Over the years, careful budgeting has enabled Linda and me to stay debt-free and live within our means. Financial discipline is the key to a life of freedom and simplicity.
I get it—budgeting isn’t exactly thrilling. Most people’s eyes glaze over just hearing the word, which is why so many dream of winning the lottery. But here’s the catch: even a lottery win demands serious budgeting to sustain. There’s no escaping it.
For those ready to take control, I recommend starting today and starting small. Linda and I began by cutting the easy stuff first.
Here’s our list of the easiest things to stop buying and live without:
1. Alcohol – It’s literally poison, and skipping it improves the bank balance and health.
2. Magazine subscriptions – Libraries offer them for free.
3. Motor vehicle – Ditching the car was tough at first, but staying close to home, biking, and walking quickly became our norm.
4. Fast/processed foods – Tasty but unhealthy. We swapped them for home-cooked meals.
5. Restaurant meals – We learned to recreate our favourite dishes at home for a fraction of the cost.
6. Travel holidays – After escaping the rat race, we found didn’t need pricey getaways.
7. Clothes – Our wardrobe is minimalist. We wear clothes until they wear out, which takes years.
8. Entertainment like movies, concerts, or fairs – Fun, but we skip the crowds and overpriced snacks like fifteen-dollar fries.
9. Meat – It’s expensive and the biggest part of the average grocery bill. We’ve discovered vegetarian based dishes that are as satisfying as crispy bacon (once your palate adjusts).
10. Sweets – Our rule: want a treat? Make it yourself. This keeps sweets rare and special.
I know this might sound like I’m asking you to give up all the fun stuff that makes life in our consumer-driven world enjoyable.
But here’s the payoff: time and freedom.
Cutting these expenses helped us escape the grind of endless work and the exploitation of paying interest on debt.
For us, that meant more time for hobbies, like gardening, and the peace of knowing our simple life is financially sustainable.
Everyone’s “easy list” is different. What’s simple for us might be tough for you, and that’s okay. The key is to find your low-hanging fruit and start there.
The results are undeniable, and you can achieve them too. Try cutting one item from your spending for a month and see what happens.
What’s on your easy list? Share in the comments below. We’d love to hear your ideas!
This list is impressive! We're almost the same. Some things we haven't completely eliminated (such as meat), although we're very thoughtful in buying those and consume it sparingly. Same with the car, we did live a no car lifestyle for many years until we moved to a country where cycling isn't really doable and where the public transportation is nearly non-existent.
ReplyDeleteThe thing we spend very little on are cosmetics/personal care products. I always try to find a cheaper and greener alternative, such as pieces of alum to use instead of deodorant, plain olive oil soap instead of all those fragranced washing gels etc (it's interesting how you get used to non fragranced products, most of those fragrances make me short of breath now!). That way we're not only saving money, but also taking care of our health and the environment.
Personal care products could have been on this list for sure. We also quit most of them years ago, and now only buy toothpaste, Dr. Bronners liquid soap, and moisturizing cream, without which we would dry right up. CBD oil is good for a lot of things, too. Definitely agree about frangrances that are in most products these days - yuck. We like natural and don’t think that humans smelling like humans is a bad thing. There are so many unpronounceable chemicals in all those products, and no one knows what they do to us, or the environment. Thank you for reminding me of this.
Delete- Gregg
Sorry, forgot to add air conditioned , subscriptions of any kind, homebaking and cable tv (never had any of this).
DeleteMaria
Hello Linda and Gregg
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for who you are and what you write.You are trully an inspiration.
I have always lived in Portugal, in Lisbon, then in a small city and now inthe countryside.
My easylist contains what yours do, except for the car.We have a small car because we need it to go to work ( where we livether is a lack of public transports).
Also, i have to add to my easy list: smartphone ( never had one, I trust more my Nokia), dishwashig machine ( never had one, I find it easier to wash by hand), dryclothes machine (never had one, I dry my clothes outside, even in winter with rain), capsule coffemachine( never had one), some cleanig products ( I use vinegar, alchool , soap and sodim bycarbonate), some personal hygiene products such as shampoo, bathgel and handgel ( we use homemade soap), make up (never used, it's bad for our health and for the people who extrat the resources to produce it), soda or other drinks ( we drink water always), paper towel for the Kitchen ( I cleand with a soapy sponge and then dry with a clothe), snacks, manicure and pedicure (I do it myself), some kitchen appliances ( I only have a no eletric balance, toaster, blender and hand mixer - trying to convince my husband to get ridd of the microwave).
The list is long (and I think I could add more to it).
The thing is, since my childhood (I am 56 years old) I have seen how my grandparents and my parents lived, a life in tune with natue, simple, frugal and happy, being gratefull for what they had, giving importance to what really matters, family, friends and neighbours, helping each other.So, I learned from them, and since my early existence they tought me what they were doing ( cooking from sratch, never throwing food away, mending clothes, clean the house, etc).
Also, Portugal has always been a poor country with poor people ( very low wages) so we had to live this kind of life. Although in some cities (usually the big cities) this has changed, there are still a lot of people who do this.
So, I would like to thank you both for what you do, and please continue to write this blog.
For me, is pure joy when I see you have a new post. Your blog changed my life: lead me to think about life in general and my values and atitudes in particular. Inspired me to live a life more meaningfull, thinking about my consumer habits (I am a frugal persone, but there is space for improvement), be kinder to Mother Earth and so to other living beings in this planet.
Whishing you peace, love and health.
Maria