anyways, i read this post the other day, and it got me thinking... about several things. (remind me not to use any more ellipses in this post.) [i really encourage you to read (at least skim!) the article, but a brief overview is that you should ask several questions about every item you think about purchasing (is it necessary? do i have something else that is similar? etc.) basically to keep your life simple by means of less stuff and clutter. she uses an anecdote/analogy about how she had a set of rules for her romantic relationships that she would inform potential suitors on each first date.]
alright, so first: her rules for dating really impress me. it seems that she is using them to accomplish the same purpose as the rules/questions for purchases. she wants simplicity, a life free from clutter, from unnecessary things. she doesn't want unnecessary dating relationships. she wants to rule out the relationships that aren't going to work right away--the ones that are going to be dysfunctional, unhealthy, incompatible, directionless. she doesn't want to clutter her life with unnecessary pain from romantic relationships that could have been avoided with clear communication about expectations at the very beginning.
this is impressive in a generation of people that almost crave directionless, unhealthy, and communication-deprived relationships. (note: i'm not trying to offend or make generalized assumptions, i'm just speaking out of observation and former experience.) to see someone desire fruitful relationships, and to respect herself enough to fight for that--impressive.
second (and let's be honest, less important): she takes the same kind of approach to what she brings into her home. she takes every purchase seriously. she doesn't want unnecessary things in her home, clutter. she's spending her money wisely.
gosh, what my life might be like if i took that same approach. if i took seriously how i spend money. if i asked myself questions before i made a purchase. if i wanted to steward the money i have so graciously been blessed with...
and to think, i'm being convicted about my money-spending habits by a blog post on the real.simple blog. :)
so what are your thoughts? do you think she has good points? does she think about money and purchases well? what about her "dating rules"?
At the end of high school, I went through everything I owned and was brutal in deciding what to keep and what to give away. Everything was cut down by at least 50% and when I say brutal, I mean it. I took no prisoners in deciding to give away stuff. I found that this changed how I bought things for a long time. When I would go to the store, I was brutal again. Do I NEED this? Will I USE this? Or will this end up in the giveaway pile? But then, you know, I slowly stopped. I need to do this again. I want to. I LOVE SPRING CLEANING.
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