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SCARCITY VERSUS SIMPLICITY
I have a strong aversion to scarcity. I lived with a
scarcity mindset
for most of my adult life - the fear that there wouldn't be enough....the
concern that our income wouldn't be enough into, and through our
retirement, the unsettledness of never being sure how much would be left
over each month after the bills were paid.
It wasn't a restful way to live, there was constant striving and juggling.
Despite that, I'm a lover of simplicity, simple living, and less is
more. There's a huge difference between scarcity and simplicity and I
thought I'd delve into that a little today...
SCARCITY
Scarcity is pernicious, it's always in the background, quietly eating away at you. It
made me very careful with everything, finances, spending, giving, and there
never seemed to be a way for me to escape the "be careful" mindset. I was
always trying to build up a nest egg to buffer us against any future
downturn. Money in the bank meant a lot to me.
My husband always says that money is only worth what you buy with it, it
has no intrinsic value of its own. I could never understand that until I
came to see that money has a different meaning to me, it represents
security. If our bank balance is stable, then I'm not stressed, the idea of
spending a chunk of money on something that's not necessary is beyond my
understanding.
ABUNDANCE
It took a long time for me to open my tight fist and realize that we
weren't going to be living under a bridge eating catfood in our old age.
Slowly but surely we built that buffer with hard work and being frugal. We
reached the stage where I didn't need to be checking the bank account, and
where I could choose what to do with my time and resources. Hard work,
paying the bills, and saving where you can, will pay off in the end....but
then you have to change how you see life and loosen up a little.

Having financial security means we begin to see that there are choices
available to us that weren't there when we were doing all we could to pay
the mortgage and keep all the balls in the air. Once scarcity becomes less
threatening, there are choices to make - do we splurge and live life to the
max, do we buy all the things we didn't spend on when we were younger, or do
we find some middle ground where money isn't the driving force in our
life?
SIMPLICITY
Once I moved past watching our pennies all the time, I realized that I'm
just not good at spending money on "stuff". I have no desire for a giant
wardrobe of clothes (I don't have many places to wear new clothes these
days), I don't want to travel the world right now (maybe later), I don't
want to fill our house with expensive furniture and knick knacks, I'm quite
content with what we have.
We'll never be rich, but we aren't poor either, we found our middle ground
and I love that we're choosing to live simply, quietly, freely. We can give
where we see need, we can share what we have, we can own things without
feeling owned by them. I've never been very sentimental about possessions, I
don't attach value to inanimate objects, so I don't hanker after more. Our
standard of living isn't really all that different to when we were less
financially secure, but there's an underlying difference.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCARCITY AND SIMPLICITY?
The core difference (in my opinion) between scarcity and simplicity is
choice. When you're living very simply because you can't afford to do
otherwise, it focuses you on trying to move forward and out of that way of
life. But when you live simply because you choose that lifestyle it has a
completely different feel to it - it feels restful, it feels unstressed, it
feels peaceful.
I don't think I have it in me to live an extravagant lifestyle. I feel
uncomfortable with too much of anything. Maybe it comes from not having a
lot in the first place, maybe it comes from personal preference, maybe it
comes from not knowing what to do with an overabundance of possessions. I'm
very happy with my simple life, and I think that hinges on the fact that
it's a choice, I know I could have more if I want it.....but I don't want
it. I want clear space around me, room to breathe, to think, to make wise
choices, and a simple life provides that space. Every day I'm grateful that
I have the choice, and that I don't have that scarcity hanging over me
anymore - it served its purpose but it's so good to have it in the rearview
mirror now.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you living simply? Or do you have a taste for the more abundant life?
Do you find that choice plays a part in how you live or have you just
slipped into the life you have without thinking about it too much?
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I'm a bit both ways on this one. I'm not a big consumer as in I don't buy much stuff. My main extravagance is as it always has been books, but these days I mostly borrow from the library. We do, however, eat out once a week - sometimes it's lunch at our favourite Vietnamese, sometimes a little fancier - and we spend on travel. So for me its simplicity with added wings.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - I think it helps if you've always had a steady income behind you. Ours fluctuated a lot during the early years of our marriage, and I always felt the need to keep a buffer in place for sudden "surprises". As things settled, I forget to change my mindset and allow myself to relax more with finances. It's taken many years to find simplicity over scarcity - now I'm working on those wings!
