Living on Less
Ever heard the expression “One income living in a two income world”? This IS a two income world, of our own creation; but just because the two income world exists, doesn't automatically mean you are part of it by default. It IS possible to be more financially self reliant - and this is not a new concept; it's a mindset that we have to return to. This is a subject that is commonly written about, but an important one so I'm writing about it once again.
There are so many ways that we can live needing less money, and it isn’t as difficult as it initially seems. Feeling the need to buy something each time we venture outside of our homes is a very hard habit to break, but it is possible. Taking only what we need from life and earth is a mindset we can all adopt, and it will benefit our wellbeing, our world and therefore the vibrations of the planet as a whole. I have written about the philosophy of simplicity before, but I’d like to explore the possibilities of living with less money in a practical, day to day sense.
The benefits of growing your own food cannot be overestimated. Beside the fact that digging in the soil and growing from the earth is soul therapy, the vegetables, fruit and herbs you can grow are free from harmful chemicals and packed full of the vitamins that forced farmed produce cannot possibly replicate. Even an apartment dweller with a balcony can grow small amounts of food in pots; a suburban backyard can include a vegetable patch, small herb garden, maybe even a fruit tree or two. A small square of earth will produce enough vegetables for a family with some left over. The possibilities for growing food in small spaces are all around us; fences, tanks and outbuildings can be utilised for growing passionfruit, chokos, espaliered apples, peas and beans, while pergolas are a wonderful spot for growing grapes. Capsicums, tomatoes, and herbs are easily slotted into the flower beds without any upset, and the companions of marigolds and nasturtiums will help keep the bugs away. Old bathtubs are great for growing carrots and an old piece of guttering hung from a fence or wall is a perfect home for strawberries. Citrus trees grow really well in our mild climate and it used to be an odd backyard that didn’t have at least a lemon tree sprouting from the ground. If you want to get really innovative, rooftop gardening is something that more people are becoming aware of, and a pumpkin vine covering a roof provides a shaded cover that will reduce the need for cooling in summer, saving more money. Without digging a single hole you can grow food – so imagine the possibilities with a little space, time and effort? Growing as much of your own food as possible is a wonderful way to save money, prompting less trips to the shops, which results in far less impulse buying – not to mention that eating ones own produce is great karma and gardening is a truly educational family experience. Giving up meat was definitely one of the best financial food decisions I ever made too – it’s expensive for a family of five meat eaters!
Latest Articles