Guest Author - Cate Brizzell

Recently I decided to simplify my life. No, actually, it wasn't a decision. It was more of a reaction. My "busyness" had forced me to acknowledge that I was hitting new lows when it came to physical and mental health. Something had to give.

Unexpectedly, I found that simplifying every area of my life resulted not only in a slower and happier lifestyle, but more money in my pocket as well!

Let me describe some of the things I've done. You may want to consider doing the same. After all, who can't use a little less stress and a little more money?

The biggest decision was to pull my three elementary-aged kids out of school and homeschool them instead. "Wait!" I can hear you saying. "Doesn't that add more stress to your life?"

Nope. Not for me. I'd love to list all the ways homeschooling improves our life, but from a financial viewpoint, imagine all the money you spend on school supplies, snacks, lunches, field trips, fundraisers, transportation, activities and possibly tuition staying right in your bank account. In our case, it amounts to thousands of dollars per year in savings.

The next big decision was to quit a part-time job I was handling from home. The job was wonderful but required me to work seven days a week, a few hours each day. The workload and assignments were unpredictable, usually resulting in family chaos when a deadline was unexpectedly given. So the job had to go. This freed up anywhere from two to six hours a day in my schedule, time I put to better use simplifying and organizing.

I started making up weeknight dinner menus two weeks in advance, and did my major grocery shopping every two weeks at a discount food store. I only picked up milk, bread and super-sale items during the opposite week.

I planned two crock-pot meals a week, on our busiest nights. I put the meal together during our homeschool lunch break. Now when we leave for dance class, soccer or baseball, our tummies are full and we've managed to eat a family meal together. There are no more trips to the fast food joint, saving us anywhere from $20 to $50 a week.

To simplify meal planning even more, I began scheduling the same meal on the same night of the week. My family loves spaghetti and meatballs, and it's easy for me to make my special sauce in the crock pot. So Tuesday night is spaghetti night! I don't have to wonder at 3 p.m. on Tuesday: "What am I making for dinner?" I make extra sauce to use for another dinner later in the week.

I started saying "no" to playdate requests, party invitations and other engagements. None of the activities are "bad", but now I'm choosing between "good" and "best". I've realized that doing this models self-discipline to my children. I may want to scrapbook with my friends, but it's more important that I spend time with my family and get a good night's sleep. As a result, we're running the car less and less, and saving tons of money on gas and vehicle maintenance.

I stopped buying "stuff" and started enjoying what I already have. I went through my house, poking through closets and drawers. I found things I'd forgotten I had, such as wonderful candles and decorations. If I came across something I didn't like or didn't need, I immediately threw it away or gave it away. Talk about saving cash! This one step alone probably saved us $50 to $100 a month.

I started culling clothes from my closet. As I did so, I began to find it was easier to get dressed in the morning, because I didn't have as many choices! Unexpectedly, the urge to shop for clothes and "collect" items disappeared. Now when I'm tempted to buy the latest shoe or blouse, I ask myself, "Do I really need this?" Usually the answer is "no", and I put the item back. Bingo. More savings. Since I applied the same principle to my kids' closets, the savings have been multiplied many times.

I began borrowing and bartering with friends and family. We recently celebrated a family wedding. Instead of buying a new dress, I borrowed one from a friend. Yes, I had to pay dry-cleaning costs, but since I already owned a pair of shoes that matched the dress and jewelry that worked as well, borrowing cost me a whole lot less than buying! I didn't have to make a trip to the mall or spend a Saturday trying on dozens of dresses before finding one that fit and flattered. I was much less stressed and able to really enjoy the pre-wedding parties and wedding itself.

Perhaps most importantly, I began getting up early in the morning, before everyone was awake, to spend some quiet time by myself. My first priority is my faith, so I used this time to enjoy devotions. I'll usually get some work done on my laptop before my husband and the kids tumble downstairs for breakfast, too. Even though this means I have to get to bed much earlier at night, I find I feel much more centered, and productive, throughout my day. I'm less apt to reach for the "easy" meal or the "easy" fix, which are usually more expensive than "homemade".

Making these small changes have done wonders for my mental attitude and relationships. Now that a few months have gone by, simplifying has become a habit. I'm finding that I enjoy the simple things in life on purpose--and that's no cliche! I've finally slowed down enough to notice them. I hope you will, too.