AFAIK, Philip is not really retired. He does a lot of expert witness work these days https://philip.greenspun.com/software/expert-witness
Early Retirement (2006)
161–170 of 308 posts
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
As a fellow anti-capitalist I struggle with how to live in a clearly capitalist world. I'm currently on track to retire at an average age or earlier and cynically view it as buying freedom from the system. In reality it reminds me of the old company store at coal mines. Paying workers in currency which can only be spent at their own store. Breaking out of the capitalist cycle seems quite difficult to do while still m…
> Breaking out of the capitalist cycle seems quite difficult to do while still maintaining a decent quality of life. I would suggest that's because its capitalism that provides that quality of life.
I am not interested in descending into an idealogical argument here, but most (serious) anti-capitalist criticisms will acknowledge that capitalism has brought the hitherto highest quality of life, just that it is self-constrained by the necessity to produce for profit.
Socialism is then understood as the overcoming of this constraint, but as always if you ask n socialists/communists you get m answers, where m > n.
It is messy and tiresome to discuss, especially when everyone insists that their personal understandings of what terms mean are the only real ones. More so when you've heard every position a dozen times already...
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
My problem is, I'm kind of anti-capitalist, to make it short. Labor and capital and not just production factors, but they constitute a power relationship (and often a quite asymmetric one). I cannot bring myself to "invest" in something or believe that "my money works for me" - that's delusional. Money does not "work". People get all upset about the stance, but all I am saying is that everyone wants to profit off som…
"anti-capitalist" - how does one become an "anti-capitalist" when it's abundantly clear that, even though it's not a perfect system, it's the best system there is? It's the system that facilitates competition, social progress, scientific advancements etc etc I'm thinking "anti-capitalist" attitude is usually a result of the poor decisions in early adulthood (decisions regarding education, reproduction, career, social…
Let me ask you, why aren't more workers "happy capitalists" and praise this way of living? Why aren't the warehouse workers more happy? Or the people soon displaced by computers and algorithms? Why aren't they look forward to a life of less chore and more free time?
Why do so many people protest against climate change? Why is it ok for corporations to externalize costs? Why is all the considered good?
I'm all for competition and fierce fights, but let just not forget that we live in a "society" and not in a box, everyone for themselves.
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do people in countries with universal healthcare not have this problem? What are the types of products and services that are so significant? Surely we aren’t talking about things like Netflix and utilities?
From what I have calculated, the savings from universal care vs insurance are negated by higher taxes
While I have not made SV salaries, I’ve done ok. Overall, the total-deduction I see in Ontario is comparable to the US. Higher, I imagine, than Texas but lower than California - us social security is way more costly than Canadian cpp (yielding more benefits too). And I moved here over 10 years ago and thus have paid my taxes…. It’s permitted us retiring before hitting Medicare age.
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#165I retired early recently - I am in my mid 50s. It's not anywhere as hard as people seem to think. With a disciplined approach to investing, I think that it's very much possible to reach financial independence with a typical tech salary in the US. I achieved FI without an extraordinarily high salary, stock grants or participating in an IPO. There is a treasure trove of information in the Bogleheads wiki: https://www.b…
> With a disciplined approach to investing, I think that it's very much possible to reach financial independence with a typical tech salary in the US Bear in mind that you have been the beneficiary of an exceptional bull market
I should mention that I started regular automated index fund investing in the mid 1990s. I have been through two _big_ market corrections: 2001 and 2008-9. Despite being nervous, I never once stopped my automatic investments.
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#166Earlier quoted context omitted.
Who has a mortgage without interest payments?
I think in the US the interest is deductible.
A very small portion of people in the US benefit from the mortgage interest tax deduction ever since the standard deduction was greatly increased. You have to itemize (forego the standard deduction) in order to take advantage, and only 13% of tax filers itemize on their taxes in the US.
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#167If you've ever talked to anyone that has done FIRE or just retired a few years early, it's always health insurance. The current US system of healthcare via your employer is a huge blocker to any kind of alternative lifestyle. Have to wait until 65 (or like 68 by the time most of us can retire)
The current system is not healthcare via employer. Anyone can go to healthcare.gov and get the same insurance plans. The main benefit of employer purchased health insurance is that you buy with pre tax dollars.
Sorry, affordable healthcare. Sure, public plans exist, but most state exchanges are 2k a month. It's not the same, because the insurance pools are different. Check the coverage plans: https://www.wahbexchange.org/new-customers/coverage-basics/p...
Except for a few situations, it's mostly bottom tier insurance pools.
Meanwhile, my insurance PPO ranged from $0.0 month (high deductible) to max ~$50.
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
My problem is, I'm kind of anti-capitalist, to make it short. Labor and capital and not just production factors, but they constitute a power relationship (and often a quite asymmetric one). I cannot bring myself to "invest" in something or believe that "my money works for me" - that's delusional. Money does not "work". People get all upset about the stance, but all I am saying is that everyone wants to profit off som…
Clear away the clutter. Are you able to sell things for more money than you bought them for and still honor your personal values? If you can, then do so. Forget the slogans, descriptions and tortured analysis. Can you as a human sell things to another human for more than you paid for them in a situation where you are both happy with the price? If so, do so. If not, I suggest you take a look at what is motivating your…
Yes, that's fine - I'm doing that.
My goal is simple: try not to make things worse.
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#169The greatest expense for me in retirement is now health insurance so it makes sense for me to instead work for insurance coverage and put my wealth towards an inheritance for my children. I used to naively believe once I paid off my mortgage, had a substantial retirement account and savings - a couple million dollars - I'd no longer work. It's also very difficult to get off of the treadmill of spending a lot of money…
Once you have kids the calculation changes, at least for me. I could retire comfortably in a few years, but my earning power is at it's peak. Every extra year I work provides significant extra resources for my family, to help the girls afford their first houses and get a good start in life when they graduate. I'll probably work another 5 years beyond what I'd probably do if it was purely about self-interest for mysel…
Why can't your kids work for their own house? It builds character. My mom told me I had to get a scholarship if I wanted my college paid, so I got one. Nobody is going to hand me a house either so I sought (and received) exceptional return in Bitcoin
Re: Early Retirement (2006)
#170I was hoping to find some nuggets of wisdom in this blog post but came up empty I'm afraid. I kept busy writing games, doing art, making things from wood before my career/family, I see no reason why I will not again when retired. As I do have a family (and nearly an empty nest now) I have become quite comfortable not having much of a "social life". I still want friends, still need the occasional connection, but it is…
This person seems to have extreme, simplistic views that they hold as the truth. Non-profit organizations exist to provide their staff with great jobs" ? He honestly believes that? How many has he worked with? I've worked with non-profits my whole life, and some are flawed, but many do tremendously valuable work. No to the beach ? Depends on your preferences. To the author: Taking personal, anecdotal experiences and…
If you read more of Philip Greenspun's writings it's apparent that he likes to inject a bit of satire into them. Both self-deprecating and deprecating others. I figure that he hit it on the nose with that bit.