Photography as a Cure for Materialism?

As we pare down our possessions through circumstance or by conscious decision I have, ironically,  begun an inspired collection of 'treasures' that have already piled quite high: a teetering tower of finds that need no storage, no dusting or mending. They take up not one shred of additional planetary resources (are in fact likely to have you caring far more for this earth), cause no pollution, nor even use freely gotten energy.
They are photographs. And many of them will likely go no further than the Cloud on which they are stored. Some do end up on Facebook or on a Blog (hello!) or sent to a friend or family member, but the vast majority are simply a collection of love.
My photographs are of nature and the lens of my camera has been the medium through which we have communed. I use a phone camera most times. Simple, immediate gratification; a gift of technology.
 My walks, camera in hand have become a meditation for me when alone, a treasure hunt with family, a giddy shared pleasure with other enthusiasts. And lately it has occurred to me that photography has helped cure me of some of my desire to gather, collect and own, all without overflowing my life, my home, my wardrobe or conversely, without dipping into my wallet.
I would not say I am obsessed with the need to photograph everything. I can take a walk without a camera (just an initial tug of pain and then I am fine;), but I can no longer turn off the photographers 'eye', the constant rainbow tinted lens through which you notice everything and anything of beauty, of wonder or even of perfect symmetry of simplicity. When you start down this path, you need only open your eyes to see a universe of wonder to be admired, the moment begging to be captured.
Of course I was always a little this way as many are. I have always taken some photos, have always practised art, have always written, so those things I see are sometimes transferred to a canvas or a notebook and I suppose in some ways it is like speaking a couple of languages. You experience something by your senses and you choose a language through which you feel best lets you fully experience that moment.
Photography has it's limits. It does not properly relate the buttery sweet smell of wattle, it cannot describe the bitter smell of burnt toast or the sound of a waterfall, nor the feel of moss on sandstone, but it can I think describe other vital and wonderful things: your love of that moment or of the object, your connection to it, your sense of wonder or incredulity, your appreciation of it's perfection.
The nicest thing for me in photography is to feel any of the above, take a photograph, share it on social media and have a person react just as I did, though the person was never there. Shazzam!
I suppose it is a bit like taking a kings treasure on tour. You present the object to other people and you share the awe of it together. Wanting simply to own the treasure would blacken the moment for either party. Why would you want to own what everyone could enjoy?
It's a poor analogy. Of course the king owns the treasure but I hope I was still able to illustrate how I feel when I photograph something. No need to own an object, just a desire to bear witness.
And so without realising how it happened at first, my desire for 'things' has been even further dampened. I feel very content with my current possessions (I'm not saying I don't like rearranging them on a whim:), I feel a deeper appreciation of the place I live (I lived here for 10 years previously and never quite managed the connection I feel now) and yet I could move on. I feel like I am treading lightly in this place and pleased to know it while I am here.  I can take my wonder with me anywhere. It is the lightest of luggage.
There is a down-side. Wonder is addictive. Pangs of connection to earth is a heart-drug you will want to pursue. And like me, you will glance back every now and then at the shiny lights and faux scents and tinny jingles in the distance and wonder what all that was ever about.

