The Simplicity Institute

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The Simplicity Institute - Melbourne University

The Simpler Way

  • The Simpler Way is an emerging social movement are voluntarily passing up high consumption, energy-intensive lifestyles and creating for themselves a lower consumption but higher quality of life alternative.
  • By limiting their working hours and consumption, spending their money thoughtfully, growing their own food, riding bikes, rejecting high fashion, and generally celebrating life outside the shopping mall, these people are the ‘new pioneers’ transitioning to a simpler form of life beyond consumer culture.
  • Furthermore, they are showing that this is the surest path to a sustainable life of freedom, happiness, and deep contentment.
  • The following actions have been either directly copied or adapted from The Simpler Way - A Practical action plan for living more on less publication from The Simplicity Institute authored by Samuel Alexander, Ted Trainer and Simon Ussher.

Mindfulness and Attitude

It may seem strange to begin a document on the practice of simplicity by talking about ‘mindfulness and attitude.’ Isn’t this document supposed to be about actually doing things differently, not just thinking differently? Yes it is, but it is very important to understand that the Simpler Way is first and foremost a frame of mind, a set of attitudes. If our minds are not in order, the Simpler Way will not make sense. Below are some important things to think about – to think seriously about – as you undertake your practical transition to a simpler life.

  • AFFIRM LIFE: Everyday we are faced with a fundamental choice about how we approach life. Choose positivity. If we do not begin each day by saying ‘yes’ to life – even in the face of adversity – then all else is lost. Attitude matters.
  • TAKE A SECOND LOOK: Dissatisfaction with our material or financial situations can sometimes be the result of failing to look properly at our lives, rather than the result of any genuine ‘lack.’ Take a second look. When we understand that genuine wealth does not depend on having the latest consumer products, we might discover that we are much richer than we sometimes think we are.
  • DO NOT CONFUSE ‘STANDARD OF LIVING’ WITH ‘QUALITY OF LIFE’: There comes a point when pursuing a higher ‘standard of living,’ in terms of material wealth, adds absolutely nothing to ‘quality of life,’ in terms of overall wellbeing. Pursuing material wealth can even detract from quality of life if we aren’t careful. If you focus on ‘quality of life’ you will discover it doesn’t depend on being materially wealthy. So step out of the rat race. Seek true abundance – sustainable abundance – in the Simpler Way. ‘There is no wealth but life.’
  • ASK YOURSELF: ‘HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?’ Consumer society is defined by the ethos that ‘more is always better.’ The Simpler Way is defined by the ethos that ‘Just enough is plenty.’ As Henry Thoreau once wrote: ‘Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only.’ Don’t waste life on superfluities. Know how much is enough.
  • OVERCOME STATUS ANXIETY: Many people today work jobs they don’t like, to buy things they don’t need, so that they can impress people they don’t like. But at the end of life these people will deeply regret spending their lives trying to impress other people. Be humble and seek to impress yourself only. Let other people worry about chasing status. This perspective is extremely liberating.
  • THE ‘DEATHBED’ THOUGHT-EXPERIMENT: If you were lying on your deathbed, reflecting on your life, how would you want to have lived? How important will material possessions seem to you on your deathbed? You might agree that ultimately it’s not the possessions that will matter. It’s the people and the experiences. So live life for the people and the experiences, not the stuff. Privilege ‘being’ over ‘having’.
  • BE GRATEFUL: Be grateful for what we have. Do not always demand more. Let us embrace sufficiency, moderation, and frugality. Less really can be more.
  • LIVE DELIBERATELY: Escaping the mindset of consumer culture takes effort. Re- read these points slowly everyday until they take root in personal experience.


Money

Practicing simplicity is much more than just being frugal with money and consuming less – as we have just seen, it is also a state of mind. Nevertheless, in a market economy, spending wisely plays a central role.

Ted Trainer only worked 2 days a week even though he could have worked 5 days a week. He used the extra time he saved (3 days per week) to spend working on his bush block where he lived and pursuing other recreational hobbies. To afford a low cost lifestyle he needed to compromise on many material possessions and travel opportunities. For example, Ted built his own small house for only a fraction of the cost of a conventional house.

  • VOTE WITH YOUR MONEY: It is often said that how we spend our money is how we vote on what exists in the world. This is an extremely important insight. Purchasing something sends a message to the marketplace, affirming the product, its ecological impact, its process of manufacture, etc. Money is power, and with this power comes responsibility. If we spend our money differently, we can change the world. Be conscientious about how you vote with your money.
  • BUY LOCAL, ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE, GREEN, ETC. Voting with your money means supporting businesses that deserve support, and not supporting business that do not deserve support. Spending ethically is sometimes more expensive, which can be challenging. But it is important to do our very best. Beware, however, of ‘green washing,’ and remember that ‘Green consumerism’ is still consumerism.
  • KNOW YOUR FINANCES PRECISELY: It is extremely important to have a very clear understanding of your income and expenses. It takes time to make money, so don’t waste it. Read Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
  • THE 30-DAY MONEY EXPERIMENT: Spend one month taking note of everything you purchase. At the end of the month, categorise your expenses into rent/mortgage, food, electricity, wine, coffees, lunches, etc. then multiply those categories by twelve to get a rough idea of the yearly cost of each of the categories. Small things add up to significant sums over a year. This means that small changes in spending habits can produce significant savings.
  • BUDGET: Set yourself financial goals. Start by trying to save a small amount each week. This is an important exercise in self-discipline. Enjoy the challenge.
  • LIVE BENEATH YOUR MEANS: It provides a sense of security to live on less than you earn. It also proves that you are not an insatiable consumer. Free yourself.
  • SAVE YOUR RAISE: When most people get a pay rise they immediately raise their material standard of living and start spending more. But there is an alternative. When you get a raise, consider immediately putting that extra income into a savings account. Again, this proves your wants are not infinite.
  • AVOID DEBT – BEWARE OF CREDIT CARDS: Banks are generally very eager to offer us credit, because it is a good way to chain us to them. Beware of debt. A useful rule of thumb is: “If I don’t have the money, don’t buy it.”
  • RETHINK YOUR SPENDING: Consider whether you are spending your money wisely. We all assume we are rational spenders, but we might be able to redirect our expenditure in ways that better fulfil our life goals. Perhaps by spending less or more carefully you will be able to work less?

