simplicity Archives - Page 2 of 2

Given the complications, bookkeeper and accountants involved while self-employed from 2013-2018, I was lucky to submit by the extension date. So, I literally patted myself on the back after pressing “Submit” to e-file my taxes on Mar. 17—a whole month early this year!

I immediately went to my email to double confirm a receipt from TurboTax. At the top of my inbox, I saw The New York Times email with “Breaking News: Tax Day Delayed to May 17, I.R.S. Says.” Well, I’ll be, I giggled to myself.

Instead of upset, I was even more delighted in my accomplishment and hustle—an ode to one of the themes of the last year: Carpe dime, er, Carpe Diem.

Seizing the day is a lot easier when one has abundant means. Or nothing to lose? Nah, basic needs almost always override the gumption needed to pronounce “Oh Captain, My Captain” and throw caution (or budgets) to the wind.

Knowing this all too well, and also knowing the nourishment needed to make it through hard times, seizing the day was a tricky balancing act last year. Especially for those of us who were under- or un-employed during the pandemic. I put my optimistic faith in lean habits accrued from Buy Nothing during 2016 to 2019 and more recent accounting systems for autopay and savings accounts. I knew I needed to spend as little as possible while staying committed to sustainable purchases. I also reverted to the less productive habit of avoiding reconciling my accounts for months at a time.

I justified this as a way of staying present in the moment, meanwhile, a quote kept echoing in my head from Karen McCall in her excellent guide to Financial Recovery based on her own debt experience:

“Being disconnected from your money behaviors reflects being disconnected from yourself. It causes you to act in ways that contradict your own best interests. It sabotages your progress to your goals.”

When my W-2s and 1099G started showing up and I had to confront my Mint account and budget spreadsheets, dusty fears based on not-so-past experiences appeared: Would I owe a lot? More than was in my savings? Had I made a big mistake somewhere? Had I sabotaged progress on my life goals?

After a couple weeks of convincing myself to keep sitting down every day—logging in to be accountable for my choices—there was a deep sigh of relief to see I was still going in the right direction. Even if a bit slower than I had forecasted six months ago when I landed full-time employment.

“Going slowly in the right direction is enormously better than going in the wrong direction at any speed,” Karen McCall also wisely wrote.

In subtle ways, my accounting matched my experience of the year overall: blessed and congruent.

Lower than expected:

Gas: 30% under budget
Parking 40% under budget
Haircuts: 75% under budget

Higher than expected:

Shipping: 4x more**
Shopping: 100x more*
Take out: 3x more

Overall, 2020 was a net positive: I came in ~15% over budget and ~17% over in earnings.

It was not this way for everyone. I have been there too.

The biggest blessing: getting to use the stimulus checks to continue payments toward my self-employment debt. Just three years after contemplating bankruptcy, I’ve only got 20% left to go (that’s including 8-16% interest rates!) with an expected payoff by my birthday this summer.

The biggest congruency: Finding harmony in conforming to the circumstances or requirements of the situation by sacrificing and staying close to home.

All in, the three “over budget” categories above totaled about $3,500. This was a little surprising. Even conscious little purchases add up. What if I had done a 5th year of Buy Nothing and that was $0 instead? Would I be closer to my debt repayment goal? Most likely.

But all or nothing isn’t the point. It’s the intentionality of the choices. And I’ve come a long way in aligning my life and my choices. As Karen McCall said:

“It’s about what you value. How you obtain as well as where you invest your resources—your time, energy and money—reflects what you value most.”

What do I value most? Nature, people, beauty, adventures. This is where I put my time, energy and money.

And, I’m pretty sure this is how life is a net positive, if we just keep trying.

May you Carpe Dime this week on what you value most.

Love,
Jules

*Yes, shocker, I actually bought things! After four years with $0 for discretionary shopping I didn’t know what to budget, hence the 100x increase—or about $100 per month including half for others and half for me. My most frequent purchases: Outdoor gear, art, books. Technically, home supplies (e.g.: cleaning supplies) and shipping** (e.g.: care packages, greeting cards, stamps) were separate line items. The latter was needed a LOT more than usual last year to stay connected!

I share a lesson learned about integrity every Monday. Sign up for delivery right to your inbox. Want more? There’s lots more lessons learned here on my blog, so have fun exploring and commenting about your own insights!

There is something reassuring that spring weather is as unpredictable as a teenager’s shifting moods. The unpredictable is predictable.

It’s a constant balancing act—recalibrating every few minutes to a new reality. Such is spring.

As I studied Balance throughout the last four seasons, I was reminded of this constant: Such is life every season.

Last Saturday, there was one minute when all was in balance: 12 hours of day, 12 hours of night. After that one minute, the balancing act continued. We crossed the Spring Equinox into a new year.

After 20 minutes of waffling on how to dress for the weather a couple Sundays ago, I resigned myself to being ill-prepared for something and finally left the house for a walk with my friend. I did bring a hat, I didn’t bring gloves. I did wear a raincoat, I didn’t bring an umbrella. I seriously considered sunglasses. And, of course, I had my mask.

Twenty minutes into our walk while we were talking about the pros and cons of various weather apps ironically, a huge grey cloud rolled toward us and the wind immediately picked up.

“Uh oh. We better take cover.”

We huddled under some tall bushes for the next 20 minutes while the heavy cloud cried its way over us.

By the time we wandered into Columbia Park a couple miles away the sun emerged and we were carrying our coats. Eventually, back at the coffee shop where we started, more grey clouds were rolling in. Too immersed in our conversation, we kept sitting out in the open as the rain started plopping on the picnic table. Then dinged as it quickly became hail.

We paused for a few moments to look around wide-eyed as the hail grew bigger, faster and louder. So we talked louder. While I was busy shouting, another part of my mind marveled at being so exposed to the elements, sitting right in the middle of a storm.

Of course, we were soaked. But, how could one experience this from indoors?

Then, I watched the grey clouds move on to bombard another part of our North Portland neighborhood. There was a striking Yin/Yang division where the blue sky and grey clouds collided. Just as quickly as the hailstorm appeared, we noticed a rainbow.

“Wait, is there another one? Right next to it—in parallel?”

A car stopped in the middle of the street to ask us: “Are you seeing what we’re seeing?”

Yes! There were two indigo and purple arches wide enough for many Care Bears to slide down. And then a third higher up in the sky for the Leprechauns too!

Simple joys enjoyed on a simple afternoon of mostly doing nothing.

This is what I want to learn about in this next cycle of growth: simplicity.

So, I’m curious:

What does simplicity mean to you?
What gets in the way?
What enables it?

And, if you want extra credit: What’s a recent moment that felt so beautifully simple?

I’m all ears.

May you linger in amazement this week.

Love,
Jules

Tag: simplicity

About