I spent my day driving a friend around to area thrift stores, and although I try very hard to be discerning about what I bring into my house, I did buy a copy of Dave Wann’s Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle. Which means it’s time for another book giveaway!
Long time readers will recall that Simple Prosperity was used for The Non-Consumer Advocate book club in 2009. A great idea that proved beyond my time/energy constraints. (Seriously, I cringe with shame whenever I think about how I dropped the ball on this one.) However, I’m still a great fan of this book and now have a genuine preowned Goodwill copy of this book to use as a giveaway!
To enter to win your own personal copy of Simple Prosperity, enter your name and one change you’ve made in your quest for simple prosperity in the comments section below. The winner will be randomly chosen Wednesday, June 1st at 9:00 P.M. PST. U.S. residents only, please enter only one time.
Good luck!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 91 comments… read them below or add one }
I wrote everything I purchased for a few months. No joke everything. Taking an inventory of my spending habits helped me curve my spending. I also got a chance to evaluate if what I was doing with my money supported my values. Suddenly making coffee at home was smart and not a hassle, because I wanted to spend money on vacations instead of every day luxuries.
I try to always ask where the goods I buy come from – I always ask myself if a bargain I could make (like a shirt for 5€) would have a price for another person (like having to work under inhumane conditions). Sustainability includes everyone, not just my own benefits.
I don’t use paper towels or disposable “Swiffer”s to clean anymore. I bought a reusable microfiber mop head and use old cut up t shirts for all other cleaning.
I’ve started buying in bulk– spices, beans, granola, etc. I can bring in my own container, have it weighed, and not use unnecessary packaging– plus it’s usually cheaper!
I’ve been working really hard to declutter our house. In the last month, we’ve donated or sold many, many bags and boxes of STUFF. I’m finally starting to feel like we’re making a difference and making positive changes that will help lead us to a simpler, more organized and happier life.
We no longer use any paper towels, and instead re-use cloth. Trying to make the transition from tissues!
My most significant change has been quitting TV. While that change has freed up a fair amount of time, the real impact comes from avoiding all the advertisements and the aspirational stories. Even DIY TV often left me feeling under-accomplished and inadequate. Now I find my inspiration in real people’s stories on blogs like this one.
I stopped using paper towels.
I hang laundry wet, outside when it is warm enough, inside when it is cold (which add mositure to the dry house during heating season).
I vowed to use up the many cleaning products residing under my kitchen sink before buying any new ones, then making as many of my own as posssible, with ingredients like vinegar or baking soda.
We got chickens, day old chicks actually but they’ve grown to a nice flock of laying hens now. The freshed most flavorful eggs ever, lots of manure for the garden, free entertainment, plus they eat lots of table scraps which reduces waste and the bags from their grain are a sturdy woven plastic stuff that is great for making bags and things. Yesterday I cut 3 fo the bags into strips and wove a new seat and back for a curb-rescued metal frame chair.
Funny how thrifty/self-reliant projects tend to lead to more thrifty/self-reliant projects.
I’m living lightly (free basement, no car) so I can go back to school and start doing something I love. 10 years as IT/helpdesk/tech support has not been good to me and it was time for a change. By accepting the kindness of family I can cut my living expenses even lower than they already were and should be able to make it through 3 years of classes to come out the other side with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition.
Thanks for all the inspiration Katy!
Sidenote – I’m not the only guy on here, am I?
No, Jesse, you are not the only guy here! I’m from Canada, so I can’t join your contest, but I am inspired by this blog and others to declutter and live a more simple life.
I do many things now to keep my life simpler but what started it all was I stopped visiting the local Walmart. I used to joke that it was our coffee shop. We would go nearly every day to see what bargains we could get that we “needed”. Once I stopped I found that other things just fell into place. I am much happier without all that stuff I “needed” and now I can actually afford to fix what I already have.
