Comments on: 5 Simple Living Strategies http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-simple-living-strategies Save Money. Save the Environment. Be Happy. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:01:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jenniferhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-12392 Jennifer Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:34:28 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-12392 Our lives can become complicated in so many ways that I find many people have a difficult time sorting it all out and gaining control. But it is possible and I encourage people every day to simplify their lives and how to do it. I went through a period of time where I felt like I wasn't able to manage things the way I really wanted to. I was overwhelmed. I had to learn skills, take responsibility, and make changes. I learned and applied parenting skills while my daughter was 2 1/2 years old and we lived in tantrum city. (We both had our fits) Ha! She's 4 years old and a joy (still strong-willed, but so thoughtful and a great kid) and our home is much, much more peaceful. :) I also overcame general anxiety disorder, practice good money management, and am organizing and decluttering my home. It's also important to stay on top of anything that lodges itself in between you and your spouse. We have started watching less TV. It easily steals away hours. My husband and I (going on 10 years) enjoy spending more time talking, playing with our daughter, or whatever else we can do that's more productive than watching re-runs (or even our favorite shows on DVD every single night). Our lives can become complicated in so many ways that I find many people have a difficult time sorting it all out and gaining control. But it is possible and I encourage people every day to simplify their lives and how to do it.

I went through a period of time where I felt like I wasn’t able to manage things the way I really wanted to. I was overwhelmed. I had to learn skills, take responsibility, and make changes.

I learned and applied parenting skills while my daughter was 2 1/2 years old and we lived in tantrum city. (We both had our fits) Ha! She’s 4 years old and a joy (still strong-willed, but so thoughtful and a great kid) and our home is much, much more peaceful. :)

I also overcame general anxiety disorder, practice good money management, and am organizing and decluttering my home. It’s also important to stay on top of anything that lodges itself in between you and your spouse.

We have started watching less TV. It easily steals away hours. My husband and I (going on 10 years) enjoy spending more time talking, playing with our daughter, or whatever else we can do that’s more productive than watching re-runs (or even our favorite shows on DVD every single night).

]]> By: Cindyhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-4196 Cindy Tue, 19 May 2009 19:01:29 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-4196 I'm lovin' your site. I too love to dream about the simple life. . . Thanks for sharing your insights. You are very wise. First, I'm receiving as many free reusable grocery bags as I can and have finally gotten to the place where I don't forget them every time I go shopping. It feels so good not to bring home all those plastic bags. Secondly, Our youngest daughter and I have begun sewing. We love making tote bags and coming up with new ideas to create a simple home. Relaxing and enjoying what we have is a must ~ Who really wants the anxiety that comes from trying to "keep up with the Jones's"? We also keep our T.V. off most of the time and have started a Family Movie Nite. The children choose from our DVD's/VHS's, we pop corn in our popper and have a great nite together. Ken, You hit the nail on the head with this one: Bitterness ~ It will eat you up and it is so not worth it. We are so blessed! Yes, I like stuff but it does not equal happiness and true joy. I’m lovin’ your site. I too love to dream about the simple life. . . Thanks for sharing your insights. You are very wise.
First, I’m receiving as many free reusable grocery bags as I can and have finally gotten to the place where I don’t forget them every time I go shopping. It feels so good not to bring home all those plastic bags.
Secondly, Our youngest daughter and I have begun sewing. We love making tote bags and coming up with new ideas to create a simple home.
Relaxing and enjoying what we have is a must ~ Who really wants the anxiety that comes from trying to “keep up with the Jones’s”? We also keep our T.V. off most of the time and have started a Family Movie Nite. The children choose from our DVD’s/VHS’s, we pop corn in our popper and have a great nite together. Ken, You hit the nail on the head with this one: Bitterness ~ It will eat you up and it is so not worth it.
We are so blessed! Yes, I like stuff but it does not equal happiness and true joy.

]]> By: Simple Living News Update: Week of May 4thhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3640 Simple Living News Update: Week of May 4th Mon, 11 May 2009 12:06:58 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3640 [...] 5 Simple Living Strategies [...] [...] 5 Simple Living Strategies [...]

