5 ms·

I have as few bills as possible. Just rent, phone, gas, and health insurance. No Netflix or other entertainment subscriptions, no amazon prime, no mortgage etc.

by fogzen 8y ago

I have as few bills as possible. Just rent, phone, gas, and health insurance. No Netflix or other entertainment subscriptions, no amazon prime, no mortgage etc. I don’t have the latest phone or clothing, I don’t buy things I don’t absolutely need. Most of my money goes to rent and food and my health insurance. No I don’t support a family. But keep in mind my parents raised me waiting on tables.

TaylorSwift 8y ago
I agree. Less is more. The less you have, the more happier you are -- you spend time more on what counts.
dclowd9901 8y ago
Keep in mind your parents _could_ support you on waiting tables. That is no longer as viable. I'm sorry, but your whole experience reeks of the annoying kind of self-righteousness that only people with no real obligations have.
- lamarpye 8y ago
  I don't see it that way, he found a path that works for him. The path might not be right for everyone, but there might be pieces that everyone could use.
- chillwaves 8y ago
  > with no real obligations have. Because he doesn't have kids? It is an obligation to take care of oneself, to be self sufficient. What you say is slandering this guy's work. he's not living at home with his parents paying his rent, he's not living on welfare. He's making his way in the world on his own. "No real obligations"?
- vecinu 8y ago
  That's not right, he has the obligation to care for himself, as every person on this planet does. Correct me if I'm wrong but you choose to have children, a partner and other "obligations", so how is he the self-righteous one?
- wcarron 8y ago
  As I often see here, you're missing the spirit of the post. (S)He's not saying that having less or being poor is intrinsically a happier existence. They are referring to a freedom from consumerism and the "need" to have things or chase the newest fad. I struggle too, with resisting consumerist urges; which have been ingrained in me since birth. But really, they are right. Does purchasing Tom Ford apparel make you happy? It's fine if it does, but what happens if you don't? Nothing at all, actually. We don't need all the things we're so constantly sold, and recognizing that lifts a weight (or anxiety, if you wanna call it that) from the shoulders. There's freedom in not needing things. Go outside. It's free and fun.
- musage 8y ago
  I don't have kids because I don't want to be blackmailed. Because the world is fucked up enough that I want to either see serious effort at change first, or not put kids in it. Incidentally, that's why I'm sick of those who don't have time, energy or attention span for anything that matters, can't take any risks, because they "must take care of their kids". Bind them to your back while you do revolutionary work. If you simply didn't realize half of what is going on before you made children, that's sad. I made different choices and have different outcomes. Choosing between what you consider right, and between comfort or harmony isn't rocket science, and if you don't start doing it at young age, and not once let up, you're not going anywhere I'd follow. Until I can find a decent revolutionary woman, I'm fine with my choices. Gimme a Hannah Arendt or a Sophie Scholl, or give me death, accompanied by the whining of mediocre fools as I dance circles around them. And yes, I'm self-righteous about it, because I'm sick of the excuses of people not going anywhere who aren't even happy while they do it. I'll start feeling lonely when I no longer constantly have to reject people romantically or platonically because they simply have nothing going on. Util then it's the company of a few special people I know, and a lot of great people I read, plus the company of myself, sweet solitude, that I don't want to trade with connecting deeply with most people. I like most of them until we start talking about serious things, so I prefer to keep a light touch and loose relation, until something in them flares up that is proof positive that there is real value there. end fucking rant.
hiram112 8y ago
I would say the lack of family for many (men, especially) in their late 20's and beyond is another issue that the media will be slow to acknowledge. Let's face it - 33% of males aren't going to have families of their own, and probably 66% or so (very rough figures) will end up spending the majority of their lives without their families (due to ez-divorce and custody laws favoring mothers).
- creep 8y ago
  Families are more important than we think today. Everyone now is an Ultra Important Individual. And that's great, but you need a home base from which to operate as an individual, and you need secure relationships. Don't have kids if you don't want kids, but find a partner and a dog, and take your partnerships seriously. Go into your serious relationships with the for-life mindset. The next step in our little social activism pendulum is looking at custody laws for sure. Men are very much at risk here on the topic of loneliness especially.
- 0x4f3759df 8y ago
  Life in your 20s can be more about your friends and going out, but life after 40 is really about family (if you're fortunate enough to have one of your own)... If your numbers are right it is a total catastrophe.

