Shaun Groves
Yesterday I wrote about how Becky and I have tried to simplify our thinking about simplicity. Today is all about how we’ve, over the last three years, simplified how we live as a result of that kind of thinking. I want to be clear though that we have not “arrived” – whatever that is – but we feel we’re still in transition toward simplicity.
Here’s some of what we’ve done to simplify our lives so far. Keep in mind that all of this has been done because we think it fits our definition of simplicity: Taking less to give more.
- Moved from 4600 square feet to 1600.*
- Went to one car and it’s paid for.*
- Cancelled cable.*
- Limited TV watching to one hour a day for the kids, and none for me and Becky.
- Grow a small amount of produce ourselves. My father-in-law plants our garden every year.
- Buy some produce from a local farmers’ co-op.
- Buy fewer clothes: taught (are teaching) kids to care of their stuff, patch what rips, and get new clothes when the old ones wear out, not when fashion changes.
- Use mostly condensed fluorescent bulbs and turn off lights if we know we’ll be out of a room for more than a couple minutes.*
- Leave windows open instead of using the AC when it’s possible.*
- Compost everything organic so we use the disposal very rarely and make fertilizer at the same time.
- Recycle everything we can in our area – cardboard, plastic, glass, cans.
- Clip coupons. (Though it’s hard to find coupons for healthier food choices.)*
- Use Samaritan Ministries instead of insurance.*
- Don’t buy new if possible – no matter how pretty and cool new is.
- Borrow and lend.
- Limited eating out to once a week*
- Stopped drinking caffeine. And then stopped it again. And now once again.*
- Slayed Santa*
* = Estimated $15,600 saved annually.
IT’S A PROCESS
We didn’t stop giving our kids gifts at Christmas, go to one car, borrow a mower, and start a garden in one month. Not even in one year. This was a process for us that took years. And there’s more to be done, we know – more stuff to cut out of our lives, more to give away, and more consistency needed across the board. It’s a process.
IT’S NOT FOR YOU
This isn’t a mandatory checklist for you or anyone else to work through. These things aren’t hidden somewhere in the original Greek of the New Testament or tucked away in some forgotten chapter of Leviticus. This is the stuff we’ve tried that worked for us. There’s stuff we tried that didn’t work too. This is our attempt at living more simply based on our budget, lifestyle, values, geography and ability. Results may vary. Lists probably should too.
Still to come: Stuff we’re trying next.
Pam says:
Hey Shawn,
I applaud your baby steps. I have tried to make my own since returning to the USA after living in East Africa the last two years.
On the coupon note. If you have a Whole Foods Store near you, they have books of coupons in a basket near their checkout, that have coupons for loads of organic dairy products and also healthier pre-packaged food options. I usually grab a stack of them and then use them for the same products that are most often cheaper at the local grocery. I sometimes can then get organic yogurt, milk and eggs for near to free.
Wayward Now Home says:
“Slayed Santa.”
Hahaha. I love how you put that into words so elegantly. Commercialized holidays are a huge money-sink and refusing to buy gifts because it’s a “gift holiday” is a good start, in my opinion.
Your estimate of yearly savings is amazing. It really makes me wonder what I could cut out of my life and how much money I would have leftover for more important things.
amyschristopher says:
What a great post. The world has started to scare me, almost to the point that I think we all need to go back to the Little House on the Prairie days. Simplifying my life like this would take a lot of stress away!!
Long time reader, first time commenter
Peace
Emily says:
These posts are so helpful, so enlightening, and so encouraging. Great stuff.
Dave Carrol says:
Shaun that’s a very cool post.
Thanks dude
bridal shower games says:
shaun….two thumbs up from me….at last, i got some ideas on how to simplified life bro
Laura says:
I have loved your last 2 posts and we are moving in this direction as a family as well! We are still holding out on the cable, but have done a lot of the other things – could I link your posts on my (tiny little) blog?
Shaun Groves says:
Sure. Link away.
If you don’t mind me prying…what’s the biggest hurdle you guys have to giving up cable?