Work and Time

Rethinking attitudes toward work and working hours is central to the Simpler Way. Most of the things we consume have to be purchased, and this means that the more we consume, the more time we have to spend working to pay for our lifestyles.

  • CONSIDER REDUCING WORKING HOURS: Everybody’s situation is different, so reducing working hours may not be feasible. But if you and your household find ways to significantly reduce your overall consumption expenditure, you may find that you don’t have to work so many hours a week in paid employment. This will free up more time to pursue your private passions and engage with your community in meaningful and fulfilling ways. This may reduce your material wealth, but it is likely to increase your quality of life.
  • BUT HOW? If you think it may be feasible to fund a simpler lifestyle by working less, the question is how to make this a reality. There are two main paths to reduced working hours: One option is to find a new job that offers part-time work. The second option is to approach your current employer and ask whether it would be possible to work fewer hours per week on pro rata reduced wages / salary. Your employer might be more open to it than you think. After all, it means reduced costs for them. It may also increase your own productivity.
  • WHAT TO DO WITH A PAY RISE? There will probably come a time in your working life when you are offered a pay rise. One option, as noted above, is to save your raise. But there is another option, too. Rather than accepting the extra money and spending more, ask whether you can stay on the same wages / salary but work less. For example, you might ask for one afternoon off per week. Again, your employer might be quite happy to accept such an arrangement.
  • WORK FROM HOME ONE DAY PER WEEK: Another way to rethink your work life is to consider whether it would be possible to work one or more days from home. This will not be possible for all jobs, but it will be for some. This may a nice way to spend one of your working days. It will also reduce the amount of travelling you do to and from work, and that means less oil-dependency.
  • SEE IF YOU CAN TELECOMMUTE INSTEAD OF TRAVELING: Many jobs today require travel in between suburbs, cities, or even countries. Using video-conferencing technology can greatly reduce the need to travel for work. Look into it. Your employer might be happy for you to do this too, as it will reduce their costs (and it will also significantly reduce carbon emissions).
  • IF YOU NEED LESS, YOU HAVE LESS PRESSURE TO WORK FOR DODGY BUSINESSES: Sometimes people find themselves pressured or seduced for financial reasons to work for businesses that don’t really contribute to the common good. If you don’t need much money, however, you may find that you can choose work that pays less but which might be more fulfilling and socially worthwhile.
  • VOTE WITH YOUR TIME: On the previous page it was noted that how we spend our money is how we vote on what exists in the world. The same goes for how we spend our time. Time is life - don’t waste it. We have only this moment.

Food

Food is one of life’s most basic material needs. Not so long ago people grew all or most of the food they ate. Today, we have outsourced most food production to global corporations that are more interested in making profits than providing us with nutritious food or producing food in a sustainable manner. Relocalising food production is extremely important. Seventy (70%) percent of all water extracted from waterbodies is used for agriculture (food, fibre and forestry)

  • GROW AS MUCH OF YOUR OWN FOOD AS POSSIBLE: Not everyone can grow all their own food, but everyone can grow some of it, even if it is a herb and lettuce garden on the windowsill. Gardening is an important revolutionary act. Growing more food at home using rainwater will help reduce water extraction pressures on our waterways.
  • WHO WANTS A LAWN WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A VEGETABLE GARDEN! If we are going to transition to more localised and sustainable food production, many lawns (or parts of lawns) are going to have to turn into beautiful, thriving vegetable gardens. Expand your garden as much as possible. Perhaps there is there room for chickens? Perhaps a couple of carefully placed fruit trees?
  • THINK ABOUT PLANTING SOME VEGES / FRUIT TREES IN YOUR NATURE STRIP: Look into your council regulations about planting up your nature strip. Or just do it. Not only does this provide you with more space to grow your own food, it also sends a message to your community that you care about food production.
  • IF YOU NEED MORE SPACE TO GROW FOOD, LOOK INTO WHETHER THERE IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN: Community gardens are springing up all over the place, and the trend is likely to continue. Do some research and see if there is one in your neighbourhood.
  • NO COMMUNITY GARDEN? If there is no community garden in your area then get a small group together and make it happen. There is no greater gift you can give your community. Survey your neighbourhood – then get planning.
  • SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS: Most people will not be able to grow all their own fruit and vegetables. Supplement your own food production by supporting local farmers’ markets. Avoid supermarkets as much as possible.
  • THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN YOUR BODY: Eat healthy, organic food, and eat moderately. Avoid fatty, artificial, and processed foods.
  • REDUCE MEAT, DAIRY, AND FISH CONSUMPTION: The fact is that the high levels of meat, diary, and fish consumption is impacting very negatively on our planet. Try to reduce how much meat, diary, and fish you consume. Start by going without for two days per week. This will save money and lighten your impact.
  • CONSIDER VEGETARIANISM: This won’t be for everyone, but it might be for some of you. When it is approached thoughtfully and creatively, a vegetarian diet is healthy and delicious. And the transition might be easier than you think.
  • LEARN HOW TO BAKE YOUR OWN BREAD AND PRESERVE FOOD: Nothing smells better than freshly baked bread! And preserving food is an important way to reduce your ‘food miles’ (i.e. the distance your food travels to get to your table). You can grow or purchase your food ‘in season,’ then preserve it and eat it later.

