Simplifying has become a key in my life. As I simplify our possessions, I stumbled upon a key principle that is slowly invading each area of my home. Quality counts. That sounds good, but many of us don't truly consider the ramifications of quality versus quantity in our daily lives. We may consider it with a bigger purchase, or we may just try to buy as much as we can afford. For me, I always just bought as much as I could afford.
Simplification is a journey. With Christmas on the way, I am looking at purchases differently. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on things that will be forgotten or broken within a few weeks. This, to me, means giving carefully thought-out, quality items instead or experiences.
Simplifying actually can be more work in the beginning. For instance, I needed some waterproof hiking boots for all the walking I have been doing. The rain and snow soak through my tennis shoes, leaving me with wet, cold feet. Finding boots I could afford that were a quality product turned out to be more challenging than I thought. I could save by purchasing online, but I really wanted to try them on first. I went to shoe store after shoe store, and was discouraged by the selection. I had saved some money for the purchase, but it wasn't the over $100 asking price for the top brands. I finally came upon a boot sale at a main department store. There I found boots that were quality and, with the 30% off, were in my budget.
In the past I would have bought a cheaper, less quality pair, and been unhappy when they fell apart after a couple months or hurt my feet. Finding quality was more work, but the hope is that the boots will last.
The process is the same as I search for Christmas gifts. I want the few dollars I can spend to be spent well. I like to give experiences, but there is nothing wrong with buying "stuff". However, I am being more selective (picky) than ever. I just don't have it in me any longer to buy stuff that won't last or isn't quality, even if it means buying less.
This is a new feeling for me. I "made do" with cheaper stuff all of my life. I bought the cheap shoes until I developed foot problems. I bought the cheaper phones until I got frustrated with going through five in one year.
As I look around my home I realize what lasts isn't cheap. The hardwood dresser that was mine as a child is in my daughter's room. We have gone through numerous particle board ones through the years. The solid wood coffee table is still here after twenty years. We bought our cherry dining room table used, and she is still serving our family.
Even daily items last longer when they are quality. My husband can wear through a cheap pair of shoes in a month. A quality pair will last him a year. His bass guitar was bought on sale years ago, but it was a quality brand. He plays it on the worship team weekly and rehearses with his band a couple times a week.
As I've eliminated clutter, I've seen that I have tossed a lot of poorly made junk. And so, despite the cost, I've made the decision to not spend our precious few dollars on low-quality items. I would rather have a few items I love that will last than a home full of cheap stuff.
There are times when we have to purchase things. As much as I love having less and eliminating clutter and venturing more towards minimalism, I think it is a very good lesson to be sure that the few things I do purchase are worth the money. I am sure that there are many that buy quality and still over-purchase. Instead of a home of cheap clutter they have a home of expensive clutter. For me, on a limited budget, spending larger amounts on things may seem wasteful at first. However, as these items last, money is actually saved by not having to purchase anything different as a replacement.
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