Jill, Pam, Woodie, Diane, Grant, Deb, Cecilia, Lenny, Laura, Scott, Nancy, Linda, Roberto, Mike, Patty, Susan and Jenni welcomed Megan, Gerry, Mary, Barbara, Carrie, Chris and Carlene to their first meeting.

Woodie opened the meeting space with a round of introductions, explanation of the meeting format and announcements.

Old St. Pat's Church's annual Block Party is next weekend (July 19-21st). The Crossroads Center of Old St. Pat's provides our meeting space. The Block Party is a good time, and a great way to support those who have been supporting us.

Mike announced the Chicago car sharing program, I-go, is now in operation. Call 773-278-4800x227 or visit www.i-go-cars.com for further information.

The group then began posting and arranging topics, creating the day's agenda. Following is a brief recap of the discussions:

Suggestions on getting out of debt/cutting expenses...
Mary hosted this topic, gleaning several points from the discussion. GOALS -- it is important to have a goal, that way when you buy something, you can question how that purchase fits with your goal. LIVE OFF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE -- use up what you already have; hair shampoo, the food already sitting in your cabinets, books/magazines you haven't yet read... ASK WHY BEFORE YOU BUY -- simply asking yourself, "Why am I buying this?", will give you pause and reflection, breaking automatic nonconscious buying. CHECK-OUT FROM INFLUENCES -- turn off the TV, radio... TRACK YOUR SPENDING -- begin with the cash in your wallet, jot down what you spend and balance your wallet at the end of the day ("I started with $100 this morning, I spent $27 today, I should have $73 in my wallet. No, I have $68 -- oh that's right, I spent $5 at the video store and forgot to jot it down.") BE WITH REINFORCING SOCIAL GROUPS -- seek out others and groups of others who are doing what you want to do. "SURF THE URGE" -- next time you want to buy something, wait a few days-Jill finds when she "casts the urge to buy something" back out into the surf, 90% of the time that urge never comes back. TAKE STUFF BACK -- keep receipts, original tags on items... and when you find you haven't used an item, simply take it back-if you need help, ask a friend to take something back for you. KNOW YOU'RE CONSUMING EARTH'S RESOURCES -- realize when you buy something, you are consuming the earth's resources-thinking of this is another way of gaining pause and reflection. UNDOING DAMAGE OF EARLIER YEARS -- Lenny noted we were taught to "get an education, then get a job -- so you can consume". Embarking on a path of spending less money, is a journey of undoing what we have learned in our earlier years, undoing what we "thought" was right. Lenny also noted KIDS are interested in FAIRNESS. Kids hate adults manipulating them. If you can get fairness to them, ie, when you buy something you consume the earth -- they will get it. The recent anti-smoking ads are proof of this. KEEP IT SIMPLE -- you don't need a 54 column spreadsheet to track you spending nor a computer-keep it simple and use what works best for you-Gerry finds pencil and paper works just fine.

Abundance and Simplicity -- is it one, or the other...
While posting this topic, Roberto had an inkling of the direction this discussion might take. He was surprised to find it evolved into something else, as the group turned toward definitions and approaches. Discussed were items such as finding joy in simplicity, having a deep appreciation for what you already have, the role attitudes play, and being creative with what you already have (ie, use up food in your cabinets before you go shopping...). Typically thought of and defined as having more than you need, abundance can also be thought of in terms of what is around you. This discussion revealed a more spiritual definition or side of abundance. Barbara and Linda said they have a strong "sense" of abundance -- a knowing that what they may need will simply be there for them. There was a transition somewhere -- a shift from having more than you need, to knowing you don't have to physically possess things (what you need will be there when you ask).

What do you really need vs. what do you really want...
Any advise for letting go of paper clutter...
Summarizing this discussion, Deb noted the group DEFINED a need as something practical and logical, and that real needs come from within. A want is emotional. Jenni offered a "three bucket" approach for decluttering => pick up every item in a room and place it in one of three buckets -- "Sentimental", "Useful", or "Out the Door". Discussion also included COVERTLY "donating" items -- leave books, magazines,... at the library, doctor's offices, hotels. Make a GAME of decluttering. Weigh what you take our of your house so you can see the affects of your efforts. Group like items (washcloths, knives...). Use Laura's home library approach -- she keeps a set number of books on the shelf, when she wants to keep a new one, one must come off the shelf. Same approach works for other items in your home. Take a LIST when you go shopping -- you'll be surprised at how much less you'll spend and how much less clutter you'll bring home. When considering buying an item, it should do at least THREE THINGS WELL. An example was a Swiss Army knife (scissors, knife, file, tweezers...). RID your home of COMMERCIAL CLEANING PRODUCTS -- a solution of white vinegar, water, and a drop of ammonia will clean windows, countertops, toilets,... (from the book, Cheaper & Better, by Nancy Barnes, page 251; 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup ammonia, 3 1/4 cups warm water). Deb noted this is what she used to use -- when/how did she (and we all) get into using scrubbing bubbles, bowel cleaning flush devices...? Regarding PAPER CLUTTER, Cecilia noted to ask a friend to help you.

Mark Burch's book, Stepping Lightly -- households as producers vs. consumers...
In years past, HOUSEHOLDS were producers of products -- gardens, bakery items, tool skills. Today, Mark Burch notes households have become consumers rather than producers. Society doesn't teach us to be self sufficient, nor does it value domestic skills. Is it EASIER for men to be simpler because they know how to fix things, have friends who have pickup trucks...? The group reached a conclusion that home skills -- fixing things and cleaning/cooking -- are NOT INBORN, they are skills that are learned. Mike learned about repairing things from books, Scott by taking something apart to see how it works/what might be wrong. Woodie is learning the nuances of cooking, "What does a clove of garlic mean? Oh a clove is not the whole garlic globe." Many CLASSES and BOOKS are available. Woodie noted you can also learn skills by SWAPPING -- "I'll teach you how to do electrical work in exchange for teaching me some basic sewing skills". It does seem harder for men to learn cooking/cleaning, and for women to learn about repairs. A hardware store can be just as daunting as a fabric shop, and STEREOTYPICAL thinking doesn't help. DIY is a web site for learning about doing things yourself. VOLUNTEERING at Habitat for Humanity is another way to learn repair/building skills.

Can Simplicity lead to a healthier Life...
The resultant increased CONSCIOUSNESS of leading a simpler life does seem to lead to a healthier life. Lenny led this discussion that noted in addition to LESS stress, a simpler life affords TIME to rest (thus being able to avoid a cold/flu), TIME and AWARENESS to explore other methods of regaining health/preventing troubles (message, reflexology, alternative medicine, yoga...), consciousness to find the REAL MATH of healthcare (wellness care costs less than sick care, health insurance costs increase with lower deductible amounts so if you don't have large medical costs, is it better for you to carry a high deductible or pay more in premiums for lower deductibles), and CONSCIOUSNESS of the effects of your DIET on your overall health and well being (eat a more plant based diet...).

Medical Savings Accounts (MSA) -- a way to save on "alternative" & western medicine...
Chris led the discussion on MSA's. Unlike an employer medical expense account (where accounts balances are forfeited), MSA unused balances can be rolled over into following years. MSA's act like an IRA, except you can make penalty free withdrawals for medical expenses. Blue Cross has MSA's, you might also check into discount clubs. Laura noted www.lowermybills.com as a location for shopping healthcare (and other) pricing. For questions regarding the confusing language of health care plans and their coverages, Laura also mentioned contacting the National Health Coalition -- this not for profit/non industry sponsored group will answer your questions without bias.

We adjourned the meeting at 12:45.
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(Reported by Mike Lenich)