Transport

Living simply involves rethinking how we transport ourselves. There is now more than one billion cars and light vehicles on the road – and counting! Our car culture is causing great environmental damage and it relies on a cheap and abundant supply of oil. We must find a way to escape car culture, fast.

  • GET ON YOUR BIKE: The majority of all car trips are short distances. Many of those journeys do not require a car. Get on your bike as often as possible.
  • BIKE LIGHTS: Make sure you have lights on the front and back of your bike for cycling at night. A bright reflector jacket is also a good idea for extra safety. These are worthwhile purchases, and they will soon pay for themselves.
  • GET A GOOD BASKET AND/OR SOME PANNIERS FOR YOUR BIKE: Many car journeys can be avoided if you have some carrying capacity on your bike. A good basket and/or some panniers are indispensible. A backpack can also be useful.
  • GET A CHILD-SEAT OR A TRAILER FOR TRANSPORTING CHILDREN: A bike can carry more than one person. If you need to transport your children to school or day- care, a child-seat or a trailer can be easily attached to your bike. And your children will probably find it an adventure!
  • GET SOME WET WEATHER GEAR: Don’t presume that just because it is raining or cold you cannot get on your bike. Get you and your family some wet weather gear and some woollen gloves. Riding in the rain can be a beautiful experience.
  • CYCLING KEEPS YOU FIT AND HEALTHY: As well as all the environmental benefits to driving less, getting on your bike also keeps you fit and healthy at no extra cost. Since it also means you don’t have to sit in slow traffic, it is also very good for mental health! Let’s face it, commuting isn’t fun. Driving less also saves money.
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Whenever possible, use public transport when distances are too long to travel by bike, or when the weather is just too wet or cold.
  • CONSIDER SELLING ONE OF YOUR CARS: Sometimes we drive just because we can, not because we need to. Perhaps if you sell one of your cars, you won’t miss it. And it will give you some money to spend on other things – like a bike!
  • CONSIDER GOING CAR FREE: Perhaps there is a ‘car share’ arrangement operating in your locality? Do some research. You might be able to do without owning.
  • DRIVE THOUGHTFULLY: In those times when driving is unavoidable, think about whether your trip can serve various purposes: Can you do several errands at once? Can you give someone else a lift somewhere?
  • AIR TRAVEL: Travelling by plane puts huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, and is a significant contributor to climate change. It can be a challenge to say no, but try to avoid air travel at all costs. If you do have to travel, pay a little extra to offset your carbon emissions. Is the train an option?

Housing

Housing (whether purchasing, building, or renting) is typically life’s greatest single expense, so living simply involves thinking especially carefully about where you live and why. Exactly what kind of shelter do you need to live well and to be free? We must answer this question for ourselves, but the words of Henry Thoreau might give us a moment’s pause: ‘Most people appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think that they must have such a one as their neighbors have.’

  • LIVE IN A MODEST ABODE: The ostentatious ‘McMansions’ which are so prevalent in many developed nations are extremely resource intensive, energy intensive, and expensive. They are also ugly. The Simpler Way involves embracing smaller, much more modest and energy efficient homes.
  • CHOOSE YOUR CITY, TOWN OR RURAL AREA CAREFULLY: There are many complex factors that come into play when it comes to determining which city, town or rural area you live in. Your family, friends, your job, the weather, cost, etc. all play a role. Nevertheless, so far as you have a choice, think very carefully about where you and your family decide to set up camp. Housing can be very expensive in some cities and this can lock you into a large mortgage, which can lock you into a job you may not like. If possible, live in a place where housing is affordable. Low cost housing could save you years of labour.
  • TRY TO LIVE CLOSE WORK OR WORK CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE: This isn’t always easy or affordable, but living close to work is an important goal. This will allow you to bike to work easily and it will also mean that you don’t have to waste lots of time commuting. Research shows that commuting is one of the most unpleasant aspects of modern life. Do what you can to avoid it.
  • AVOID UNNECESSARY OR PURELY ‘AESTHETIC’ RENNOVATIONS: Don’t get sucked into the belief that everything about your house has to look ‘brand new.’ So what if your carpet is old or your wallpaper is a little tear in it? When renovations are necessary, consider D.I.Y. and buying second hand materials.
  • CO-HOUSING: A growing number of people are exploring co-housing arrangements. This can involve groups of people (a group of friends perhaps, or two or three families, etc) living in the same house. For those with a spare room, it might involve taking on a boarder. Co-housing is a very effective way to greatly reduce the cost/impact of housing. It also promotes community.
  • ECO-DESIGN: If you are in a position to design and build a house, take eco- design seriously. It can be more expensive, but often the initial costs of eco- design can pay for themselves over time (e.g. solar panels, quality insulation, double-glazed windows, efficient heaters, etc.). Small is beautiful.
  • EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING: More radical exponents of the Simpler Way might wish to explore various forms of alternative housing. This might include building a straw bail or mud brick house, or living in renovated shipping containers, a Tiny house or a ‘house bus.’ Take a look on the Internet for some ideas.

Energy

Energy, especially oil, is the lifeblood of industrial civilisation. It is what makes our current lifestyles and economic activity possible. But there are two main reasons why we must urgently reduce our use of energy: (1) Burning massive quantities of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) dumps millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere and this is causing climate change; (2) Peak oil and other energy supply problems means that energy is going to get scarcer and much more expensive in coming years. We need to use energy much more efficiently and transition to renewable energies.

