730 things — Day 110 of 365

Minimalists often say they prefer to spend their money on experiences rather than objects, and I can understand that.

They prefer to travel, or climb a mountain, or take up an adventurous sport, over accumulating possessions. They speak of making memories rather than acquiring things.

I think those are excellent choices. 

Some of them are clearly fairly affluent — you can't involve yourself in riding horses or foreign travel or sports like cycling and mountaineering that imply equipment and often temporary accommodation, or even go camping, without significant financial outlay.

There are some minimalists (Rob Greenfield comes to mind) who live very lightly indeed, and make their way in the world by interaction with others, working with generosity and hospitality and friendship rather than by purchasing what they need. By such means a rich and adventurous life is made accessible even with little money to spend.

But what are the options for making life cheerful and interesting if you are elderly or disabled, if you are not very brave, if you are tied by family commitments or disability, and you have very little money indeed?

Most of my friends have come into those categories. The well-trodden paths are food, groups (like church or volunteering), visiting friends and family, social media, reading and television, pets and gardening, walking. Also crafts and photography.

There's a sink-hole to avoid in these otherwise cheerful pastimes — food that makes you unwell. I don't know anyone who died from a piece of cake, but over time a steady intake of refined carbs (the go-to staple of low-income people) certainly undermines health. If you start the day with a bowl of cereal, then the church has a coffee morning (tea and cakes), then you visit your mother (sandwiches with soup), then on the way home you pop in to see a friend and she serves you tea and (several) biscuits, then you go home and make macaroni cheese for your tea and settle down to watch the quiz programmes with a selection of snacks in easy reach — and follow a similar path every day — there may be trouble ahead. This might be exacerbated if you are someone who cares passionately about the Earth and animal welfare, and decide to become vegan, relying on grains and pulses for food to give you energy.

There's also rather a lot of sitting still in these occupations. Compared with scuba-diving and rock-climbing, watching Pointless and visiting Mum are distinctly sedentary.

I say all this from personal experience.

The old term for wealth/capital was 'substance' (As in, 'A Woman of Substance'). The old term for substance was 'bottom'. It comes from the Latin dignitas. Thus it came about that John Wesley, on being challenged about how he managed his finances, responded: "I endeavour to wind my bottom around the year." A remark I have always treasured.

If this is also you — if you, like John Wesley and like me — definitely have to strategise to wind your bottom around the year and cannot do much in the way of world travel and serious sport, then my modest (and I hope not too irritating) tip for the day is: remember to go for at least two walks a day (if you can), and go easy on the carbs. 

Self-discipline is an essential component of effective simplicity.

I have one more tip. A massive source of joy — wild birds and animals. If, on your walks, you feed squirrels and birds; if, to your garden or balcony, you welcome wild birds and animals and cultivate a relationship with them, they will bring you immense joy. They can be quite expensive too (don't I know it!) but you can tailor that according to your bottom.

If you are the rather elderly, not very fit, rather quiet and shy and not very adventurous minimalist on a budget, wild birds and animals are your friends and possibly even your saviours. Pets cost a great deal of money — or, more precisely, vets do — wild animals less so.

I feel a bit uneasy about these things I have said today. I know all too well what ire one can stir up online by insensitivity not intended at all, by innocent remarks that unexpectedly make people cross. And there is nothing like mentioning food for provoking rage. So I hope you aren't annoyed with me. If you see life differently, please pass on by and try to forget me.

Two items to go on this 110th day of my 730-things year.

I do like green clothing, and I had these two green cardigans. 

But though they looked promising on eBay, they weren't really my kind of thing. I had them because a green snuggly cardigan is bound to be just the thing, right? But though that in general is indisputably true, I didn't really like these specific incarnations of that genre.

I do have other green woolies. Like this that I'm wearing right now.