CULTIVATE THE INTANGIBLES

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

---Antoine De Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

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In the quest for a gracious lifestyle on a limited income, I have decided not to confine myself to material things. Making a conscious effort to court the intangibles, taking liberal doses of compassion, empathy, and faith, can enrich your life more than you might imagine. Focusing on the positive may be the most effective (and least costly) thing you can do to elevate your quality of life.

What precisely are intangible? Intangibles are those things that cannot be perceived by the five senses. Wisdom, love, education, health, and joy are just a few. Intangible are among the finest things to cultivate and possess in this life. They can relieve the pressure of your daily responsibilities, enrich your pocketbook as well as your soul, and elevate the quality (and appreciation) of your life. So on those braided days when the tasks of living seem overwhelming, you might want to make a deliberate effort to cultivate the intangibles.

Intangibles are not for sale. Even the very rich cannot buy a vessel of virtuosity or a hamper filled with happiness, and those of us who choose to cultivate those intangibles will have treasures that do not rust.

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From: Frugal Luxuries, Bantam Books, NY, 1997

The Simplest No-Sew Window Treatment

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Our north facing kitchen needed the reflective light from this mirror.

Because it was too small in proportion to the room, I flanked it with retro wooden shutters

and covered the difference with this fabric valence made from the blue and white ticking fabric that covers our kitchen/family room couch.

The fabric valance mirrors the treatment on the authentic window in the room.

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Choices and Life Paths

SIMPLE CHOICES

" The difficulty in life is the choice."

--George Moore, The Bending of the Bough

Each of us must choose our own style of simplicity and make a plan to obtain it. The simplifying process materializes when you plan your finances and activities to harmonize and deliver you to your goals. How many people drift along in life because they have no plan? They have not synchronized their efforts with their aspirations. Living in this manner is the opposite of living simply.

How do you go about unburdening yourself from material and intangible excess? Begin by mapping your life's path instead of leaving your life to chance. Does it seem incongruous with simplicity to map you life's path? I will admit that the idea may seem odd (since planning conjures the illusion of complexity), yet on close inspection the logic is glaringly simple and true. Just as words do not leap from the dictionary to form books, successful, happy lives do not happen into existence. They have been thought out, planned for, and acted upon. You can do this by taking control of your actions. How do you take control of your actions? By taking control of your thoughts. Your thoughts control your actions, although many people are not consciously away of this. Every human action exists because it was first a thought.

The logical next question--how do you control your thoughts? Begin by reflection upon you current thinking. Answer these searching questions.

What kind of person are you?

• Are you constantly bitter and unhappy about the people and circumstances in your life? Or do you take responsibility for these things, happily using your resources, thoughts and energies to go forward on your life's path?
• Do you strive for excellence, or do you settle because of a lack of passion in your life?
• Are your thoughts and options formed for you by others, or do you take the time to clearly think out opinion, ideas, problems and solutions?
• Do you dwell on past misfortunes and mistakes, or do you understand that your past does not equal your future?
• Do you hold a grudge? Or do you release negative attitudes and keep your thoughts focused on what is very positive?
• Are you consciously guiding your life, or are you adrift on the ocean of your experiences, thought, and actions?
• Do you blame others for the unhappiness in your own life, or do you take responsibility for your own thoughts, actions and circumstances?
• Can you delve deep into your soul and take an honest look at how you have been living and make a decision to become master of your own happiness?
• Do you understand that each individual has the free will to forge his own thoughts, even under the most difficult circumstances?

By managing your thoughts with clear thinking, you will create your own happiness. Conversely, negative thoughts, combined with lack of faith, will inhibit the growth of inner and outer contentment.

Excerpt taken from Frugal Luxuries, Bantam Books, 1997

Simple Choices

SIMPLY SO

"...all the loveliest things there be come simply so."

