Volunteer Simplicity

Volunteer Simplicity is a different way of life than most Americans are living. That is stating the obvious, isn't it? But what is it? And why do we do it?

Voluntary Simplicity is making decisions about how and what to invest your time and money on. It will look different for each one who practices it based on what they value. It is the opposite of the keeping up with the Jones' attitude or the bigger is a better way of life. It is slowing down and figuring out what are the most important things to you; then finding a way to make that your way of life.

This is a way of looking at life, not living it. It is certainly not one size fits all, but for us:

We most certainly could have credit card debt and we could have bought a bigger house because we qualified for quite a bit bigger loan than we took. We could drive to a car dealer and leave with a brand new car and a brand new debt today, so why don't we? Why do we live with no credit cards, not even an “emergency” one? Why did we purchase an older 1500 square foot house? Why older paid off vehicles?
 

Quite simply, if you have an emergency fund there is no need for a credit card. The mortgage on our older home is less than we were paying for rent and the smaller home is plenty big enough, yet small enough that we interact throughout our day. We have no debt on our older cars and being that they are paid off insurance is lower, which allows us to save for a replacement when needed.
 

Living this way allows me to be home with the kids and homeschool them. It allows us to spend copious amounts of time together instead of being scattered about. It allows us to save for the future. It allows us time and resources to give back to the community and to develop real friendships.

Marie-Anne and Frank