These days, people from all walks of life are learning that they prefer to move to the beat of their own drums and go against the grain a little bit. No longer are people feeling pressured to live up to the expectations of society – they are instead doing what makes them happy.
For many, this means living an unconventional type of lifestyle. Some people choose to live full-time in a van or a tiny home while others find it works best for them to live separately from their spouses. No matter what type of unconventional life you’re living, there can be some challenges along the way. This becomes even more true once you add children into the mix. You may feel judgment from others, or you might find that the logistics of what you want to do are a little harder to figure out. To help you out, here are 3 simple tips for families with unconventional lifestyles.
Plan Ahead
Before making any type of big lifestyle change, you should always make sure to plan ahead. Think about all of the costs that may be involved with doing things in an unconventional way, and all of the extra steps you may have to take to make things happen.
You should also think about the potential effects on your children and your family as a whole. For example, living the “van life” may be great for a young couple, but it can be much more difficult once you have school-age children.
Every family is different, so you’ll have to consider what is best for yours. Talk to your partner or spouse and make lists of pros and cons so that you can make informed decisions about your future. When thinking of the future and planning ahead, remember to also consider what will happen once you reach retirement age. Will your lifestyle be sustainable or will more adjustments need to be made? These are all great things to think and talk about ahead of time so that you have a solid plan.
Have An Emergency Fund
Having savings is important for everyone, but maybe even more so for people living unconventionally. Lots of little things can go wrong that can be costly, so it’s important to have an emergency savings fund, just in case. Learning to expect the unexpected will serve you well no matter what your lifestyle is.
Don’t Worry About What Others Think
Whenever you make choices for your family that differ from the norm, you are bound to receive some kind of judgment and/or comments from people you know (or perhaps even strangers on the internet!) Don’t worry about what anyone thinks as long as you and your family feel happy, safe, and secure. You can’t expect everyone to understand your lifestyle, and that’s OK! They may not understand yours either.
Living a little differently than most of society can be uncomfortable at first but in many ways, it will give your family a great perspective and freedoms you may not otherwise have been able to enjoy. Use the above tips to help make your unconventional lifestyle easier so that you can enjoy it even more!
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