Simple Life – Part 4
Posted on February 13th, 2012 under Wealth of Advice
Bt Francisco J. Colayco
These tips are from the website Zen Habits that I bring meaning and relationship to your money.
Tip No. 13 is “Simplify your wardrobe. Is your closet bursting full? Are your drawers so stuffed they can’t close (I’m talking about dresser drawers here, not underwear). Simplify your wardrobe by getting rid of anything you don’t actually wear. Try creating a minimal wardrobe by focusing on simple styles
and a few solid colors that all match each other.”
When you keep things that you do not use in your closet, you are depriving someone else who could have real use for them. You should not have spent money to buy those in the first place but since you already have them, use them or give them to someone who will use them. I know you can be concerned that you might use them someday. True but if those are actually WANTS and you wan really do without them.
I know many impose a “uniform” on themselves to remove the need for too many clothes. If this is something you can be happy with, it is a good idea. It will really save you a lot of money because you will not be embarrassed to use the same clothes more often and therefore be less tempted or forced to buy more clothes.
Tip No.14 is “Simplify your computing life. If you have trouble with too many files and too much disorganization, consider online computing. It can simplify things greatly.”
Many still do not have computers, whether personal or work so they are hesitant to start learning how to operate a computer. This is much like that happened to the texting when the cell phone was new. Nobody thought that texting would be so important to Filipinos. The same thing will happen to computers. It is the communication tool of the future.
You should also not use your age to stop you from learning. Notice how young kids who are exposed to computers learn so quickly. This is because they have no fear and are not afraid to make mistakes and do not care if people laugh at them.
When you know how to use the computer, you can keep a lot of records in the internet and therefore less clutter in your home or workplace. You can use internet cafes in lieu of buying a computer. If you do not play games, you will not have to spend too much on the usage.
Just a reminder. All these tips are really to remind you that the road to success is usually shortest when there are few obstacles. Personal belongings that have no real purpose or use are in fact obstacles to success. Simplifying life also means reducing or getting rid of unnecessary belongings around you.
Tip No. 15 is “Declutter your digital packrattery. If you are a digital packrat, and cannot seem to control your digital clutter, there is still hope for you.”
A packrat is one who loves to keep everything. The usual excuse given by a packrat is that maybe he might need the item. We talked about how computers help you to lessen your clutter of papers and documents in your workplace or home. However, you can also accumulate clutter in the internet and this is not a good habit. Those who are already computer-savvy face this issue. Having too many documents even on internet filing system uses up space and time for you to find what you need. Maybe space in the internet may not cost extra money. But as we already know, time wasted will always cost money. Time Lost could cause the loss of opportunities or even extra expenses. Specifically, if you don’t have a computer, looking for documents in the internet will need more time in the internet café.
Besides, if you have learned to clean up your surroundings of clutter as we have been discussing in the past issues, you will be ready to use the same principles and systems in cleaning up your computer data.
Tip No. 16 is “Create a simplicity statement. What do you want your simple life to look like?”
An important advice I always give when I ask you to make your financial plans is to put it in writing. This is the same principle being used for your simplicity statement. Based on experience, goals and systems that are put in writing are more likely to be followed. If you keep your thoughts in your head, you will most likely forget many of them.
In making your financial goals, you have to be exact about the kind of lifestyle you want to live. Based on this lifestyle, you have to make your plans to be able to earn enough money to maintain it.
Your simplicity statement is similar to establishing your lifestyle goal. The simpler you want to make your life, the simpler your financial goals will be. In short, the simplest way in planning your financial life is to set specific amounts that you would want to accumulate at specific times in the future for specific purposes, i.e. how much, when and why!
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