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• Simplicity leads one to finding and using their "inner compass" -- the compass aids in steering away from the herd/pack, to follow a path you feel is right

• How much is enough? YMOYL's Fulfillment Curve served as discussion point for determining how much is enough for you, both in terms of $'s and time

• Expenses are is different for everyone, hence enough is different for everyone

• Don, Ross and Mike, while using different approaches to developing a life without need for paid employment, are defining enoughness for themselves

• Knowing how much is enough for you yields gratefulness and gratitude for all that you already have

• Those coming to VS Chicago seem to be interested in simplicity from either a Financial, Spiritual, or Environmental standpoint. A common bond for all three is money-"I wish I had more time for spirituality/environmental work, but my job gets in the way and I need the paycheck to pay the bills...". It also seems that a path of simplicity, eventually generates interest in all three areas.

• Does simplicity work with kids? There are many examples that say yes. Cyd and Steve talked about volunteering for a program that teaches kids the value of money. Kids are given a simulated life, where they have play money with which to make decisions for food, clothing, shelter, transportation... Cyd said they often hear, "I didn't know food cost so much". Steve also pointed out that it isn't too long before the kids start trading in their Corvettes for more basic transportation, in order to lower their insurance premiums so they can pay other bills. A "wheel of fortune" is thrown in to simulate sudden expenses such as eye glasses, dental work... "I gotta pay for glasses now?!?!"-"yes, that's how life works..."

• How much have you earned in your life?
• What have you got to show for it?

• Establish, accurately and honestly, how much you are trading your life energy for. Computing job-related expenditures of time and money, calculate you REAL hourly wage.
• Record every cent that flows in and out of your life. EVERY cent. 

• Every month create a table of all income and all expenses with categories generated by your own unique spending pattern

• Balance your monthly income and outgo totals

• Convert "dollars" spent in each subcategory to "hours of life energy",
  using real hourly wage as established in STEP 2

• Of each subcategory ask:

1. Did you receive true value and fulfillment form this category in proportion to life energy spent?
2. Is this expenditure of life energy IN ALIGNMENT WITH your stated life purpose?
3. How would expenditures in this category look AFTER you have achieved Financial Independence?

• At the bottom of each category, make one of the following marks:
  â arrow if you were not proportionally fulfilled by this expenditure or if it was out of alignment, or if you could see this expense diminish
  
  á arrow if you feel that upping this expenditure would increase fulfillment, or would demonstrate greater personal alignment, or would increase after Financial Independence
  
  -- (dash) if it feels fine on all counts just as it is

• Quality of life ratings
• Create a wall chart using large (approximately 24" x 36") graph paper
• Enter each month's Total Monthly Expenses

• Automatic Lowering of Expenses will occur painlessly when you recognize those categories where you are not getting proportional fulfillment, and those that were out of alignment with your purpose. There is a natural tendency toward greater fulfillment and greater integrity-spending less will fell better.

• Conscious Elimination of Expenses. Eliminate interest charges by paying off debts, credit card bills, ... Eliminate bank charges by keeping minimum balances, avoiding overdrafts... Eliminate costly automotive breakdowns by good auto record keeping and good preventive maintenance. Eliminate costly medical breakdowns by good preventive maintenance. Eliminate money-spending activities and replace with free and more fulfilling alternatives. Eliminate being run by fashions, fads, status.

• Conscious Lowering of Expenses. Getting more value per unit of life energy spent. Being a conscious consumer benefits everybody by up leveling quality, value, and integrity in the marketplace. Avoid "Scrimp and Splurge" Syndrome-Scrooge Skis St. Moritz. Move toward "outwardly simple and inwardly rich" lifestyle. None of this is about self-deprivation, budgeting, or sacrifice; it is all about greater fulfillment, satisfaction, personal alignment (wholeness, integrity, inner peace).

• The only true purpose of paid employment is to get paid. Any other perceived benefits cane be derived from non-paying activities
• If you can conceive of having to work for money for only a finite period of time, then you would be a highly motivated, excellent, dedicated, high-integrity earner.
• For a finite period of time, move toward highest possible income, while maintaining health and integrity
• Enter you total monthly income on your wall chart
• As you lower your Total monthly Expenses and raise your Total Monthly Income, you will develop space between the two lines on your chart. This space is savings, which are called capital.

• Each month, apply the formula to your total accumulated capital -- get the current interest rate from long term (20-30 year) US Treasury Bonds from the Wall Street Journal.
• Enter the resulting figure on your wall chart
• After a number of months of being on this program, your Total Monthly Expense line will have established a smaller zigzag pattern at a much lower level that when your started. With a light pencil line, project the Total Monthly Expenses into the future on your chart.
• After a number of being on this program, your Total Monthly Investment/Independence Income line will have begun to curve upward. With a light pencil line, project into the future on your chart. At some point, it will cross over the Total Monthly Expenses line. This is crossover, meaning the monthly income from your invested capital is equal to your monthly expenses.
• At that point in time, your will be Financially Independent

• Establish an investment program. Become knowledgeable, adept and sophisticated about banking and bond investments. You want absolute maximum safety. You want long term rates. You are not trying to increase capital through risky speculation, you want steady, guaranteed income.
• Disintermediation -- cutting out the middle man
• Cushion-the sum of instantly available cash
• Inflation is not a "boogie-man" -- consciousness about money increases faster than inflation.

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Email: vschicago@juno.com