Embracing the Simple Life

With all of recent buzz over the massive recession- the bleak housing crisis, the surmounting employment losses, the market falling nearly every day- my outlook on life and my future goals have really started to change. Luckily enough for Eric and I, we still have our jobs (I was even offered extra hours just last week- definitely something to take advantage of at a time like this, even though I’m already stretched rather thin). We’ve also been blessed in that we locked into a fixed rate mortgage for the purchase of our condo about 2 years ago and have not lost any home value. Therefore, we have not necessarily felt the wrath of this recession in these regards. However, what has had an impact on us are the overwhelming changes in priorities and the pleasant shift in focus onto what really matters in life. That has been a welcome change, at least for me.

There have been a couple ways that we’ve been cutting corners lately. For one, we’re definitely eating more at home. I’ve always been a stickler for packed lunches and luckily Eric now feels the same. We never eat out during the week- just do the math of spending $5 to $10 a day to eat out, 5 days a week! Completely unnecessary. Plus, although we enjoy the occasional dinner date, we have always tried to stick to the general rule of eating dinner out no more than 2 or 3 times per month. Until recently, we never used to think twice about stopping at Chili’s for a quick bite. Now, we have definitely curbed our impulse to eat out and try to plan meals at home more often. Plus, making meals at home is much healthier anyway.

Along the same line as eating in more often, we try to organize dinner swaps every week or so with our friends and families. Meaning that we host my sister or mother-in-law and family for dinner one week and then the next, they host us. It’s a great way to spend time with others, not to mention looking forward to no cooking or dish duty that day. We’ve learned that fancy group outings that we used to splurge on quite often are just plain expensive these days- a movie and dinner or a round of mini golf and some ice-cream equals the cost for our groceries- for the entire week (perhaps less if I bring my coupons)!

Furthermore, we’ve become frugal in terms of activities and entertainment choices. We hardly ever go to the movie theater just because of the sheer cost (I think the last film we saw in the theater was the Chronicles of Narnia!). But, there are these great Red Box DVD rental machines at our local grocery stores and pharmacies that rent for only $1. We can afford that! We usually rent a movie about every week or so for a cheap night in. And those long drives with no where to go? No more. That’s one thing that Eric and I used to love to do- driving around somewhere or nowhere, just chatting and enjoying the scenery- they just don’t make sense anymore. Even with fuel prices at a low, it’s nothing much to miss that a simple walk together can’t replace.

Join me in raising your home-brewed coffee or frozen-lemonade-from-concentrate drink to the simple life!