Probably the most life-changing thing I’ve done is to start reading your blog and other personal finance blogs. By taking part in a community of like-minded thinkers, I got a level of emotional support and validation that I couldn’t find in my day-to-day world.
I started buying organic, local dairy products and meat after watching Food Inc.
I planted a vegetable/herb garden and bake my own breads/pizza dough.
Stopped buying coffee at Starbucks and starting making it at home. A major triumph, believe me…
I will hold up the check out line at the grocery store over an item that rings up 10¢ higher than the listed price. I’ve had people offer to pay me the difference before just to get my out of the line.
I started the 1-A-Week Project where I’m getting rid of at least one thing per week that I do not need/use/want anymore and encouraging others to do so as well.
I give it to someone who needs it, donate it, or sell it on ebay/craigslist.
its a nice simple program that allows me to do something each week to reduce clutter for the things that are most important in my life.
you can track the project here: http://www.trulysimple.com/tag/1aw/
Ben
The area I am working on most is not bring home so much garage sale/thrifted stuff. Everything I buy is used but a good price/free doesn’t justify me bringing it home.
Just one change…? I’ve made many changes over the last few years, but the biggest one is simply using less. I have found that we aren’t missing much except clutter. We eat as local as we can, spend very little money at the grocery store, and entertain ourselves the old fashioned way – outside.
I buy rice, flour and other staples in bulk so that I’ve always got some ingredients around for a quick and easy meal instead of eating out or buying microwavable meals.
Since I had to quit my job with the new move, I have been actually cooking nearly everything we eat! We used to go out to dinner at least 3 times per week and eating a cafeteria lunch at work was a regular thing for me. We moved to a community with many farms-which means we’re enjoying grass-fed beef and organic local produce! Since we have roughly half of the income, we had to make changes to our monthly entertainment and clothing budgets. I find myself playing a lot of games with the fam, as well as mending. I love to sew, so this has inspired me to create and start a wall art project for the living room made out of scrap fabric and used burlap coffee bags from the local coffee shop. Lots of fun here, and I can admit that it’s people like you, Katy, who have made me rethink my world!
I try to find things second-hand before I buy them new. I recently moved from the home of relatives to a new apartment, and furnished my entire home that way.
I stopped my addiction to takeaway coffee. Not only was it hurting the environment all those times I would forget to bring my re-usable cup, but it was also costing me a pretty penny. It was so stupid – I have a perfectly good coffee maker at home, but I let the excuse that I was rushed in the mornings get in the way. Now I restrict my coffee intake to one I make myself in the morning and another in the afternoon when I get home from work. It seems like such a little thing, but it really had impacted both on the levels of waste I create and the spare cash at the end of the week is wonderful to have.
I decided that my kids only really need about 4 shirts and 4 pairs of pants, short, 4 socks/underpants/2 jammies, one nice shirt. Since I have to wash (and line dry) about every 3rd day anyway, why have more? They can only wear one outfit at a time. I haven’t shopped for them in over a year! And in fact, reverse shopped, giving away or selling all their clothes.
I did a few things: stopped shopping for fun, pared down the clothes and practiced the art of contentment. <3
I paired down my wardrobe to only the clothes i wear everyday, the ones that fit perfectly, and make me feel fabulous. The result? An organized simple wardrobe with only my favorite things. Nothing that used to fit or i only wore once or am planning on mending. And if i see something i want to buy, it has to replace something i already own. That itself is enough to curb the buying because i already live everything i have!
no more credit card debt. Ah, sweet freedom!
congrats! that is awesome!
I’ve been in purging mode, being very careful about what new things I bring into my home. I’ve also consolidated my finances on mint.com, which motivates me to use credit cards only like cash rather than credit.
I stopped using paper towels and now use cloth napkins for almost everything. I also planted a lot of herbs and have a small garden for the first time this year.
Several changes: air-dry all clothes on an inside ceiling bar, raising chickens for eggs, growing my first large veggie garden, and paring down my wardrobe to keep only items I love and actually wear. Thanks for your inspiration, Katy!
