It's not just about money. It's a challenge to reflect, celebrate and take action in order to work for justice, and to be happier in ourselves as a result. It's about seeking what we need rather than grasping for more, sharing not hoarding.

Visit the livesimply website

Living simply at home

The Parenting for Peace and Justice Network site (USA) contains many practical ideas that families concerned to livesimply might find helpful (see for example How can families challenge materialism and promote stewardship?). But since every family is different, for each family a simple lifestyle will take a different form. Many families already live very simply as a matter of economic necessity. Participating in livesimply effectively as a family has to be a family decision - taken together.   There are plenty of ideas and resources around to start a family conversation on the subject. Perhaps you can begin by listing the practical things your family already does - such as:

• Turning down the thermostat on the central heating and/or radiators. Monitoring gas and electricity consumption. Line drying rather than tumble drying clothes. Using low energy light bulbs.
• Cooking double quantity dishes to freeze surplus for another day. Using up leftovers. Making sure not to over-stock on food (did you know that more than 15p in every £1 spent on food is wasted?).
• Sorting and saving newspapers, tins, plastic bags and bottles, glass, old clothes and everything else the local council will recycle. Joining a freecycle group for sharing unwanted or unused items that are still useful. Patronising charity shops and buying fairtrade goods.
• Switching off the tv for an hour to do something as a family together.
• Enjoying the simple pleasures in life like a walk in the park, a freshly baked cake, a smile, birds singing, flowers, and a good joke!  

Useful websites

Waterwise - Ideas for saving water at home
GMTV's Green Week website

Further reading:
"Family life contains an incredible number of opportunities to help children grow up with an ever greater awareness of others and a desire for universal social justice." Spirituality Today. Spring 1984, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 34-46