Living Simply

kaylak12

Okay, so I know The Knot is specifically for weddings, but I figured since we will all be future wives and mothers I would bring up the subject. I was raised living a simple life in the 90s. We had one computer and didn't have Internet for a long time. My sister and I were encouraged to play outside instead of watching television. We read and played with each other a lot. These values have been instilled in me. My F has a son so now I get to teach him about how I lived.

Well anyway, my point that I want to make is about living simply. I know it's not everyone's calling but I feel that my F and I were called by Christ to live a simple life in many, many aspects so that we can better serve others.

What are your beliefs about living simply? How do you practice simple living? What do you think about limiting technology usage?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

jenningz

My kids will certainly be playing outside... and using their imagination, and they won't be allowed certain technology items until they're older. I sometimes wish I was a kid again, scraped knees and covered in mud. Good.Freakin'.Times!

orangehills

I don't intend on letting our kids have too much in the ways of technology. They will only have a family computer, in a visible place. They won't have cell phones till they need them (like when they drive or something.) As for video games, I hate them, and don't intend on them being inside the house. Maybe a game boy with limited use. But I want my kids to play outside, and have hobbies, like sports or art, and for them to read! That's how I was raised and I thought it worked just fine As for me, well.. I don't think I overuse technology but I'm sure I could use it less!

RebeccaJac

H is pretty tech saavy and always in pursuit of the next best thing and I often times work from home so going down to one cell phone and one computer is a no-go for us! I'm sure when we have kids we'll strike a balance and put peramiters on technology use. I know for sure our kids will not have cell phones or computers in their bedrooms, and TV time will be limited. 

Annas2013

I know when my FI and I have kids they won't have cell phones until they need them.  There's no point in a 10 year old having a cell phone.  I mean they'll be encouraged to play outside on nice days, but on rainy days I don't see anything wrong with video games that aren't violent or have bad words.  Seeing as how neither my FI nor I sit around and just watch TV, hopefully our kids will be the same.  They'll have a family computer in the open until they either 1. Go to college or 2. can afford their own laptop.  

Living simply isn't something I really grew up with since I loved video games and the computer.  I'm probably addicted to my cell phone currently too.  I admire and respect anyone that can do it though.  

geieran

I would say that I was raised to live simply and my F and I want to live that way, too. My F hates his cell phone. He would throw it away if it wasn't one of the ways that his children call him. I am also not comfortable with him not having any way to call me if he broke down somewhere or had a wreck. We live in the country so we do a lot of driving. However, we have talked a lot about how cell phone companies seem to be making you get a smart phone. We don't like them. Yes, they can be really cool. However, the added data charge is not and neither is not having an option of whether or not to pay it. So we've already said that when the time comes that they go all smart phones or all data plans, we'll do a pre-paid phone. All we need a phone for is to talk. I use mine some to text, but I don't have to have that either.  When we have children together, they will not have a phone until they can drive and they will have restrictions. I don't think most children are monitored very well as to who they are texting and such and what they looking at (for those who have smart phones). We also go the one-computer-in-a-household-area route that is password protected. There are other things, but I can't think of those right now.

BMcLeodTeam

My fiance and I do not have television. He did when we met but after I explained to him why I don't, and showed him how much more you can do without it he chose to sell his as well. We've discussed this a few times and I don't think we'll be getting it when we have kids. There is SO much more you can do then sit infront of a box, like go out and enjoy the world. We still go occasionally to the theatre to see a movie, but that's something we both feel pretty convicted about.

ochemjenn

We're not planning on having kids.  But we've talked about things in case there was an "accident."  Absolutely not technology under the age of 2.  No tv, iPad, movies, etc.  Extremely limited tv and movies (just educational things plus some Disney movies) after than but before a child is reading.  No cell phone until age 16.  If we had a child, (s)he would only have internet access in a public part of the house until said child has moved out.  We think video games are ok for kids as long as they don't replace things like reading and creative activities.