We live in a small town and it is 38 miles to the nearest grocery store. I have been doing a better job about cutting down on the trips to town. It means buying in larger quantities, planning ahead, and making lists. I also call other family members when I go so see if they need anything. It has cut down on our gas expense! Having our own home-raised beef and a garden helps a lot. Also, eating out isn’t an option unless we drive the 38 miles, so cooking is a way of life for us. Enjoy your blog, and the book sounds interesting.
A garden. It is really simple although a LOT of hard work. Plant a seed and the prosperity comes a hundred fold. Not only in the life giving food we eat but also in the simple act of keeping this life cycle going.
I got and repaired a used bike from the Omaha Community Bike Shop, and am taking it to work this summer.
I have been cleaning out my house. I have started a small garden and I now only go grocery shopping once a month. My neighbor gives us fresh eggs every week.
I’ve stopped thinking every naptime was a time to run out to the store and stock up on the “things” we “needed.” I was always asking my hubbie to stay home during naps so that I could go to Costco/Fred Meyer/Winco/consignment stores/Target etc etc. Once I decided that I would go to Costo once every 3 months, the grocery store once a week and kids’ clothes consignment stores when the kids absolutely needed clothes, I freed up nap time. Now I work on volunteer work, write, read a book, fold laundry or talk to a friend on the phone. It has made me less stressed — nap time is actually a break for me now!
Grocery store once a week? Now you’ve got me thinking….. I could do that too…and I’m already thinking about meal plans. This is why I love these blogs.
Oh, what haven’t I done? I was in debt until just a few months ago…some of the changes I’ve made are:
batch cooking lunches for work
starting an emergency fund (used to be $1,000, now is on its way to $5,000 since I’m out of debt)
quit shopping online…period
I only eat out with friends
I take the cash I need for two weeks out of my paycheck when I deposit it…once it’s gone, I’m out of money until next paycheck
As a professional organizer, I know I should not be trolling garage sales, but neighborhoods with lots of kids are my soft spot. Found my oldest a great used bike for $11. I have decided not to take the wood kitchen set that would not fit in my car. It is money saved and less hassle when MY kids are done with it. How would I ever pass it on if I cannot get it in my car?
One Change I have made this past year is to stop bringing so much into our house – now when something comes in, something must go out. This has been a great thing for me since I have a tendency to be a little packrattish (is that a word?). This simple change has reminded me of my tendency & helped me to fight it.
Most recently the kids and I have been choosing one of their favorite processed snacks each week and making a homemade version. Saves packaging, money and our health.
I refuse to use paper or plastic grocery bags (except if I buy raw meat, because….eww)
I also get the most use out of everything I can. For example, I used one lemon for FIVE separate tasks!
I have made it a goal to only buy organic/natural hygiene and cleaning items for our household. This makes me do more research on items, and limits me to what I’m allowed to buy–which actually saves us money.
After movimg my parents, I have been doing some major decluttering. My parents collected a lot of things. Watching them go through the process of trying to gt rid of all the things they accumulated gave me great incentive to declutter now.
We have done a lot in the past year.and are still working at it. One of my most favorite things is making everything from scratch…bread, tortillas, granola bars…I love being in the kitchen!
I am trying really hard to declutter and get all the extra “stuff” out of our house. It’s amazing how much junk I have thrown away and how much we’ve donated already. I still feel like I am not even close to being done!
The kids and I walked to the ice cream shop yesterday to meet friends, and then walked back home, with a pit stop at our local library. We got exercise, entertainment, and reading materials for the week, and it didn’t cost a lot! I think we’re going to more “walking our errands and outings” this summer.
I have started to ask myself more questions: Do I love it? Do I *really* need it? If I do-can I borrow it, or is there something else that will do the same job? By asking these kinds of questions, I usually discover I need very little.
