Simple Living

In my pursuit of simplified living (my focus these past few weeks and months) I have been reading a lot to support my dream of simple living. I have been doing a cleanse this week (Isagenix) and feel great! My body is already loving this idea of slowing down and eating right. Simple, fresh, clean foods that support my body's health and vitality.

I am wanting to incorporate simplicity more into my home, my finances and all areas of living. Those of you who know me, know that I have a ways to go. It is a process, no doubt, but I am loving the process.

Simple diet.

Simple budget.

Simple home.

Simple love.

Simple living.

What does all that mean? I don't know yet. But I am getting there.

In an effort to simplify our finances and budget, Kenneth and I have been working out a few kinks here in there to make sure that we are still moving forward as a family. I have been revisiting my reasons for spending, and came across this article from www.everydaysimplicity.com It reminds me that money doesn't mean spend it...and no money doesn't mean you are missing out.


Forbes magazine keeps track of the rich, and lists the top four as: (1) Microsoft's Bill Gates; (2) money-man Warren Buffett; (3) industrialist Carlos Slim; and (4) IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad. Kamprad's worth is about $28 billion, according to Forbes.

What Forbes doesn'f focus upon is that Ingvar Kamprad, 79, believes in frugal living. He drives a 15-year-old Volvo: "she is nearly new, just 15 years old, or something like that."

He always flies economy class. His home is furnished with his own IKEA furniture. He takes public transportation to work. He asks that all employees write on both sides of the paper. He also avoids wearing suits, and he likes to eat at inexpensive restaurants. Rumors exist that he replaces expensive Coca-Colas in the hotel mini-bar with cheapers ones from the convenience store before he checks out, to avoid the inflated mini-bar prices.

"People say I am cheap and I don't mind if they do," Kamprad told interviewer Darius Rochebin of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation in a rare interview recently.

His goal is to lead and inspire his employees, and to keep as much money circulating in IKEA as possible, so that its low-cost product can reach the most people world-wide. His goal is always to keep IKEA prices low.

Does he offer any advice? Kamprad recommends “Divide your life into 10-minute units, and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity.” Sources:TheTimesOnline.com, NZZ.com, Forbes.com.

If the fourth richest man can do that, I can too!