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“People simply empty out”

lettersofnote.com

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Re: “People simply empty out”

#21

Post by Afforess »

Casseres wrote: post #14

Today, too many people have jobs to support their lifestyles, not their lives. People end up working to continue making monthly payments on houses larger than they need, cars fancier than they need, and they won't be able to fully enjoy those things because they're always working 9-5. Today, we are a lot further along than we were 50 years ago. People aren't working in factories to put bread on the table, people are…

People buy things they can't afford, with money that they don't have, to impress people that they don't like

I realized I could live off of $25000/yr and maintain a modestly comfortable lifestyle at the same time. I am on track to retire before I am 40. Anyone can do it.

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02/22/getting-rich-from-...

Re: “People simply empty out”

#23

Post by DanielBMarkham »

I support and understand what he's saying, but I think too many times we set up this false choice between "pursuing our dreams" and "working for the man"

There's honor -- and authenticity -- in making choices for your life that involve working in the system.

I used to look down on those who worked jobs they hated and would say things like "That's just not for me. I don't know how you can do it." until one day somebody took me aside and pointed out what an insulting and condescending attitude I had. I was being a jerk, a well-paid, able-to-pick-what-I-want-to-do jerk. Other people did not have the same lives or face the same choices as I did. I should respect their uniqueness and decisions -- even if they loudly and publicly complained about them.

I have learned that for myself it is too easy to go off on a wild tangent about how one lifestyle is so much better than another, talking about slavery and such, just like in this letter. Basically I was being a judgmental prick, substituting my values for other people's and then declaring that my choices and values were best for everybody.

I finally realized that the quality of life is something each of us owns through our own personal choices.

So I don't do that anymore.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#24

Post by mikegagnon »

Casseres wrote: post #14

Today, too many people have jobs to support their lifestyles, not their lives. People end up working to continue making monthly payments on houses larger than they need, cars fancier than they need, and they won't be able to fully enjoy those things because they're always working 9-5. Today, we are a lot further along than we were 50 years ago. People aren't working in factories to put bread on the table, people are…

> People aren't working in factories to put bread on the table, people are working in offices to pay for their next new car or big screen TV.

People are still working in factories to put bread on their tables. There is a huge amount of poverty in the world.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty

Re: “People simply empty out”

#25

Post by price »

_delirium wrote: post #16
blackhole wrote: post #5

I feel like too many people get sucked into the idea of furthering their career, to the point that they forget to further their own life. What is the point of existence if we never get around to experiencing it? "It's not the things we do in life that we regret on our death bed, it is the things we do not." - Randy Pausch

Hence the somewhat curious (and I think, very American) idea of the "Golden Years". If you put your head down and work hard, taking no vacations, until you're age 65, then you flip 180 degrees in the other direction and retire into a life of full-time leisure. So if you live long enough, it really won't be a waste; you cash it in all at the end! A Scandinavian psychologist somewhat recently proposed a typically Scand…

My grandmother basically did that, in rural Texas. She was a nurse, shifted to inspecting nursing homes for the state, and then to consulting for nursing homes, and worked at reduced hours up to six months before she died in her 80s. She had plenty of time for family, friends, and her church, and still got the satisfaction of putting her professional expertise to good use and getting paid. Seemed to work out pretty well for her.

Consulting was a critical step. This approach would be hard to pull off in most regular jobs.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#26

Post by jusben1369 »

baddox wrote: post #18
JoeCortopassi wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are taking the value of a tangible asset from 1969 and comparing it to todays value of said tangible asset. This in no way illustrates the inflation rate. All it shows (assuming your numbers are right) is the increase in the perceived value of gold in that time frame. The original comment's $650 number is close enough to be considered accurate

What's the distinction between "perceived value" and just normal value?

Little but that's sort of a distraction to the main point of the discussion. Using gold is no more helpful than say using the price of a barrel of crude oil then and now.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#27

Post by dnautics »

steve-howard wrote: post #10
pdx6 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. It is $3323. 1oz gold coin price in USD: 1969 40 2013 1362

Why is the price of gold more relevant than the Consumer Price Index?

both are terrible measures, as a long-term measure gold isn't so bad, but for point-to-point comparisons (as is done in the parent post), gold goes through some crazy speculative bubbles. The CPI is dastardly manipulated figures. (hedonic adjustments, substitutions)

Re: “People simply empty out”

#28

Post by greenyoda »

_delirium wrote: post #16
blackhole wrote: post #5

I feel like too many people get sucked into the idea of furthering their career, to the point that they forget to further their own life. What is the point of existence if we never get around to experiencing it? "It's not the things we do in life that we regret on our death bed, it is the things we do not." - Randy Pausch

Hence the somewhat curious (and I think, very American) idea of the "Golden Years". If you put your head down and work hard, taking no vacations, until you're age 65, then you flip 180 degrees in the other direction and retire into a life of full-time leisure. So if you live long enough, it really won't be a waste; you cash it in all at the end! A Scandinavian psychologist somewhat recently proposed a typically Scand…

Working until 80 might sound reasonable to a software developer, but if you have a job like a construction worker or a firefighter, you may not be physically capable of doing your job at 80, even part time. So you'd have to switch careers to work into your 80s, which not everyone would be successful at pulling off.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#29

Post by Casseres »

mikegagnon wrote: post #24
Casseres wrote: post #14

Today, too many people have jobs to support their lifestyles, not their lives. People end up working to continue making monthly payments on houses larger than they need, cars fancier than they need, and they won't be able to fully enjoy those things because they're always working 9-5. Today, we are a lot further along than we were 50 years ago. People aren't working in factories to put bread on the table, people are…

> People aren't working in factories to put bread on the table, people are working in offices to pay for their next new car or big screen TV. People are still working in factories to put bread on their tables. There is a huge amount of poverty in the world. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty

You're right, but I'm referring to the United States. I'm sorry I didn't make that clear.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#30

Post by Casseres »

Afforess wrote: post #21
Casseres wrote: post #14

Today, too many people have jobs to support their lifestyles, not their lives. People end up working to continue making monthly payments on houses larger than they need, cars fancier than they need, and they won't be able to fully enjoy those things because they're always working 9-5. Today, we are a lot further along than we were 50 years ago. People aren't working in factories to put bread on the table, people are…

People buy things they can't afford, with money that they don't have, to impress people that they don't like I realized I could live off of $25000/yr and maintain a modestly comfortable lifestyle at the same time. I am on track to retire before I am 40. Anyone can do it. http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02/22/getting-rich-from-...

That's the quote I was looking for to include in my post, but couldn't find :-)

Awesome! Congrats on being on track to retire early. Just be prepared for it. From what I understand, a lot of people who retire get bored. If I didn't have to worry about money today, I would be volunteering a lot. If money was no object, I would be traveling a lot.

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