Simplify to Use Less, Spend Less, Waste Less

One of the best ways to go green, save money, and enhance your quality of life, is to simply use less. Minimalism and simplicity are big buzzwords right now, especially among the eco-concious, but the concept can be confusing and alienating. It doesn't mean denying yourself things that bring you pleasure; it's about freeing yourself from clutter and focusing on what's important.

So what does that mean exactly? Here are some easy steps to help simplify your life:

1. Avoid trying to buy your way out of a problem. Since we live in a consumerist society, we are taught by advertisements that by simply buying a new product, we can buy our way out of our problems. Instead, think about what your problem is, and if it can be solved another way, with resources you already have. Many products are aimed at serving only one specific purpose, in order to make money, but often that purpose can be served by another, more general product you may already own.

2. Ask yourself, "do I really need this?" When you step into a room, think before you automatically flip on that light switch. Open the window first, and see if the lighting is adequate to complete whatever task you need to accomplish. When you go to the store, make sure everything in your cart are things you need, or things that you know will bring you joy. A new shirt may be nice for awhile, but does it really fit perfectly? Are you sure you don't already have one like it? Be critical of your purchases and actions, and you'll find yourself saving resources and money.

3. Get rid of clutter. Keep your living and work spaces free from anything you don't use or need. Get rid of things that don't bring you joy. Donate or recycle these things.

4. Just use less. Be mindful of what you use, and how you use it. Instead of dumping half the bottle of dish soap into a dirty pan, put in only what you need to get it clean, and you'll buy dish soap less often. Don't buy disposable dishware just to get out of doing the dishes. Drink filtered tap water stored in a reusable bottle instead of buying individual water bottles. Use less, spend less, waste less.

This all may sound hard. Here are some benefits:

1. Spend less money. The less you buy, the less you spend. Since I've started thinking critically about my purchases, I've found I buy less, but I don't notice that I have less. Meaning, I've only eliminated things that I never really needed in the first place. For example, I've found I could eliminate most of the cleaners under my sink by switching to a few eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners, so I no longer buy specific products for every kind of surface and stain. Saves space under the sink, my home is still clean, and I save money by buying less.

2. Less clutter. Think of all the junk that's accumulated in your home that you don't really use or need anymore. Wouldn't it be nice if it were all gone, and you only had what you needed, and it was all easy to find? Most people try to solve this program with organizing, keeping everything with the mindset of "I might possibly, maybe use this in the future". The problem with this is that the clutter is never really gone, and as soon as anything gets out of place, the mess is back. Instead, keep only what you know you will use again. This benefit of less clutter works in tandem with step one. Chances are, a lot of that stuff you've accumulated, you didn't really need to buy in the first place, and by not buying it anymore, you have less clutter (and more money).

3. Better for the environment. Of course, this blog is about being green, and it should be obvious that by using less, you're, well, using less. Less resources, less pollution, fewer trucks on the road, etc. Most everything we buy is made overseas in factories that pollute the earth (remember, environmental policies are not the same in all countries), and then shipped long distances to get to you. Instead, save your money, and invest it into things you support and care about.

4. You'll be satisfied with less. This is counter-intuitive to how most Americans think-- we always want more, more, more. Unfortunately, we can't always afford more. As we have more stuff, we need more storage and bigger houses, but as the recent housing market collapse has proven, we might not be able to afford a bigger house. If you have less and use less, you'll find yourself needing and wanting less, and will be less likely to exceed your income.

5. Own things of higher quality. Instead of buying many cheap things that break or quickly become unnecessary/obsolete, buy fewer, higher quality, durable, beautiful items that will last for a long time, and will bring you more joy. With the money you save from buying less, you can save up for the things you really do want, without all of the debt and guilt.

6. Your living spaces will be more calm, organized, and stress-free. It's wonderfully satisfying to know where everything is, and to not have piles of junk to distract you. Free up surfaces of clutter, and instead put up art, heirlooms, and things that you enjoy seeing everyday.

Of course, minimalism and simplicity can mean different things for everybody. Some may find it possible to live with nothing more than they can carry on their backs. This is a little extreme for most people, but it doesn't mean you can't declutter your life a bit. Maybe it means saving up to buy a really nice pair that actually fit, instead of accumulating a bunch of jeans that almost barely fit. Maybe it means buying only the groceries you know you will use, so that nothing has the chance to spoil, and you can save up for higher quality, local, organic ingredients. There are a lot of ways to interpret this concept, so find our what works for you!

Fortunately, there are a lot of resources about these concepts available on the internet already. Here are some of my favorites:

Zen Habits - Probably the most renowned resource on simplified living available on the web, with many guest authors. Great tips for how to simplify all aspects of your life, live more sustainably, and find purpose and joy in what you do. By Leo Babauta.

mnmlist - From the same author as Zen Habits (Leo Babauta), but for the more hardcore minimalist. Many readers may find some of it a bit extreme, but some good information nonetheless.

Unclutterer - A great blog about getting and staying organized. By getting organized and getting rid of clutter, you know where all of your things are, and avoid buying things you may already own, but can't find.