  • READ WIDELY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PEAK OIL: These subjects have political implications, and this means certain political parties and media institutions have an incentive to muddy the waters. But these matters are much, much, much too important to be determined by political power games. Let the science determine your perspective, not the politics. Read widely and critically. Ask questions. Do your own research, and think for yourself.
  • BUY ‘GREEN’ ENERGY: Many energy companies today have an option for purchasing green energy (i.e. that is, energy produced from wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, etc, rather than from fossil fuels). Green energy will be somewhat more expensive, but if you take energy efficiency seriously you will probably be able to offset price increases by reducing consumption. Call your energy company today. If they do not offer Green Energy, change companies.
  • TAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SERIOUSLY: This can take many forms, including insulating your house well; only heating or cooling the rooms you are in; using energy efficient light bulbs; turning lights off when you leave the room; turning appliances off at the wall; only boiling the water you need, etc. Many small steps make a big difference, both in terms of consumption and cost.
  • USE COMMONSENSE: If you are cold, put on a sweater rather than always turning on the heater. We are all hardier than we think we are. If it’s hot outside, keeping the doors, windows, and curtains closed keeps the house cool.
  • SOLAR: If you can afford to buy solar panels and/or a solar hot water system, do so. Not only do most systems pay for themselves over a number of years, but also by investing in renewable energy you will be indirectly supporting further research and development of renewable energy systems. The average Victorian house uses 16kW hours of electricity per day. In developing countries the average house using solar panels may use less than 1 kW hours of electricity per day. Needing to invest in less solar and battery storage is a more equitable global solution.
  • QUESTION THE NEED: Undoubtedly some modern appliances reduce labour. But some appliances are totally unnecessary and others are just gimmicks. Avoid electronic or petrol-fuelled appliances that you do not really need. Drive less.
  • WHEN PURCHASING AN APPLIANCE, CHOOSE THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT: Energy efficient appliances are usually more expensive, but again, the extra initial cost is usually offset over time by the reduced energy costs.
  • SET UP A SOLAR-HEATED SHOWER BAG OUTSIDE: In the summer, a solar-heated shower bag (the kind often used on camping trips) can provide you with solar hot water for free. This won’t work in the winter, but it is likely to reduce energy bills noticeably in the summer. And it’s invigorating.

Clothing

The historic purpose of clothing was to keep us warm and to cover nakedness. Today its primary purpose seems to be fashion and the conspicuous display of wealth and status. People can and do spend thousands and thousands of dollars on clothing every year. But this is totally unnecessary. Simplify.

  • DRESS DOWN: Wearing simple, humble, and functional clothing can be an outward statement of simplicity, an expression of one’s opposition to consumer culture. Don’t get sucked into high fashion.
  • RETHINK YOUR IMAGE: If you are someone who has typically dressed in new and expensive clothing, consider reinventing your image. This can be an exciting journey on the transition to a simpler life.
  • BUY SECOND-HAND CLOTHING: Vast quantities of clothing get dropped off at second-hand clothing stores everyday. Second-hand clothing is cheap, cheap, cheap. There is absolutely no need to spend lots of money on clothing. Furthermore, searching for treasures in second-hand stores is great fun.
  • DRESSING SIMPLY DOESN’T MEAN GIVING UP STYLE: There is nothing wrong with expressing yourself through what you wear. But you don’t have to spend lots of money on clothes if you dress creatively. Develop your own ‘post- consumerist’ style. Who wants to look ‘brand new’ anyway?
  • LEARN HOW TO MEND: There is no need to throw out your favourite jeans or t- shirt just because it has developed a tear. Learn how to mend a tear or sew a patch on an elbow. This can give your favourite items character.
  • MAKE YOUR OWN: If you are more ambitious, you might even spend some time learning how to sew your own clothes. This can be an exciting and creative experience, as well as one that saves money.
  • ARRANGE A CLOTHING SWAP WITH SOME FRIENDS: Sometimes it’s nice to have a change of clothes in your wardrobe. But this doesn’t necessarily require going shopping. It can be fun to arrange a clothing swap with some friends. One person’s old clothing is another person’s treasure.
  • BEWARE OF CHEAP DEPARTMENT STORE CLOTHING: It can be tempting to buy the cheapest clothing from department stores, but often it is cheap because of its exploitative manufacturing processes. When in doubt, avoid the purchase.
  • JUST IMAGINE: Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent every year in the fashion industry. Just imagine if even half of that money was redirected toward green energy or humanitarian initiatives. We would lose so little and gain so much. Again, we must vote with our money.
  • DRESSING SIMPLY CAN BE LIBERATING: Wearing expensive clothing tends to limit our actions, since we don’t want to get them dirty. When you dress simply, however, you don’t have to think twice about lying down on the grass or doing a spot of gardening. Dress simply and be free.

Stuff

We all want the food, clothing, and shelter needed to live safe and healthy lives. And we all want at least a basic education and access to medical care should we fall ill. But beyond these basic needs, how much more do we actually need to live well and to be free? The Simpler Way doesn’t mean that we cannot have possessions that go beyond our basic needs, but it does involve questioning the amount of stuff that is in our lives.