AshNoel8

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_living-simply?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:18e4dad1-3970-49e0-9cc2-158794025172Post:8cfe422f-a79a-4c28-a0b8-fd62980d2eaf">Re: Living Simply</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I know when my FI and I have kids they won't have cell phones until they need them.  There's no point in a 10 year old having a cell phone.  I mean they'll be encouraged to play outside on nice days, but on rainy days I don't see anything wrong with video games that aren't violent or have bad words.  Seeing as how neither my FI nor I sit around and just watch TV, hopefully our kids will be the same.  They'll have a family computer in the open until they either 1. Go to college or 2. can afford their own laptop. </strong>  Living simply isn't something I really grew up with since I loved video games and the computer.  I'm probably addicted to my cell phone currently too.  I admire and respect anyone that can do it though.  
Posted by Annas2013[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>This for me too. I didn't have a cell phone until I was 17 and I got a job and paid for it myself. I think video games are okay, but only a certain amount of time a day or week (very limited amount of time) and no swearing or violence. I think technology is great (H has an iphone, I'm getting one tomorrow, we have a macbook, I have a Kindle Fire and he has a regular Kindle, and we both have laptops from work) but I also think it can drive barriers between people. It can lessen our "face-to-face real people interaction" and that makes me so sad. A girl who used to post on this board posted on another forum I visit and said that she and her H have "no cell phone Sundays" and they turn their phones off the whole day. I LOVE this idea and I want my H and I to try it. </div>

BMcLeodTeam

FI and I love our cellphones. We would be ok with the child having one once they are driving as there is that security in knowing that they have it incase of an emergency. That being said it wouldn't be any fancy smartphone unless they get a job and pay for that themself. I am ok with kindles/nooks/ereaders when they are the reading age as it would encourage reading. Computer would be something they can access in a pubic area of the home, not something going in their room where they can access it unsupervised.

geieran

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_living-simply?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:18e4dad1-3970-49e0-9cc2-158794025172Post:b7e8f42c-68b7-4b0d-bf5b-654cc535f8ad">Re: Living Simply</a>:
[QUOTE]I would say that I was raised to live simply and my F and I want to live that way, too. My F hates his cell phone. He would throw it away if it wasn't one of the ways that his children call him. I am also not comfortable with him not having any way to call me if he broke down somewhere or had a wreck. We live in the country so we do a lot of driving. However, we have talked a lot about how cell phone companies seem to be making you get a smart phone. We don't like them. Yes, they can be really cool. However, the added data charge is not and neither is not having an option of whether or not to pay it. So we've already said that when the time comes that they go all smart phones or all data plans, we'll do a pre-paid phone. All we need a phone for is to talk. I use mine some to text, but I don't have to have that either.  When we have children together, they will not have a phone until they can drive and they will have restrictions. I don't think most children are monitored very well as to who they are texting and such and what they looking at (for those who have smart phones). We also go the one-computer-in-a-household-area route that is password protected. There are other things, but I can't think of those right now.
Posted by geieran[/QUOTE]

<div>Oh, I thought of a couple of other things. </div><div>
</div><div>We don't have television. We have a tv, but we just watch movies and such instead of having a television service right now. We decided to use that money to sponsor 2 Compassion kids instead. We haven't commited to always go without tv, but we decided for right now it was best for us. </div><div>
</div><div>Family dinners are also very important to us. We don't want to end up eating in the living room in front of tv. So we make a point to always eat facing each so we can talk and see each others loving faces. When we have his kids weekends, we're always at the table. And when we have more kids (kids together), we will still all be at the table. </div>

BMcLeodTeam

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_living-simply?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:18e4dad1-3970-49e0-9cc2-158794025172Post:87431c7e-91d0-44f9-a165-66cc8abaf024">Re: Living Simply</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Living Simply : Oh, I thought of a couple of other things.  We don't have television. We have a tv, but we just watch movies and such instead of having a television service right now. We decided to use that money to sponsor 2 Compassion kids instead. We haven't commited to always go without tv, but we decided for right now it was best for us.  Family dinners are also very important to us. We don't want to end up eating in the living room in front of tv. So we make a point to always eat facing each so we can talk and see each others loving faces. When we have his kids weekends, we're always at the table. And when we have more kids (kids together), we will still all be at the table. 
Posted by geieran[/QUOTE]

FI and I also each have a sponsor child through Compassion :) I love that experience so much!

