Use Web sites to learn more about simplicity

TACTIC: Access Web sites to simplify your life.

Freecycle.org

Get rid of stuff by giving it to people who can use it. Join a local freecycle group and connect with people who are discarding or seeking items. This helps reduce waste through the re-use of items and helps you get rid of stuff that still has some value but which is a hassle to sell--very useful for doing the clutter triage.

DaveRamsey.com

Spend less than you make. Create a budget and follow common-sense guidelines to financial peace. Dave Ramsey's site has free information, a radio show, and other resources to help motivate you to keep your financial life simple.

OptOutPrescreen.com

Stop all pre-approved credit card offers from coming to you for life. Be sure to pass along this site to all the people you know who talk about how many pre-approved credit card offers come in the mail.

DoNotCall.gov

Stop telemarketers from calling you for life. If you live in the US, make sure you are registered on the do-not-call list for telemarketing.

DMAChoice.org

Reduce unwanted postal mail. Check for "Consumer Information--How to remove your name from mailing lists" and sign up for the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service, which will reduce unwanted postal advertising from coming to you.

WalkScore.com

Live where you can walk places. You can get exercise, accomplish errands, get to work, and have fun in a car-free manner by living close to places you regularly go. This site gives you a quick overview of how many places you can walk from a particular address. This site itself admits its limitations, and you'll need to further weight the places it comes up with based on your own valuation of them. However, this site is a very good way to quickly get a dramatic sense of how where you live impacts where you can walk.

GetNetWise.org and use online security awareness and protection

Protect yourself online. The Internet's potential value to you for information and communication may be great, but be sure to keep security precautions in mind to avoid scams, problems, data loss, and other complications.

PublicTransportation.org

Use public transportation to get around. Transit can save time, money, hassle, the environment, and your health. Although you may feel you have to conform to a pre-set schedule or route, by living in a city close to transit access, you'll likely find public transportation gets you where you want to go much more simply than all the overhead costs and hassels of paying for and maintaining a vehicle dedicated solely to yourself.

SmartBike.com

Rent a bike when you need it (or own one). SmartBikes stations are located throughout a city to allow users access to a bicycle when they need it. A good alternative to owning a bicycle, as you pay exactly for what you use when you need it. However, I think owning a bike is a good option for transit.

Zipcar.com or CarSharing.net

Rent a car only for the time you need one. Pay only for when you need a car and be car-free otherwise. Registered users can rent a car easily by the hour or day and pick up and return the vehicles at stations throughout a metro area.

People Places

Seek out living spaces that are oriented to human beings. Since I see a simple life as being well-suited to an urban environment where public transit is available, I prepared this site to provide information about pedestrian-oriented places, enabled by transit, which are pleasant and healthy locations to live, work, shop, and play. Includes a set of links to a variety of sites about issues such as walkability and urban environments.

Affluenza a Public Broadcasting Service program from KCTS Seattle, Washington.

Let go of stuff. This is a delightful companion to a PBS television series from years ago. The Web site here is still very useful and gives specific tips for simplifying your life by acquiring less. Includes excellent viewer's guide as well as teacher's guide. Again, don't let the fact that the TV series is over (you shouldn't watch TV anyway!), but use this online information to gain some excellent tips. This is a great, non-threatening place to start for people who are just getting into the idea of voluntary simplicity.

Simple Living Network

This is an excellent index the entire field of voluntary simplicity. Well organized and comprehensive, it includes a wide range of links on all topics.

Voluntary Simplicity & Simple Living Resource Guide

This site was designed by Linda Breen Pierce, founder of The Pierce Simplicity Study. It contains a very wide range of simplicity resources.

Clark Howard

Common-sense consumer empowerment.

Bruce Williams

Common-sense common sense.

Simple Planet

This is "a quarterly on-line publication about simple, natural living."

Reduce Waste: If Not You, Who?

This is an excellent online resource for reducing waste at home, work, school, and traveling. Provided by the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, this Web site gives you clear, understandable, and practical ideas on buying containers and packaging, ideas for durable products, and reducing lawn and garden waste. Well-organized and well-written, this Web site is one of the few that focuses on waste reduction first as opposed to a focus on recycling only.

PREVIOUS: Send your suggestions | NEXT: Access books