"The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life, which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run."
--Henry David Thoreau
When you think about buying things, or decide to keep things you no longer really love or use, how often do you stop and think about the true cost of things? I'm talking about the true cost of owning the thing throughout it's life cycle.
For example, are you aware of how much time you spend maintaining the things you own?
When you think about buying something, do you think about the time, energy and money it will take to:
- Shopping for things
- Choosing and buying things
- Storing things, choosing and buying containers, shelves etc.
- Fixing things (especially houses and cars - do you really plan for all the repairs?)
- Cleaning things
- Looking for things
- Inventorying and insuring things
- Worrying about people taking your things and paying for security systems
- Yelling at your kids about things
- Fighting with your spouse about things
- Figuring out how to let go of things such as finding some one to give them to
How much of the cost of your home actually goes directly to storing things you can't find when you need them anyway?
Do you argue with people in your life about stuff? Is it worth the trouble?
What would you do with your time, energy and money if you didn't have to worry about so many things?
Are your things helping you avoid having to make the tough decisions about what you really want to be and do with your? Are they filling a void in your heart and soul? Keeping you stuck in pattern that is painful but familiar and therefore its hard to change?
Starting to let go of unneeded things gradually can actually help you face this. Sometimes the first step in stopping the cycle is just to acquire less and refocus all that shopping energy on self-care.
How would your life be different with fewer clothes? fewer books, DVDs, CDs? fewer magazines? less junk mail? fewer toys? fewer photos? a smaller house? no car payments?
MORE FROM THE WEB AND BLOGOSPHERE ON THE TRUE COST OF THINGS AND LIVING WITH LESS
- ZEN HABITS Leo Babauta published a free e-book on Thriving on Less: Simplifying in a Tough Economy that is worth a read. He has also published a book on the Power of Less. I haven't read it, but thought you might like to know!
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- THE DEBT FREE KID - A neat post by Karissa about the true price of things...a great reminder that things really don't buy happiness.
- GREEN FERTILITY - Here's a neat couple of posts about the true cost of things...like the true cost of a dozen eggs...and the true cost of low cost food...this one really opened my eyes.
- THE TRUE COST OF OWNING A HOME - Owning a home may not be as much of an investment as you think...if you are thinking of owning a home, think it all the way through and DON"T let the mortgage companies talk you into "buying the largest home you can afford" or "don't worry about the total cost, just think about the monthly payment" The total true cost can be as must as 5 TIMES the monthly payment to cover utilities, property taxes and maintenance. Even if you have two incomes, I always recommend buying a home you could afford on 25 - 40% of the lower income ALONE. The freedom is so worth it!
- THE TRUE COST OF DRIVING A neat little calculator to help you learn the TRUE cost of driving your car. You might be really astonished!
- THE TRUE COST OF CREDIT - Tells you what it really costs to use your credit cards.
- THE WALDEN POND PROJECT - An activity to help kids learn the true cost of things.
Do you have or know of a great post on the true cost of things?
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