If we decide to
live below the poverty level,
we can give our lives to important purposes that have no cash value.
Especially when we are young, we worry about 'making
a living'.
We focus a lot of our time and energy preparing to join the world of
work.
For example, often education is directed toward occupation.
"Work" could be defined as any activity that would immediately stop
if you were no longer paid:
When the pay-checks stop coming, you stop going to work.
If you would continue to pursue those purposes even without pay,
then that behavior is not WORK for you.
If we stop working for pay,
we no longer organize our daily lives around the expectations of other
people.
We are free to give our lives to meanings and goals
that have no immediate economic benefits —no cash rewards either for ourselves or for others.
Embracing voluntary poverty might allow us
to create Authentic projects-of-being,
which is explored in another EXCO class:
Becoming More Authentic.
This seminar will be an opportunity to share our
experiences
of living on much less than most people think is essential.
Can we be happy earning and spending less than $10,000 per year?
How do you obtain the small amount of money you need
to survive?
How do you manage to spend so much less than other people?
Can any of your techniques be used by others?
I lived for more than 40 years on less than $2,000
per year.
But when I reached the magic age of 65, my income jumped by 350%.
I now live on less than $8,000 per year.
And I still have not had to compromise my values in order to survive.
This major jump in income is provided by all you taxpayers
who are paying some of your income to the Social Security Administration
in the form of payroll taxes and/or self-employment taxes.
And I hope you will agree that I am using your money wisely.
For example, your support enables me to offer several EXCO classes for free.
Whenever I hear "No
one can live on social
security," I raise my hand.
I live at the lowest level of social security—called SSI.
I prefer to call it my "guaranteed annual income".
And I would like to see this federal benefit
extended to everyone, in the form of a reversible income tax:
If you earn less than $8,000 per year,
the federal government brings you up to that level.
Even tho this level of income is well below the
official poverty level,
I no longer consider myself to be living in 'voluntary poverty'.
I now call it 'voluntary simplicity'.
I am able to
live at this
low level of income
because I have no mortgage payments
and Medicare pays for my health care.
But everything else fits easily within this budget.
The same
methods of simple living can be used by anyone.
If you live on less than $10,000 per year —or would like to cut your consumption to that level—
come and share your ways of saving money.
This workshop will be just one meeting of two hours.
This should be enough to share ideas for living cheaply.
If you would like to know how I save money on
electricity, for example
(paying only $20-25 per month), go to: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/CY-ELEC.html
To be arranged to suit those who join the e-mailing list.
This seminar can also be adapted as a program for your group.
Two hours should be enough to share the most important information.
There might be a press conferences after the meeting
if any journalists attend who want more details for their stories.
DATE:
To be arranged with those who express interest by clicking to join.
PLACE:
The location is also open.
After you click to join, you can write to the facilitator
to suggest a good place to meet.
CLASS SIZE:
Minimum 10 Maximum 20
What experience do you bring to this class?
I have been living cheaply ever since I
retired in 1968
and sold my one and only car.
1968 was also the last year for which I owed any income tax.
Since then I have facilitated about 200 different adult education
groups.
Most of these were in the Minnesota Free University.
See more information about my career in alternatives adult education: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/JP-AL-ED.html
Additional Facilitator Info:
When I have offered similar presentations before,
they have been well attended.
Lots of people are looking for ways to save money,
especially now that we are in recession.