I'm free

[Kriegsspiel]

krieg, then why are you in investor class (Vanguard long treasury fund, I think) and not Admiral class?
Or, do I have you confused with someone else?

Probably someone else, I buy individual Treasuries. Like a baller.

[dualstow]

Ah, ok. I think it was Dieter. You know...German names...

[WiseOne]

Yes, I've been keeping busy. I'm finishing up a bathroom renovation and getting ready to build a fence. But to be honest, I miss paid work. I miss the affirmation by peers from being good at something that matters, and I miss a constant money stream. Even though I have enough money to live on, I don't really have enough to finance any expensive but fun or rewarding projects, like replacing my fossil burner with an electric car and a ton of solar panels.

Ironically, being financially independent makes me want a job more than ever; I feel like now I'm finally able to let go of my money neuroses and penny-pinching ways. I've just recently started applying for jobs as well as exploring another entrepreneurship opportunity, and I expect that once I have an income again, I'm going to feel far more comfortable spending the money on things that make me happy instead of just hoarding as much of it as possible.

Ah, but since you do have enough money to live on, you have the luxury of taking your time to pick your next job, and you can even consider taking on something without a steady income. Imagine what might have happened if you were living paycheck to paycheck, and were forced to take the first position that came along to avoid losing your house and going deep into credit card debt.

I like the idea of banking enough to live on comfortably, though not necessarily luxuriously, and then enjoying anything over that you earn without becoming dependent on the higher income. The key is "what makes you happy", which does not translate to spending in a straightforward manner. It sounds to me like you've been pretty extreme with your penny pinching, in everything from choice of residence to clothes. It served you well for a while, but it can be quite an energy sink and at some point, not worth the rewards.

[Kriegsspiel]

I'm not PS but I'll add my own words.

Ah, but since you do have enough money to live on, you have the luxury of taking your time to pick your next job, and you can even consider taking on something without a steady income.

Yea, it fucking rocks.

Imagine what might have happened if you were living paycheck to paycheck, and were forced to take the first position that came along to avoid losing your house and going deep into credit card debt.

Well, like everyone else who wasn't born rich, I started off paycheck to paycheck. I didn't buy a house, and didn't go deep into credit card debt. I just didn't spend all (or more than) my salary. This is likely because I did imagine what that situation would have been like, and it sounds like it sucks.

I like the idea of banking enough to live on comfortably, though not necessarily luxuriously, and then enjoying anything over that you earn without becoming dependent on the higher income. The key is "what makes you happy", which does not translate to spending in a straightforward manner.

Agreed.

It sounds to me like you've been pretty extreme with your penny pinching, in everything from choice of residence to clothes. It served you well for a while, but it can be quite an energy sink and at some point, not worth the rewards.

This is true in my case; it's what allowed me the luxury of taking my time (and fucking off) before I picked my next job. Living frugally isn't an energy sink though, I just want more so I can do weird stuff like

• Fund public art projects
• Donate to causes I appreciate
• Start a scholarship
• Energy self-sufficient transportation like an electric scooter/car/motorcycle and solar panels like PS mentioned
• Go live in Europe again (and other places) without having to work
• Hire tutors for different skills to learn them quicker

and shit like that. But yea... totally worth the rewards, doesn't even feel like a sacrifice.

[Tyler]

PS I'm in the same situation WRT being able to live, but not do everything I want to do. So I went and got another job that I think is going to be rewarding and interesting. It's a lot more fun when you don't require the money.

Amen!

Once I was free of needing to work to pay the bills, my mindset totally changed. For a while I worked part time in my old field on my own terms, which was really nice. But eventually that also effectively weaned me from my old comfort zone, and now I feel a lot more adventurous than before. I sorta suspect that my next gig will be something completely different, more for the experience than the money.

Being FI isn't about not working. It's about working on anything you like without obligation. That freedom is truly empowering.

[Kriegsspiel]

Absolutely nothing special. I was in the Army for a while, then when I got out I worked for a big corporation in Texas, then did oil & gas stuff. Lived well below my means and invested most of my paychecks. I also steadily spent less money over the years.

When I first started making money, anything I didn't spend just piled up in my checking account; had no clue what stocks or interest rates were for a long time. Then one day in Afghanistan I asked my buddy what he was doing on the computer and he said something like "blah blah blah Roth IRA blah blah you should make one blah." He said it avoids taxes, and I had figured out that I didn't like paying them, and so I opened a Roth. Maybe a month later he asked me what was going on with it.

"Yea I'm good, I opened one a while ago."
"What stocks did you buy."
"What now?"
"In the Roth."
"Yes, I have one."
"What positions are you invested in?"
"I'm not w... I put the money in it."
"Buy CAT and VTI."
"..."
"I'll do it for you."

He also tried to get me into the TSP and the combat zone account, but I really did not understand what the fuck money was, so I didn't get in on those sweet deals. When we got back I got Magic Formula Investing by Joel Greenblatt and put everything I had, minus the cost of a BMW, into stocks. I wish I would have kept VTI. I think back then it even met the Magic Formula stock screen So anyways, during a field exercise, I was reflecting on how nice it was to just live out of a rucksack instead of owning a bunch of stuff; and when I was googling "minimalism" I found ERE, and subsequently, MMM.

So anyways, after I got out I worked a couple more jobs for a few years, arranging my life to pretty much copy MMM exactly. Lastly, I I flipped a house. That pretty much covers it.

