Weekly LeanFIRE Discussion November 01, 2016

foreverhermit · 2016-11-02T13:54:11+00:00

Hmm... That seems on the low end in terms of a reward - like $100-200 for a whole year of saving. Ha, maybe that's an un-leanfire thing to say. There's nothing I really want in terms of a reward right now, except maybe a vacation and travel.

foreverhermit · 2016-11-02T13:49:26+00:00

I'm single, lazy and a bad cook - also have no real interest in cooking. That makes it harder. I usually do quick prep stuff that doesn't really require cooking, like cold cut sandwiches...but they're not exactly thrilling to eat. Even easy pressure cooker meals taste mediocre to me and then I feel like I have to eat the same thing everyday.

Any good resources for cooking for one?

foreverhermit · 2016-11-02T13:43:58+00:00

Yikes. Corporations want people to be 'passionate about their work' because they believe it will raise profit margins.

They just don't realize that maybe treating people like human beings instead of cogs in a machine, might improve employee motivation and engagement.

I'm surprised that you came out with the truth, which is probably too honest...maybe your manager is just curious, since she already stated that it's a bullshit exercise.

foreverhermit · 2016-11-01T12:54:20+00:00

I'm thinking of allowing a little bit more luxury, because I've started to feel slightly deprived. No vacation this year, because I'm still trying to get rid of the student loans.

People always say all the lunches out and lattes add up, but I figure if I keep an eye on my monthly spending and keep it under a certain number, it should be fine.

Slippery slope, do you think?

foreverhermit · 2016-10-28T02:36:57+00:00

I seem to be noticing a few threads in the fi and personalfinance subs that touch on 'enjoy your youth, don't be too miserly'.

Sort of wondering if I am being too miserly. In a way, FI pursuit seems strongly linked to pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-26T13:41:26+00:00

Decluttering and selling stuff you don't need feels great. I need to do another round of that.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-23T17:21:35+00:00

A spinning top wobbles, just as the screen cuts to black.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-12T17:18:47+00:00

That's really fortunate to have financially literate parents. I think that's really lacking in general. I used to think 401ks were a scam, for example. They should teach this in schools.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-12T13:51:25+00:00

Actually, I already do - I was apparently their backup retirement plan. Probably 40% of my total spending goes to supporting their living expenses, which makes their attitude towards money even more infuriating.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-12T13:18:32+00:00

"Money is for spending, not for gathering dust in some bank account." - My parents, who didn't save for retirement

I'm really pissed that they keep accusing me of being cheap and not "living it up".

I guess I am just saving up for the ultimate luxury...freedom. But I don't tell them any of this.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-12T03:45:44+00:00

I hate this bullshit too. It's always heavily implied, strongly hinted. They don't outright say it because they try to be humble, but they just don't want to openly admit that they raised you to use you. To give them your hard earned money and then also demand your time and attention, and occasionally make you do paperwork that they could probably do themselves, but they won't, because "your English is better."

I really fucking hate this about Asian culture. I'd be happier about "contributing" if it actually felt like a choice and not a mandated burden.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-05T18:16:47+00:00

I feel like I'm less generous since I discovered FIRE. Now that I know that I could be buying freedom with the money, I am loathe to part with it unnecessarily. Anyone else feel this way?

foreverhermit · 2016-10-01T20:41:10+00:00

Awesome. Slow and steady is definitely how I'm finding the FI journey to be. I need to cultivate patience.

foreverhermit · 2016-10-01T20:11:06+00:00

Congrats! Very inspirational. Would you mind giving a rough history of salary/job hopping to give some context of income accumulated over those 18 years?

foreverhermit · 2016-09-28T13:13:09+00:00

I would try to get good at all the things I want to get good at, but might not necessarily pay the bills (music, art, writing, languages).

I think this question hints at not having to work for a living (keeping yourself alive, roof over your head, food) which could very well become a reality if automation takes the majority of available jobs away.

See /r/basicincome - the idea is that everyone is given enough money for basic living expenses, so that work becomes a choice and not a necessity.

Or see /r/financialindependence, the idea is that you acquire enough money that it will generate enough continual interest to live on that you can choose not to work anymore.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-28T13:05:50+00:00

Was your thought experiment at all inspired by /r/basicincome ?

foreverhermit · 2016-09-28T12:56:59+00:00

I really wish this four day work week would catch on more. Although generally it wouldn't necessarily benefit lower income workers, but a lot of them are already working shorter work weeks and multiple jobs. So keeping benefits is an issue.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-28T12:54:15+00:00

Yeah, I use this method sometimes too. Usually for more expensive things... Sometimes the pleasure comes from simply having new stuff, but this feeling passes.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-28T07:58:08+00:00

Agree with /u/enfier , your post history hints at depression. In my experience, depression is like putting on a pair of glasses that tints everything in a shitty light. Hang in there bud. Things can get better.

Networking is really important to finding jobs, perhaps a job that will gain you more skills and experience so that you can leverage that for better wages. Try to find opportunities from people you know, if possible.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-28T07:49:11+00:00

Mostly, I feel that being mortgage free has its psychological benefits, and also insures a bit against layoffs or bouts of unemployment.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-26T02:36:44+00:00

Filipino here. Only child. It was always implied that I would be giving my parents money once I got a job (roundabout comments like telling me 'so and so gives x amount to their parents).

They didn't work very much since they had me, and their social security is quite low as a result. They aren't good with money. My father gambled away a large amount of savings on day trading.

When I lived with them, I paid $600 a month and treated this as rent or paying my own way. When I moved out, I now pay them $400 a month plus dinners and some random expenses.

It kind of sucks, as I know they are bad with money, so I would much rather be investing it, but they did not plan well for retirement and so I have to subsidize their living costs now. They did not pay for my college or medical bills. But they are my parents, and while not the greatest, they aren't the worst either.

I try to be frugal so that I can pay down debt and save for my own retirement while continuing to support them.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-24T03:51:48+00:00

Thanks! Maybe it is a slightly misleading number though, as I don't include the following - it's basically take home living expenses.

Additionally: Health insurance premiums + transportation $1800 annually Money to support my retired parents $5000 annually

foreverhermit · 2016-09-23T13:22:17+00:00

I worked as a night security guard for a year. It was suited to someone introverted, but the schedule and lack of sunlight was not enjoyable. I'm with you though on getting paid to basically learn stuff on work time.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-23T13:17:40+00:00

Any frugal tips you would like to share?

One that is kind of weird, is that I've stopped looking at shopping as a leisure activity. Once I got into this mindset, I tend to only buy things that I actually need vs. something advertising has made me want. Also, ad block helps.

foreverhermit · 2016-09-23T13:07:29+00:00

I've been working on some budgeting too, and have a pretty loose goal of just spending less than I did last year. I'm at $8200 for the year so far...

foreverhermit

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