How to Live the Simple Life

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I, being sixteen and all, obviously live with my parents and my 15 year old sister. I strive to live a simplistic life, however it is so difficult to do without having cooperating family members and/or room mates. I am so excited to move out and live my own way, helping the environment and rising against consumerism.

Jennifer 9:50PM July 27, 2009

At 53, there are many of my generation who read the book "Voluntary Simplicity". It was a powerful book, espousing non-materialistic living. Many now will have seen the bumper sticker that says "live simply, so that others may simply live". That sentiment speaks to the matter directly: our planet, with increasing numbers of people, has finite (read diminishing)resources. Thus, for us in the US to binge on having, owning, polluting JUST BECAUSE WE CAN is inappropriate, selfish, uncooperative with other members of our species and with the planet itself. Just as everyone is encouraged to live within, preferably below, their means, it behooves each person to not take up more than their share of of our planet's resources; this is a behavioral route whereby we cooperate with and support those of our human family around the world by not hogging all the resources. Further, and finally, our current trajectory of the use of resources is not sustainable. A life that employs the use of fewer materialistic bells and whistles contributes to the possibility of a world that will be usable by our children.

eric johnson of WA 1:24AM June 25, 2009

Get rid of the money spender. No, really, he or she needs to go. I got rid of mine two
years ago. Go greener. I replaced all of the incandescent 60-150 watt light bulbs with
those expensive florescent bulbs and L.E.D. bulbs and an L.E.D. Television. My electric
bill used to be $70.00 a month Now it's $38.00 in the winter and $22.00 in the spring,
summer, and early fall. I got off the budget plan with the gas company. My highest
gas bill for one month was in January of this year ($354.00) My lowest gas bill last
year was $21.00 in Jul. On the Budget Plan it used to be $180.00 a month, every month
all year long. How did I cut it? I learned to live at 63 degrees in the winter and
turned the thermostat down to 55 during the day. I drive a big Ford F-150 Four door
SuperCrew. It stays in the garage for 8 months out of the year. I ride my bike to
work instead. I save another $8 to $12 a day by carrying my lunch and my break snacks
and my coffee in a quart size stainless steel thermos bottle. I also carry a quart of
cold water in an aluminum can that I bought at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $4.95 . Every
time I buy something at the store, the gas station, or at a restaurant; I ask for an
extra dollar in loose change. I will fill up a 1lb coffee can four times a year with
loose coins that add up to almost $200.00 each time. I have a hobby that makes money,
I re-make black ballet slippers into full sole flats on rubber or leather soles. Most
women love to wear black ballerinas and they need someone to make them for them cause
they won't make them themselves. A pair of soft leather ballet slippers costs $15.00
on the internet can be quickly re-made into full sole flats for as little as a dollar
more and re-sold for $40.00 a pair.

Bob of IN 1:00AM April 19, 2009

First of all I thank Kimberly Palmer for the opportunity provided to us to know about simple living... and I thank Tim Kasser for sharing valuable and moral of life. I'm inspired by the one where Kasser said that he manages time in work and home. He did not choose overloaded work, a professor and spends fruitful time with his family. Its a great learning for me today that how to enjoy life with simple things which has an extrodinary satisfaction...
Its a cool stuff, thank you once again to Kasser for sharing!!

nirmala 3:10AM April 15, 2009

thank i am a retired men try to learn english language only

nemat of 11:19PM December 31, 2008

It is Christmas day. My kids(one boy and girl)both have one electronic game apiece. That is all they really got for Christmas this year. Simple, there is nothing more simple then this. They are really enjoying what they got. My 14yr old girl got a 20 dollar verision of guatar hero. My 9yr old son, ps2 game (also 20 dollars). That is our christmas. my husband and i are sitting here and watching them. that is the best.

of IN 12:57PM December 25, 2008

As Americans (in general) we are known to much of the world as spoiled and wasteful. This concept is not new to anyone but ourselves. Looks like our current economic situation will push many people to a more simple lifestyle. My question is how many will return to their wasteful ways once our economy recovers??? Hopefully, a smart few will continue and appreciate life more for what it is....living!

My 3 Boys of NC 5:57PM September 30, 2008

There are quite a few clitches aluding to the virtues of the simple life. ie:Voluntary simplicity, Live simply so that others can simply live, Small is beautiful etc.
Nevertheless, few people capture the real depthness of these statements.
I for one, feel very strongly that living within my means is not only a personal choice but a duty as a citizen of this planet
The virtue and side benefits of such awaremess has yielded a quality of life for me devoided of the slavery of consumerism, freeing me in this fashion, to focus in causes much greater than myself as well of the anxiety derived from selling one's soul to the merchants of debt.
To live the simple life free us to be more contemplative and appreciative of the real beauty of nature and deepens our capacity for compassion, humility and reverence for life in all its forms.

Bianca Molinari of CA 9:33PM September 29, 2008

i blame it on marketing .. thing i do , like go to starbucks to get coffee or to go shopping ,seems to happen outomatically.
that is not to say i have no control but it seems when i am doing some of the bad habits i have, i am on autopilot,..

zak of 8:50PM September 29, 2008

For me it is a very conscious choice. I find that the older I get, I appreciate this concept more. However, I learned the fundamentals of it growing up. I never felt like I did without, but we never had any "luxuries" either, i.e.; eating out,spending money. We played outside most of the time and made our own fun. As an adult, I truly feel that wanting too much is just greed, and it hurts the planet also. I truly do feel happier and more connected with everyone and the environment by simplifying. I make my own cleaning products, always reuse plastic, and always use recycled cloth bags for groceries or to carry anything else. I only buy necessities, and even then, hunt for bargains and goods that have been recycled, etc.

Dee of TX 10:41AM September 29, 2008