The Good Life . . .

As you can tell there’s nothing following “The Good Life . . .” This blog’s primary purpose for being created was for my digital analytics class. It’s the end of the semester and it’s time to put my all my work, analytics and thoughts into one final paper, otherwise known as MY FINAL PAPER OF COLLEGE! (cue balloons falling from the ceiling)

Through this blogging process I’ve learned so much. Not only about how to create a blog, but also how to track and analyze the metrics overtime. It’s been fun to see all of your reactions to my posts. The most viewed post was “The Good Life . . . by being present.” This was by far one of my favorite posts and I'm so happy it got the views it did. I was humbled by the responses and compliments I received to this post and many others.

Now the big question: Will I be continuing “The Good Life . . . for less” after the semester concludes?

That’s a great question and my honest answer is I have no clue. I wasn’t completely thrilled with the layout of my blog so I would first and foremost change blog platforms. I would also keep the same direction as this blog but do a few minor tweaks to the path I want to take. I’d also love to include more of my own pictures and my personal tumblr page. The question for me is if I want to exert more of my time and energy into this blog. I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this. I’m also sure you all have a thing or two to teach me about The Good Life.
My email is annaschott2@gmail.com. Share away!

Best,
Anna

The Good Life . . . with a smart closet!

We all love a walk in closet until we find ourselves knee deep in clothes with nothing to wear. I admire minimalism and simplicity and want to be more disciplined about this lifestyle, especially with my wardrobe. It is challenging when we are surrounded by a materialistic culture, but I’m speaking for myself when I say that I feel a lot more at ease and at peace when there is less materialistic items to deal with in my life.

 I came across a really helpful post the other day called “How to Shop Like a Minimalist – 12 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying.”
It’s a great guide to change your mindset before deciding to buy clothes. It’s also helpful for those who struggle with uncluttering. Here are the 12 Questions to ask yourself:
    1. Would I really buy this if it wasn’t on sale?
    2. Am I trying to justify this purchase because I think it will motivate me to do something? 
    3. Is this something I will end up annoyed at when I’ve used it for a bit? 
    4. Do I feel compelled to get this largely because it’s a “good” brand? 
    5. Would I be getting this just because I’m trying to fill a quota? 
    6. Does this item really work well with what I have? 
    7. Would this purchase be for a hypothetical situation or potential future life? 
    8. Would this item be higher-maintenance than is worth the bother? 
    9. Does this really make sense or do I have to rationalize it? 
   10. Am I filling a gap or making a pile? 
   11. Is this really me, or is it someone else on Pinterest? 
   12. Do I really, really like this, or am I trying to convince myself I like it for various “logical” reasons? 
The full descriptions of these 12 questions can be found here.

There’s nothing wrong with buying clothes for yourself, especially if they are a necessity. It’s when excessive consumerism takes ahold of you and you’re swimming in a huge closet with nothing to wear. Sometimes simplicity is best. Sometimes that’s all The Good Life is about. Simplicity.

Living The Good Life . . . with less!

I’m gearing up for another move. I’ve moved about 2 times a year for the last 4 years and I’m happy to say that this next move will keep me stagnant for more than a year. Hallelujah!

As I’m mentally organizing what needs to be packed and when the moving truck is bringing my furniture, I have a slight panic attack about how much I need to do before the time comes. Even after moving so many times I have still collected more items than I would have liked. Usually after you move so many times you get the hang of what you need and what you don’t need. I on the other hand can’t part with a lot of my things which actually angers me.

Did you know that Americans have more stuff and more space for that stuff than ever before? Do you think it’s actually possible for Americans to learn how to scale back?
Check out this great infographic that puts it all into perspective: (to find a clearer view click here)

This idea of less will someday become my norm and my Good Life. How easy is it for you to live with less?

The Good Life . . . while budgeting

It may be a daunting word.
Budgeting.
Some find it annoying. Others call it discipline. I call it a challenge.

Whether you’re a family of five or a recent college graduate, setting financial goals and building a budget that works specifically for you will only help you in the long run. It may sound scary, especially if you’ve never done it, but it’s something that will be rewarding since you work so hard for the money you earn.

It’s time to take control of your finances and understand where you’re spending your money and how much. Don’t let disaster strike. Ignorance is not always bliss. The time starts now to start making money work for you, not against you! It’s not always easy but it is worth it. Change can be a good thing and how do we expect life to get better if we don’t make positive changes in our lives?

Here’s something that can help figure out a budget that works for you. It’s called the 50/20/30 Guideline. This guideline breaks the budget into three buckets rather than multiple categories. It also helps you figure out how much you want to allocate to each bucket every month.
  
The 50/20/30 Guideline buckets are: 

1. Fixed Costs
2. Financial Goals
3. Flexible Spending

Get the full description of the guideline here as well as how you can apply it to your own budget: https://www.learnvest.com/lp/how-to-budget-your-money

Eating Out . . . for less!

We all want to save money but that’s hard to do when eating out is so much fun. I am a huge believer in eating in during the week and then allowing myself to go out to eat on weekends. No one should have to sacrifice time with friends or family because going out to eat is too expensive. It doesn’t have to be like that!