I recently purchased a plastic divided food container that I take with me to restaurants to be my “doggie bag”. We don’t go out to eat that often, but I hate waste, so I would either overeat, or cringe when the styrofoam container came out. This works much better.
I make my own cleaning products, have planted a vegetable garden and herbs, my husband hunts for free-range organic meat, we raise bees, and use cloth grocery bags. If I can ever break my husband of his paper towel addiction (he’s OCD), I’ll consider that a huge accomplishment!
Thanks for sharing the book and giving me some new ideas.
Planted a vegetable garden in our back yard…. started a community garden… bought some rural property, planted another vegetable garden…
I’ve been canning for the past couple of years, gradually increasing the amounts I do and the variety. I’ve now managed to not have to buy any jam or canned tomatoes for an entire year. I know the farm that the produce was grown on; in the case of the fruit, picked it myself with the help of my kids; and know exactly what is in every jar that I feed to my family.
Made a budget, and started tracking our spending to get it under control!
Becoming more self-sufficient in regards to food has been an ongoing goal of ours for a few years now. We started by cooking more and more of our meals from scratch and shopping at the farmers’ market (which at least led us to rely more on local folks for our food than the national supermarket chains) and have progressed to canning a lot of food and putting a small garden in our backyard. We’ll never be 100% self-sufficient in regards to food (and not many people are), but I love the changes we’ve made.
I garden and have recently started making my own laundry detergent. We’ve replaced most of the cleaning supplies we used to use with baking soda and vinegar. I’ve started biking the ten miles to work any time it’s not storming. Not only does it save me gas money, it is also great exercise. Later today I am off to my local Goodwill to hopefully find some “new” pants for work.
Reading this blog and the great comments has really inspired me to rethink the way my family budgets, cooks, and keeps house. It helps keep me on track. Thanks!
I’ve started making dinner more, and eating out less, and have only bought second hand clothes this year. I made my own laundry detergent, and generally started tracking and budgeting expenses.
It’s tough to list just one thing because so much of my life is homemade and handcrafted! A couple of years ago we started making our own wine…no fancy equipment required and a great way to use foraged fruits and berries.
We try to buy more and more locally. And just bought pumpkin and brussel sprout starts for our own garden – we are planning to have a much more adventurous garden this year (and no, we’re not late for planting – it’s still practically winter in Montana!)
PS -Checked “Simple Prosperity” out from the library a couple of weeks ago, but it will be due before I get it finished. Would love to have a copy to finish and then to share!
Last year I spent $4.00 at a farmer’s garden stand for 2 tomatoes. This year for $10. I bought 3 tomatoe plants, dirt and 2 pots (I only had 1 pot big enough and don’t have as generous neighbors as you Katy!) and I’ve planted the plants and put them where we get the most sun. I’m hoping that if I reap 3 tomatoes I’ve made back my money. If I get plenty, I’m going to try some salsa or puree for sauce.
I chose to live in a smaller apartment (280 sq. ft.). It helps me be better about not over-using electricity and gas (my bill is under $30/month all-in throughout the year). I also like not having too much superfluous stuff, and it’s much easier to not be tempted to when you’ve economized on space. Extra Bonus: I don’t really enjoy cleaning, and it only takes me 30 min to tidy and clean the whole place. (PS, I don’t need the book, just thought I’d chime in on the conversation…)
The biggest change for me was giving up recreational shopping! My mother got me into this habit (and sadly she still has it, and it has only gotten worse since the grandchildren came), and I continued it all on my own during my young adult life. Whenever my girlfriends and I got together it seemed like we always did the same thing – went shopping and quite often we had dinner or lunch out. Not a good habit, you end up wasting so much money buying things you don’t need and filling your house with clutter. After my friends started getting married and having kids and no longer had time to aimlessly wander the malls, it was like “wow I have all this money!” and it’s so much nicer to spend my time hiking or at the park with my dog instead of at the mall!
