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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

#61

Post by ndcrandall »

I'm seeing a trend in the comments here and would just like to add my experience. It is quite similar to the author in that I worked fulltime for a year plus 3 months contracting for the same company.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had good health, no family obligations, and low student loan debt (payed off in within a few months of graduating). With that in mind, I can honestly say that there was a ton of pressure to spend money to "better my life". I would get strange looks and comments from friends and family because I drove a '93 Del Sol, and lived in the same apartment after graduating. The only big purchase I made recently was upgrading to a used car that is only 10 years old.

In the end I saved a lot of money. Enough to move back to California, in the Bay Area. I have been living off of savings for 7 months and honestly have about 7 more (conservative numbers). I live comfortably here and I get to work on my own projects on my own time until I make money or run out, in which case I will go find more contract work.

My point is that I decided early what I wanted to do and planned accordingly. I know that I'm in a very unique category with little responsibility. I have much respect for those who can't quite do what I do because of other obligations. This makes me happy and I wouldn't have it any other way. No need to feel sorry for me and think I'm not living life to the fullest, because in my mind I am.

Re: How I live and how I work

#62

Post by jasallen »

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…

This idea of "growing up" and following that prescription is also embodied in the misuse of the word 'maturity'. The word is used as a weapon to keep people from doing anything but 'what you're supposed to do'... anything else is 'childish'.

This most upsets me when I hear people apply it to themselves. They are being fun, thoughtful, creative and then say something like 'I wish I was being more mature...' NO! Don't! 'Mature' in that context means 'like everyone else who's been scared into compliance'

Re: How I live and how I work

#63

Post by nwh »

coob wrote: post #42
nwh wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe that there is something special about not needing to spend large amounts of money on fleeting entertainment. It's something that none of my peers have managed; they all still spend their income on drinking, cigarettes, tattoos, holidays and so forth. I don't particularly look down on them for it as they're obviously happy in their world doing it. I just think there's more enjoyment to be had outside of a 9-…

I don't particularly look down on them for it as they're obviously happy in their world doing it. You quite clearly do: I believe that there is something special about not needing to spend large amounts of money on fleeting entertainment.

I was attempting to say that it isn't something I would like to do myself, or something that I even understand, however I can respect that it is their decision to do so. I'm not gay and I can't imagine myself being gay, but I can stand on the sideline and say that it is perfectly acceptable that other people are.

Re: How I live and how I work

#64

Post by digitalsushi »

insuffi wrote: post #53
Stranger2013 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if that car is a real chick-magnet though?

Do you really want a chick that is attracted to your car instead of being attracted to you?

Maybe if you're dropping 100k on a car to get girls, you don't care what they really think of you as long as they act a certain way. And maybe that's just fine. Just a consideration.

Re: How I live and how I work

#65

Post by jasallen »

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?…

So, lets cut the BS here. He's never compared himself to those people. It is obvious, he's talking to the vast majority of other people in "safe,rich areas", who also don't have sick parents, disabilities, etc.

And who also have no reason to start families until they are settled in. That's a choice, had you not heard? And if you choose to do it early in life then, again, it's a choice, so, hope it was the right one for you. If not, plenty of time to not become a cog.

He's not the only one, he's not a hero, and he's not claiming to be. But there are a lot of people out there telling us the joys and genius of the 2.4 kids and the job at Google with fancy cars and vacations. We need more people talking about the joys of charting your own path. Less people need to feel like they are 'wrong' for not following the comfortable route, and more voices are needed.

Re: How I live and how I work

#66

Post by Kurtz79 »

tonylemesmer wrote: post #12
paganel wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're a little too harsh on the OP, and I'm a saying this as a (now) single guy in his early 30s who is kind of financially supporting his ageing parents. I still think his closing remark stands: > You just need to spend less money on shit that you don’t need.

that line being the definition of frugality

Is it ? I would say it's just common sense.

Frugrality would be spending basically no money on things you don't need.

Re: How I live and how I work

#67

Post by hyphyphyph »

jasallen wrote: post #65
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?…

So, lets cut the BS here. He's never compared himself to those people. It is obvious, he's talking to the vast majority of other people in "safe,rich areas", who also don't have sick parents, disabilities, etc. And who also have no reason to start families until they are settled in. That's a choice, had you not heard? And if you choose to do it early in life then, again, it's a choice, so, hope it was the right one f…

Seriously. Wtf with all these threatened responses, projections of the realizations of their sad silly lives.

Oh yeah, oops, I totally just did that.

Re: How I live and how I work

#68

Post by hyphyphyph »

pmelendez wrote: post #39
wellboy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

OMG intercourse and parental approval all in one???

Re: How I live and how I work

#69

Post by dagw »

insuffi wrote: post #53
Stranger2013 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if that car is a real chick-magnet though?

Do you really want a chick that is attracted to your car instead of being attracted to you?

You've got to start somewhere. My mom admits that the first thing she noticed about my dad was his cool car, and they've been happily married for over 35 years.

Re: How I live and how I work

#70

Post by hyphyphyph »

wellboy wrote: post #49
pmelendez wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "but rather go for short term gratification than for creating their own freedom." How come starting a family is a "short" term gratification?

That's not what he's comparing himself to, he's not comparing himself to people with sick parents, disabilities or a family to take care of. He's comparing himself to young and educated indulging the life of well-earning bachelors buying shit they don't need. If one has started a family and doesn't have one's own successful business yet, it's very likely to be forever stuck in the "job-limbo", because one does have r…

Good luck homy.
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