An article I ran across in Forbes addressed the issue of eating out for lunch during the week. Americans are typically going out for lunch on an average of twice weekly and spend $10 each time. If you think about that on a yearly basis that means they’re spending $936 annually. I’d say brown bagging your lunch isn’t too bad of an idea knowing that you could save over $900. Think of how much you could do with that money. The options are endless. (Touryalai)

Now when it comes to dinnertime $10 is pretty cheap for a meal. You’re lucky if you can find anything on the menu under $10 (please note I’m a broke college student and money doesn’t grow on trees). I’ve formulated my own money saving ideas for all those sick of forking over well-earned cash for your favorite dish or drink of choice.

 
My Money Saving Deals For Eating Out: 

• Choose places that offer deals online - such as Groupon, Yelp, or Restaurant.com. That way you don’t have to sit in the car and continuously ask, “Where do you want go?” 
• Time your meals over Happy Hour - The drink prices are a steal! 
• Like, Follow and check in on your favorite restaurants via social media - You’ll be surprised how many times restaurants will announce special deals. 
• Split a meal - Many restaurants pile on the food where it seems to be two portion sizes. Why not split it and then maybe treat yourself to dessert with the money you saved from the two entrees? 
• Don’t order food that doesn’t reheat well - Maybe start thinking about what you want for lunch tomorrow and order that. 
• Say NOOOOO to dessert - That’s hard being a dessert enthusiast to say but you can still have it, just not at the restaurant. It’s usually over priced and not that amazing. Hit up your favorite ice cream shop or another favorite dessert shop where you know the dessert will be on point for what you pay. 
• Dine on appetizers - If menus only had appetizers I’d still be happy, maybe happier. I’ve learned that appetizers are the instigators of fullness. Some places serve huge portions. 
• BYOB – Some restaurants let you bring in your own wine and all you have to pay for is the corkage fee. It’s usually cheaper than buying a bottle at the restaurant. It never hurts to call the restaurant and check on their BYOB policy. 

 Saving money is always a good thing, but still having just as good of a time while saving money is what The Good Life is all about. All it takes is a little strategy and a hungry tummy and you’re set.

- - -
References:
Touryalai, Halah. "Lunchtime: Americans Spend Nearly $1K Annually Eating Out For Lunch." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2013/09/25/lunchtime-americans-spend-nearly-1k-annually-eating-out-for-lunch/>.

The Good Life . . . by simplifying

I guarantee this won’t be the last post about simplicity I’ll I’ve ever write. I love the idea of simplifying things because I’m someone who overcomplicates just about everything. When I put my mind to something and really try to simplify, my life tends to get a little bit easier.

I’ve always loved the saying “There is beauty in simplicity.” I really do think that less is more and the simpler the better. There are some fun occasions when this doesn’t apply, but for a majority of time I stick to what I don’t need I don’t have. I once heard someone say “Don’t carry what you don’t need in your pocket, in your home or in your heart.” Think of how meaningful that saying is especially going from tangibles to intangibles. There’s so much noise in all of our heads that affect how we live our lives. If we control the clutter on the outside, don’t you think it would be easier to unclutter our thoughts on the inside? I certainly do.

Simplicity overall helps with a more balanced life and healthy lifestyle. I follow a really inspirational blog called Becoming Minimalist. I really love it because the writer Joshua Becker writes about such relatable issues we all have. He brings really insightful solutions and I currently ran across a post about simplifying your life. The post is called "The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life."


Here is the list:
1. Your Possessions
2. Your Time Commitments
3. Your Goals
4. Your Negative Thoughts
5. Your Debt
6. Your Words
7. Your Artificial Ingredients
8. Your Screen Time
9. Your Connections to the World
10. Your Multi-Tasking

Find the full post here: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-10-most-important-things-to-simplify-in-your-life/

Overall I think everyone could use a little more simplification to really be able to experience The Good Life. I know I do.

The Good Life . . . without missing out!

 

The fear of missing out controls a lot of the decisions people make today. You may not want to miss out on a TV show, a get together or a latest trend. The fear is everywhere. Because it’s everywhere and such a common issue, it keeps people constantly checking their phones, emails, social media platforms and more.

When life continues to be about more, more, more you will eventually always be missing out on something due to everything going on, instead of focusing on the really meaningful things in your life.

With all this going on we feel urgency because there’s just so much stuff to do. So how does all of this affect us? The enjoyment of the experience lessens. As humans we naturally want to have as many great experiences as we can, but the only way that can happen is if you stop cramming everything into your schedule and relax. (Easier said than done, but stick with me.)

It’s impossible to not miss out on something. It’s going to happen no matter what, but the more you filter out things in your life the more intentional you become about how you spend your time and who the people are that you are going to invest that special time with.

While it may sound like you’re doing less, you will actually learn that by choosing things that mean more to you the more energy and attention you will give to those experiences all while truly enjoying them. Sometimes you’ll actually be happy that you missed out something because the alternative is so much better.

There’s no need to overwhelm your life just because that’s seen has “having more.” Yes you do have more, more stress.

Let’s all start thinking of using technology not as a curse, but as a tool. Make time for others, but most of all, make time for yourself. Enjoy life in the moment and embrace your time with loved ones. And most of all start living The Good Life, without the FOMO (fear of missing out).