Change is Good is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Evolution. Change. It is all good. If you haven’t noticed, I have a new logo on my site. Consider this LFT 2.0. I wanted the logo to reflect and emphasize the Living aspect of Living Frugal Tips and align with the mission: To create a rich life by living on less.

We should all strive to have a rich life … one that is uniquely defined by each of us.

I may have mentioned that I once was a high powered ad executive (at least in my sphere of influence I was). I had worked my way up from an Assistant Media Planner to the Executive Media Director at a large national ad agency. I worked with great clients, super-smart people and was inspired daily. I don’t have kids, so a lot of my life was wrapped up into my career. I am also goal oriented so it was always about moving up and taking on more challenges and relishing in the accomplishments of coming up with great ideas, developing creative plans for my clients, winning new accounts … the whole crazy, fast-paced, stressful ball of wax.

I loved it and was at the company for over 14 years. But one day I realized that was all I had. While fulfilling in one way … the reality was that I had NO life. Work was it. So, after much contemplation, I resigned and we moved on to explore a simpler life in a small town (living on 25% of what we did before, I might add). While initially the thought was welcoming, I began to realize that I hadn’t just resigned from a job, but rather lost a big part of who I was.

Who was I without my career? That’s what I needed to figure out. It’s a tough one, when you have spent so much of your life doing something and so much of whom and how you are is a result of those experiences. I guess it could be likened to getting divorced, becoming an empty-nester when the kids go off to college, or when you truly retire and suddenly have tons of time on your hands. It is hard letting go of what you know … to explore the unknown.

This website is the pursuit of a dream for me. I am going to write … and hope … that people find the site helpful and inspiring and keep coming back … because without hope we have nothing.

I am hopeful that this site helps you find clarity, tap into your true potential, get motivated and re-energized, and have fun livin’ life … and of course help you save money too.

With every comment posted (PLEASE participate, sign up for my Email updates or RSS feeds), with every new person that begins to follow me … I have hope. Thank you for that.

We all need those little bursts of hope and encouragement in whatever it is that we do. It builds us up; it provides a renewed sense of purpose and adds another little morsel of clarity to the picture.

I hope you like what you see. Forward progress, evolution, growth and change are all wonderful things.

Lisa

Fun is Fundamental in Creating a Rich Life is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Mike and I Have Fun Kayaking

Creating a rich life is a life based on memories and milestones and not money and stuff. And, one of the fundamental elements to creating a rich life is having  fun.

It’s amazing how a fun day or weekend can re-energize you (and wear you out all at the same time). When you do something out of the ordinary or something that you love and enjoy … you just get super-charged. Whether it’s time with friends, a little outdoor adventure, or a quick little getaway … as long as the fun-factor is high … you’ll get that high that I’m talking about.

We all need this – fun and play in our lives. It keeps us young and it keeps us going. When you have a fun weekend it somehow self propels you through the week … and right into the next weekend. It’s like a tiny little jet pack giving you boosts of mental fuel and energy to move you forward with hope and excitement.

I’m hopeful that you know what I’m talking about. We’ve all had the weekends that are so fun and so enjoyable that you think about them and talk about them through at least Wednesday and then start planning on Thursday for the next weekend.

It’s important to find something that brings you pleasure and joy and contentment. Steal away and find those moments. It’s what balances out our busy days and crazy lives. We get so caught up in life that most of the time we forget to live the life that’s before us. Live it. Now. We can all use a little self-propulsion to help move us forward — and fun times and joyous moments will do just that.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the funny life quote below which sets the tone for the fun we should all inject into our daily lives.

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
“WOO HOO what a ride!”

It’s Your Life. Own it!

Create a Rich Life is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

A rich life is a life measured by memories and milestones and not based on money and stuff. The quicker you can realize this, the faster you will be able to create a rich life for yourself.

Of course you need a certain degree of money to provide for yourself and your family, but the amount is far less than you would expect if you save and spend wisely. As a society we are far too caught up in “keeping up with the Joneses” and this can takes its toll on your happiness as well as your wallet. The bigger house, the newer car, the hottest designer outfits, the latest touch phones, gaming systems and gadgets … all come at a cost.

‘Envy’ is a temporary feeling and the ‘stuff’ that we buy to try and fill the void in our lives is just that … it’s ‘stuff’. And while we may get a rush of joy or excitement over our new purchase, it’s a fleeting feeling. As soon as you buy the new outfit, game or gadget, a newer version is already on the market. And when it comes time to pay the higher mortgage or bigger car loan … buyer’s remorse can hit you hard.

If you read my About page you’ll know that my income is 25% of what it once was. We’ve always lived below our means. Gosh, I’m the girl with the crock pot, hand mixer and blender that were wedding presents that will be 20 years old this May. My poor toaster died after 19 years. While we always lived below our means, when we made more we naturally spent more. So, when I gave up the big job we gave up other things too:

• We downsized our home and chose to put a priority on the location and not the size. After years of do-it-yourself projects we have the home of our dreams.
• My Lexus SUV and the $750.00 monthly payments were traded in for a shiny red Mazda 3 which is paid for.
• Dining out was replaced with staying in, and with more time I realized how much I love to cook.
• I started coloring my own hair which I found so easy. And, because it’s so cheap ($10.00 or less) I do it more frequently than when I was paying $150 at a salon. The net effect … my “natural” blond looks more natural without the roots showing.

The list goes on.

The point is that these ‘things’ were not missed, and the changes that we made in our lives afforded us far more valuable opportunities. Time with each other and time for family and friends. I’m learning about myself, I’m pursuing interests and dreams, and I’m relishing in the little things. I have the time to make memories … and to sit back and reflect on them.