[dualstow]

"What stocks did you buy."
"What now?"
"In the Roth."
"Yes, I have one."
"What positions are you invested in?"
"I'm not w... I put the money in it."

That's a good friend you had there!

[Dieter]

Ah, ok. I think it was Dieter. You know...German names...

Yup, that's this German name with the investor shares of treasuries

[dualstow]

Heh. I've got a German name in real life. One would think I'd be better at distinguishing between them.

[frugal]

Absolutely nothing special. I was in the Army for a while, then when I got out I worked for a big corporation in Texas, then did oil & gas stuff. Lived well below my means and invested most of my paychecks. I also steadily spent less money over the years.

When I first started making money, anything I didn't spend just piled up in my checking account; had no clue what stocks or interest rates were for a long time. Then one day in Afghanistan I asked my buddy what he was doing on the computer and he said something like "blah blah blah Roth IRA blah blah you should make one blah." He said it avoids taxes, and I had figured out that I didn't like paying them, and so I opened a Roth. Maybe a month later he asked me what was going on with it.

"Yea I'm good, I opened one a while ago."
"What stocks did you buy."
"What now?"
"In the Roth."
"Yes, I have one."
"What positions are you invested in?"
"I'm not w... I put the money in it."
"Buy CAT and VTI."
"..."
"I'll do it for you."

He also tried to get me into the TSP and the combat zone account, but I really did not understand what the fuck money was, so I didn't get in on those sweet deals. When we got back I got Magic Formula Investing by Joel Greenblatt and put everything I had, minus the cost of a BMW, into stocks. I wish I would have kept VTI. I think back then it even met the Magic Formula stock screen So anyways, during a field exercise, I was reflecting on how nice it was to just live out of a rucksack instead of owning a bunch of stuff; and when I was googling "minimalism" I found ERE, and subsequently, MMM.

So anyways, after I got out I worked a couple more jobs for a few years, arranging my life to pretty much copy MMM exactly. Lastly, I I flipped a house. That pretty much covers it.

Hi.

How old were you when you ER?

Why you copy money moustache?

What is your typical agenda for a week day?

Thank you my friend.

[Kriegsspiel]

That's a great story, thanks for sharing. How far have you gone with minimalism? Living out of a backpack and sleeping under the stars?

Thanks. I guess I'm a lot more stuff-averse than the normal person. Everything I "need" fits in my backpack: clothes and a laptop (look at Tynan's gear post). For a while last year I was living in a van and travelling around, so I also had a camp stove and water jug and a cot and things like that. I recently got a job again in a city, so I'm going to sell the van. I have a pretty nice bike (Surly LHT) with panniers.

I have a pretty spartan kitchen setup:

Slow cooker
Cast iron skillet/spatula
Cast iron Le Creuset dutch oven
Measuring cup
Sharp knife
Plate
Cup (with fishes on it)
Fork/knife/spoon
Big Pyrex mixing bowl
A couple Pyrex storage thingies.

The sleeping setup is a J-life Freeport bed. I've had it for a while, it's really easy to assemble/disassemble, and it fits into the van. I also have a nightstand and lamp from IKEA that I've had for about 10 years.

I don't really have that many clothes. A pair of jeans, gym shorts, several t-shirts, a couple hoodies, a coat. I mentioned I got another job, so I gathered up some of my old office clothes from where I had them stored at my parents. I have a drying rack that I hang dry them on, and a ironing board. And a clothes hamper (which is also useful when moving to throw random stuff in).

I have a big TV that I got... hell, 10 years ago, that has been sitting in my parent's basement for a while. I'll probably rescue it in case I want to watch a DVD from the library. I have a gym bag with chalk, lifting shoes, knee sleeves. Regular hygiene stuff.

That's it.

[Kriegsspiel]

Hi.

How old were you when you ER?

Why you copy money moustache?

What is your typical agenda for a week day?

Thank you my friend.

29.

Because it led to a better life.

Well... now I go to work again, but before; none.

[frugal]

Hi.

How old were you when you ER?

Why you copy money moustache?

What is your typical agenda for a week day?

Thank you my friend.

29.

Because it led to a better life.

Well... now I go to work again, but before; none.

Hello

Why work again?

How.many years you didnt work?

What were your activities during retirement?

Hug.

[Pointedstick]

Hi Frugal,

What is your favorite color?

Do you have a car? What kind?

Are you currently taking any medications?

Hug

[I Shrugged]

Frugal is from overseas. English is not his first language.

[dualstow]

It is Portugal, but and while his questions are always kind of cute
I think PS was just parodying his scattergun approach to questions, one of which usually has already been previously answered by the askee.

[frugal]

Hi

No problem.

Just searching better life

[Pointedstick]

Hi

No problem.

Just searching better life

Here's how to get it:

- Spend more time with your friends and family.
- Pursue your dreams.
- Earn more money and save most of it.
- Keep busy.

[Jack Jones]

Hi

No problem.

Just searching better life

Here's how to get it:

- Spend more time with your friends and family.
- Pursue your dreams.
- Earn more money and save most of it.
- Keep busy.

Some lyrics that seem apropos:

Comes a time
when the blind man
takes your hand
says: don't you see?
got to make it somehow
on the dreams you still believe

Don't give it up
you've got an empty cup
only love can fill
only love can fill

[dualstow]

Some lyrics that seem apropos:

That reminds me of when we were trying to come up with a good name for..pp'ers, and "browne heads" just didn't sit right.