I want to live a simple life but money has taken ahold of me!

I am wondering myself and my family. What would be our future if I will insist to my wife that we will move to the city. As of now, we are living in the province. I am working abroad, so most of the time I was away from my family. The reason why I work away from them is to provide them all their needs and wants. The problem now, did I made a good choice or I spoiled them to become more worst individuals in the future. I love to live in the province than living in the city, you cannot enjoy anymore the swimming in the river, playing in the forest with your friends and siblings. I don't know what will happen in our next endeavor.

Very well said!Just like you, I wanted to go back to province to live a normal and simpler life but with the same reason,it is hard for me to survive since the job that I am currently working is in the city. Not to mention we work in one company.i tried to submit my resgination and be a self-employed already. i don't want to be an employee for the rest of my life.but i came to realize that i can't leave my job if my business is not stable yet and my funds is not enough for business. my goal next year is to leave myt job and establish a business but probably here in the city. i cannot put up the business in the province because i know to myself that it is hard to find a market their so what will happen is i will be closing my business. i will also focus on some good online sites like mylot and my other sites while having the business. i will try to save for the future not only for myself but also to my future family. i know in the near future i will be settling for good.i wish i can already meet the right one.

I agree what you said here, friend. We need to remember that money is only a sort of things for us to live. If we take those things as important as our life. The ending will be a terrible thing because we forget to trail the most important thing in our life... Live a life that simple as we could is the greatest thing. Because simplicity is a bit relative to happiness. The more we aim the more pain we suffer in the future...

I know the feeling; I feel the same way.. Being in the city there are so many things that our kids never see or get to do.. Like climbing a tree, usually you only see little trees and there are no limbs to be able to climb it.. Having the ablity to have your kids go outside be as loud as they want without someone complaining regardless of the time of day.. No matter how much extra money you make there is never enough to get ahead.. There is always something popping up or breaking.. Hopefully one day you will be able to move away from the city..

how far away is your province? how expensive or difficult is it logistically to visit? is once a month too hard to take your family there? (in my case, it's a grueling 14-hour bus ride one way.) i guess this is somehow connected to your dad passing away and having your first child. but now that you're a parent yourself, you will instinctively start planning and working for the future. when you're in a competitive environment where people always take note of how much someone is earning, what they're wearing, the gadgets they have, the places they go to, etc., it's much easier conform if you can afford it. it's human nature to affirm our success with tangible proofs. but that money can also be used to prepare for the future and to choose the road less traveled. there are simple inexpensive places around the city where you can spend time in if you're open to downscaling. then duck back into a fastfood joint or the mall when you've had enough. you can have both because you're earning well. having a stable job actually gives us choices.

It is still not too late for you to change. Mistakes are part of our living and life. Without mistakes, there would be no opportunity and chances to learn for the better. Human will never be satisfied with what they have, regardless of wealth, knowledge, entertainment or reputation. In our life, we are given the choice whether to live within our means, or pursue after things not within our means. If we are thankful for whatever situation blessed by God and live within our necessity, we will not chase after wealth and things of the world. However, if we choose to favor over things of the world and wealth, we need to pay a price for them. Nothing comes easy and nothing comes for free. When we want something better, we need to pay for it. As we pay for it, surely there must be something that we will have to forgo. This is what we called "opportunity cost" in economics. Hence, if we want something greater, the things we loose and the price we have to pay is greater. In the early stage, one may not feel the burden of the cost they are incurring. But as time passes by, we felt the lost of things we used to enjoy and loved. Do not wait till that happens. Regardless how old or young you are, since you have realized it, then try to make a change for it. The first step is to try reduce loans and debts which binds you continuously. If you have the heart, surely there will be a way open for you. Example, if we do not need such a huge house, sell it off and get a smaller one. Normal car and a luxurious car, both are similar vehicle for transportation. The difference is only the brand. Get a necessity car will be good enough to bring you and your family around. It is a good thing that you have realize this, not only you have bring yourself a turn, but also being a great help to your children and your following descendants. I believe you will be able to get out of this, and the door will be open for your change. You will get to live the proper healthy living you want your children to experience if you are determined. For this, you will set a good pattern for your children and will continue a healthy living, not chasing after the world for unnecessary luxury, but enjoying life within their needs. Good day, and God bless! =)

I don't want to discourage you in any way but I really have to ask if what you really want is feasible and actually practical especially when you want to detach from this world completely. Even if you want to, I doubt your wife and children could follow you to the book when they would have different needs and expectations. Instead of brooding over this which is certainly far fetched and unattainable, I would suggest that you consider doing and making the best of your current situation. You may not like what you are doing but do you have a better choice? The way I see is probably the dissatisfaction of every working class where we are living beyond our means to appease our insatiable appetite for the materialistic. So the grass will always be greener at the other side of the fence when in reality is almost the same at where we are. I feel that there is a great lack of motivation in your environment and you have been frequently dealt with an unfair hand. But, aren't the majority around you, in the same boat? Rather than, sitting down and doing nothing I think we need to grab a hold of ourselves, start doing various tasks to help keep the boat afloat for survival. In my opinion, you should continue to do whatever you are doing and do it well without any hesitation to come out better than the rest in the field. In this world of meritocracy, I don't believe that one's contribution will go unnoticed and not receive the due recognition. Your indignation about work where you feel that your efforts are being undermined and meaningless. But, I don't think you can disagree that you had learned and gained a lot. Money aside, do you think you lost a lot?