  • AVOID UNNECESSARY POSSESSIONS: The Simpler Way involves embracing a form of minimalism. Again, this doesn’t mean not having possessions, but it does involve only having the possessions that truly contribute to our quality of life. Often stuff is just stuff – a waste of space, money, and resources. Avoid unnecessary possessions. Live more with less.
  • DECLUTTER: When people decide they want to take steps to simplify their lives, decluttering their homes of superfluous ‘stuff’ is the perfect way to begin. This can be extremely liberating. Go from room to room and think very seriously about whether you need all the stuff you have. Donate your superfluous stuff to charity.
  • BE AWARE OF THE STUFF NEEDED FOR STUFF: It seems that stuff breeds more stuff. We often buy something and then discover that it needs extra stuff to make it functional. By reducing the stuff in our lives, we are also reducing the stuff needed for stuff. Stuff can also have hidden ‘time’ costs. Therefore, when in doubt, do without.
  • BE AWARE OF THE PSYCHOLOGY OF STUFF: We’ve probably all had the experience of making some exciting consumer purchase, only to discover that the initial buzz quickly wears off. Despite what advertisements tell us, stuff just doesn’t satisfy our desire for meaning, and it is a very poor substitute for an identity.
  • BE AWARE OF THE ‘DIDEROT EFFECT’: Have you ever purchased something, something you really wanted, only to discover that it made the rest of your stuff seem a bit old and dated? Rather than accepting some disunity in the style of your possessions, have you then been tempted to upgrade your old and dated stuff? This is called the ‘Diderot Effect’. You buy some new pants, but then realise you need a new shirt to match. You buy a new sofa, but then you have the urge to upgrade your chairs too. The Simpler Way involves resisting the initial upgrading. Get off the consumerist treadmill and stop the upward creep of material desire. Know how much is enough.
  • AVOID ALL GOODS YOU KNOW OR SUSPECT WERE UNJUSTLY MANUFACTURED: How can some stuff be so cheap! At first this seems great, but a moment’s thought should tell us that if some stuff is unbelievably cheap, it is probably because it has been produced by wage-slaves in the developing world. Don’t support corporations that are based on unjust manufacturing.
  • QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY: When you decide you really need some new possession, it is better to buy quality, so that it doesn’t have to be replaced. This reduces waste. In this sense, the Simpler Way is about caring ‘more’ about our stuff.

Water

Water is life. It is arguably our most precious resource. As our climate warms and population grows in coming decades, water will become even more precious. We must not waste it. Urban centres use 70% of water from waterways for agriculture and 20% more to supply water to cities. This leaves only 10% of the original water for environmental flows. As a guide, a typical urban house should aim to have between 10,000 and 30,000 litres of storage capacity. Equivalent farm houses without access to potable water would typically install 30,000 to 60,000 litres in tank storage because they have more space. Here are some conservation ideas.

  • GET SOME WATER TANKS: As your home food production grows, it is likely that you will need to expand your water resources. Getting some water tanks will greatly reduce or nullify the amount of water from the grid that you use on your garden. To keep the water healthy clean all gutters and leaf litter traps regularly and keep television antennas and tree overhangs away from the roof to discourage bird droppings.
  • HOME FOOD PRODUCTION USES LESS WATER THAN INDUSTRIAL FOOD PRODUCTION: This should provide us all with further motivation for growing as much of our own food as possible.
  • LEAVE A BUCKET IN THE SHOWER: Put a bucket in the shower. Collect the water as the shower heats up and keep the bucket in the shower as you wash. The water that is collected can be used to flush the toilet. This will save significant amounts of water every day. Just imagine if everyone did this! Millions and millions of litres of water would be saved everyday.
  • SET UP A GREYWATER SYSTEM: A greywater system is a system that uses the water from the shower, bath, washing machine, or cooking, for other purposes. Some people use their greywater to flush their toilets. If it is sufficiently clean, some greywater can be used on the garden.
  • FLUSHING: In the developed world today, we flush the toilet with drinking- quality water. Great amounts can be saved by not flushing if it’s only urine. Keeping the lid down controls any odour.
  • WATERLESS TOILET: Waterless toilets use significantly less water than a conventional toilet. The humanure product is full of nutrients and can be added back into the garden after it has aged for 1 year. Humanure is perfectly safe and waterless toilets are approved by the Victorian EPA. Read the Humanure Handbook from Joel Jenkins for free from the Internet Archive Humanure Handbook
  • TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS: Keep showers to two minutes, or less. Reduce the temperature of showers. Seven (7%) of all energy used in Victoria is for heating water.
  • BATHING: There is no doubt that taking a hot bath is sometimes an exquisite luxury. But bathing uses much more water than showers, so try to have as few baths as possible. When you do bath, consider whether you can direct some of the water into your greywater system.
  • TURN THE TAP OFF: It may sound like a minor act – and it is – but don’t leave the tap running when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your face, etc. Everything counts, and it is important to build conservation practices into our lives at every opportunity. Soon enough it will just become instinctive.
  • WATER INTENSIVE APPLIANCES: Appliances like dishwashers and washing machines use a lot of water. By being thoughtful about how many dishes you use, and not washing clothes unnecessarily, water use can be greatly reduced.
  • UNFORESEEN IMPLICATIONS: Since developed societies are so water intensive, governments sometimes spend billions of dollars creating desalination plants, just to keep water supply up with demand. But if we were all more water conscious, desalination plants would be unnecessary. This would be better for the planet and it would save tens of billions of dollars that could be spent on more important things. Our small acts can have huge, unforeseen implications.

Reducing Waste

One of the most worrying aspects of consumer lifestyles is the excessive waste that results. Every week more than one billion consumers in the developed world leave a bag of trash on the side of the road where it is picked up. It seems to magically disappear but actually most of it has to be dumped into the natural environment from where it came. More than one billion bags of consumer trash, every week! How much longer can this continue? Living simply involves taking steps to seriously reduce waste.

