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How I live and how I work

alexwarren.co.uk

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Re: How I live and how I work

#31

Post by bowietrousers »

I know a few people who, if not live exactly like this, certainly think like it.

Walling yourself off from all dependencies (physical, financial, emotional) in order to grow your brain and Just Write Code might seem like a smart thing to do, and the purism of it will appeal to some. If the OP genuinely obtains no enjoyment at all from anything else, then that's fine - that's what it sounds like.

But it's the pay-off that stings, the 'shit you don't need' attitude, which is ultimately judging everyone else as inferior for not making the same choice, or having the (immensely privileged?) ability to 'make your work your life'. I love and value my family & my friends, and spending money to spend time with them enriches my life.

Not everyone wants to be an island.

Re: How I live and how I work

#32

Post by roderick3427 »

tzaman wrote: post #7

excellent point... if you want to live like a flower. Some of us prefer going to places, trying new things, meeting new people, having a family and hobbies. And all those things cost money. When I'm old I'd rather say I'm broke because I lived my life to the fullest than I lived conservatively so I can afford to be a stressless elder with savings (hopefully I wont be downvoted because I beg to differ)

I think it's a matter of comfort. Some people can live life flying by the seat of their pants. In my opinion, those types of people are comfortable with moving fast, breaking and fixing things, and trying new adventures. They can look back at their lives and tell their grand kids how they'd lived to the fullest. But, on the other side of the spectrum. We have people who feel comfortable living very conservative lives way beneath their means. I think it provides them a sense of security and empowerment. They may come from backgrounds where they never had much growing up that could've contributed to that behavior, maybe. I'm sure my denfintion of a wholeheartedly lived life would be different from yours and a lot of other people. I don't necessary think your definition or anyone else is wrong. I just know at the end of the day we come from different backgrounds. Our desires from life have been shaped by different lives lived in different times or places. If it's comfortable for you to do and you're still happy about life afterwards with no regrets, I see no problem calling it "living life to fullest".

Re: How I live and how I work

#33

Post by bowietrousers »

wellboy wrote: post #6

Well you're a creator and being in the hamster wheel of having a job just doesn't logically make sense to you. You seek freedom to create thing with nothing except from your own neurons. That's why you'll be a millionaire very soon, but you won't buy things from it, you'll just keep hacking. A true entrepreneur. :)

What, hoarding profits is the right thing to do?

If everyone acted like that there wouldn't be an economy.

Re: How I live and how I work

#34

Post by oinkgrr »

jlangenauer wrote: post #21
dirktheman wrote: post #20

I found that most people I know spend their money according to their paycheck. If you don't save money as soon as your paycheck comes in, it'll be gone by the end of the month. No matter hwo much you make. However, when you've come to the point of finding someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with, living the frugal student life isn't going to cut it. You'll want to move to a bigger place, have kid…

I go one better than this: I have my monthly salary paid directly into my savings account, then I "pay" myself weekly into a current account the amount of money I actually live off. Your savings can accrue surprisingly fast like this.

I'm liking that idea. Anything that's not spent builds up nicely in the savings account. It's normal to save a set amount each month and whatever is left you just leave sitting in your current account. But that turns it on it's head, leaving any surplus in the savings account. And paying yourself a budget every week helps you manage the money.

Re: How I live and how I work

#35

Post by wellboy »

bowietrousers wrote: post #33
wellboy wrote: post #6

Well you're a creator and being in the hamster wheel of having a job just doesn't logically make sense to you. You seek freedom to create thing with nothing except from your own neurons. That's why you'll be a millionaire very soon, but you won't buy things from it, you'll just keep hacking. A true entrepreneur. :)

What, hoarding profits is the right thing to do? If everyone acted like that there wouldn't be an economy.

Once you made your first million, you become an Angel investor of course, hacking the startup ecosysstem. :)

But you don't spend on cars or shit like that's just baggage. For every new item you own, you have to think of it, you have to worry about insurance, maintenance, cleaning cringe

Re: How I live and how I work

#36

Post by gozmike »

Bingo. I lived a similar situation (minus the post-education debt - yay Canada!)

My lifestyle today isn't much different than what it was when I was a student other than the addition of a mortgage I can easily afford.

I'm happy. I travel. I live. I just don't show off, nor do I get things for the sake of having them. By surrounding yourself with family and good friends, you can find happiness in so many other things than the material.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, when I spend to live I won't spend on things, but I will on experience. I'll happily forgo the latest iGadget and a car that matches my socio-economic status and opt for an experience that will enrich my life in some way.

Re: How I live and how I work

#37

Post by nileshtrivedi »

Someone gave me this financial advice once: "Keep your lifestyle 3 to 5 years behind your growing income."

I followed it and have had a similar experience. Since my first job, I went and got an MBA, paid off the student loan, bought a house and at 31, I still have enough savings to last me 3-4 years at my family's current lifestyle.

Frugality is powerful.

Re: How I live and how I work

#38

Post by mfieldhouse »

icebraining wrote: post #18
robryan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, many of the things you mention are self inflicted. Fair enough some people have it tough through no fault of their own, some though make choices that set them up for the lifestyle they complain about.

Many? Besides kids and employees, which ones?

Often disease, disability and accidents are caused through poor lifestyle choices. Sometimes lots of little things add up and it's hard to see the true cause. I've not driven for 4 years so I'd say that's put me at a significantly less risk of car related accidents than someone that does.

Re: How I live and how I work

#39

Post by pmelendez »

wellboy wrote: post #8
pinaceae wrote: post #5

...and another one simply living single, with no outside responsibilities and lucky to be healthy, claiming this lifestyle as somehow superior (others complain!) but not realizing that there is nothing special about it. nobody dependent on you? no kids, no employees, no sick parents? you not dependent on anyone? no accidents, no clients not paying, no disease or disablement? living in a safe, rich, area of the world?…

He's not looking down on anyone or comparing himself with people who are disabled, he's looking at people who have the same responsibilites as him, but rather go for short term gratification than for creating their own freedom. Growing up doesn't mean getting a job and saving money, but getting out there all by yourself and doing awesome shit. I wrote about that more in detail http://appreneur-diaries.com/its-time-to…

> "but rather go for short term gratification than for creating their own freedom."

How come starting a family is a "short" term gratification?

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