November
2006
In this issue...
- How will I cope? The financial implications of downshifting.
- Turning our
house into a low energy eco-home. By George Marshall.
- This month's exploration
- Quotes of the month
- Want to comment or contribute?
- Teleclasses and personal coaching
News and Events
I
am now offering a NEW, FREE teleclass called “Want
to get out of the Rat Race? – how to downshift
in 6 steps." It’s
a 60 minute introductory class and will give you a
chance to sample a teleclass on downshifting at no
cost (other than the price
of the call) and get a feel for this easy and sustainable
method for group learning. If you would like further
details, please email
me with “Rat Race teleclass” in
the subject line.
1. How
will I cope? The financial implications of downshifting.
1. How much money do I need in order to downshift?
You would need to have an income
of some form that is higher than your living costs.
If your downshifting plans
involve quitting your job and having some time out, either
between jobs or in order to start your own business,
then it would be wise to reduce your living costs and
have some money put aside in savings to cover for that
while your income is reduced. Money experts tend to recommend
a sum equivalent to 6 months’ income.
2. Can anyone downshift?
Most people can. Downshifting by definition means trading
a high standard of living and low (often highly stressful)
quality of life for a higher quality of life. A downshifted
life is a simpler life and often richer in time rather
than in money. So, in order to downshift, one needs to
have some money to spare at first. This might not necessarily
be a lump sum in the bank. It might be equity tied up
in your home or other possessions that you could sell.
Downshifting might then involve moving to a smaller home
or a similar home in a less expensive area or selling
some of your possessions.
3. What if I am in debt?
If you are in debt then this is an issue you will probably
want to tackle as a matter of urgency. Living frugally
and downshifting your lifestyle may well form part of
your plans for lifting yourself out of debt. It can be
a very satisfying way to decrease your living costs without
feeling that you are depriving yourself.
4. How does anyone manage to live on less?
There are many pressures on us in Western Society to
consume. Whilst we continually expose ourselves to this
through television, newspapers and magazines, we can
easily form the opinion that we have to keep acquiring
more and succeeding more in order to be accepted. Here
are a few simple things to try for one week to demonstrate
to yourself that you can reduce your costs and change
your money spending activities:
- Have a week that is
media-free i.e. no
television, radio, newspapers or magazines and notice
how you are
less tempted to spend money on what you feel you “ought
to have.”
- Stay away from supermarkets. Buy your food only from
local independent retailers or farms. Notice how much
less you spend on food now that you have to work a little
harder to get it and that you are less tempted to impulse
buy.
- No eating out or takeaways. If you feel like having
a food treat, make yourself a special candle-lit dinner.
- Put your credit cards
away and only buy what you can
afford in your current account. Better still, take an
amount of cash out of the bank that is your budget for
the whole week and only spend that. Notice how much more
aware you are of how you are spending your money.
If you don’t think you can
manage all of those at one time, then try each of them
in turn for a week.
5. Does downshifting always involve living on less?
It usually does to begin with. Ironically, in the longer
term some downshifters earn more money, or have a higher
level of disposable income, having reduced their costs
and found a way of earning money that is more aligned
with their values.
6. Isn’t it selfish?
It isn’t selfish to want
to be the best you can be. Ultimately others will benefit
when you live in a
way that is in alignment with your values and passions.
There are diplomatic and considerate ways to express
your wishes to your nearest and dearest (see my article “How
to tell your other half you’re leaving the
Rat Race”.)
7. Won’t I be plunged
into poverty?
There is an important difference between poverty and
frugal simplicity. Poverty is involuntary and disabling
whereas frugal simplicity is voluntary and empowering.
In my personal experience, the key to finding the right
way for you is to stay assertive, focussed and informed
in everything you do on the downshifting path.
8. Is it a one-way ticket?
This will depend on your confidence in your ability
to:
- earn money when necessary
- stay flexible and learn from your mistakes
- continue learning new skills
Keep in mind that there are many
possibilities for how you can live you life in simplicity
and in alignment
with your true nature. And, you’re allowed to try
out as many of those possibilities as you like.
Have fun exploring the potentialities. :o)
Suggested Further Reading
Your Money or Your Life – Vicki
Robin and Joe Dominguez
2.