Brad says:
Although this list is not meant as a mandatory checklist for others, have you found that as you move down this path of simplicity it becomes harder to relate to folks who have a different perspective on what they consume and how they live? Has it affected your friendships at all? When you talk to your buddy and he goes on and on about the loads of gifts they gave to their kids who already have overflowing closets, or when you go over for dinner and watch them dump all of the organics down the disposal and throw away all of the recyclables, or when you politely decline to go out to dinner and starbucks every other night, or when you visit their 4600 square foot home with every light kept on during the day and their 50” plasma TV constantly blaring the current sports broadcast along with all of the racy adverts…. you get the idea.
How do you pursue a simple life for the sake of the gospel without allowing it to cause a disconnect between your friends who are at a different place? In the end, it leaves me wondering whether our lists really are lists we hold over others. And I don’t know what to do about that.
Jamie Ivey says:
Shaun love this post.
YEs we are trying to do this too and honestly some things are not easy.
Since we have lived here (5 years) we have never had cable (except when our apt paid for it) and for some reason we got it a few months ago. I think we thought we were getting a good deal, when in fact it upped our monthly expense and it caused us to watch more tv.
this past week we’ve been asking people to help a mission in haiti and we looked at ourselves and knew what we had to do. why they heck do we have cable? we cancelled it that night and it is much better. the kids have only asked about diego once!
there are many things we could list that we’ve tried and some have worked and others …. well we’re still working on them.
you are right when you say it is a journey that only YOU can go on. you can’t measure your success by other people, but yet by what God has asked you to do and how it’s working out for you.
thanks for writing great stuff.
jamie
Chris says:
Shaun, I am glad you mention that the “list” is individual for each person – there are obviously things that you haven’t given up (fancy camera, internet, computers) and your reasons behind your “list” are different for any reasons I may have for my list.
The important thing is to at least think about those things that are important to us and make sure they line up with God expects of us and make sure that none of our “stuff” takes His place.
Great posts…..
Shaun Groves says:
Chris, before this series is up I’ll address the “fancy camera, internet, computer” part of your comment for sure.
Thanks for encouragement, everybody.
What’s on your list? How are you moving toward simplicity? If you’re not, why not?
Laura says:
Yes, you can ask – our hangup is SPORTS! I could chuck the rest of programming out the window, but hubby and I really enjoy watching our local teams together!
I liked Brad’s comments – I am already finding that a bit difficult with my family, etc – but I think deep down we all long for simplicity!
Sarah Chia says:
We’ve been on our own continuing journey toward simplicity. Though I think that you and I have different definitions, which is fine. I don’t consider the work of gardening to be a simplifying factor in my life right now, so that one hasn’t made our list, although it probably will once we’re out of the whining baby stage.
Things we have done are not ordering cable, not buying new clothes, using Google Calendar to coordinate schedules, keeping an emergency fund, planning meals before I grocery shop.
Kelly @ Love Well says:
Love the practicalness of these ideas, Shaun. Simplicity is a great idea, and certainly it’s a personal process. But sometimes, it’s helpful to read what others are doing in the real world.
We’re making strides toward simplicity. Last year, we left our 5,000-sq-foot home and moved to a 1900-sq-foot townhome so we could a. be closer to hubby’s work and b. get ready for the next phase of our life, which will hopefully include a lot of living simply goals. But since our old house is still on the market right now—which means we are paying 2 mortgages—we are in a waiting mode for the big changes.
Tara Livesay says:
I am a new reader to your blog, and actually heard your music for the first time today. I am a Sara Groves fan and used to wonder if there was any connection … actually, I still wonder.
I don’t know if my family is moving toward simplicity yet or not. We have a fairly simple life but I would still like to be remain open to ideas and improvement.
I think the best thing we can all do is to be certain that we act on what God convicts us to do – and that would be different for each of us … (and I love Internet and Computers and my husbands camera – so I am won’t give them up.)
(I am NOT saying that is what you’re doing – not at all!)
BUT- It bums me out when people turn this sort of stuff into a big competition of who can give up more and who lives the greenest and the focus then shifts to each other and we all do plenty of looking at each other (and I speak of myself here as well.)
Personal conviction should lead to real change, trying to live simply to out- simplify (to coin a new phrase) your buddy seems to be missing the point.
We can all do a little something (maybe just one thing) to free up dollars for others who NEED it, I am convinced of that.
Enjoying your blog.
tara L.
ps- I loved your homeschooling post. We have homeschooled here and there and I sure wish I would have known how to say what you said! We’re all weird.
keith says:
Thanks for posting this.