  • REFUSE: The first way to reduce waste is simply to refuse to consume in unnecessary ways. For example, instead of purchasing water from a plastic bottle, drink water from the tap; don’t buy new shoes when your old ones are fine; avoid that unnecesary air flight; and so on. The list is endless.
  • REDUCE: The second way to reduce waste is to reduce the amount of the things you consume. We all have things we like to buy (music, books, wine, etc.). Living simply doesn’t mean giving up all these things, but it does imply embracing moderation. Try to reduce your consumption. Often free alternatives exist.
  • REUSE: The third way to reduce waste is to reuse the so-called waste of our purchases. Use your imagination. The possibilities are endless.
  • RECYCLE: The fourth way to reduce waste is to recycle vigilantly.
  • COMPOST: Rather than using nasty chemicals to fertilise your garden, compost all the organic matter from your household. Overtime this will enrich your garden greatly and produce healthy soil for growing your food. Most manures sold commercially are from animals kept in intensive feeding lots. We should not support this industry or its byproducts.
  • USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO, OR DO WITHOUT: This is an old saying from the Great Depression years. It must become the commonsense of our Great Transition beyond consumer culture. Because that’s what it is – commonsense.
  • JUNK MAIL: Junk mail is surely one of the most perverse examples of the wastefulness of consumer society. Hundreds of glossy pages can arrive in our letterboxes everyday, only to be thrown straight into the recycling bin (or worse, the waste bin). Just think about how many trees would be saved if every household in the developed world put signs on their letterboxes rejecting junk mail. It’s truly mind-boggling, and more than a little depressing.
  • PACKAGING: Avoid as much packaging as possible.
  • ALWAYS CARRY A CLOTH BAG: Plastic bags are an environmental hazard. Always carry a cloth bag (or several) so that you never have to accept a plastic bag. But remember, cloth bags are absolutely no use when they are left at home.
  • DON’T WASTE ENERGY: This is extremely important. See the section above on energy.
  • READ ABOUT, AND PRACTICE, PERMACULTURE: Permaculture is a complex term, but part of what it means is learning how to live on our planet without degrading it; to work with nature, not against it. Our future depends on permaculture.

Appropriate Technology

What about technology? Does living simply mean that we have to give up technology? Absolutely Not! But it does involve thinking carefully about the role technology plays in our lives, because it is not always positive.

  • SOCIAL MEDIA: We live in the Age of Social Media. While there is certainly great potential to social media, it can also consume an alarming amount of our time, often in ways that seem rather wasteful and uninspired. For example, from April 2008 to April 2009, total time spent on Facebook in the US was 232 million hours, and total time spent on MySpace was 83 million hours. What activities are people substituting for these hundreds of millions of hours spent in cyberspace? What would life be like – what could life be like – if the vast amounts of time dedicated to social media were directed toward real life conversation with friends or family, or spent being engaged in practical, creative activity, or spent volunteering in some organisation of interest, etc.
  • NEVERTHELESS... Social media, as noted, does have the potential to impact positively on our lives, if used with caution. Living simply in a consumer society can at times be socially isolating, so consider joining a Simple Living social network and connect with others who are also exploring the Simpler Way. See, e.g., www.SimplerWay.org and www.SimplicityCollective.com.
  • IF AN APPLIANCE STOPS WORKING, TRY NOT TO REPLACE IT FOR ONE MONTH: It is easy to think of appliances as ‘necessary’ when in fact they are, at best, ‘conveniences’ only. If an appliance you currently own stops working, try not to replace it for one month. See what life is like without it. Perhaps you will discover that you don’t actually need to go out and buy another one or pay to have it fixed. This will save money and energy.
  • THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT IS APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY: If it turns out that an appliance really does contribute positively to your life, then embrace it. Living simply is not about being a Luddite. Appropriate technology will need to play a vital role in any transition to a just and sustainable world. Solar panels and wind turbines, for example, should not be rejected. But we must not think technology is going to solve all our problems. It is just as likely to exacerbate them.
  • BEWARE OF THE ‘REBOUND EFFECT’: Technology can help us consume more efficiently, but if we are not careful such efficiency gains can be lost through the ‘rebound effect.’ For example, a more fuel-efficient car can mean that we just drive further or more often; insulating our houses can save money that is then spent on air travel, etc. Efficiency is without sufficiency is easily lost.
  • KEEP TECHNOLOGY AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE: Just perhaps our modern technocratic societies will one day come to see that there is a sophistication and an elegance to the clothes line, the bicycle, and the water tank, that the dryer, the automobile, and the desalination plant, decidedly lack. On a similar note, perhaps it will one day be widely accepted that there is a certain primitiveness to technological gimmicks or that a blind faith in science can itself be ‘anti-progress.’ In the words of the great Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.’

Socialising and Entertainment

Socialising and entertainment has become big business in consumer societies. People often assume that when they have some free time they have to go out and spend money to socialise or to entertain themselves. This just isn’t true. With a little imagination, socialising and entertainment doesn’t have to cost much, or anything at all. This doesn’t mean, of course, that we should never spend money socialising or entertaining ourselves. The point is that it doesn’t have to cost money, or much money. And it isn’t just about the money. It is also about how we direct our free time and the way we socialise. Consumer culture has taken us down the wrong path.

