Post: #51

I agree, home ownership is overrated!

Post: #52

The "minimalism threat" by Captain Capitalism, interesting read:

http://captaincapitalism.blogspot.ca/201...hreat.html

Post: #53

It's no so much about foregoing materialism as it is simplifying your life and not consuming more than you can handle.

People complicate their lives with five credit cards, a car payment, a mortgage payment for a house that they bought with a down payment borrowed from their 401k account, an expensive engagement ring (two months salary, right?), an even more expensive wedding, and so on.

These things are not inherently evil or wrong, but when you cannot afford them and try to take too much in too short a period of life you become a slave to society. Banks own you. Your employer owns you. Your wife and kids own you. The U.S. government owns you.

As an example, I went through the whole minimalism phase a few years ago and purged >80% of my belongings. I realized most of what I owned was unnecessary and largely unused. But when I finished purging everything I went out and bought a brand new premium car. Why? Because I could afford it, I didn't have any debt or long-term financial responsibilities, and it was something I wanted. I had taken care of my 'needs' and was able to afford this 'want.' It was the first car I ever bought brand new and I'm in my mid-30's. Materialism? I guess. But life is still simple. My car is my only debt. My loan after the down payment was about $25k @ .9%. I took the loan because my money is locked up in a 5-year CD @ 2.5%, so I'm still making money even though I'm paying interest on the loan. I also wear $200 jeans and $1000 suits for work. That's materialism, but to me the quality is well worth it. On the flip side, I don't piss away money on eating out, storage rentals, late fees, bounced checks and all the other stressful/wasteful expenses that consume the lives of most people in the U.S.

But back to my original point, it's not about foregoing materialism, it's about properly managing your life and avoiding the extreme complications brought about by impulsive, irresponsible and destructive behavior. Separate your needs from your wants. Take care of your needs first and over time, as you increase your earning power and build your own little fiefdom, start taking care of your wants.

And like Scotian said, always have that "fuck it" fund filled up and ready to be used. And don't hesitate to use it when you feel the walls closing in.

Post: #54

I kind of like the sentiment of the original post. It's a rigged game keeping up with the Jones'.

I agree material things and having too many choices can often make you less happy. Sometimes I think I would have been happier living during the Stone Age. Hunting, gathering, chopping down trees. Instead of the stress of modern life and all the things that come with it.

I also believe in working hard however. You got to know what you want to work hard FOR though.

At the same time, it's more important to work smart than to work hard though. I worked my ass off at University, taking double courses and learning languages. I still went years after graduation without a job. From a purely financial perspective I would probably have been better off just taking a few semesters of a STEM subject and then taking a trainee position or someting and worked my way up from there.

Post: #55

Hoarding useless shit is also a problem. I'm starting to get over it pretty much.

Post: #56

Man you guys are going hard with this haha.

My interpretation of this thread is:
Don't buy unnecessary stuff just what you really need. Because you don't have to worry about what drapes will match your new Ikea furniture or what car to get in order to impress the bitches/your friend, you'll be able to spend more time improving yourself and making mad CASH. This cashmoney will thus give you even more freedom and security in the long term.

Like the 48 laws of power says don't be cheap. If you need a new shirt so you can look presentable at work get the one that is the best quality for what you're willing to spend. Instead of having 25 different shirts you hardly wear have the bare minimum. If they wear out get new ones.

I think what it comes down to is: minimalism is used to control a part of your life so that you can focus on other, more important aspects. This reduces stress and increases freedom.

Post: #57

^ Yes and freeing up resources can thus make it easier to attian stuff of higher quaility. Why have a ton of cheap crap when you can have a few things of the best quaility. Our current society and culture is obbseed with attianing stuff and the majoirty of it is crap. I always ask my homies when they go off on rants on shit they want to buy ...

Wait before you think of new stuff to attian...How much stuff do you actually own?....

I always get a blank stare and then a rant into thier car, phone, TV and pad.

Then I ask if they really owned it or we're just making payments....


The few thing I will own in life will be the best that money can get in materials and qaulity. I hope to own a old row-home which 120+ years on for the most part in most older Cities are still structually superior to the chipboard crap they build now. I also hope to purchase a classic car that will also still be in top-tier shape versus the fibreglass toys they make now. I will own this things and have no bank or establishment to slave away payments to.

Ideally just positioning yourself to be a island of propserity and ideals that people will want to travel too and 'take in'. I have no idea if the way I am trying to live my life will play out in the end to be ideal. But I do know as a further and further do things different against the herd or masses I feel more and more at peace that I am making the right choices.

Post: #58

On the flip side, I've recently made some purchases that greatly improved my quality of life.

A heavy bag for boxing, an electric guitar, and a yamaha keyboard.

Other items I use regularly and really enjoy: my large flat screen TV on a custom stand positioned in front of my bed, hooked up to four speakers, the stereo with the speakers positioned at the head of the bed, and plugged in to my laptop, my ping pong table, boxers speed bag, and the large 3 floor residence (each floor in a studio layout).

All these things bring great enjoyment, I use them regularly, and they are tools of of my lifestyle.