You don't have to live FAR below your means - just living within or a little below your means can give you a FREEDOM!
I don't know about you - but I love freedom - all sorts of freedom. We can make our own!
So many people think money is the gift of freedom. Not really. Sure you can buy more and maybe have bigger - but it doesn't make you happier! We see that every day just in what we watch on the news and read on the computer. As good as money is - it can cause grief and worries as well.
Rich people have a whole set of problems that I would never want.
I had things and was taught things that no amount of money could buy. INDEED!
I had/have love of family and friends
I was taught to respect others
I have my faith in God
I was taught/shown a good work ethic
I have a love of nature and the beauty it offers
I have the sweet simple joys of my pets
I have my humble home
I have food on my table
I have ENOUGH!
You can have money or not and still choose to live a simple life. Money really has nothing to do with it. I think it just means living a little slower, looking a little deeper, and loving a little more and appreciating each and everything you have.
If we take time to enjoy the simple and little things, life will have a wealth to give us. We just need to open our eyes.
Heck this morning, there is a lake in my back yard due to hard rains for hours - tonight I will have an ice rink out there - due to huge temperature changes. Even those are blessings, as it means a promise for spring and a water level that won't be low this spring. We have to look for the good.
If you don't take time to look for the positive - you will be a miserable person. Only seeing negative - makes for sad people.
I am not blind to all the evil and negativity in the world; I just don't celebrate it the way some people do. It seems to consume them.
I choose positive and happy over negativity. I choose simple over hectic. I choose to live my best life.
What do you choose?
Wishing you a simply beautiful life!
Have a wonderful day.
I choose simple as well. I don't need the latest gadget, fashion, social media platform, news reel to clutter my space and life. I choose life and for the most part that means focusing on the positive. Certainly there are down days but I tend not to dwell on the negative. Often times, when I'm asked "How are you?" my reply is "Good enough" vs the usual "Fine," platitudes that often aren't paid attention to. Good enough is like the middle, not such a bad place to be.
ReplyDeleteNo, not a bad place to be at all!!!! I like that.
DeleteSure we all have down days - but we are blessed beyond any measure - so the positive can take over.
Thank you!
Amen, amen, amen! One of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received was the Christmas after my husband's passing. My daughter gave me a wall calendar for my office. Each month's design was an image of a flower, with the words "I Choose Joy" written across the flower. At a time when I could barely hold it together, those words resonated within me and still do today. Still today, nearly 8 years later, when I'm having a rough day, I say to myself, I Choose Joy.
ReplyDeleteLove it. We have ALL had a "worst" day ever - yet we still know that there is promise of a better day.
DeleteYour worst day and my worst day may vary - but we have all had one. We survived and life continues because we "choose joy". Life matters.
Being grateful each day for all the simple, little things is a gift you give to yourself. Just something I've been learning along the way. Thank you, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Mona's comment... "Good enough." Lori's story was a sweet reminder today, too. :-)
--Elise
It truly is a gift you can give yourself. Really no one else can give it to you.
DeleteI do love the "good enough" and may be using that one!
I love how we grow and gain so much from each other!
It helps immensely to not have the "need" to "upgrade". We're in the home we bought 31 years ago. It is little compared to today's standards. Have we made changes? Yes, with cash and we're so happy with the improvements.
ReplyDeleteBeing debt-free is life-changing, if only consumerists understood that. We can buy anything now and could care less about stuff.
I don't think it's possible to help others understand what it feels like. We have to arrive, to understand. Otherwise, there wouldn't be consumer debt in this country.
Elle, that ties in with a song that's been running through my head this morning... "I wish that I knew what I know know when I was younger." And you're right. Experience is often the best teacher.
DeleteWe've always told our sons that they should learn from others' mistakes and know they'll make their own, but it's best to avoid whatever mistakes you can. --Elise
Elle - you are so right. Many young people immediately want what Mom & Dad have. and it took Mom & Dad years to get there.
DeleteMy house is old. It was built in '47 and I moved in in '86. Yep, fixed and changed a lot of things - as we COULD AFFORD.
Debt free is life changing. Such a wonderful feeling - just knowing you can make it is fantastic.
The world is built on debt - so no economist will teach any different. Look at our countries - the debt is never ending.
Elise - boy doesn't that sone say it all!
DeleteFalling down and tripping along the way is a great teacher many. Some will never learn - because there is always someone to bail them out.
I watched and learned and I fell a few times.
Unfortunately Cheryl, my husband was that Mom/Dad story. NOW! Right now! By the time we'd been married 7y we were deep shit. I put my foot down and said "no more". We're working, staying home, buying nothing and eating a lot of tuna, mac n cheese and other cheap eats until these credit cards are paid off! You recall how awful interest rates were back then and he was buying lunch every day....with interest for years! It was horrible and nearly ended our marriage.