Whether you choose to downsize your life or it happens to you with a job loss or layoff  … focus on what matter most and make it memorable and not material.

Minimize the Stuff and Focus on What Matters is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

While reading another one of my $0.10 library magazines, Sierra Magazine (stated mission: “To explore, enjoy, and protect the planet”), I came across a great quote that so clearly and simply puts life into perspective:

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius

What a great quote. Just stop and think about that for just a minute. We fill our homes with stuff. We over extend and over schedule our lives. We feel compelled to stay constantly connected — texting, emailing, talking — while walking, talking, eating, sitting in the movies and even while driving. I have clients who actually have two cell phones and they’ve mastered the art of having two phone conversations at once. Crazy.

How simple could we make our lives and how happy would we be? Let’s just think about it. Sift through the stuff, minimize things, and find out what really matters.

Simple living, rich life. It’s the less is more principle. A life built on memories and milestones versus money and stuff.

Taking the Leap to Living on Less is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Lisa Duncan

Internal thoughts after taking the big, scary leap of leaving my successful career for small-town living:

Money and titles and awards and peer respect and things like that. My future planning was as American as it could be .. I valued promotions .. titles .. respect from peers … money .. and continuous upward movement in organizations I worked within.

There were times over the years I thought my husband  just didn’t get me. Or maybe he just didn’t ‘get’ my professional life and all that came with it. It is really only now I truly realize he ‘got it’ better than anyone else.

While he certainly was proud of me over the years for my omnipotent like titles and wizardly like business skills and increasing income, he loved me for something else — the person whose only title was wife and life partner and whose income was better valued as ‘time together’.

He married the me without a title and the income and the professional accolades and with the strong ambition to be successful .. well .. maybe better said .. to be good at what I do.  I am still ambitious (just for something else other than what it was – whatever that was) and he still loves the “title-less, less income” me. I gotta say I love this man for that.

I also have to admit (the professional competitive ambitious side of me) it feels good to know he knew something I didn’t know. I admit I am still trying to learn about me from him. Thank god he is a good teacher and that he has the patience (and always has). I’m grateful he still loves me for all the same reasons he did in the beginning.

And maybe I have finally recognized all the things he saw in me all those years ago really are the most important things to make me successful in the next stage of my life.

I’m living proof that living on less, gives your more.

Take Time Off for Good Behavior is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

I caught up with my sister over the weekend which was great. She’s a very hard working mom with three boys that spread the age range of kindergarten to college. It’s managed chaos at best with the varied issues, needs, and hormonal craziness. I know that she’s not alone. We all get so caught up in the rat-race of life whether it’s kids, family, careers, commitments, money worries, self-obsessive hobbies, staying connected constantly, keeping up, and keeping pace.

Unbottle Your Crazy!

I’m going to get up on my soap box now and say to everyone … you have got to take time out for yourself! You have to make you a priority. If you don’t … you will implode one day. You’ve got to “unbottle your crazy” — which means you need to release frustrations, find healthy outlets, get away, you need to get re-centered, find balance in your life, and make you a priority. If you can consciously do this you will be much better off. Because let’s face it, when you hit the breaking point you are no good to anyone … least of all yourself. We all need balance.

Take Time Off (’cause you need it!)

My conversation with her reminded me of a wonderful book that a dear friend gave to me as I was leaving the big corporate world for my “sabbatical” if you will. The book is Time Off for Good Behavior: How Hardworking Women Can Take a Break and Change Their Lives by Mary Lou Quinlan. It’s a wonderful thought-provoking book about empowering, spirited women who’ve hit the point where they finally take time off for themselves. Whether it be forced time off due to a lay off, or planned time off to have kids or start a new life venture … it’s about maximizing the moments!

I can relate because she was a high-powered advertising executive (but in a whole different stratosphere than my ad world).

Here’s a brief excerpt:

“Have you ever promised, “someday I’ll take some time for myself?” But someday never seems to come? Welcome to the story of women who dared to say “enough” and who took the break that changed their overworked lives. In Time Off for Good Behavior Mary Lou Quinlan tells her own story and those of nearly 40 other women who hit the moment of truth and gave themselves permission to step away and create happier, more satisfying lives.”

Find Your Ah-ha Moments

While the book talks about longer breaks and time off that translated into some pretty monumental life changes for these women, the underlying premise is taking time off. Whether it’s a few brief moments at the end of your day, or an entire day, month or year — taking time off and time out of our day is critical and we all need it. Find Balance. Time off brings peace to the mind, which then provides clarity when all the chaos of the day is not running through it. With clarity we can then begin to prioritize our goals, desires and dreams, and begin to re-orchestrate our lives in order to find balance that we are missing. And then ultimately we are able to enjoy inspired living — the pursuit of things that excite and inspire us versus simply living the monotony of the day.

Just today I was again reminded of that importance. Time off. Simplification. Remembering to breathe big deep calming breaths. As a self-proclaimed over-achiever I’m constantly over committing, volunteering, serving on boards, and busy with a full time job and pursuing my dream with this site. Trying to fit it all in to the brink of insanity. We do it to ourselves. Over commit and lose ourselves.

Today I sat. And watched a beautiful sunset. It was nice. That was my ah-ha moment for the day.

Even if just for a few moments … sneak away to a quiet place today. Just you … alone … take and few deep breaths, close your eyes and take a well deserved break.

Aaahh!

I strongly recommend this amazing and inspiring read!