GunzNRoses213

We refuse smart phones... my son is not on the computer much and he has a Wii but dosnt play on it much [ I give him a time limit ] . He isnt glued to the TV and my FI would not be happy if we raised our kids like that ...

I believe in family dinners in the kicthen/dinning room ... No tv on ... No Tv in every room ... One computer/lap top and I might get a kindle for Christmas [ FI just wants angry birds ...lol] but I know it wont be a huge issue ...

I saw a family at the drs office the other day , the mom had a smart phone ..kids all had handheld devices and all had headphones on playing games sepratly ...It really broke my heart that they couldnt look a book/magazine or puzzle together as kids they were in their own worlds with their handheld toys...

My son will not be getting a gameboy or whatever you call them these days....

He plays outside , he plays the piano and the drums... We dont do movies too often I wait for the red box ...

I also live in Amish country so I think its easier for me to keep it simple around here .. haha

jcsangelpen

I grew up in a very similar manner--we didn't have a computer until I was in middle school and internet until mid-way through high school. We never had cable and very rarely watched TV. I played outside all the time and bought my own cell phone at 17. My FI grew up opposite--is a computer geek, video game and smart phone addict and doesn't believe in sheltering kids. I don't know how it will all work out with our kids, but I know that I will be restricting and limiting computers, phones, etc. until they are older. They will be playing outside and using their imagination instead of watching TV. For me, living simply isn't just about technology, but about materialism as well. I believe in owning less and honoring God through opening my spaces and mind and keeping them free of clutter! I think kids are given such a great opportunity to grow personally when they aren't given all the latest "things" and are given free reign to be creative.

RyansBelovedBride

Ryan feels strongly that we don't have a television in the bedroom. We may not get satellite/cable and just have one for video warching. We plan on having a kid's computer that isn't hooked up to the internet so our kids don't stumble on things they aren't ready for, and also is in the family space, like the living room or dining room. All the siblings would share it, which may generarte fights but will necessitate sharing and ensure no one kid's brain melts from over usage. We will allow them online on our computer, when we are around. We want them to learn technolgical skills so they aren't behind their peers, without getting dependent on devices. We wouldn't let our kids have cell phones until at least high school, and then only if they can prove it is necessary.

I have also thought about, but haven't discussed it with Ryan, having regular "unplugged" days where we don't use technology, once a month or once a week, so our kids learn how to have fun without technology. It seems like so many kids lack imagination these days.

jenningz

I had a cell phone at 13, and it was only for when I would go to a friends house. I didn't have my own proper phone for all the time till I was about 16.

AshNoel8

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_living-simply?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:18e4dad1-3970-49e0-9cc2-158794025172Post:d1c22752-13f9-407c-8d0f-86afbdbd53cb">Re: Living Simply</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Living Simply : <strong>FI and I also each have a sponsor child through Compassion :) I love that experience so much!</strong>
Posted by BMcLeodTeam[/QUOTE]

<div>My H and I sponsor a little girl through Compassion too! We love her and the experience! </div>

mrandmrsbrist

I don't know about this. I see the benefit in introducing children (at an appropriate age) to technology. Whether that's a cell phone or a computer. Of course they will still play outside and get books from the library and spend more time playing pretend and playing sports than playing on the computer. We don't have a TV and we don't have plans to get a TV, so that is a non-issue. But I refuse to deprive my children from the benefits of technology in the name of living simply.

azdancer8

I  think technology should be limited, but I certainly wouldn't cut it out completely. We will be homeschooling if/when we have kids, and I plan to use the computer as one aspect of that. Our society is so technology driven that I feel our kids need to know how to use it reasonalbly well. But I definitely believe that kids should spend much more time outside and reading books and interacting with real people than hiding behind video games. That being said, DH and I enjoy playing video games with our nephews. I think they can be a lot of fun and a good experience in taking turns and teamwork and such, in limited amounts. We also don't have television - we watch movies together instead.
Our kids won't have cell phones until they can pay for them on their own or they start driving (so probably around 16). There is no reason they can't borrow one of ours for an emergency/when traveling or use the phone in their friends' houses to get ahold of us if we're their primary form of transportation.

I guess basically what I'm saying is that I want our kids to have a balance.