Voluntary Simplicity

What is “voluntary simplicity” and why do you want it?

Voluntary simplicity means “living below your means”.   If you make 1000 a month, then you live off less than that (ideally, much less than that).   Thus, my definition of voluntary simplicity is a very fluid and flexible one. What it really means, in spirit, is getting the most achievement and fulfillment possible with the least amount of money/time/effort necessary.

But perhaps the most important question for many is why?  Why in the world would you want to live more simply than necessary? What are the benefits?

What if you would actually feel much happier as a result of living a simpler life?  What if you would feel less stress, and a greater sense of certainty, ease, and power in your life….  would simplicity sound appealing then?

Well, that’s exactly what voluntary simplicity offers- in purely practical terms.   When you live off of less than you earn, you gain a tremendous amount of certainty in your life.  You become certain that you can get by.  You are certain you cann save money.  You feel more secure– financially and emotionally.

Voluntary simplicity is an amazing stress reducer.  Living ABOVE your means (by using credit cards and other loans) is a guaranteed bringer of stress.   Just imagine–  you are totally and absolutely debt free.  You owe nothing–  no credit card debt, no house mortgage, no car payment…  not even a car insurance bill (because you paid it in full).   Imagine how incredibly relaxed you would feel in this situation.

Now imagine that you are not only totally debt free–  you are also saving money EVERY month.  Maybe a little, maybe a lot.  After a while, you save enough to cover ALL of your living expenses for a full month.  Then enough to cover all expenses for 3 months.  Then enough for a full 6 months of living.

Imagine how certain and secure you would feel.   Not much worry about losing a job– you’d have 6 months of full living expenses (not to mention possible unemployment benefits).  Hell, you might even welcome getting laid off– time for a vacation!

In fact, that’s exactly how I felt once I committed to voluntary simplicity.  I no longer worried about losing my job… and in fact, I quit jobs quite readily in order to take extended vacations (several months of travel).

Voluntary simplicity brings ease, relaxation, certainty, and effortlessness into your life.  It is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.