Your post shows the terrible problem that our society is facing. Technology has made us lose our North and we have become slaves of it. Money has turned into a goal and not a means to lead a fuller life. We use more the word having than the word being. It is a pity. Only we, each of us, can change all that. And we cannot wait for the rest to change. The rest will change if we do.

It is a good thing that you still recognize how tiresome life can be if we don't keep a balanced view of money. They say that change should start in one's self. You know that being drawn to material things isn't right, so it is up to you if you want to continue this behavior or not. I believe that you can still live a simple life even if you're in the city. I too was raised in the province and I know exactly what you mean. Funny but the place I live at present is actually a province but I can no longer see the old province that I know. I think that if you focus yourself in more important things rather than how to gain more money or to be more wealthy, you will realized that some things in life that you think you can't live without aren't really important. Try reading and studying the bible. If you do so, you'll learn God's view about money and at the same time, you will lessen the use of electricity. Money is just one, the Word of God is the perfect guidelines on how we should view and live our life.

Hi I under stand what you Are saying and it hard to do It take will power and more to Ger out Of the rut we're in. Now forcing my.self To doit

I too miss living in our province. I miss the quiet and peaceful surroundings, the clean fresh air, eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Hearing noise from cows, pigs and goats. I hope one day too I can live again in the province. Good luck bro!

ya you are absolutely correct and well said even if we want to humble and modest,a artifact called money threatens us all the time and takes everything away from us,its annoying for sure

Many of us think that being successful is having a job, having our own place in the city and earn a lot of money. But I don't think this is. Success for one person may not be the same for another person. What's important is we are in a place where we are happy and where we enjoy what we do. Some people love the city life some don't. You have been raised in a different environment so it's natural that you would want to have some elements of your old life back where you could enjoy the present and not worry about bills all the time.

I think there is a balance of everything. I like simple life,too, but money also plays an role in our life, though I think money is devil before, but now, I think it truly can bring happy.What contribute to happy?Simple life?Money? Simple life also needs money. No money perhaps you will leave a more complex life. Our desire has been changed with the step of life.Money is also needed to promote these changes. In search of a simple life, rural life may be suitable.Perhaps it is a good choice,but one can only feel life by his own heart.

Hello silentwill. This world is almost urging us to work hard for making money, more money to support ourselves with basic daily necessities. Everything now is totally quite different in price. Whatever you buy from the market, you will find its high price. If we refuse to work hard, life will not be as smooth because almost everything is related to money like money has take ahold of us. I also miss my carefree childhood, which has become part of my memory that is hard to go back...Thanks for the discussion and have a good day.

I think if you really want to, you could find a way. Why not live a little ways out, and commute? Or take your children to parks on a regular basis? Start a small indoor garden, and show them how to have some country in the city? Take classes at night to learn a new skill so you could move, instead of buying more and more expensive things? What is wrong with gadgets and technology? Show your kids how to use them responsibly. You said it best, it's your own prison-so only you can break out of it. If you want to. Or maybe it's really not as bad as you think it is, and you are just afraid to really like the life you have? If you really can't change it, there is nothing better to show your kids than to be happy with what you currently have-and they don't need to live in the country to learn that.

there's no point of going back in time, it's just waste your present time thinking about it. the best thing to do is inspire yourself into buying stuff that is needed and not wanted. i don't have a job right now because of the family business. but something tells me, i never should have quit in the first place. not a day goes by were my fear of getting a job again . well, it's your choice on how to make your every day time worth it.

With each passing day ,Man loses many of his innocence, Collecting money becomes his only goal. Learns lies, hypocrisy and deception .Iam very sad for what I am now i wish to restart again my life in another place with other people

I feel the same way here. Then something terrible goes wrong. i was doing so well here. I dont make much money or even need much. And my ex sister in law came around and messed everything up for me. I will recover in time. Take care there.

You are certainly not the only person to feel this way, personally I think that most people think this way (including me). Ah the simple life, a dream and vision of a better time and place. Away from the noise, the hustle and bustle. I guess it's also a leaning towards a better state of mind. I think it's pretty normal to wonder what life is all about, why are we here and what is it all for etc... It sounds to me like you just want whats best for your son and your family, and from what I'm getting from this post, it's not where you are now. If you have the means to embark on a new life in the country then do it, branch out in a new direction and find that happy place, whereever it may be! Also I think you should feel proud of the fact that you did go onto exceed expectations and become a success (of sorts) and there has got to be something possitive to be taken from that fact alone. Good luck, I hope you find what your looking for. :)