I make our own laundry detergent and our own dishwasher detergent.
I used to eat every weekday breakfast out as well as every lunch. In the last six weeks I’ve had every breakfast at home instead, which makes my meals much less expensive as well as lower-fat and lower-calorie. (My favorite item every morning is iced coffee, which I make myself with nonfat milk. I pour whatever’s left of my husband’s pot of brewed coffee into a tall Rubbermaid drink container each day and store it in the fridge, so that I don’t have to use ice to chill the drink and thereby water it down.) Next step to come — bringing my lunch to work a few days a week.
I handwash my dishes quite often. When I use the dishwasher I only use half the amount of detergent plus turn of the heated dry. I am in such a habit of doing this that I do it at other peoples houses and have had them wandering what is wrong with the dishwasher dry cycle.
I’ve joined a CSA to cut down on food costs, stopped buying bottled water and have been learning to make many more things from scratch. This book sounds great!
When I moved, I didn’t get cable TV – only an internet connection. Now I watch TV/movies via Hulu, Netflix and the Library. It’s cheaper, and I’m less likely to veg out in front of the TV than I was when many channels were available with only one click on the remote.
We downsized from a 1700 sq foot home to a 900 sq foot home. It required a lot of purging, and we’re still trying to get everything organized – no small task with the lack of closets & storage in this old country house. However, it’s nice to be able use our energy efficient woodstove (purchased second hand on Craigslist, of course) for most of our home heating. The $40 electric bills are heavenly compared to the $90 electric bill in our last home!
I started paying all my bills by check (instead of online) and buying groceries with cash (allotted to my envelope twice a month) so that the money going OUT of the household is more visible to me than it was when we paid everything with online bill-pay, and with an ATM card. It makes my expenditures more tangible and trackable for us, and in the case of paying cash for groceries – it keeps us to a budget. When it’s gone, it’s gone!
We use cloth diapers and are just about to start our second year with a CSA!
I knew that the business that my husband worked for was going to eventually close, which it did recently. When I got a rare bonus at my little job a year ago, I used it to buy a raised bed garden system, water heater blanket and umbrella-style clothesline. We are reaping the benefits daily, able to live on less while he works to find new income.
We garden extensively and have just started foraging!
http://fastcheapandgood.blogspot.com/2011/05/foraged-berries-and-other-frugal-things.html
I started a vegetable garden and use grey water (the water I use to rinse my dishes with) to water most of it.
Right now it’s purge Purge PURGE — less Stuff means more room, more comfort, and a feeling of freedom. Though I was never big on recreational shopping, the more I purge, the less I want to purchase.
I finally got a library card so I could stop buying books (free is still better than used) and I recently initiated efforts to organize my neighborhood’s first community yard sale later this month. Both thanks to inspiration from your blog :).
We cancelled the newspaper (it’s online anyway) and got rid of our house phone. We each have our own cell phones and the only calls we were getting on the house phone were “Vote for me!” and solicitations from charities. As our children grow up and leave we also try to buy more local meats (it’s hard to afford them when you have to buy so much!)
Have stopped buying dish cloths, I just rip apart old towels and use as dish cloths-it drives my mother crazy. She wants me to use Handi-wipes, but I don’t like that “use and throw” mentality. We planted lots and lots of potatoes and started a raspberry and strawberry patch last year which looks pretty good now. Always looking for new ways to save and reduce, the challenge is so fun. Thanks for your blog, I love it.
Picked fruit with the Portland Fruit Tree Project. Half of each harvest goes to area food banks and rest is split among those harvesting. Shared my share with friends, family and canned some preserves.
It’s a baby boom for my friends right now – but I haven’t had to buy a single baby gift yet. I’ve been able to stitch together some cute stuffed friends out of old clothes and socks. Plus I find that handmade gifts are unique and really appreciated. Thanks for the chance to win this book! I pledge to pass it on and share the love when I’m done with it.
