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2008: My year of living smaller

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Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#21

Post by hs »

mdasen wrote: post #2

Does living smaller mean having to give up things (such as replacing socks with holes)? The majority of Americans can take simpler steps. For example, buy larger containers. So, I'm a young post-college student trying to save as much money as I can and most of my friends make wages that are barely double the federal poverty line and we're in the Boston area. So, we buy as large a container as we can to save money. Wh…

i choose to wear sandals -> bye bye socks & holes problem

the 'need' to cover every part of one's body is perplexing ... also the 'need' to use different products for different body parts (shampoo for hair, hand soap, genital soap, etc)

i take old skool approach, just use washing soda (a pinch for 0.5 L water) for my personal-cleaning needs. only when i deal with oily stuff then i use commercial soap/shampoo

nowaday i don't go to shoes, socks, and cleaning aisles anymore ... freeing time for more important stuffs

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#23

Post by fizx »

endtwist wrote: post #5

Though this article isn't all that well written, it brings up what seems to be a (very good) trend lately: people exploring the idea of living with less. I'm only a college student right now, and already have limited expenses, but I've been exploring the idea of reducing the amount of things I own; a more minimalist lifestyle. I've realized something that Jelliffe points out towards the end of his article: "Simplicit…

If you buy the $20 knives, as long as you can invest the money you don't spend at 6.34% or more, you actually come out ahead.

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#24

Post by hernan7 »

endtwist wrote: post #9
Prrometheus wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the idea is simplistic. I have had the same $10 Wal-Mart cooking knife for a few years now. I'm sure it won't last more than a few more years. However, I bought it in poverty, and it will last me through poverty until I am making good money. Then I will buy a nice knife. There is nothing wrong with that. Grad school is hard. It requires a lot of my time. A sewing kit is not cheap, and sewing is time-expensive…

I'm not trying to moralize against anyone, nor am I trying to sound like I am in any way more "right" than someone who cannot afford to simplify as much. I only stated that the quality of these items these stores sell is generally terrible. You are entirely correct in your statement that places like Wal-Mart bridge a gap or present a temporary standby until someone can afford to "upgrade" and simplify. As it stands,…

Before going to Ikea, I would try hitting a couple garage sales. Check out the Pennysaver magazine too.

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#25

Post by asnyder »

hs wrote: post #21
mdasen wrote: post #2

Does living smaller mean having to give up things (such as replacing socks with holes)? The majority of Americans can take simpler steps. For example, buy larger containers. So, I'm a young post-college student trying to save as much money as I can and most of my friends make wages that are barely double the federal poverty line and we're in the Boston area. So, we buy as large a container as we can to save money. Wh…

i choose to wear sandals -> bye bye socks & holes problem the 'need' to cover every part of one's body is perplexing ... also the 'need' to use different products for different body parts (shampoo for hair, hand soap, genital soap, etc) i take old skool approach, just use washing soda (a pinch for 0.5 L water) for my personal-cleaning needs. only when i deal with oily stuff then i use commercial soap/shampoo nowaday…

You must live somewhere perpetually warm. I can't imagine wearing sandals this month in New York, unless I didn't value my toes.

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#26

Post by elai »

hs wrote: post #21
mdasen wrote: post #2

Does living smaller mean having to give up things (such as replacing socks with holes)? The majority of Americans can take simpler steps. For example, buy larger containers. So, I'm a young post-college student trying to save as much money as I can and most of my friends make wages that are barely double the federal poverty line and we're in the Boston area. So, we buy as large a container as we can to save money. Wh…

i choose to wear sandals -> bye bye socks & holes problem the 'need' to cover every part of one's body is perplexing ... also the 'need' to use different products for different body parts (shampoo for hair, hand soap, genital soap, etc) i take old skool approach, just use washing soda (a pinch for 0.5 L water) for my personal-cleaning needs. only when i deal with oily stuff then i use commercial soap/shampoo nowaday…

You must live in a nice, warm, dry land where you don't need the warmth and protection of socks. And you must be blessed with resliant skin and hair that doesn't dry out or become rough when you wash it with baking soda.

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#27

Post by parlin »

Funny, I was starting to think along these lines as well during last year. Maybe it's something in the air. I sure hope so. caugh consumption fatigue caugh

My new mantra: From now on I will have FEWER, SMALLER, and BETTER things.

This usually applies to gadgets, such as my laptop but also subscriptions etc: I aim to have as few recurring payments as possible. This includes avoiding to own a car (Hello Zipcar) and mortgage (not that I can afford it at this point, but still). I can recommend everyone to do a cleanup in that area every now and then.

I live in NYC and managed to get a little office within walking distance so I can be "subway independent". Sure I save a few dollars on walking to work, but the biggest gain is to miss out on the frequent delays and floodings! Yay!

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#28

Post by davidw »

fizx wrote: post #23
endtwist wrote: post #5

Though this article isn't all that well written, it brings up what seems to be a (very good) trend lately: people exploring the idea of living with less. I'm only a college student right now, and already have limited expenses, but I've been exploring the idea of reducing the amount of things I own; a more minimalist lifestyle. I've realized something that Jelliffe points out towards the end of his article: "Simplicit…

If you buy the $20 knives, as long as you can invest the money you don't spend at 6.34% or more, you actually come out ahead.

Did you include transaction costs in your calculations?

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#29

Post by ahoyhere »

fizx wrote: post #23
endtwist wrote: post #5

Though this article isn't all that well written, it brings up what seems to be a (very good) trend lately: people exploring the idea of living with less. I'm only a college student right now, and already have limited expenses, but I've been exploring the idea of reducing the amount of things I own; a more minimalist lifestyle. I've realized something that Jelliffe points out towards the end of his article: "Simplicit…

If you buy the $20 knives, as long as you can invest the money you don't spend at 6.34% or more, you actually come out ahead.

Not in the sense of emotional well-being.

Re: 2008: My year of living smaller

#30

Post by ahoyhere »

hernan7 wrote: post #24
endtwist wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not trying to moralize against anyone, nor am I trying to sound like I am in any way more "right" than someone who cannot afford to simplify as much. I only stated that the quality of these items these stores sell is generally terrible. You are entirely correct in your statement that places like Wal-Mart bridge a gap or present a temporary standby until someone can afford to "upgrade" and simplify. As it stands,…

Before going to Ikea, I would try hitting a couple garage sales. Check out the Pennysaver magazine too.

I second this. You can sometimes get really great, durable, nice stuff for the same price or less than IKEA.
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