Simplicity as a Life-style: 10 Practical Steps
Simplicity as a Life-style: 10 Practical Steps
There is a relatively new phenomenon in North America called ‘voluntary simplicity.’ The term ‘voluntary simplicity’ is used to describe a process whereby people opt out of the harried life of modern day living, and chose to live a life of frugality. Frugality in this sense doesn’t mean poverty rather, it means, enjoying the virtue of getting good value for every minute of your life energy and from everything you have the use of. Frugal is characterised by or reflective of economy in the expenditure of resources.
Simplicity means making time for yourself in a hectic world. You clear out what is superfluous and make room for a life of passion, depth, and joy. As people become more and more stressed out from the pace of modern life and as we become increasingly concerned about the price of our over-consumption of the planet’s resources, the movement to living in a state of ‘mindfulness’ has increasing interest as a chosen life-style. To be mindful means to dwell deeply in the present moment knowing there is only one opportunity and it will never come again.
Voluntary simplicity comes from within. It is a social movement of a more sustainable, gratifying, and spiritually connected existence. Voluntary simplicity is a matter of personal responsibility and conscious awareness of how we live on the planet. It means identifying the difference between our needs and our wants. Needs are those things that are necessary for our survival – food, clothing, and shelter. Wants are all the other things we desire and to a large extent are driven by media advertising. Simplicity as a life-style is the identifiable difference between needs and wants, and the awareness of the cost in terms of our life force energy and our willingness to pay the price.
Pursuing a Life of Simplicity
The Chinese pictograph for ‘busy’ is composed of two characters: heart and killing. When I first read this, I thought of the many people who are ‘too busy’ to make that phone call to someone they love and then one day it is too late; the many children who get gifts and/or money instead of their parents’ time and then one day they leave home and it is too late; the many times we have an opportunity to touch someone’s life with kindness but we are ‘too busy’ and the moment never comes again and it is too late.
As we search for meaning in our lives, we start to become aware of the emptiness and shallowness of a life based on materialism and consumerism. We become aware of the tremendous expenditure of our ‘life force energy’ to just keep up with the daily ‘rat race.’ We start the search for a life of deeper meaning and ask ourselves ‘what gives us joy?’ We realise we don’t know and can’t answer the question but we feel a yearning in our hearts for a sense of connection, a sense of purpose, and the sense that our life matters. The question demands an answer. We discover that all the myths such as: get a job, get married, have children, buy a mortgage with a two-car garage, and you will be happy, makes us wonder what is the matter with us when we feel the increasing futility of it all. The emphasis on externally meeting our needs leaves a ‘hole in our soul’ as we consume more and more and feel less and less satisfied. Consume by definition means to do away with completely; destroy – to spend wastefully; and squander – use up. Is consumed by our meaningless and frenzied consumerism a description that all too closely resembles most our lives?
What we don’t realise is that we are spiritual beings, in a physical body, having a human experience, and when we don’t connect the internal (spiritual) and the external (physical), our lives increasingly lose a sense of balance or harmony. There is literally no distinction between the outer and the inner when our lives are in balance, and as we seek this stability, where do we start? We start by examining our expectations and assumptions including the belief systems that drive us to live our lives ‘zombie-like’ without determining whether or not we want to play this game. We move towards consciously asking the questions about how much of our ‘life force energy’ we are prepared to exchange for the material goods we consume. This expenditure of ‘life force energy’ includes the storing, cleaning, insurance costs, maintaining, etc. all the stuff that clutters our lives.
Practical Steps to Simplifying Your Life
1. Reuse paper bags, envelopes, newspapers, etc. Newspapers and shredded paper make excellent mulch in the garden. The mulch will break down over a period of time and add humus to the soil. (Don’t use coloured flyers.)
2. Have a Buy Nothing Day.
3. Carve some space for ‘mindful living’ so that you have time for ‘beingness’ rather than ‘doingness.’
4. Find friends who know the glass is half-full or in other words, find friends who share the same value system as you do.
5. Grow your own food or buy as much as possible from local growers.
6. Use non-toxic products such as borax, vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and salt in your home, yard, and garden.
7. Before you buy something, write the item down on a note and if you still want it after a month, purchase it then.
8. Decide what is really working in your life and let go of that which no longer serves you.
9. Surround yourself with what you really need and love.
10. Go Organic. Organic gardening is not only about the avoidance of chemicals, but in the
larger picture, it is organic living using Nature’s laws.