  • PURCHASING FOOD, ALCOHOL, AND ENTERTAINMENT: Most of us enjoy going out for the odd meal, relaxing with the occasional beer or glass of wine, or seeing a movie now and then, etc. And fair enough too. The Simpler Way certainly does not imply giving up these things. It does, however, imply recognising the importance of moderation in all we do. We should gratefully absorb the best our culture has to offer, but we should not rely exclusively, or even predominately, on purchased goods or services for our entertainment.
  • TELEVISION: How a culture spends its leisure – its freedom – provides an extremely important insight into the nature of that culture. Aside from working and sleeping, most people in Western societies spend more time watching television than doing anything else. Studies have shown, for example, that the average U.S. and British citizen watch roughly 25 hours per week, and other nations aren’t too far behind. Is this really the best way to be spending our freedom? It is likely that some of this time in front of the television can be replaced with more fulfilling activities. Put the TV in the closet for one month. See what happens. Reinvent how you practice freedom.
  • LEARN A NEW SKILL: The division of labour that lies at the heart of consumer society has resulted in us losing many basic life skills. Re-skilling can be a very fulfilling way to spend some of our free time. For example, you might want to learn how to garden organically, cook, bake bread, lay bricks, preserve food, sew, build things, bind books, paint, or learn how to play a musical instrument, etc. Unlike the passivity of TV, learning a new skill is an active challenge and can provide endless hours of fulfilment.
  • DECLUTTER YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR: Spending time with friends and family can often be some of the most fulfilling time of all. But sometimes we at risk of over-scheduling social engagements and find that there is no time for ourselves, no time to relax and just be. When you think you need some more time for yourself, learn to say ‘no’ to invitations.
  • VOLUNTEER: What are you passionate about? Is there a way for you to share that passion with the world? It can be surprising how fulfilling this can be.
  • READING: It is easy to think that we stop being students when we leave formal education. But the world is an infinitely interesting place, full of endlessly exciting things and inspiring people. Reading is a wonderful, enriching pastime, and it doesn’t have to cost a cent. Your local library can provide books for free. Cultivate a love of reading and you will be rich forever.

Community

Community engagement is often pushed to the side by the demands of a high consumption life. A society or individual might be booming economically, but dedicating too much attention to consumption and the acquisition of wealth, to the detriment of family and community life, can lead to an individualistic society of frantic, agitated, and alienated egos. Many affluent societies today would be better off choosing less stuff, and more community. Furthermore, community is the driving force of social change. By living simply, there is more time to cultivate community and enjoy our civic responsibilities.

  • SHARING YOUR STUFF: Which community is richer – the one in which everyone has their own? Or the one in which there is less but people share? By sharing our resources, our communities get richer, without increasing overall consumption. For example, not everyone in the street needs a lawn mower, since it sits idle almost everyday. Why not have one lawn mower for several houses? Lend when ask and borrow when necessary.
  • SHARING YOUR SKILLS: Sharing our stuff promotes community, and so does sharing our skills. Chances are there is a wealth of expertise of various forms in your community. Sharing skills is a great way to help us escape reliance on the formal economy, and it’s also a great way to meet new people and interact with different generations.
  • THE SHAREHOOD: There is a great website that is designed to make sharing easy. The Sharehood (www.thesharehood.org) aims to build joyful, sustainable, and resilient communities by encouraging people to get to know their neighbours and share with them. This website is helping create vibrant communities where people share locally and meet their needs and help others do the same. Check it out and sign up! It may be worthwhile doing a mail drop around your neighbourhood too, letting people know about this amazing resource and encouraging them to sign up.
  • FILM NIGHTS: One great way to cultivate community and promote good causes is to organise film nights / afternoons in your community. Who doesn’t love a good film? Most communities have a venue that will allow free access to a room (e.g. a library, community organisation, etc.). Print out some posters and stick them up around your neighbourhood inviting people to attend. There are many great films freely available on you-tube or vimeo (e.g. “Home,” “The Power of Community,” “The End of Suburbia,” “Life after Growth,” etc.). After the film, have a cup of tea and a discussion.
  • TRANSITION TOWNS: The Transition Town Movement is taking hold across the world, and it is a source of great hope. This movement is a community-based response to the dual crises of peak oil and climate change, and its participants are not waiting for governments to fix our problems. Instead, they are just getting work, building a new society from the grassroots up. Do some reading on Transition Towns. Then get a few like-minded people together, and start your own. From little things big things grow.

Miscellaneous

We are getting toward the end our Practical Action Plan. It may be helpful at this stage to address a few miscellaneous subjects just to introduce a few more ideas about how to continue simplifying your life.

  • MEDITATION / YOGA: Attaining peace of mind in a hectic world can be a great challenge. Consider taking a course on meditation or yoga. Alternatively, find fifteen uninterrupted minutes per day to just sit comfortably with your eyes closed and concentrate on your breathing. It’s good for the soul.
  • KEEP A JOURNAL: It is surprising how useful, enjoyable, and enlightening it can be to keep a journal. Find some time each day to sit down and write about your day, your thoughts, your state of mind. What situations would you deal with differently if you had your time again? This exercise in self-reflection can clarify our minds and help us all live more consciously and deliberately. Have no expectations – just write. See what happens.
  • READ ABOUT THE SIMPLER WAY: Borrow a few books on voluntary simplicity or downshifting and read them. This can be very affirming.
  • GOOGLE IT: If you have any questions about anything in this document, Google it. There is a wealth of detailed information on the Internet about the practice of living simply, but read broadly and critically (because there is lots of rubbish).
  • CHRISTMAS: The materialistic orgy that is Christmas is but an exaggerated normality for Western societies. Show some enlightened material restraint at Christmas and celebrate without consuming excessively. Give thoughtfully.
  • EXERCISE FOR FREE: Many of us can probably admit that we don’t do enough exercise. But being physically healthy is an important part of being psychologically healthy. There is no need, however, to spend hundreds of dollars a year subscribing to an expensive gym. Go for a short run a few times a week, and do a few press-ups and star jumps. It‘s easy to exercise for free.
  • CLEANING PRODUCTS: Television adverts selling cleaning products give the impression that our homes are crawling with bugs that are going to make us sick unless we buy their product. As a rule, this just isn’t so. It’s good to be clean, of course, but generally you don’t need to buy any cleaning products. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar provides a substitute for most cleaning products.
  • RAISING CHILDREN: Be aware that you are an example for the younger generation. Be an example of the Simpler Way and raise children according to post-consumerist values. There is much more to life than possessions and status.
  • GIVE SOME MONEY AWAY: If you are reading this text, there is a good chance you are in the richest 10% of the world’s population. Try to give to charity often.
  • OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Slow down; dream; be organised; trust thyself.