]]> By: RowdyKittenshttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3239 RowdyKittens Tue, 05 May 2009 04:03:09 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3239 Great list Heather! I'm going to include this in my next Simple Living News Update; very timely and helpful tips. I agree with the TV policy. We donated our TV a few years ago and it's changed our life. We read, write and spent more time together now. It's lovely. We love NPR. They keep us informed about world events... :) Maybe you could get rid of your TV and watch a movie once in a while on your computer? We take that approach and it works really well... Great list Heather! I’m going to include this in my next Simple Living News Update; very timely and helpful tips. I agree with the TV policy. We donated our TV a few years ago and it’s changed our life. We read, write and spent more time together now. It’s lovely. We love NPR. They keep us informed about world events… :)

Maybe you could get rid of your TV and watch a movie once in a while on your computer? We take that approach and it works really well…

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3222 heather Mon, 04 May 2009 18:56:28 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3222 Pays To Live Green, I totally agree. My challenge now is to make sure I don't fall in the habit of watching a movie every single night, which is usually 2 hours. Why is TV so darn addicting? I'm halfway tempted to just get rid of the whole thing. Now that my cable is gone I'm definitely watching less, but I can still see myself slipping into that bad habit. At least now that's it's getting warm out I'm outside much more, but I might have to do something drastic come Fall. Thanks for writing in! Pays To Live Green,

I totally agree. My challenge now is to make sure I don’t fall in the habit of watching a movie every single night, which is usually 2 hours.

Why is TV so darn addicting? I’m halfway tempted to just get rid of the whole thing. Now that my cable is gone I’m definitely watching less, but I can still see myself slipping into that bad habit.

At least now that’s it’s getting warm out I’m outside much more, but I might have to do something drastic come Fall.

Thanks for writing in!

]]> By: payst to live greenhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3220 payst to live green Mon, 04 May 2009 18:23:00 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3220 Great tips. TV is a huge part of many people's lives and is a great thing to cut back on. There is a whole beautiful world out there and we should enjoy it in person instead of on our tvs. Great tips. TV is a huge part of many people’s lives and is a great thing to cut back on. There is a whole beautiful world out there and we should enjoy it in person instead of on our tvs.

]]> By: Steven@hundredgoalshttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3215 Steven@hundredgoals Mon, 04 May 2009 15:49:12 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3215 Great list! I agree with each and every item on there! Keep up the good work. Great list! I agree with each and every item on there! Keep up the good work.

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3208 heather Mon, 04 May 2009 14:09:35 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3208 @Melissa- That sounds really yummalicious! I'm putting that on my menu this week to try. I love all of those things; thanks for writing that in! @Michele- Thanks for the Democracy Now! link. I hadn't heard of them, but I'm going to go check them out. And, that's a great point about the furniture arrangement. Feng Shui says you should never center your furniture around the television. I'd forgotten that until you brought up that point, and realize my furniture is totally centered on our TV. I'll see if I can change that this week. Thanks! @Melissa- That sounds really yummalicious! I’m putting that on my menu this week to try. I love all of those things; thanks for writing that in!

@Michele- Thanks for the Democracy Now! link. I hadn’t heard of them, but I’m going to go check them out.

And, that’s a great point about the furniture arrangement. Feng Shui says you should never center your furniture around the television. I’d forgotten that until you brought up that point, and realize my furniture is totally centered on our TV. I’ll see if I can change that this week.

Thanks!

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3207 heather Mon, 04 May 2009 14:07:06 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3207 Ken, Thank you so much for those wonderful suggestions! That's one of the best comments I've ever gotten. I definitely am going to try drinking coffee out of a tea cup (with real cream!). It would make me slow down in the morning, and really savor my morning coffee. Thanks again for those great suggestions! Ken,

Thank you so much for those wonderful suggestions! That’s one of the best comments I’ve ever gotten. I definitely am going to try drinking coffee out of a tea cup (with real cream!). It would make me slow down in the morning, and really savor my morning coffee.

Thanks again for those great suggestions!

]]> By: Michelehttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/05/5-simple-living-strategies/#comment-3203 Michele Mon, 04 May 2009 13:43:49 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1473#comment-3203 I'd like to second the tv recommendation! I don't own one, and really don't miss it (though we do watch dvds on the computer). Lots of people arrange their living spaces around the tv, and I wonder if organizing furniture to facilitate conversation instead of passive viewing might help folks cut down (alternatively, conversation-inducing furniture arrangements are one benefit of not having a tv at all!). Heather, I totally support your view of sensationalist news broadcasting. My favorite sources for current events are radio and the internet, and I'd strongly recommend Democracy Now! (http://www.democracynow.org/) for anyone who supports independent journalism. Great post! I’d like to second the tv recommendation! I don’t own one, and really don’t miss it (though we do watch dvds on the computer). Lots of people arrange their living spaces around the tv, and I wonder if organizing furniture to facilitate conversation instead of passive viewing might help folks cut down (alternatively, conversation-inducing furniture arrangements are one benefit of not having a tv at all!).

Heather, I totally support your view of sensationalist news broadcasting. My favorite sources for current events are radio and the internet, and I’d strongly recommend Democracy Now! (http://www.democracynow.org/) for anyone who supports independent journalism.

Great post!

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