Saving Money Staying at Home

It is a sickening blow to discover your part-time work income over many years is actually zero bordering on minus, but this is exactly what our family discovered late last year.
In an effort to save other folk from this financial blow, I will be posting some blogs on the topic of how part-time work as a second income can be a complete waste of time or worse an actual drain on your income.
Of course, our circumstances though by no means unique are specific to us and anyone interested would need to do their own math, but I hope by sharing our experience others can avoid a similar pitfall.
Even if your main aim for part-time work is to stay sane and have a social life and money is not a big factor, this may still apply to you since leaving work can mean both of these important needs are well catered for if not greatly improved.
My husband is the main income earner in our family. This isn't because he is smarter or better educated than me (indeed I am the one with the university education) but because the world still counts his industry (technology) as being more valuable than mine (arts) he gets the lions share of income, but hey I'm working on this universal problem!
Needless to say, my husband goes out and earns the greater part of our household income for which I am truly grateful and he is very good at his job.
I myself have had a long string of poorly paid but creatively enjoyable commissions for painting, murals, drawings and illustrations over the years. On top of that I have worked in various retail jobs and cleaned/DE cluttered houses. I am also the mother of two boys, now almost grown to men and have also volunteered on various community projects.
My most recent work was filling a maternity role in a bookstore I have worked at on and off over the last few years. As the role was coming to an end I was kindly offered a few days of work at the same store and I sat down one day to look at our finances and see how it all might work.
I won't lie, there had been various issue at work. That along with several other projects I had on outside of work had me wondering about the possibility of leaving.
A bookstore as many people imagine is a lovely place to work but we were so busy that the enjoyable parts were almost non-existent and I found conditions trying. High wages was not priority but it was not cheering to have minimum wages and be expected to work Sundays with zero loading (while supermarket employees we knew earned double our wage).
All up, I sat down one day and thought about all the pros and cons of leaving my 3 days employment, bearing in mind I had a freelance illustrating job (also not well paid but creatively interesting) which added up to about one days worth of work a week.
After an hour of jotting down all the costs I could think of associated with going to work, I added up the total and compared it to what I earned. The figure was greater than my income! In shock, I chastised myself for my poor math and set about working it all our again but I was right the first time.
The cost to our household of my going to work was my wages!

My Findings:

Groceries: I do shop with a list for what we’ve run out of, but then in regards to food I buy what’s on special and make meals around that.

I shop at Aldi and IGA one week and my local shopping street the other. I really do believe in keeping it local so that is my compromise. On average we spend about $275- a week for a family of four- basically 4 adults as my boys are young men of 15 and 18.

 Even though I shop carefully I do find is I end up throwing out (I’m ashamed to admit) a fair amount of food each week. I’ll buy a whole reduced celery going for $2- but throw 2/3 away because I only ended up using it for one meal, I’ll make a dozen fresh scones but a third get thrown out because they don’t keep well and no one thinks to freeze them etc etc. A lot of this is just poor management because I am busy and my boys do not get involved in much of this (except eating). I figured if I shopped with smaller amounts twice a week and planned more carefully I could probably save at least $50- a week.

Car: Not driving to work 3 times a week would save me about $25- a week in petrol (obviously there is an amount you could work out on less wear and tear, miles on the clock, need to service, new tyres etc etc, need to wash etc but I’ve no idea what that would be.

Stuff bought at work: Embarrassing to say but working at a bookstore there is no week I do not spend money on a book or three. Sure some are gifts but others are just for me. Estimated savings on average- $40-/week

Lunches: I buy a take-out coffee with my work colleagues most days and lunch at least 2 of my three days- I could save $30- here too. More things that could be made at home for my family to take for lunches and you have another $50- easily saved per week, probably more with Fil. Also because I am too busy to keep my place as I would like it I tend to meet friends for lunch at a café instead of having something at my place or even making up a picnic. Even once a week this saves me at least $20-
My Findings:

Groceries: I do shop with a list for what we’ve run out of, but then in regards to food I buy what’s on special and make meals around that. 

I shop at Aldiand IGA one week and my local shopping street the other. I really do believe in keeping it local so that is my compromise. On average we spend about $275-a week for a family of four- basically 4 adults as my boys are young men of 15 and 18.

 Even though I shop carefully I do find is I end up throwing out (I’m ashamed to admit) a fair amount of food each week. I’ll buy awhole reduced celery going for $2- but throw 2/3 away because Ionly ended up using it for one meal, I’ll make a dozen fresh scones but a third get thrown out because they don’t keep well andno one thinks to freeze them etcetc. A lot of this is just poor management because I am busy and my boys do not get involved in much of this (except eating). I figured if I shopped with smaller amounts twice a week and planned more carefully I could probably save at least$50-a week.

Car: Not driving to work 3 times a week would save me about $25-a week in petrol (obviously there is an amount you could work out on less wear and tear, mileson the clock, need to service, new tyres etcetc, need to wash etcbut I’ve no idea what that would be.

Stuff bought at work: Embarrassing to say but working at a bookstore there is no week I do not spend money on a book or three. Sure some are gifts butothers are just for me. Estimated savings on average- $40-/week

Lunches: I buy a take-out coffee with my work colleagues most days and lunch at least 2 of my three
 so possibly $100-/week (whoa!)