For The Cheapest Car Insurance Rate Visit A Specialist Website
For The Cheapest Car Insurance Rate Visit A Specialist Website
If you want the cheapest car insurance rate then your best bet is to go to a standalone specialist, the specialist website will be able to find you the cheapest car insurance rate for the premiums and also make plenty of advice available so that you can read up on the benefits of the different types of insurance available to you, which means that you find the perfect choice for you needs.
The three basic types of car insurance are fully comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party only and factors such as the age of the car and how much it cost will depend on what type of insurance is right for your circumstances.
Fully comprehensive will give you the most cover but is the dearest way of insuring your car – however, if you have a new car then you might have no option but to take fully comp. It would pay out to repair your car and the other party’s if you should be involved in an accident which was deemed to be your fault and insure against it being stolen or damaged by fire.
Third party fire and theft will pay out if your car should be stolen or damaged by fire and will also payout for damage to the other party’s car through an accident of your fault.
Third party only will only payout for any damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident and is of course the cheapest form of insurance but wont payout to repair your car.
A car insurance rate will vary from provider to provider so it is essential that you get more than one quote whichever type of car insurance you wish to take. By shopping around and comparing the car insurance rate you will be able to get the best possible deal on the type of insurance that you want or need and the quickest way to do this is by letting a specialist website compare quotes on your behalf.
How to find the Best Boat Insurance Policy
How to find the Best Boat Insurance Policy
In order to obtain the best possible insurance coverage for your particular watercraft consider taking the following steps.
Research a number of insurance companies, as well as a variety of policies on the internet. This will help you to determine which features you would like to have written into your policy, and which ones you may not feel as strongly about.
After investigating as many companies as you can, select 3 or 4 which offer the most extensive packages. Be certain that each company will be able to meet or exceed your insurance needs by viewing their policy options. When selecting these companies also consider which ones have the most experience in dealing with the type of insurance you want. Boat owners should consider choosing companies which specialize in boating insurance, rather than other types of insurance.
Get at least 3 quotes. These can be obtained online, or by contacting a representative from each company, to explain what you want, and request a quote. Obtaining a quote does not obligate you to purchase the insurance. If you are not satisfied with the coverage offered, or the rates quoted, then you can simply say No thank you.
Dont be pressured into selecting a policy, until you feel confident that you have found the right one. Before you purchase any policy take the time to talk with a representative of the insurance company. Evaluate the service that representative provides. If you do not feel comfortable with one company, consider looking into another. It will be important in the future, should you need to file a claim, that you feel confident that the representative will be attentive to you as a customer.
Tips And Advice For Purchasing Life Insurance
Tips And Advice For Purchasing Life Insurance
Life insurance can be a great investment to make sure that your family will be okay after you pass away. If you’re thinking about purchasing life insurance, you may be overwhelmed by the number of options you have. Read on for some tips on choosing a life insurance policy that does what you need it to.
Many life insurance brokers and agents get paid through commission. It is therefore to their benefit to sell you the most expensive package they can with as many riders as possible. Because of this, before agreeing to a specific life insurance policy, you should get a second opinion. Make sure everything included is something that you actually need!
The cost of a life insurance policy will partly depend on a medical exam that you take. However, there is nothing stopping you from getting a medical checkup prior to shopping for a policy. You should definitely do so to see if there are any unexpected problems that you can resolve before you get life insurance. Also, try to get in better shape for that exam!
When considering life insurance, be sure to adopt a healthy lifestyle, as this will greatly effect your rates. Give up smoking and lose weight. Be sure to be forthcoming with this information, as well as any other healthy activities that you can name. Your rate is often time negotiable.
You have a lot of options when it comes to the type of life insurance you will purchase. Depending on your age, your level of coverage needed and your budget, you will need to have your insurance agent or representative explain these to you in detail. Make sure to ask lots of questions, don’t just take their word for it.
For the most life insurance coverage at the lowest price, choose a term policy instead of whole life insurance. The high costs of whole life are due to the investment aspect and the fact that these polices result in a cash value, but it really is better to keep your investments separate from your insurance.
