9 ms·

Ok, but you still need people to buy things. If they're only saving, there's no demand for products. Capitalism requires people to consume.

claydavisss 8y ago
You as an individual are not responsible for saving capitalism You are responsible for your own welfare though, particularly in the US What are these people supposed to do - stay broke to make some soundbite economist happy? It is perfectly rational for people living in a society without safety nets to weave their own
- prolikewh0a 8y ago
  That doesn't answer my question. People have always weaved their own safety nets and saved, but if this is becoming common in USA to spend almost nothing and live frugal, how can this system stay afloat? Another point that's pretty unrelated, why would you live decades of your life doing nothing, living extremely frugally? Sounds like a pretty garbage life to me.
  - claydavisss 8y ago
    As long as my boat is afloat, I care not about yours. If the US fails, I will sail my boat elsewhere. We created the scenario these people are reacting to Worry not, we will not run out of people willing to impoverish themselves buying baubles
    - prolikewh0a 8y ago
      >As long as my boat is afloat, I care not about yours. Everything that's wrong about the USA right here.
      - citrablue 8y ago
        It could also be the perspective that you can really only try to control your own lot in life. Is it not possible that by focusing on my own welfare, I am more productive and happier? And that by trying to float other boats, I am distracted and less happy? I don't subscribe to the OPs opinion, necessarily, just pointing out a situation where it might be better to just take care of yourself.
      - claydavisss 8y ago
        Yet you are the one telling us we all have to spend ourselves into the poorhouse or society will tip over....
  - isoskeles 8y ago
    Living extremely frugally doesn’t equate to doing “nothing.” If we’re going to start passing judgment, pinning happiness to consumerism seems like a pretty garbage life to me.
    - prolikewh0a 8y ago
      It's not just consumerism. What doesn't cost money? Walking around?
prostoalex 8y ago
But the purpose of such saving is to prolong the consumption in the future.
nawitus 8y ago
Spending money on basic necessities like housing, food, electricity, water, health care etc. is still consumption. Also note that retirement can still contain some money for extra widgets and other fun stuff - just less than the average consumer.
eswat 8y ago
Other than the biggest costs—housing, food, transportation and perhaps healthcare—I doubt people that FIREd have withdrawn 100% from inconspicuous consumption. They just focus that consumption on more necessities than frivolities.
jogjayr 8y ago
It's been addressed on MMM: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/04/09/what-if-everyone-became-frugal/ http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/04/09/what-if-everyone-b... The key quote: "If an entire society gradually decides that it wants to consume less, then it needs to produce less as well. If there is less stuff that needs to be produced, then people don’t have to work as many hours to create it. That’s perfect, because many people will be dropping out of the workforce much earlier as they finish earning the money they need to get going on their early retirement. The shortage of available work will be balanced by the reduced number of people willing to do that work."

claydavisss 8y ago

You as an individual are not responsible for saving capitalism You are responsible for your own welfare though, particularly in the US What are these people supposed to do - stay broke to make some soundbite economist happy? It is perfectly rational for people living in a society without safety nets to weave their own

prolikewh0a 8y ago
That doesn't answer my question. People have always weaved their own safety nets and saved, but if this is becoming common in USA to spend almost nothing and live frugal, how can this system stay afloat? Another point that's pretty unrelated, why would you live decades of your life doing nothing, living extremely frugally? Sounds like a pretty garbage life to me.
- claydavisss 8y ago
  As long as my boat is afloat, I care not about yours. If the US fails, I will sail my boat elsewhere. We created the scenario these people are reacting to Worry not, we will not run out of people willing to impoverish themselves buying baubles
  - prolikewh0a 8y ago
    >As long as my boat is afloat, I care not about yours. Everything that's wrong about the USA right here.
    - citrablue 8y ago
      It could also be the perspective that you can really only try to control your own lot in life. Is it not possible that by focusing on my own welfare, I am more productive and happier? And that by trying to float other boats, I am distracted and less happy? I don't subscribe to the OPs opinion, necessarily, just pointing out a situation where it might be better to just take care of yourself.
    - claydavisss 8y ago
      Yet you are the one telling us we all have to spend ourselves into the poorhouse or society will tip over....
- isoskeles 8y ago
  Living extremely frugally doesn’t equate to doing “nothing.” If we’re going to start passing judgment, pinning happiness to consumerism seems like a pretty garbage life to me.
  - prolikewh0a 8y ago
    It's not just consumerism. What doesn't cost money? Walking around?

prostoalex 8y ago

But the purpose of such saving is to prolong the consumption in the future.

nawitus 8y ago

Spending money on basic necessities like housing, food, electricity, water, health care etc. is still consumption. Also note that retirement can still contain some money for extra widgets and other fun stuff - just less than the average consumer.

eswat 8y ago

Other than the biggest costs—housing, food, transportation and perhaps healthcare—I doubt people that FIREd have withdrawn 100% from inconspicuous consumption. They just focus that consumption on more necessities than frivolities.

jogjayr 8y ago

It's been addressed on MMM: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/04/09/what-if-everyone-became-frugal/ http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/04/09/what-if-everyone-b... The key quote: "If an entire society gradually decides that it wants to consume less, then it needs to produce less as well. If there is less stuff that needs to be produced, then people don’t have to work as many hours to create it. That’s perfect, because many people will be dropping out of the workforce much earlier as they finish earning the money they need to get going on their early retirement. The shortage of available work will be balanced by the reduced number of people willing to do that work."