Gifts- I am a creative person and could easily make, draw or build most gifts and cards a year if I have the time (I used to when the boys were young) and I actually enjoy doing this very much. Even if I did this for half the friends and family I know, this has the potential to save $120- a week. It sounds a lot but if you spent only $40- per person (and it would be a lot more on immediate family)including a card and wrap for a birthday and Christmas and Easter each year- throw in some congratulations, commiserations etc etc then add what you actually spend on close family members and divvy it all up over a year and divide by 52, it really adds up. Don't believe me? Try it!-$120-/week (holy moly!)

Financial management- with more time to do home-banking and bill-paying and shopping around you can save a bit each week on interest charges etc etc I’d say almost $20- a week saved probably more as we tend to miss credit card repayment dates through poor management and lazily use other banks so $20-/week

Grow your own: If you have a bit more time you can grow a few things you might use each week like herbs and citrus and cut flowers. I use herbs to cook with almost every day plus lemons and limes and flowers perhaps I buy a cheap bunch fortnightly.  Savings at least $20- a week after an initial set-up, potentially much more if you had the space or inclination for other things.-$20-/week

Clothes- I don’t have an expensive set of clothes but I do buy some as well as comfortable shoes at least twice a year- savings probably $20- a week. There's also time to alter or mend a few things for the family and get a bit more wear out of things.

Take away and dinners out- Each fortnight we probably have one dinner out and at least one take- because everyone is too tired to cook. Even if you halved this to monthly to keep a treat, it still saves $65- a week. (sheesh!)

Tutoring- attending public school I found my boys have needed tutoring at times with some subjects, some I’m embarrassed to say we could have been some help with if we’d had the time and energy. Even one less tutor a week is a saving of $40-

Haircuts: For most of their lives I have cut my boys and my husband’s hair (I had an 18 month stint as a hairdresser in my youth- useful!) Working 4 days I often instructed them to go out and get it cut as I felt harassed to do it myself. If I have time it doesn’t take long and I find it’s hard to get a good men’s cut for less than $20-. Every four weeks that’s $30- saved per week. I can also cut and colour my own hair if I have the time but right now it is a rare pampering treat so more potential savings there of about $30- a week.

Extra cash: Having the time, I am quite capable of drawing, painting, cooking, up-cycling, gardening, writing, housecleaning and lots of other things. Having the time I have the potential of earning at least $150- week, including fixing things up for our own use (furniture etc). Minimum $150- (and up to $300+).

There are lots of other things you could probably work out a figure for- entertaining friends or going to their- make your own stuff for cheaper instead of grabbing dip and salad from Coles- it’ll cost you half. More time to plan means you can come up with ideas for cheaper entertainment etc

Adding it all up I find by not working three days in my retail I could save $560- a week! If you add what I could earn in a minimum capacity elsewhere that's $700- a week!!! For three days I earned $350- (after tax and I was in the lowest tax bracket).

 

Even if I still put $50- of that aside for super (all my work was putting in) I am still $150- better off than I have been all by working.

 I feel I have been modest in my calculations but let's say I was crazy and was $50- over in my spending calculations per week- that's still $100- BETTER OFF NOT GOING OUT TO WORK!

 

It's insane but of course this calculation only works if you are on low wages. A professional earning considerably more would find financially they are better off at work, but how much would be worth    checking since your outlays would be higher (clothes, transport, eating out for example).

 On the other hand if you are paying for childcare, a housecleaner or any type of outsourcing, you could get rid of it all or some of it and consider cutting both partners work days!

 

The bottom line was I certainly could leave my retail job- and I did!

 

My next Blog I will share putting my saved money into action, how to stay sane and have a social life away from work AND some of the many projects, work opportunities and greater happiness I have experienced as my life is now.

This blog is not about keeping women or any second income earner at home as a 1950's housewife- far from it! It is however about making your life richer in joy and experiences, having time for the people (and pets!) you love, the environment and your community, learning new skills and furthering your education, in essence having the time and energy to care and enjoy the life you live.

It really is about closing one small and battered door and walking through a wide open, freshly painted one:)