Being healthy will cause your life insurance rate to drop. You cannot foresee every medical issue you are going to run into, but you can definitely adopt healthier habits. You should stop smoking and drinking, as well as eat healthier food and perhaps go on a special diet if you have high cholesterol or a similar issue.
Term life insurance is a more affordable option for life insurance. It only covers you for a set period of years; it is usually sold for 10, 20, or 30 year periods. A term life insurance policy is usually much less expensive than a whole life insurance policy per month.
Life insurance can be confusing sometimes, but it’s not so hard to choose a good policy when you know what to look for. Now that you know more about different types of life insurance and how they relate to you, you can choose a life insurance package that covers your needs.
What Does Your Home Owner Insurance Cover?
What Does Your Home Owner Insurance Cover?
There are many details that go into a home owner insurance policy.
If you think that a home owner insurance policy is nothing more than a piece of paper you should reconsider. The fact of the matter is that a lot of work goes into preparing a home owner insurance policy.
For people who are not aware of all the details of a policy problems may arise somewhere down the line. So in order to combat these issues you will want to look into what a home owner insurance policy offers.
One thing that you should know before starting is that no two home owner insurance policies are the same.
Many people think that every company offers the same type of policy to all of their customers.
It may be true that two home owners have similar policies, but as far as there being a “standard option” there is no such thing.
When you buy your home owner insurance policy you will be getting what is best for you and your home. This is something that you will need to work out with your insurer so that you get what is best.
The first thing to look at on a home owner insurance policy is how much coverage you are getting. Your coverage amount will be directly affected by how much your premium is.
The higher your premium the more coverage you are going to receive. Of course this will differ from company to company, but all in all this is the way that things break down.
Additionally, look at the cost of your home owner insurance policy. Do not get caught thinking that you have to pay a high premium for your home owner insurance policy just because one insurer said so. Remember, every company offers different premium levels when it comes to home owner insurance policy.
Overall, there are many fine details of home owner insurance policies that you must become familiar with.
If you take these details for granted you may not get what you want in the end. And obviously, your home owner insurance policy is something that is very important so you want it to be the best. After all, this is what will protect one of the biggest investments that you will ever make.
Ways To Get The Most From Your Health Insurance Plan (2)
Ways To Get The Most From Your Health Insurance Plan
If you really want to know what stress is than you should try to live a few days without health insurance. You will begin to worry about every little cough or sniffle. Health insurance is one of those investments that just makes sense, both for yourself and for every member of your family.
When seeking good health insurance, be sure to do an online search first. By seeking good insurance policies and rates online, you can compare many policies side-by-side and get a good idea of which ones will really suit your needs and your pocketbook. Additionally, if you educate yourself on what the lowest priced insurance companies offer, you can sometimes use that knowledge to negotiate a better deal with a higher ranking company.
A great health insurance tip is to review your health insurance policy, every year. It’s good to do this because you’ll stay current and know what your options are. You might also find out that you’re covered for a disease or illness that you didn’t know you were covered for.
Contact multiple insurers separately when seeking a health insurance policy. Ask them the necessary questions about policy options and always be sure that you’re speaking with them in person and not through a computer. Via email or their website is not a good enough option if you really need to know about your coverage.
To get good health insurance rates when you don’t get insurance through an employer, affiliate yourself with a group. Group rates are the reason the health insurance rates employers offer are often so much lower. If you’re self-employed, try the Freelancers Union. Seek out any options that might be available to make sure you get affordable insurance.
Don’t forget to consider the size of your deductible when you are choosing a health insurance plan. It may be tempting to select a larger deductible in exchange for lower premiums, but keep in mind that you will be responsible for that amount. If you can’t afford to pay that much, go with the higher premiums and lower deductible.
Don’t let a health insurance company bribe you into purchasing one of their plans. Many insurance companies offer new customers freebies and other exclusive rewards to entice them to purchase, however the health plans on offer can be expensive and include lots of extra converge that you may not need.
If you have a serious health condition that makes it difficult or expensive for you to secure a health insurance policy, seek the services of a health insurance agent. Some agents specialize or at least have experience in finding health insurance for those that are hard to insure, so take advantage of their expertise.
With the prices of medical procedures at the astronomical highs that they are, and the poor quality of the public health services, you surely want to have the best health coverage you can get. The tips in this article should have prepared you to understand more about health care and how to use it to your advantage.