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I think it is quite possible, but you have to be committed to it and you have to have a bit of contempt for other people's opinions about things that don't matt

I think it is quite possible, but you have to be committed to it and you have to have a bit of contempt for other people's opinions about things that don't matter. Probably the easiest way to do it is to try and live on as little money as possible, spending money on only things that can be logically justified. Of course you have to be honest with yourself, since self delusion in strong in humans. I buy very simple clothes, no jewelry, the cheapest food, try not to own more than I need to and try to be rational about housing and a car. It has the great benefit of not needing much money to live and the freedom that it brings. The rat race is a very real thing. It doesn't really work if you have a family, or a certain kind of social life, but otherwise it's actually quite fun.

nickd2001 3y ago
That all sounds like a good way to live :) And a very good idea for nature and the planet to have any chance of surviving humankind's consumption. You can make this work with a family, I feel. At least, we've managed this a bit so far. Although, its quite funny. Charity shops sell lots of excellent nearly new kids clothes. Our kids are fine with those, especially as they see it goes to a good cause and is a form of recycling. Last year my wife found a nice top for our daughter which turned out to be a posh brand. On a non-uniform day a schoolmate said "wow you've got that, you're so lucky" to which our daughter cheerfully replied it was like £1 in a charity shop. Which flummoxed her friend. It's like, that's somehow "not the thing to do" to buy this barely used item at a charity shop. I guess that's all about status? Somehow its low status to buy something at a charity shop even though its pragmatic? But then, increasingly in some countries, second-hand clothes are actually now becoming the fashionable thing to do. I offer this as an illustration of how utterly fickle it is as well. What's high status one month is low another, and vice versa. People are moving the goalposts all the time. Rationally, makes sense to avoid this game altogether.

nickd2001 3y ago

That all sounds like a good way to live :) And a very good idea for nature and the planet to have any chance of surviving humankind's consumption. You can make this work with a family, I feel. At least, we've managed this a bit so far. Although, its quite funny. Charity shops sell lots of excellent nearly new kids clothes. Our kids are fine with those, especially as they see it goes to a good cause and is a form of recycling. Last year my wife found a nice top for our daughter which turned out to be a posh brand. On a non-uniform day a schoolmate said "wow you've got that, you're so lucky" to which our daughter cheerfully replied it was like £1 in a charity shop. Which flummoxed her friend. It's like, that's somehow "not the thing to do" to buy this barely used item at a charity shop. I guess that's all about status? Somehow its low status to buy something at a charity shop even though its pragmatic? But then, increasingly in some countries, second-hand clothes are actually now becoming the fashionable thing to do. I offer this as an illustration of how utterly fickle it is as well. What's high status one month is low another, and vice versa. People are moving the goalposts all the time. Rationally, makes sense to avoid this game altogether.