DeleteHi, Leanne - This is another great post that resonates. I agree that there is incredible power in inviting simplicity into our lives -- not only in terms of material things but also with our emotions. Inviting simplicity into our also makes rooms for us to savour more important ones. <3
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - I find that simplicity seems to resonate more and more with me as I get older. I think it's partly because I see my parents' generation struggling with how to downsize their homes and possessions, and how what they own has begun to own them. I don't want to have to shovel enormous amounts of material possessions out the door in the years to come, and I also don't want my head full of "stuff" that distracts me from what is really important these days. Less has definitely become more for me (and for many others - yourself included!) x
DeleteI think most of us come from a generation where scarcity was an actual thing. We've seen our parents having to weigh the pros and cons of buying things. In India, my generation lived through three wars and rationing was a big part of our lives. I remember how we switched to having just half a teaspoon of sugar in our tea during the war years. My main indulgence is books and stationery. My husband has to push me to go to a saloon for a haircut, most times! Learning to be simple and yet have an abundance mentality is something I'm working on.
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne - simplicity and abundance can go hand in hand if we define them correctly. I think our instant gratification society has switched things around and focused hugely on abundance and accumulation - rather than appreciation and living simply. When we pare back our life and purchases, abundance comes naturally because anything out of the ordinary feels like abundance.
DeleteI grew up with a scarcity mindset that I brought into our marriage but my husband grew up with an abundance attitude and slowly through the years he's worn off on me. I now think I fall somewhere in the middle!
ReplyDeleteWe were similar in our marriage too Jo - although my husband will tell you I wore off more on him than he did on me! He's much more careful with his spending these days, but he's also encouraging me to loosen the purse strings a little and enjoy life now that things aren't so tight financially. I'm a work in progress, but I'm breathing more freely these days and not being so stingy.
DeleteGreat post with so many good insights. These are especially relevant as we get older and start living off of retirement income, savings, investments and simplifying. We keep downsizing and are about to do it one more, maybe next to last time. Just sold our last owned property in the U.S. moved to Mexico as full-time ex-pats, at least for now. We have been long time admirers of KISS, Keep It Simple, Sweetheart! We have had the benefits and blessings of travel, continue to do that on occasion and are now in a community of other, mostly "retired" but active folks who support and encourage one another in our various activities.
ReplyDeleteHi Gary - we're living off our retirement income and savings too - I'm so glad we were careful in the earlier years to allow for the freedom we have now. We'll begin the downsizing process in several years' time and that will free up even more funds. I think being an expat in Mexico sounds lovely (I have a couple of blogging friends who ended up in Eastern Europe as expats and both love it). Simplicity and not accumulating 'stuff' just works so well for us and it certainly makes getting older a lot less stressful. Thanks so much for your comment. :)
DeleteThis is a topic that I think about a lot.
ReplyDeleteI have always had a fear of money running out. I have always been a saver, never had a credit card and prided myself on living within my means, while enjoying such pleasures as travelling.
Then kids came along.
Hubby was at uni, so things were really tight, then we were on one income with 4 kids.
Even as things have become easier, financially, I still had the scarcity mindset.
I’m working hard to overcome it. So thank you for this piece of writing.
Hi Mika - I'm 60 and still working on not being so careful (stingy) with my money. I'm so used to watching the pennies, and it's hard now for me to buy "frivolous" things without feeling guilty - which is really silly, but is still a genuine issue for me.
DeleteI can easily see why you'd have similar issues - living on a very tight income (like we did too for many years) either means you build up debt, or you pull in tight and push through. I like that we're debt free now because we were so frugal, but there comes a time when it's okay to loosen up a little - I'm slowly getting there.....
We lived for years with a more scarcity mindset, more because we were saving for the future than living paycheck to paycheck. We always lived with saving one paycheck for the future, which has allowed us to retire early and not be worried about money. But, I still wait for sales, use coupons, never buy the most expensive thing on the menu. And yet, I don't need to do any of that because we are extremely financially secure. I'm not extravagant, but I also don't worry about having a really nice dinner out or buying things for my hobbies. It's a good place to be.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - I think those habits become entrenched (even when our finances are more secure). I actually like being sensible with money, I like that we have a good buffer against any future surprise expenses, and that we're debt free and not needing to work.
