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| Sunday, August 10, 2008 |
| Living simply provides economic shelter |
USAToday also seems to have discovered the financial benefits of communal living in the story: Living simply provides economic shelter "We're pretty isolated from the ups and downs of the regular economy," says Schaub, who has lived at the Sandhill Farm intentional community in Rutledge, Mo., for 34 years. The farms' 10 residents grow most of their own food and sell organic produce to the surrounding community. Some have other jobs and all share their income with the group, as do about 13% of the intentional communities in the Fellowship's directory.
"You don't have to chase as many dollars to have a quality of life," Schaub says.
And that is freeing in other ways, says Duane Elgin, an environmental activist in California who focuses on simplicity.
"It isn't just cutting back on things. It's about people not needing so many things and putting more attention into their personal interests and their family and friends, being creative, being of service," says Elgin, author of the book "Voluntary Simplicity," a concept he began fostering 30 years ago. "As a result, they are richer individuals." In my own introverted way I am cohabiting. In my case my basement tenant pays me rent which covers her apartment plus utilities. This payment in turn reduces my fixed monthly costs. But this way I get my solitude and space plus the financial benefit. The added bonus is I am the owner, so I have control plus reap the long term financial benefits.
But in the last few years I have also focused on reducing other expenses and living more simply. I must say, each time I eliminate a payment or find a new way to reduce expenses, I feel happier. While I do worry about the economy, a recession does not scare me the same way it would have five or ten years ago. |
| posted by Boston Gal @ 5:04 PM *
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