Turning our house into a low energy eco-home. By George
Marshall.
When Annie and I moved into our
new home, an 1930’s
ex-council terraced house in Oxford, it needed a lot
of work. Our dream was to renovate the house so that
it is energy efficient and respects the environment,
but is also clean, healthy and full of natural light.
We followed the usual advice – new
insulation throughout, lagging hot water pipes, draughtproofing
and a new condensing boiler. We found it cost very little
to far exceed the recommended levels of insulation. In
the new extension and loft conversion we doubled the
level of insulation required by building controls for
the cost of a few hundred pounds more in materials.
We managed to save money by using salvaged materials
everywhere- for joists, floors, sinks, stairs, and light
fittings. We built the fitted kitchen from old furniture:
a beautifully made solid oak kitchen for less cost than
the cheapest chipboard kind.
We installed many eco-features. We have a high quality
solar hot water panel. The extension has a grass roof
and a sun porch to preheat the air entering the house.
The bath water is stored in a copper tank (a re-use of
the old hot water tank) and runs the downstairs toilet.
The upstairs bedroom operates as a sun trap, heating
air which is then pumped downstairs by a thermostatically
controlled fan. And all paints, floorings, and timber
meet the highest environmental standards.
So we managed to add two new rooms
to the house and still reduce gas, electricity and
water consumption by
nearly 60%. This is the government’s target for
2050 and we achieved it within one year! It is clear
that soon every house will have to do what we have done.
But a house is only one part of
one’s overall
emissions. We try to achieve a low carbon lifestyle in
other respects. We eat only local free range meat and
local organic vegetables, rarely buy something new, work
within cycling distance of home and only use a car for
rare and unavoidable purposes. Providing we can avoid
flying, which is deadly, we manage to keep our annual
emissions under 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person,
which is not far off the sustainable level. You can work
out your emissions on the calculator here and
learn more about low carbon lifestyles here.
The most important thing we have
learned is that our house can be a model for inspiring
others. We had so
much interest that I wrote a website,www.theyellowhouse.org.uk, so
that people could make a virtual tour of the house and
learn from our experience and contacts. The site
has had over 10,000 hits and we get visitors and letters
every week. We have also produced a CD ROM which can
be ordered through the site.
(c) George Marshall
3. This
month’s exploration.
Complete the following sentence in as many different
ways as you can to discover your beliefs about money:
Money is…
Highlight the beliefs that limit you and those that
empower you.
4. Quote
of the month.
“Managing your money does not depend
upon becoming wealthy or declaring vows of poverty. Rather,
it is about creating stability and sufficiency – a
balanced flow of monetary energy through your life.”
Dan Millman
5. Want
to comment or contribute?
If you would like to comment on any aspect of this newsletter
or submit an article for inclusion in it, please contact
me by email.
6. Teleclasses
and personal coaching..
“How to step off the treadmill”
A series of three teleclasses, each one hour long, exploring
the elements of downshifting, the reality of living a
sustainable lifestyle in a consumer driven society and
how to motivate ourselves to make the switch.
A teleclass is a straightforward,
low cost and sustainable way of taking part in a group
learning session. It’s
like a conference telephone call.Each participant is
supplied with a phone number to call at the appointed
time. When you call, you will be welcomed to a virtual
classroom where you can listen to the class leader present
the teleclass material and you can participate by asking
or answering questions if you wish. So it’s just like
being in a real classroom or workshop setting except
that you can take part in the comfort of your own home
without having to travel anywhere!
To view the current teleclass schedule, click here.
Personal Coaching
One-to-one coaching can help you:
• let go of your old, stressful
way of life, find a new path of vitality and an improved
way of living.
• deal with fears surrounding financial responsibilities, your relationships
with others and other consequences of making a major life change.
• improve your health, wellbeing and spiritual life.
• further your personal growth.
• achieve balance, clarity and peace.
You can view further details on personal coaching here.
7. Subscriptions
and privacy policy
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Have a fruitful
month!
Sally
Sally Lever
Sustainable Living Coach
+44 (0)1749 674842
sally@sallylever.co.uk
http://www.sallylever.co.uk/
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