We are on the brink of something. For the past two years we’ve been getting back on our feet since the move and really thinking about what we want our business to achieve. In that time, life has been nail-biting, at least where finances are concerned. We’ve had pretty much as little income we could possibly have to cover the basics. Scary though that’s been it has also been quite liberating. We’ve had to economise. We’ve had to be frugal and frugality has been pretty good. Making a little go a long way is very satisfying. We might, in a few weeks time, have more money than we need to cover the basics. A bit spare, something to start building a cushion for leaner times and something to start working towards our summer away.
If you’ve read some of our earlier posts, you’ll know what a mess we’ve been in financially. Though our escape was easy compared to some, at the depths of our debt there were times I could see no way out. Life was consumed with consuming because we were in so deep a little more didn’t seem to make much difference. I lost sleep, couldn’t open post and didn’t answer the phone. I tell myself now that the experience did have a positive side in that it has made me scared to death of ever spending too much again. As we are poised on the brink of a little spare cash, I hope that it really did.
Since paying off our debt we have bought relatively little. In fact, we have gone out of our way to rid ourselves of the booty that got us into the mess in the first place and we no longer own anything we don’t really need or use. But I’m acutely aware that we aren’t as good as I’d like us to be at always being careful and the very idea that there’s finally some money coming from all our hard work makes me wonder if we can pretend we still don’t have any. Can we resist just having a quick look in that nice shop in town that we always walk past? Can we still make the most economic decisions and spend time checking we’re getting the best deal?
Minimalism is easy if you don’t have anything. With spare cash comes temptation. I love our simpler life not just because I fear debt but because all that stuff never actually made us happy. I look back at us just a few years ago and the difference is astounding. I sometimes can’t believe it was me who spent £200 on yet another bag without thinking. Being in debt doesn’t make you scared of spending money. Being free of debt is what gives you the healthy respect you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Minimalism is easy if you don't have anything. With spare cash comes temptation.
So true! It has actually made me reconsider how committed I really am to simplicity/minimalism lifestyle when I feel those temptations. But then I realize that whatever it is I'm looking at is just going to be another piece of crap to take care of, and it usually cures me!
Being free of debt is what gives you the healthy respect you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I had never thought about it in those terms before, but it's true. It's like the saying “Ignorance is bliss”, except that with debt your willful ignorance catches up with you eventually. And the truth is that the truth will set you free!
Great post~
theminimallist
Oh boy did our ignorance catch up with us! Thanks for your comments. Glad you liked the post. We don't get to write that often – the blog isn't for work – but we love doing it when we can.
Helen
Wonderful post. Very honest and so true. We have recently moved from Canberra to Adelaide in Australia. My partner was transferred through his work, but unfortunately I had to resign from my job. I have only been unemployed for four weeks, but having less income has really made me think about the way we were spending money in Canberra and what I thought I needed compared to what I actually needed. I'm keen to move to a more minimalist lifestyle but my partner is not so keen. He loves his 'stuff' – his books, DVDs, and computer gear. It has been hard trying to persuade him.
theminimallist
Hi. Thanks for your comment. I guess Simon and I are lucky that we're both into simplifying but here's a great post from someone in your position! (it's quite long and the bit about the television is the bit you should read!)……
One of the most interesting things I've found in this journey myself is that the two go hand in hand. Minimalism, and debt reduction.
It seems nowadays we're in a society that judges you by your stuff. If you're not a consumerist, you're just some kind of sick idiot or something. It has awed me how, when I tell people that my goal is to get out of debt, reduce my “stuff”, potentially sell my house and move into something that's more affordable and can still fit me comfortably, the reaction I get is one of “you must be crazy or something.”
Society is built upon buying stuff. I don't think people realize how much buying stuff and debt are related. I think most people feel as long as they can make the minimum on the credit card payments, they aren't really in debt.
Good job on getting your debt down, and living simple
An ironic thing is, living simple doesn't mean living without. It means living consciously, so that what you live with is working with you or for you all the time.
theminimallist
Thanks for your comment. I think you are absolutely right about people who make the minimum payment. We certainly felt we were “in control” when we made our payments and the remainder of the month felt a bit freer – until the next payment day loomed! Your last sentence really hits home too – simple living to us means really considering what you own or buy and living with things that have meaning.
theminimallist
Thanks for your comment. I think you are absolutely right about people who make the minimum payment. We certainly felt we were “in control” when we made our payments and the remainder of the month felt a bit freer – until the next payment day loomed! Your last sentence really hits home too – simple living to us means really considering what you own or buy and living with things that have meaning.
Brink
We are on the brink of something. For the past two years we’ve been getting back on our feet since the move and really thinking about what we want our business to achieve. In that time, life has been nail-biting, at least where finances are concerned. We’ve had pretty much as little income we could possibly have to cover the basics. Scary though that’s been it has also been quite liberating. We’ve had to economise. We’ve had to be frugal and frugality has been pretty good. Making a little go a long way is very satisfying. We might, in a few weeks time, have more money than we need to cover the basics. A bit spare, something to start building a cushion for leaner times and something to start working towards our summer away.
If you’ve read some of our earlier posts, you’ll know what a mess we’ve been in financially. Though our escape was easy compared to some, at the depths of our debt there were times I could see no way out. Life was consumed with consuming because we were in so deep a little more didn’t seem to make much difference. I lost sleep, couldn’t open post and didn’t answer the phone. I tell myself now that the experience did have a positive side in that it has made me scared to death of ever spending too much again. As we are poised on the brink of a little spare cash, I hope that it really did.
Since paying off our debt we have bought relatively little. In fact, we have gone out of our way to rid ourselves of the booty that got us into the mess in the first place and we no longer own anything we don’t really need or use. But I’m acutely aware that we aren’t as good as I’d like us to be at always being careful and the very idea that there’s finally some money coming from all our hard work makes me wonder if we can pretend we still don’t have any. Can we resist just having a quick look in that nice shop in town that we always walk past? Can we still make the most economic decisions and spend time checking we’re getting the best deal?
Minimalism is easy if you don’t have anything. With spare cash comes temptation. I love our simpler life not just because I fear debt but because all that stuff never actually made us happy. I look back at us just a few years ago and the difference is astounding. I sometimes can’t believe it was me who spent £200 on yet another bag without thinking. Being in debt doesn’t make you scared of spending money. Being free of debt is what gives you the healthy respect you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.