easier to clean too.
But as small as 1200 sounds, I could easily live in a 800 sq. ft. place too. Smaller than that, I don't think I could
handle it.
The house is smallish anyway-1200 sq. ft and with too much stuff, it was getting cluttered.
Easier to clean too.
But as small as 1200 sounds, I could easily live in a 800 sq. ft. place too. Smaller than that, I don't think I could
handle it.
#10
Posted 06 May 2012 - 07:57 AM
Then there's never "upsizing" in the first place... 
As a single mom with 2 kids we've always lived in apartments less than 1,000 sq. ft. That's about 300 sq. ft. per person and it's worked just fine for us and kept expenses low(er). My kids are grown now (19 & 21) but we all still live together because they can save money this way and expenses are still low and it's environmentally friendlier. When they eventually move out I'll get an even smaller place in the country (probably build most of it myself) and go off the grid, but for now we're pretty simplified. We don't have the latest technology, 1 car, but mostly take the bus, not very materialistic, grow some food on the balcony...
As a single mom with 2 kids we've always lived in apartments less than 1,000 sq. ft. That's about 300 sq. ft. per person and it's worked just fine for us and kept expenses low(er). My kids are grown now (19 & 21) but we all still live together because they can save money this way and expenses are still low and it's environmentally friendlier. When they eventually move out I'll get an even smaller place in the country (probably build most of it myself) and go off the grid, but for now we're pretty simplified. We don't have the latest technology, 1 car, but mostly take the bus, not very materialistic, grow some food on the balcony...
#11
Posted 06 May 2012 - 03:51 PM
My lifes been downsized form the jump. Never had that many estravigant possessions. Only lived in a one story house, and the AC would have th epower go out if left on too long. Wish I socould downsize responsibility, taxes, bills, etc.
#12
Posted 06 May 2012 - 07:46 PM
I know a lot of people who live in houses that are just too big for them. Sometimes the hassle of keeping it up and clean is honestly even just to much. In my early 20's I was very materialistic and always wanted things, at this stage in my life I am all about the minimalism. I honestly don't even like to run the AC much or own to many electronics. Only the essentials. I feel less heave in life.
#14
Posted 07 May 2012 - 07:51 AM
I have lived in a small cottage of 900 sq ft for over 30 years and can say it was a very comfortable way to live. As a widow, I raised one son and had a small yard that could support a garden. There is no garage but I did purchase a 10x8 shed for garden tools and lawn mower and found that this is all that you really need in life.
Now that I am retired and my son is grown and married, I live in only half the house most of the time and have very little stress since it is so easy to keep clean as long as I am organized. I truly wish people would not buy huge homes that require a lot of energy and other resources to maintain it. Not only would it be a way to protect our environment but our planet's resources may not be used up as quickly.
Now that I am retired and my son is grown and married, I live in only half the house most of the time and have very little stress since it is so easy to keep clean as long as I am organized. I truly wish people would not buy huge homes that require a lot of energy and other resources to maintain it. Not only would it be a way to protect our environment but our planet's resources may not be used up as quickly.
#15
Posted 07 May 2012 - 09:23 AM
After the housing bust, more and more people are getting into smaller homes. I blame the builders in part
too-their building all those "mcmansions" & folks thinking it was status and "had to have it" bs.
Uses much less material too when building from scratch.
too-their building all those "mcmansions" & folks thinking it was status and "had to have it" bs.
Uses much less material too when building from scratch.
#16
Posted 07 May 2012 - 09:49 AM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 07 May 2012 - 09:23 AM, said:
After the housing bust, more and more people are getting into smaller homes. I blame the builders in part
too-their building all those "mcmansions" & folks thinking it was status and "had to have it" bs.
Uses much less material too when building from scratch.
too-their building all those "mcmansions" & folks thinking it was status and "had to have it" bs.
Uses much less material too when building from scratch.
The "status" part I agree with. I don't blame the builders at all. If there were no market for McMansions in the first place, developers wouldn't have built them. I blame the people who not only bought them, but created such a demand that builders saw an opportunity. Individuals - you and me (well, not literally you and me, we know better) - create demand for a product and have the freedom to buy or not to buy. Anything. Homes, meat, green products, gas guzzling SUVs or electric cars... I blame most things ultimately on us (the figurative us).
#17
Posted 07 May 2012 - 12:00 PM
Downsizing. By far the greatest achievement I have with regards to this is the usage of AC. I am really trying to lower our electric bill by limiting the use of our ACs. :) What else to downsize? Fastfood chain trips, drive-thrus...? hmmmmm
#18
Posted 07 May 2012 - 12:03 PM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 07 May 2012 - 09:23 AM, said:
After the housing bust, more and more people are getting into smaller homes. I blame the builders in part
too-their building all those "mcmansions" & folks thinking it was status and "had to have it" bs.
Uses much less material too when building from scratch.
too-their building all those "mcmansions" & folks thinking it was status and "had to have it" bs.
Uses much less material too when building from scratch.
It got to the point that many banks would not loan on a house less than 2000 sqft because they were afraid they would not resell smaller homes. It was all media driven BS that made people think extravagance and bling made you a better more worthy person and it worked.
Afyer the bust people started waking uo but if the economy booms again it will happen all over again. Human have a hard time learning from mistakes.
#19
Posted 07 May 2012 - 12:08 PM
4leafclover, on 07 May 2012 - 12:00 PM, said:
Downsizing. By far the greatest achievement I have with regards to this is the usage of AC. I am really trying to lower our electric bill by limiting the use of our ACs. :) What else to downsize? Fastfood chain trips, drive-thrus...? hmmmmm
It is important to consider how you can simplify your life along with downsizing. Too many people live in excess and it takes a personal financial disaster to get them to change their spending habits.
How much money would you have in savings if you had just cut out some bad habits, wasted spending on unnecessary stuff, and conserved your resources when possible ?
There are people with millions in the bank that worked a regular job for average pay just by being more frugal and simplifying their lives.
I am not saying having lots of money is important but that money could sure be put to some better use than what most of us waste it on!
#20
Posted 07 May 2012 - 02:25 PM
mariaandrea, on 07 May 2012 - 09:49 AM, said:
The "status" part I agree with. I don't blame the builders at all. If there were no market for McMansions in the first place, developers wouldn't have built them. I blame the people who not only bought them, but created such a demand that builders saw an opportunity. Individuals - you and me (well, not literally you and me, we know better) - create demand for a product and have the freedom to buy or not to buy. Anything. Homes, meat, green products, gas guzzling SUVs or electric cars... I blame most things ultimately on us (the figurative us).
When the suv tsunami rolled over us, and the big gas guzzers took over the market, we didn't have much
choice. Sure, some folks stuck with smaller cars, but if 90% of the market is huge, that's what people buy.
Same with homes.
And let's be honest. Builders make more $$ too off of the massive 5,ooo sq. ft. homes, so do the
trades. Takes longer, more hours, more money for everyone.
Why would a builder build a 1000 sq. ft. home for X amount when they can probably double/triple/quadruple
their profit building bigger?
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