The War on Clothes: Part 1 - Sock Bankruptcy

Socks... We all wear them. Each and every week we must wash, pair and replace these simple piece of clothing within our closets. Throughout the years I have accumulated different brands different cuts and different colours. All are used for different events and are kept for different reasons. Different, different, different. I am tired of trying to match and pair all of these socks, let alone choose which ones to wear in the morning.

The solution is quite simple; declare sock bankruptcy! I have decided to throw out all of my socks and start over. But I think you have to restructure the system or else it is just a matter of time before you are bankrupt again... Maybe even from having to throw away and buy new socks too often.

I can solve everything with two types: black tube socks and white ankle socks. Black tube socks for work, the office, social events and pretty much everything you might wear pants too. White ankle socks for anything athletic or wearing shorts. It's simple! You pair white with white, black with black, and the choice of which to wear is made for you. The next trick is to go out and buy a style and brand that does not change very often and will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Of course you also need enough to get you to your next laundry day, but some extra for those lazy weeks. Don't forget that one or two special dress pair to go with my suits.

One less decision everyday, sock shopping is just simply replacing worn stock, and laundry is almost on autopilot. Life just got a little more simple. Sock bankruptcy could be your next waypoint on your map to minimalism. How do you currently deal with your sock accounts?

The Rat Race: Stacking the Odds in Your Favour

We live in a consumerist environment. From a young age we are blasted with advertisements to buy more toys, drink the latest soda, and watch the most popular figure on TV. As we get older, this advertising doesn't go away, but rather it changes into new cars, new home renovations, and new vacations. Sure enough, time after time, we convince ourselves that this next purchase is going to be the one that make us happy and turns everything around. Before we know it, that new thing pops up, and we need it.

But what causes this circle? This perpetual buy and earn, buy and earn? Could it be the need to fit in with our friends? Not get left behind from our coworkers or neighbours? Or just to have that white picket life we were led to believe we will have when we grow up?

Imagine this cycle if all of a sudden we stopped consuming all the goods that aren't necessary. We would have more money to do the things we like. This means we would have to work less, meaning more time to do the things we like. By buying less, we already have the time and money to do what we want. Now what if we take this one step further. With less things, we could live in a smaller apartment and save even more. One day we can even downsize to one, or even no vehicle. Imagine what your cost of living would be in that scenario!

Now I'm not saying that selling your car and everything you own is going to make your life feel complete overnight, or get rid of that need to go buy something when that emptiness or anxiousness sets in. But maybe just moving in this direction one step at a time will make you a little happier one step at a time. And face it, if it doesn't, it will only help you save for that retirement so you can live the retired life a little bit sooner. So give it a go. See if you can cut down on those unnecessary purchases and keep more cash in your pocket. Let me know about your successes and attempts. Maybe there are areas I can save and simplify that I have overlooked.

It's Not Personal

I am having a wonderful morning.  The sun is shining, the weather is mild, I am driving to work and my favourite song comes on the radio.  Everything is going right when all of a sudden another motorist cuts me off, forgets to signal, or I hit heavy traffic.  I get upset, and all the good is overshadowed by the last event as if it is a personal attack at me. At me! Of all people...ME!

Today, we continually post on social media about ourselves, go on adventures just so we can boast about it at work, and try to "one up" our neighbours. We are continually thinking about ourselves and how everything around us either benefits us or detracts from our day.

But to simplify our lives, we must also simplify our thoughts.  What if we viewed that heavy traffic or inconsiderate motorists as just an event and not a personal attack? Like a leaf falling from the tree, or the clouds blowing through the sky.  All of these events, just like a large line at the grocery store, have nothing to do with us.  They just are. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can let these emotions go, conserve the energy from getting upset and use it to enjoy the things we like, make important decisions, and pay attention to the ones we love.  So just remember, it's not personal...