| When you simplify your life, you are not just | | | | without all the hassles that we've all experienced |
| making things simpler you're also making them | | | | while shopping in person. |
| more efficient, productive, and rewarding. Making | | | | In March of 2007, I bought a new car online! I got |
| things easier is not necessarily the goal either. The | | | | a fantastic deal, the entire process went |
| objective is to streamline the tasks of daily living | | | | smoothly, and there were none of the problems |
| so that you have more time and energy to | | | | you'd normally associate with car buying. It was |
| pursue the things of importance to you. The | | | | truly a wonderful experience. |
| result is less stress and greater fulfillment. | | | | I didn't go through a dealer's website, I used an |
| Use Technology to Simplify Your Life | | | | independent service called Cars Direct. At their |
| 1. Sign Up for Online Banking | | | | website, you can pick any vehicle that you want. |
| By doing this you can handle all of your banking | | | | Then you select the color, equipment, and |
| business from your computer. After you sign up, | | | | accessories. |
| you can login to your account and check your | | | | Once you're done making your selections, you'll |
| balances, transfer money, verify payments, open | | | | see the final price. I compared the price online |
| a new account, order checks, and more. | | | | using Kelly Blue Book and Edmonds and these |
| Once you've done this at two or more financial | | | | sites confirmed that I was getting an incredible |
| institutions, you can transfer money electronically | | | | deal! |
| back and forth between them. This becomes | | | | The advantages to using an independent service |
| valuable when you want to take advantage of a | | | | over going through a dealer's Internet sales |
| particular product or service at one bank and a | | | | department are these. An independent service |
| higher interest rate at another. | | | | has access to the inventories of hundreds of |
| By sign up for online banking, you will have the | | | | dealers so your chances of getting exactly what |
| ability to simplify your life in several additional | | | | you want are much greater. And an independent |
| ways. | | | | service operates under different conditions and |
| 2. Sign Up for an Online Bill Paying Service | | | | philosophies than a dealer. |
| Most banks offer this service free. If your bank | | | | If you want to buy something online, pick it up at |
| doesn't provide this service free, just open an | | | | your local store, and not pay for shipping, you can |
| account at another bank that does and transfer | | | | do that too! Walmart recently started this service |
| funds electronically as needed to pay your bills. | | | | and other stores have followed. |
| There are many advantages to using an online bill | | | | Non-Technical Ways to Simplify Your Life |
| paying service. It reduces the amount of time it | | | | 7. Create a Reusable Shopping List |
| takes to pay your bills from one hour to five | | | | Create a list of all the supplies -- food and other |
| minutes. You won't have to pay for postage | | | | items -- that you purchase on a weekly and |
| anymore. And it's a lot safer. If you consider the | | | | monthly basis. Be sure to put them together in |
| number of human transactions that occur with a | | | | categories that match the layout of the store. For |
| mailed check as compared to a computerized | | | | example, you might have categories such as |
| electronic transaction, it's easy to see which is | | | | fresh fruits & vegetables (or produce), fresh |
| safer. | | | | meats, frozen foods, canned foods, soft |
| Taking advantage of this service is one of the | | | | packaged foods, juices, soft drinks, dairy, |
| best ways to simplify your life and it doesn't cost | | | | desserts, snacks, paper products, and cleaning |
| any money. | | | | supplies. |
| 3. Sign Up for Paperless Statements & | | | | Entering this information into a three-column table |
| Correspondence | | | | inside a word processing program works best. |
| To simplify your life further, sign up for paperless | | | | The table provides an ideal layout. The software |
| statements and correspondence with every bank, | | | | allows you to update it easily. |
| utility company, business, and organization that | | | | Here's how to use the three column shopping list. |
| you deal with. | | | | In the far right column, enter the names of your |
| By doing this you will save a lot time and | | | | frequently purchased supplies. Arrange them by |
| frustration. You will no longer have to check your | | | | category in the same order as your usual route. |
| mailbox every day, open envelops, process the | | | | Use the blank rows to write in items that you |
| contents, and file it. | | | | rarely buy or forgot about. Use the far left |
| After you sign up for paperless correspondence, | | | | column to write in the quantity or size you need. |
| you'll receive notification by email when your bill, | | | | Use the middle column to check off items as you |
| statement, or other information is available. Then | | | | place them into your shopping cart. |
| you can view it online. The statements are | | | | All this may seem like a lot work, but after |
| typically stored on their computer, so you don't | | | | you've used this shopping list for a while you'll see |
| have to deal with that aspect either. But you'll | | | | how it can simplify your life. |
| always have access to this information once you | | | | 8. Purchase Non-Perishable Items in Bulk |
| login into your account. And you can always print | | | | Buying non-perishable items in large quantities can |
| out a copy of whatever you want should you | | | | save you time and money. It also makes your |
| ever need it. | | | | shopping easier because you don't have to haul in |