--Edna St. Vincent Millary

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The following is an excerpt from Frugal Luxuries, Bantam Books, NY, 1997
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SIMPLICITY
“And there is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness and truth.”
—Leo Tolstoy

Simplicity is the kind of word that soothes. Why? Simplicity is a desired state. Most of us want life to become less complicated than it is, and we think simplifying our lives will bring us happiness. Yet true simplicity is much more than a trend or a swing of fashion. True simplicity is eliminating both material and intangible excess, and conserving time, energy, money, and thoughts. It is using the resources you possess in a way that will take you toward your dreams, your goals—your desired future.

GENUINE SIMPLICITY will help you become the person you long to be.

There are varying stages of simplicity. When I speak of simplifying, I am not advocating the adoption of austerity. Individuals must dictate their own measures of luxury and simplicity. Strike a balance in your life that will leave you free to perform the tasks that will allow you to realize your personal vision of happiness—be it farming an acre of land, creating a multimillion-dollar conglomerate, or simply staying home to nurture the children you have brought into this world.

The hallmarks of simplicity are not found in the lack of things, nor are they found in the possession of them. Simplicity is a thought process—a love of the unpretentious, easy, and informal. It displays itself through attitude, personal style, and appreciation of the (tangible and intangible) world around us.

Simplicity may be either elegant or austere. On one end of the spectrum you will find those who choose a monastic lifestyle, keeping the appropriation of money and possessions to a conscious minimum. On the other end you will encounter those of us who embellish our lives by cultivating frugal luxuries.

MAPPING YOUR MONEY

This is our first excerpt in a series, taken from our book, Frugal Luxuries (Bantam, 1997).
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A MONEY MAP
"The good old rule....the simple map."
--Wordsworth

Just as choosing random articles of clothing in the morning may result in a jarring clash of colors and patterns, random spending can result in a chaotic financial situation that will leave you feeling disempowered and out of control. To live your financial life on instinct alone could cost you more than money--it could rob you of the future you've always dreamed of.
If you do not currently follow a budget, now is an excellent time to establish one. If you already map your money, perhaps you’ll want to reexamine your spending patterns, priorities, and goals and adjust your map accordingly.

A money map should answer the following questions:

How much income do you bring home?
How much money do you spend each month?
How much money do you need for basic monthly living expenses?
How much money will you have after basic expenses are met?
In what way should you use the remainder?

There are also three important questions that you must ask and answer:

Am I spending less than I earn?
If so, am I reducing or eliminating debt, and saving or investing the remainder?
If not, what can I do to reduce my monthly spending in order to spend less than I earn?

Holiday/Seasons Blog is Up!

Hello Good Souls.
Just a note to let you know that I've got the Holiday/Seasons blog up and running. I will be posting tips on how to prepare for the holidays and Christmas (especially gift giving) so that we won't be hit especially hard in the bank account when December rolls around. Please feel free to visit at frugalluxuriesseasons.blogspot.com. I'm still working out some of the kinks on both blogs, but eventually there will be lots of great ideas from the book, photos and FRESH IDEAS galore! I'm really excited to share them with you, but I'm doing these blogs around my life...which includes (number one) taking care of my family. Included is:

• our youngest daughter Rosie (she just started her Junior year of high school a few weeks ago - our older two children have left the nest)
• my best friend and husband, Mike
• we all help a lot with Mike's mom who will be 87 in a few months
• my dad, who is doing well, thank Heaven. Sadly, we lost my mom to complications of Multiple Sclerosis two years ago in October.

So much of the reason I haven't been doing any fresh books or "career building" during the past several years is that I dearly wanted to spend time with my family while I had the chance. Looking back, I have absolutely no regrets regarding that decision. I know I've said it many times before but, it's worth repeating...

"...remember what is truly of value in our lives--

our time, our loved ones, our inner sense of prosperity."

As is my way, I do digress. Thank you for visiting and please look for our holiday posts on the ....Seasons blog if you think they might help you or someone you know.

Warmly, Tracey and Family