The quiet rebellion of a little life

Post by pdimitar » Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 9:10 PM UTC

the_gastropod wrote: post #80

pdimitar wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much did you make per year? How many jobs did you have? How many jobs did you hop?

In my most recent job, I earned $160k. During my ~15 year software development career, I worked for a total of 4 companies, none overlapping, none that required more than 40 hours per week. I saved ~60% of my take-home pay every year, and invested it in a 60/40 mix of VTSAX / VTIAX. I'm married, and my wife made $8,000 last year. I had to save enough to cover our collective expenses, otherwise this timeline would've…

Post by getreal99 » Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 9:14 PM UTC

bdangubic wrote: post #61

fireynis wrote: post #5

I always think these kinds of mentalities are based on people who have never been in dire straits or financially insecure. Living a simple life is almost impossible, pursuing wealth is probably the only way to be secure in a simple life. Even if you FIRE, you need to pretty aggressively pursue wealth at the beginning to make it work.

with all due respect this cannot be further from the truth. americans are taught from young age that to make it in life they must increase their earnings. america needs modern day slaves working in cubicles 9-10 hours per day (even if you are at FAANG making high six figures you still a slave…). but economics which america would not dream teach their young is that you can also cut expenses :) this is the quiet life p…

Post by getreal99 » Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 9:15 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #8

fireynis wrote: post #5

I always think these kinds of mentalities are based on people who have never been in dire straits or financially insecure. Living a simple life is almost impossible, pursuing wealth is probably the only way to be secure in a simple life. Even if you FIRE, you need to pretty aggressively pursue wealth at the beginning to make it work.

It’s pretty easy to live a simple life if you don’t expect cutting edge healthcare, the best education for one’s kids’, and living in colder/flatter places. If you expect a better than average quality of life, then you will have to compete for it. Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to be bequeathed a sufficiently large portfolio.

Post by getreal99 » Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 9:17 PM UTC

maiar wrote: post #64

Swizec wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So, there is no compact that will create the feeling of safety and fulfillment that this article wishes for. Just money. Money is the best freedom buyer. Don't trust anyone who says "Money doesn't buy happiness". That's rich-people propaganda to keep the rest of us dependent. As Lucy Liu said in a fantastic interview: Do everything in your power to accumulate fuck you money as early as possible. Because then you ca…

The issue is game-theoretic. There’s value in having money, absolutely, but most people end up having to chase it and never get any. If one person chases money, emancipation results for him. If everyone chases money, as most of us are forced to do, we end up miserable, and nobody wins except the people we should be removing from power as fast as possible. Money clearly matters a lot, though. Why? Because we live in a…

Post by the_gastropod » Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 9:20 PM UTC

pdimitar wrote: post #82

the_gastropod wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my most recent job, I earned $160k. During my ~15 year software development career, I worked for a total of 4 companies, none overlapping, none that required more than 40 hours per week. I saved ~60% of my take-home pay every year, and invested it in a 60/40 mix of VTSAX / VTIAX. I'm married, and my wife made $8,000 last year. I had to save enough to cover our collective expenses, otherwise this timeline would've…

I never made even $100k a year. Locality matters a lot. Privileged people being blind to their privilege. Nothing new. My original point still stands then. Keep finding stuff hilarious I guess, though.