by fogzen 8y ago

TaylorSwift 8y ago

I agree. Less is more. The less you have, the more happier you are -- you spend time more on what counts.

dclowd9901 8y ago

Keep in mind your parents _could_ support you on waiting tables. That is no longer as viable. I'm sorry, but your whole experience reeks of the annoying kind of self-righteousness that only people with no real obligations have.

lamarpye 8y ago
I don't see it that way, he found a path that works for him. The path might not be right for everyone, but there might be pieces that everyone could use.
chillwaves 8y ago
> with no real obligations have. Because he doesn't have kids? It is an obligation to take care of oneself, to be self sufficient. What you say is slandering this guy's work. he's not living at home with his parents paying his rent, he's not living on welfare. He's making his way in the world on his own. "No real obligations"?
vecinu 8y ago
That's not right, he has the obligation to care for himself, as every person on this planet does. Correct me if I'm wrong but you choose to have children, a partner and other "obligations", so how is he the self-righteous one?
wcarron 8y ago
As I often see here, you're missing the spirit of the post. (S)He's not saying that having less or being poor is intrinsically a happier existence. They are referring to a freedom from consumerism and the "need" to have things or chase the newest fad. I struggle too, with resisting consumerist urges; which have been ingrained in me since birth. But really, they are right. Does purchasing Tom Ford apparel make you happy? It's fine if it does, but what happens if you don't? Nothing at all, actually. We don't need all the things we're so constantly sold, and recognizing that lifts a weight (or anxiety, if you wanna call it that) from the shoulders. There's freedom in not needing things. Go outside. It's free and fun.
musage 8y ago
I don't have kids because I don't want to be blackmailed. Because the world is fucked up enough that I want to either see serious effort at change first, or not put kids in it. Incidentally, that's why I'm sick of those who don't have time, energy or attention span for anything that matters, can't take any risks, because they "must take care of their kids". Bind them to your back while you do revolutionary work. If you simply didn't realize half of what is going on before you made children, that's sad. I made different choices and have different outcomes. Choosing between what you consider right, and between comfort or harmony isn't rocket science, and if you don't start doing it at young age, and not once let up, you're not going anywhere I'd follow. Until I can find a decent revolutionary woman, I'm fine with my choices. Gimme a Hannah Arendt or a Sophie Scholl, or give me death, accompanied by the whining of mediocre fools as I dance circles around them. And yes, I'm self-righteous about it, because I'm sick of the excuses of people not going anywhere who aren't even happy while they do it. I'll start feeling lonely when I no longer constantly have to reject people romantically or platonically because they simply have nothing going on. Util then it's the company of a few special people I know, and a lot of great people I read, plus the company of myself, sweet solitude, that I don't want to trade with connecting deeply with most people. I like most of them until we start talking about serious things, so I prefer to keep a light touch and loose relation, until something in them flares up that is proof positive that there is real value there. end fucking rant.

hiram112 8y ago

I would say the lack of family for many (men, especially) in their late 20's and beyond is another issue that the media will be slow to acknowledge. Let's face it - 33% of males aren't going to have families of their own, and probably 66% or so (very rough figures) will end up spending the majority of their lives without their families (due to ez-divorce and custody laws favoring mothers).

creep 8y ago
Families are more important than we think today. Everyone now is an Ultra Important Individual. And that's great, but you need a home base from which to operate as an individual, and you need secure relationships. Don't have kids if you don't want kids, but find a partner and a dog, and take your partnerships seriously. Go into your serious relationships with the for-life mindset. The next step in our little social activism pendulum is looking at custody laws for sure. Men are very much at risk here on the topic of loneliness especially.
0x4f3759df 8y ago
Life in your 20s can be more about your friends and going out, but life after 40 is really about family (if you're fortunate enough to have one of your own)... If your numbers are right it is a total catastrophe.