Save Money – Simplify!

What do you think of when you hear the work ‘Simplify’? Something about that word just says peace and freedom to me. When we simplify our lives we are giving ourselves peace of mind and freedom from stuff! I mean really – do we need more stuff? How can we cut back and learn how to start saving money?

A while back I was helping a friend clean out the home of a loved one who had recently died. There was a lot of stuff, and a good portion of it had never been used. Quite a bit was still in the original boxes or even the sacks they were bought in! This got me thinking – do I really need all the stuff I have collected? Now I am not saying you need to donate everything you own to charity and live a paupers life. I am just asking you to take an inventory of what you have and what you really use.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I don’t buy a lot of clothes or home decor. But I am a sucker for technology! I find myself drooling over the latest laptop, printer, or digital camera. When netbooks first arrived on the market I thought they were so cute – I just had to have one. I justified it to myself in many ways. It will be good for travel, handy if we need an extra computer, etc. Oh yes, I justified myself right into buying one plus an external DVD drive since there wasn’t one built in.

Now eight months later do you know where that netbook is? In the bag (the cute bag I had to buy for it!). I have taken it on a couple of trips – but on one of those trips I also took my laptop because it is easier to work on! So it has come in handy for vacations – but I could have made do without it. My laptop would work just fine and is just as portable (and the screen is easier to see!).

So before you make a purchase – remember to ask yourself the ‘do I need it or want it’ question. But probably more important ask yourself if it is worth your financial peace of mind or going into debt for I would say most often the answer will be no. That’s right – say no to debt, learn how to start saving money and simplify your life!