Activism

As well as transitioning to the Simpler Way ourselves, it is also important that at least some of us help bring more attention to the Simpler Way by becoming activists for the cause. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with advertisements telling us that ‘more is always better,’ more people need to see that there is a viable and desirable alternative to consumer lifestyles. Perhaps you can you help spread the word?

  • EMAIL THIS DOCUMENT TO EVERYONE ON YOUR MAILING LIST: This is a simple, quick, and costless act, but it may resonate far wider that you would have ever expected, like ripples in a cultural pond. It may well help free people from the chains of consumer culture. Living simply in a consumer culture can be very challenging, but this guidebook provides a free and accessible introduction to the practice of the Simpler Way. As you have seen, there are hundreds of ideas in this document about how to live more on less. Please share it with others.
  • EMAIL THIS DOCUMENT TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, CITY COUNCILORS, AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: Again, this is a simple and costless act with potentially huge implications. Imagine children learnt about living simply in schools? Imagine our political representatives started talking about simple living? Soon enough our world would change.
  • ABANDON A BOOK: Invest in a book on voluntary simplicity, permaculture, or peak oil, and leave it in your common room at work. Perhaps leave another copy in the local café. This is a peaceful, non-confrontation way to educate people about the Simpler Way. Education is the first phase of activism.
  • JOIN OR ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY GARDEN: Get a few interested individuals together and form a plan. Do some research on where the best place for a community garden would be; then contact your city council and try to get the ball rolling. Keep at it.
  • GUERRILLA GARDENING: This term refers to the cultivation of land that you don’t own but which you think you can enrich by cultivating productively – without permission, as such. Moderate Guerrilla Gardeners cultivate their nature strips without seeking council approval. More serious practitioners survey their neighbourhoods for other suitable spots. Seek and ye shall find. It is important to be sensible, of course. One shouldn’t plant anything that might block vision of traffic, for example. But after taking such precautions – and after cultivating your own garden first – one can then proceed confidently, knowing that Guerrilla Gardening is a peaceful and honourable act of opposition. Such acts will be justified in the eyes of posterity.
  • ESTABLISH A ‘SIMPLICITY CIRCLE’: Invite a group of interested individuals to your place (or some other venue) for the purpose of discussing all aspects of living simply. This is a wonderful opportunity to share information and ideas and the discussion process can be very affirming. You don’t have to be an expert.
  • CULTURE JAMMING: This term refers to the work of oppositional artists who use various forms of creative expression to challenge and subvert the entrenched norms of corporate consumerism. Think creatively. Act creatively. Resist.

Advocacy for Simplicity

Personal and community action is the driving force of change. But our decisions take place within legal, political, and economic ‘structures’ that make some lifestyle choices easy and other lifestyle choices difficult. We live in a society that is structured to promote consumer lifestyles, and this makes choosing simpler lifestyles much more difficult than it needs to be. In many ways, the structure of consumer society is locking us into high consumption lifestyles. To free us from those structures, we need the help of our governments.

  • RELOCALISE FOOD PRODUCTION: Establish community gardens in every suburb and permit people to cultivate their nature strips. Subsidise relocalisation.
  • BIKE LANES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT: This issue is a perfect example of why a politics of simplicity is needed. Our governments must invest much more in bike lanes / public transport, otherwise many people are locked into driving.
  • PRODUCT LABELLING: If we are going to ‘vote with our money’ we need to know about the products we buy – where and how they were made, and what is in them. Governments should require sufficiently detailed product labelling.
  • WORKING HOUR REDUCTIONS: Many people are locked into 40-hour-per-week jobs even though they would prefer to work shorter hours and receive less money. This locks people into over-consuming lifestyles. In Holland there is a law that allows employees to reduce their working hours simply by asking their employer. The employer is required to accept this request unless there is a sufficiently good business reason to deny it (which happens in less than 5% of cases). By protecting part-time employment, Holland has produced the highest ratio of part-time workers in the world.
  • PRICE CARBON AND INVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY: We need to break our addiction to fossil fuels. Our governments should begin by pricing carbon and investing heavily in the most suitable renewable energy. Abolish fossil fuel subsidies.
  • PROTECT NATURE: Governments must help protect nature; markets are failing.
  • POST-GROWTH ECONOMICS: Perhaps the most important overall goal in the politics of simplicity is to overcome the belief that a bigger economy is always better. This is especially important due to the ecological ‘limits to growth.’ We need our governments to focus on promoting ‘quality of life,’ even if this doesn’t produce the most economic growth. We should start measuring national progress using ‘alternative indicators’ such as the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) and pay less attention to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • REDUCE POVERTY AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: Poverty and economic inequality are socially corrosive. If we are to eliminate poverty without relying on limitless growth then it is necessary to distribute wealth more equitably. Highly progressive tax rates and a Basic Income Guarantee would be a good start. The Simpler Way is about ensuring that everyone has ‘enough’ to live well.
  • VOTE PROGRESSIVELY: All this depends on a citizenry that puts pressure on political parties from the grassroots up. We must vote and live progressively.
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