What is your biggest hurdle in living simply...

**kimmee** · 10-07-2004, 07:50 PM

Mine is saying "No" to people - I can't say no and then I end up just being passive aggressive and hiding out so that no one has an opportunity to ask me to do stuff. I am so ashamed of that trait!!

So, Tell all, what gets in your way of living a nice simple life...

**Chea** · 10-07-2004, 07:53 PM

My family and all of their "I wants". Its not their fault really. They are bombarded every which way like the rest of us without being "in the know" like I am. I think they feel sometimes that I am just depriving them but they usually go along with it. Of course showing my dh our finances improving sure makes him think he better listen to me!

**pita1213** · 10-07-2004, 07:55 PM

same thing here, my dh and his not being able to say no to the kids. though it is getting better. he has a goal now, paying things off so we can save for a house.

**Chea** · 10-07-2004, 08:16 PM

We're actually starting up doing allowance again. Dh has volunteered to do $20 a week. I think its a bit much since we used to do $10 but if it keeps him from feeling "deprived" then I'm all for it!
I'll keep myself to $10 a week and bank the rest in savings.

**guest2** · 10-07-2004, 09:12 PM

Being involved in too may activities and outside commitments is my biggest hurdle. My family and I just have too much to do!!!!

**mom2matty** · 10-07-2004, 10:06 PM

I have a combination of everything listed so far but to pick one I have to agree on being overcommitted to way too many activities! I feel like we are constantly on the go.....I feel like I live in my car I am always in it and on my way to somewhere! I would love to back off and slow down!!!!!!!!

**HandyMom** · 10-08-2004, 10:13 AM

My biggest hurdle is and will be to try and undue the damage that was done as far as my DD equating stuff with love and caring. Being materialistic.

She was spoiled from the moment she was born and it never ended. Saying that, though, she has LESS than most of the kids she knows as far as expensive games and things like that.

It's just that she refuses to part with anything and has it all stored in her room or the basement.

A lot of stuff I've tried to be rid of but it seems like more comes in the door than goes out.

If I could de-clutter and get rid of all her "STUFF" in storage and in her room, I would be well on my way to reclaiming some space in this home for order and simplicity.

All her childhood memories are tied to the things people gave her and I think that to be rid of all the things, to her, is to give away those memories. She has nothing to replace them with. Hardly anyone but me has actually spent time with her.

They threw money and toys her way and expected that to be enough for her. It's really sad when I think about it. They don't know any better, I guess, and will not realize their mistakes until she is older and refuses to even see them but has her hand out for some money or a gift instead.

Until I can get her to part with her toys and stuff, I will have to be happy working on getting rid of those things I no longer need or use.

**Michele Annette** · 10-08-2004, 01:40 PM

Mine is having to work more to pay off debt. If the debt was gone I would be less stressed about life in general.

**Katybird** · 10-08-2004, 01:50 PM

Unfortunately for me it is my own 'I wants'. I have a bad tendency to buy things that I just want instead of buying things that I need. If I can say to myself "OK, I am not going to buy it now but if I think about it overnight and I still want it then I will come back and get it" I can talk myself out of getting whatever it is, but usually I just buy it on the spot and then I waste money and end up with more clutter

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**Goodwin17** · 10-08-2004, 10:28 PM

I have several hurdles. I think the biggest one is trying to pay off the debts I've stacked up. I also have trouble saying no....such a problem, this includes saying no to myself!

**AmyMCGS** · 10-09-2004, 09:06 AM

Clutter. I tend to keep everything, and then I wind up frustrated with the mess. I always say that I'm clean, but cluttered. I don't buy nearly as much "stuff" as I used to, but, I still have a lot of clutter.