We’re expecting our first baby in 2 weeks and I have made our cloth diaper stash out of old t-shirts or flannel sheets. All of the clothes and baby gadgets are hand-me-downs from our very generous friends and colleagues. We’ve bought next to nothing new but are very well equipped with very nice stuff for our little addition!
I keep old shopping bags and grocery bags in the car so that I have them handy whenever I go to the grocery store or mall.
As the Momma of the house, I control a lot of what gets (and doesn’t get purchased). Our family is already pretty “simple” as we live in a 610 sq/ft. coach house in Chicago (2 adults, one toddler, and a cat). We don’t have the room for “impulse purchases”.
I cook everything from scratch to avoid feeding mystery multisyllabic chemicals to my family. I use a lot of herbs. This year I collected various containers and hauled clean dirt found on freecycle to plant a “garden” in the “yard”. Our “yard” is a cement slab approx the size of a king size bed. We are growing herbs, from seeds and I am already drooling at my teeny tiny rosemary, basil, and tarragon sprouts. Seeing as fresh organic herbs are over $2.00 a tiny little package – this will save money and a whole lot of little plastic clam shell containers in the landfill. Bonus? When it rains, my daughter “rescues” worms from the sidewalk and puts them into our large containers/garden.
I’ve been making small changes over time to cultivate a more frugal and sustainable lifestyle. It’s taken me a while to adjust to buying less and using less, but it’s a way of living I can be proud of.
While I always packed my lunch, I recently joined a CSA and am reducing my food budget by cooking almost all my meals at home. I also planted some veggies and strawberries in containers on my balcony. It’s amazing to see how much produce you can harvest when you don’t even have a yard!
My biggest challenge has been reducing my basic cost of living (in terms of gas and utilities). Here’s what I’m doing so far:
-Whenever I have stops to make after work, I try to bundle them to save time and gas.
-I starting working at my local YMCA to elimate the cost of membership.
-I unplug appliances when I’m not using them to reduce my passive electricity consumption.
-I walk to the supermarket/farmer’s market, thrift shop, library, or post office whenever the weather permits. (I’m lucky to live in a town where there is a great walking district and safe sidewalks.)
My current project is reducing the amount of STUFF in my house. Katy, you’re garage sale success has inspired me! Both of my parents recently retired and moved out of state, so I inherited a great deal of furniture and other items that I’m anxious to start selling at flea markets and a yard sale this summer.
Plus, I already checked to see if my local library has the book, in case I don’t win it. They do! 😉
Don’t forget for Craigslist for the bigger items!
Katy
I read this book about a month ago and it really struck a cord with me. That was a library copy which I sadly had to return. I’d LOVE to have my very own copy. Since I read the book I’ve been trying to make a bigger effort to eat at home more ~ using veggies from my own garden but also visiting the farmer’s market weekly. I don’t enjoy cooking so this is a stretch for me but, at the same time, it feels good. I wish I could buy this book for all of my friends & family. I think there’s something in there that would appeal and speak to most anyone!
This year I have started making my own laundry soap. I reuse the same bucket and old plastic Tide bottle for mixing and storage. I will have only a few small boxes a year to recycle. Not to mention the savings!
Trisha
mahgwi21 (at) yahoo
backyard chickens, bees, vegetable garden, cloth diapers. Am hosting a clothing swap this weekend too!
Keeping a donate box near the door, the ‘one in, one out’ rule for clothes and shoe and accessory shopping, limiting restaurant meals to once a week or special occasions only, using mint.com to track our spending, trying to buy local and seasonal produce, supporting local businesses. Small changes over time. 🙂
I just made the switch to cloth diapers. There is an initial investment, but I’m looking forward to the long term saving (and extra laundry…am I insane?!).
I also only buy clothes (except undies and socks) from thrift stores or swaps. I love being able to teach the kids the value of re-using and getting to indulge in shopping. 🙂