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Recognize that its ok to live like a student. Don't just recognize it's ok, recognize it's pretty damn awesome. Including my car (which has been paid off for a

by tdavis 17y ago

Recognize that its ok to live like a student. Don't just recognize it's ok, recognize it's pretty damn awesome. Including my car (which has been paid off for at least a year), I don't have $20,000 worth of possessions, period. And that figure is based on what I originally paid for my stuff. Most people have cars more expensive than all my worldly possessions combined. That feels really good. And what's more, I don't want anything else. This lifestyle is incredibly liberating, unless of course you have a family, in which case this article doesn't remotely apply to you anyway. Bottom line: the less you have to lose, the more you can risk. "It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."

fairramone 17y ago
Why would the article not apply to someone with a family? Seems like important wisdom, family or not.
azanar 17y ago
And what's more, I don't want anything else. This lifestyle is incredibly liberating, unless of course you have a family, in which case this article doesn't remotely apply to you anyway. It might more than you give it credit for. I realize, though, that it is socially a faux pas to not provide that caveat. I know I've been called out once or twice for not condemning risk taking in the context of a family. That being said, having a family doesn't require that you start hoarding possessions. It does mean increased expenses, and increased responsibility, and probably not being able to live analogously to a student. But a couple I and my wife are close friends with do not own much more in the way of possessions, and are with two kids with a third on the way. It meant that when one of them became unemployed, it wasn't a huge deal even with the kids, due to the financial position that frugality created for them. I think even people with families could take something from this article, even if it isn't with the same gung-ho intensity someone who is bachelor might.

by tdavis 17y ago

fairramone 17y ago

Why would the article not apply to someone with a family? Seems like important wisdom, family or not.

azanar 17y ago

And what's more, I don't want anything else. This lifestyle is incredibly liberating, unless of course you have a family, in which case this article doesn't remotely apply to you anyway. It might more than you give it credit for. I realize, though, that it is socially a faux pas to not provide that caveat. I know I've been called out once or twice for not condemning risk taking in the context of a family. That being said, having a family doesn't require that you start hoarding possessions. It does mean increased expenses, and increased responsibility, and probably not being able to live analogously to a student. But a couple I and my wife are close friends with do not own much more in the way of possessions, and are with two kids with a third on the way. It meant that when one of them became unemployed, it wasn't a huge deal even with the kids, due to the financial position that frugality created for them. I think even people with families could take something from this article, even if it isn't with the same gung-ho intensity someone who is bachelor might.