DeleteThank God we made it through that hell. Debt free by 50 and now married 41y! :-)
Elle, I think we have all had our horror stories. I know my EX (some of the reason) thought we could do anything and everything. He spent, like pouring pi** out a boot!
DeleteIt happens.
So glad you guys persevered and got through it all and came out all the better for it. You are a great example of what CAN be done and achieved.
You should be proud!!!!
I think some people are addicted to being outraged. They look for things to annoy them!! And the media is more than happy to stir the pot and relay stories, true or not. They might later correct it, but they've already had their fun watching people freak out. My brother called me all angry about something he'd heard, cranked about how angry it made him, and so forth. I recognized his outrage story immediately because it was local. And BLATANTLY FALSE. I explained what really happened. He calmed down, right?!?! Nope, he talked right over me about another thing that made him angry lol! Like he didn't really care about the facts, he just wanted to rant and be outraged about anything! Crazy. I told him he needed to turn off his computer and start a garden lol. He told me I didn't get it. He's right about that, I don't!!
ReplyDeleteAmen. I do believe you hit the nail on the head. People have become addicted to social media and fear mongering and hate and gloom and doom. You can show them exactly how that isn't right, and they just continue.
DeleteI keep reminding people - we have read the Book and know how the story ends - so why be so oh woe is me! I hear - I know - but I still get all worried - and obviously they feel everyone should be! I am so over it!
Your brother most definitely needs a better hobby!
Some people have a large hole in themselves that they are trying to fill whether with things, experiences, drugs & alcohol, food, or, as Debby mentioned, outrage. There will be no "enough" for them until they get to the root of their unhappiness.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that as well. You can't fix 'broken' with things.
DeleteThey truly can't be happy - and that is so sad.
The moon sure was bright last night here. It is the Snow Moon.
ReplyDeleteWe had rain - so I didn't get to see it last night. It sure has been something on many a night this winter!
DeleteHaving come from a background with money, I can see the havoc it creates. I am happy to be where I am.
ReplyDeleteIt really can - because young people think they can have EVERYTHNG and then they get in trouble. As nice as money is, it can be bad as well.
DeleteYou have done so well.
We never really had much growing up, though we never did without either. Dad built our trailer for camping from the frame up and did an awesome job, he also built pool tables and sold them for extra money and with that extra money bought us an above ground pool to use all summer.
ReplyDeleteMom always cooked from scratch and her meals were awesome.
I do much the same as what Mom did. Mend, cook from scratch, reuse, use up, and make do. This enables us to travel and make memories as well as help both our sons with down payments for their homes.
Being frugal is a wonderful game. It enables people to do exactly what they want to do. Freedom to choose.
God bless.
Freedom to choose. And you chose freedom!!!
DeleteI love it - you had really good examples growing up. You are now being good examples to your children.
That is what it is all about. Such good stewards!
It is freedom to live simply. No trying to keep up with the Joneses (whoever they are) or striving for happiness with the latest, shiniest and biggest toy. It is freedom to be debt free and not worry about answering the phone or dread going to the mailbox. It is freedom not to be concerned about any trend and wear what you like and decorate you home as you wish. The folks who come up with the color of the year and the latest trends are laughing all the way to bank. Paul says in Philippians 4:13 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content".
ReplyDeleteGonna get cold and nasty. Stay warm, my friend!
Preach it sister. Amen. You hit on so many reasons to LOVE the freedom of being frugal.
DeleteI always wondered about those designers - I could not care any less what they think. I like what I like.
The scripture is perfect.
I do admit to being consumed by all the negativity in the news. It can be all consuming at times. I need to stop watching so much I know, but I am a news junkie. That picture of the moon behind the tree is beautiful. We woke up to snow this morning, so that's something money can't buy.
ReplyDeletePLEASE turn it off!!!! You will have more time and you will feel so much better. Trust me, you will know what is going on - you won't miss anything. People won't let you!
DeleteWe woke to ice layer and dusting of snow and cold after starting at 60 yesterday!
I loved your post today!
DeleteI spent yesterday sitting on my deck,planting flower seeds for spring. It was a beautiful day. Blue skies,birds singing. A peaceful lovely day.
I watched the moon rise last night over the trees.
None of these things cost a penny to enjoy.
Savannah - how wonderful. I am counting the days until I can sit outside in the warm and plant flowers and garden. A peaceful day is priceless!!!! Love that you are having such a wonderful week!
DeleteBe your best, with what you have, where you are. These are words from our pastor a couple Sundays ago. God be praised.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and so very TRUE!
DeleteThat is living a good life!
Love this!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!!!
Delete