We’re trying a lot of things on that list, too. Another thing on my list is that we have decreased church activities over the years. I’m at church three times a week, which still sounds like a lot. My wife and kids are there only once. We’re also looking forward to a time when church is more of a way of life instead of a place to go. We understand this more theoretically than practically right now.
Amy says:
To the commenter who said we need to go back to Little House Days…no way! I read this book all the time with my students about some of the pioneers and how they lived in a dirt house (which the Ingalls did) and bugs would fall down on their dinner. EEEEWWW! It’s easy to romanticize the past, but there are things I’m thrilled not to have to deal with.
We have cable. For me, it’s included in my rent. I’ve said before that no cable means no tv at all, but that probably doesn’t fly with you Shaun, because you don’t watch any tv. However, you also don’t read fiction. You don’t live and breathe story like some of us and that works for you. I decided this year to ditch a bunch of shows and now I’m mainly watching for shows like LOST and American Idol.
I’m on a clothes buying fast as well. I simply have way too many. I realized that when I was packing.
For someone like me, these are huge changes. Shopping is an addiction and it has always been a huge recreational activity for me. Bargain hunting has always been my favorite sport. however, getting bargains is not always in everyone’s best interest. (like the kids working in unsafe factories for less than a dollar a day.) So I am trying to learn about not buying new and also about buying fair trade. I’m trying to remember that even though I might save a buck on something, that doesn’t make it a righteous purchase. It’s really hard…in the heat of the moment, I might just want to shop at Wal-mart instead of figuring something else out.
I’m with you on all of the green stuff. I just attended a session today at Book Expo America on how the book industry is dealing with their impact on the environment and it was really interesting and impressive to me since my company does absolutely nothing and also is now outsourcing at alarming rates. But that’s another story.
pam says:
Great list. Thanks so much for sharing this. Inspiring and challenging . . .
Marian Van Eyk McCain says:
It does my heart good to see more and more people – especially young people – finding ways to live more lightly on our lovely, precious Earth. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Marian Van Eyk McCain (author of “The Lilypad List: 7 steps to the simple life”)
Shelia says:
Shaun,
Bartering is a nice compliment to the whole borrow/lend thing. One of my favorite trade offs has been this: I teach in a high school tutorial program for kids who are home schooled. The mom of one of my students is a licensed massage therapist. Rather than pay me the usual tuition, she has paid me in massages. It has been fabulous!!
You are smart to do this when you kids are still young. For them, it will just be normal. Do you know about Morningside Farms food co-op?. They deliver once a month to Murfreesboro or will UPS for a fee. It is less about fresh food and more about staples, like grains if you happen to have a grain mill, natural sweeteners, vitamins, essential oils, etc. They do have frozen foods, snacks, etc… I like it because there is no joining fee. You get an email once a month reminding you it’s time to order, then you go pick it up or have it delivered. Several friends and I used to order once a month. On of us would go pick up everyone’s stuff, then distribute. I now order less frequently and just stock up. They will also allow you to split cases on most items, unlike most co-ops. There is wonderful Amish butter in the cool months, but they won’t ship it in the summer. You can check them out at http://www.morningsidefarm.com
Corporate Hampers says:
What you classify as a process sounds more like a tradition to me
Erin says:
I am really enjoying these posts on your blog! My husband will soon be employed by the state and will have great benifits, but we recently learned about Samaritian Ministries and thought we would choose that route instead. I love the idea of our money going to a brother or sister in need than the pockets of an insuarance agency! Please post about your experience with them, I don’t think many know about this yet.
JAI says:
Shaun you are great!This post will admire every person who reads this.I think this is the step to save the world from various economical prolems.I will follow SIMPLICITY from now and throughout my life.
Shellie says:
Shaun,
We live overseas (American expats). I THOUGHT we were living simply – no car, no clothes dryer, minimal AC, lots of local produce, etc. We’ve done a lot to try to simplify our lives here, to live more like the locals and less like consumer-crazed westerners. BUT, reading this series of posts has really challenged me to think about how much money I spend on trying to hang on to the things that I used to have in the USA. A great example of that would be having special import foods shipped to our city every few months. I’ve learned to make lots of things myself, but still… Thanks for the kick in the pants to re-evaluate what we are wasting and what more we can be doing to live simply so that we can give more to others!