DeleteI wish I'd known back in the tough times that life would be so pleasant and easy now - it would have taken some of the stress off me! Still, it's never too late, and I'm really trying to get the balance right for the time ahead - letting go a little and not depriving myself when opportunities come our way...
I am a person who likes minimalism and simplicity. Unless I need something, I don't want it. My profession is not a high paying one. So, I had to be very frugal to make sure that I can make both ends meet. Luckily, I am better placed now.
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - we've never worked in super high paying jobs, and have had ups and downs in employment throughout our marriage. I'm grateful that we've managed to pull things together to be so comfortable now, but I also need to remind myself that things are easier now and I can relax a little and enjoy all the life we've worked so hard for.
DeleteIt's so interesting isn't it leanne, how we grow up with these ways and find it hard to lose them. I always had to add up my shopping with a calculator in the early days with three children and one income, worried I'd exceed the budget we'd set. I am still aware of what things cost but have learnt to let go of my frugal instincts and these days we're quite comfortable with buying things we need/want. My husband is still quite unaware of how much things have gone up and is often surprised when out shopping! I get your differences between scarcity and simplicity and thin most of us could make do with less these days.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - I'm definitely free-er with my spending now than I was for the first couple of decades of marriage, but I think these things do become ingrained. I still baulk at the price of meat at the supermarket (cows must be made of gold!) and I price check everything that I buy that's at the higher end of the budget (thank you Google!) But I will admit that I'm more able to spend now - I just struggle with the need to at times!
DeleteGosh, I think I am neither..but at times I get very scared about 'not enough' money because of how things went pear shaped for us a number of times. Some were circumstances beyond our control but others...well, let's just say I am loathe to raise them again. So, I am glad that you have found the relative balance between the two. I do agree though that when two people marry as we did with totally different upbringings and backgrounds then it is/has been a case of making things work as best as they could. Trying to feel grateful right now for our relative good health with chronic medical conditions and how fortunate we are for my husband's pension paid from the career he was medically retired from, and that we receive government benefits that help bridge the gap between what comes in and what goes out.
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - I'm very grateful for the country we live in and the superannuation system (and eventually the pension system if we need that down the track). I'm also grateful that my frugal ways have set us up for where we are now, but I'm always conscious of the fact that there are unknowns that can come into play at any time. If I'd had to have my hip replacement done privately with no insurance it would have cost $35,000! That would have been a huge hit - so I'm even more grateful for the public system that rescued me - and am now insured to the hilt (hang the expense!)
DeleteMany great thought-provoking points again, Leanne. I am reminded how grateful I am to have choices. Yet, as you share, the choices I now have are because of many of the choices I have made in the past. You remind me of a story a patient told me many moons ago…she had finally been ruthless and cleaned out items/donating things from her home…she attended a home/lifestyle show the following weekend…she won $1000. Gift to spend … she felt it was because she had made room for new things/moments…you describe this well. Thank you for sharing you, Leanne. I always learn something new. xx Erica
ReplyDeleteHi Erica - that story was wonderful! I do believe that clearing space makes room for positive input. I'm actually writing a post at the moment about the positive space we gain from letting go, that releasing things isn't just for getting rid of them, but for making room for what's more important. I always love when we're on the same page with our thoughts - we need to live closer so we can have a cuppa together regularly! xx
DeleteThanks for another thought-provoking post, Leanne. I do believe for most of us the difference between scarcity and simplicity is the mindset. Of course, if you can't obtain the necessities of life, that is clearly scarcity. I enjoy spending money on experiences mostly...nice meals, vacations, pampering myself. I don't need a lot of possessions to be content. In fact, I'm at a point where I want to get rid of some possessions that I feel are cluttering my space more than contributing to my enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - I'm finding the same - that I can spend money more easily now on things that bring me joy. I'm so grateful that funds are less scarce these days and I can be freer with them - but it's strange how I'm still so careful with spending (especially on myself). I guess things take time - and I'm definitely not adding to the "stuff" we have - one thing in and one thing out is my mantra. :)
Delete