| It's also much safer. One of the ways identity | | | | as much stuff from your vehicle every week. |
| thieves get your information is by stealing your | | | | You have to be careful about what items you |
| mail. This can happen at your home mailbox or as | | | | buy, however. Be sure to check the expiration |
| it moves through the system. By having the | | | | dates on the packaging. |
| information transported through the system | | | | I would concentrate on canned, bottled, and |
| electronically, it's much more secure. | | | | frozen foods and drinks. Get as much as your |
| I've got every aspect of my life setup | | | | storage space will allow when it comes to paper |
| electronically to such an extent that I almost | | | | products and cleaning supplies. I do not |
| never receive (snail) mail and I haven't written a | | | | recommend buying fresh foods in bulk unless |
| check in years! | | | | you're certain that you'll be eating all of it within a |
| This is the greatest time to have ever been alive. | | | | week or so. |
| There are more ways to simplify your life today | | | | Buying in bulk is a small way to simplify your life, |
| than has ever existed before. | | | | but it all adds up. |
| 4. Shop for Needed Items Online | | | | 9. Hire People to Do Mundane Chores |
| Why waste your time and gas going from store | | | | By eliminating unpleasant chores from your |
| to store trying to find what you want. Do all your | | | | schedule, you can free up a lot of time and |
| research and shopping online. Every major store | | | | preserve your energies for more important things. |
| and business has a website. Or just put what | | | | These chores might include cleaning your house, |
| you're looking for into a search engine like Google. | | | | mowing your lawn, washing your car, and cleaning, |
| To get expert and user opinions in your search | | | | folding, and ironing your clothes. |
| results, just add the keywords "reviews" or | | | | It's worth the small cost of paying someone to |
| "ratings" along with the item you're researching. If | | | | do these things if you consider how much extra |
| you're looking for the best deal, you can look at | | | | time you'll have to pursue things that will bring you |
| each store's weekly ad on their website. | | | | greater reward like building your own income |
| When you think about all the traffic, crowds, and | | | | generating website. |
| potential bad weather, shopping online is a | | | | There are many excellent service professionals |
| no-brainer when it comes to things you can do to | | | | around who would be pleased to have your |
| simplify your life. | | | | business and help you simplify your life. |
| 5. Schedule, Reserve, & Order Things Online | | | | 10. Eliminate Obligations that Don't Serve You |
| You can save a lot time and frustration if you | | | | If you belong to a club or organization that no |
| schedule, reserve, and order things online. | | | | longer meets your needs, end your involvement |
| To schedule an appointment for service at your | | | | or drastically reduce it. This would include groups |
| local car dealership instantly, go to their website | | | | where lifetime membership is expected like |
| and set it up in a snap. Most dealers provide this | | | | religious organizations and deeply rooted clubs. |
| ability, but it may take you a few extra minutes | | | | Here's a tough one, but it can really simplify you |
| the first time. Many other businesses offer this | | | | life if you have the courage to do it. Stop |
| service as well. My dentist allows you to schedule | | | | attending a family member's or friend's weekly, |
| appointments online for the entire year or more if | | | | monthly, or annual event if it is an unpleasant |
| you want. Setting up appointments for an entire | | | | experience for you. |
| year is a great way to simplify your life. | | | | If your participation involves more than one |
| To eliminate all the hassle of getting a particular | | | | person like a spouse or significant other, it may |
| book at your public library, search for it online at | | | | be a difficult negotiation -- but stand your ground! |
| their website, reserve it, and then pick it up after | | | | If you can't come up with a solution, and this |
| you receive notification by email that it's ready. | | | | change is important for your peace of mind, |
| Most cities have this capability. But you'll need to | | | | consider moving to another city. |
| get a library card in person first. | | | | Some of the most enjoyable holidays of my life |
| To order food for delivery or pickup without | | | | were spent in cities that I'd only lived in for a few |
| having to call, be placed on hold, and repeat your | | | | months or years. I would still return to my |
| order several times, go to the restaurant's | | | | hometown for some holidays and events, but I |
| website and submit your order. Many restaurants | | | | picked the ones that I wanted to attend and I did |
| offer this service. And since your order is more | | | | not feel obligated to participate in the others. |
| precise and instantaneous, restaurants tend to | | | | The objective here is to eliminate any associations |
| give these orders a higher priority. | | | | that complicate your life, cause you undue |
| You can handle many small tasks online. When | | | | frustration, or take up more time than you want |
| doing them in this manner becomes a habit, you | | | | to give. Although some of the decisions that you |
| simplify your life. | | | | must make to simplify your life can be difficult, |
| 6. Purchase Items Online | | | | the outcome makes the effort worthwhile. The |
| There is no more convenient and time saving | | | | more you simplify your life the more efficient, |
| way to purchase something than to buy it online. | | | | productive, and fulfilling it will be. |
| And often you can get a much better price | | | | |