I'll try this out when I have more time later, but I think it's worth noting that, of course, saving is only part of the equation. There is so much you can (and should) do to reduce expenses outside of the mundane day-to-day, as well! For great advice on pursuing financial independence or betterment, much of which has changed my life and habits, see: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ "Financial Freedom Through Badassity"
I read that blog yesterday as it was mentioned on a different thread. It seems most of his advice is don't buy anything you literally don't need to survive. What's the point of living if you can't enjoy your life? You'll be a rich corpse, who cares?
I think the point is that your middle-class life is an "exploding volcano of wastefulness" and you can make a lot of decisions that reduce your expenses without sacrificing much, if any, quality of life. For example, living closer to work and riding a bike or walking instead of driving a car everywhere—makes you fitter, happier, and saves you cash.
Sure, he takes it to an extreme not all could stomach, but there is practical advice in there for almost anyone in my opinion.
Yeah, Mr. Mustache himself may carry it to extremes that most people wouldn't want. But it seems he himself and his family are actually happier than they were when they were spending more. Plus they're retired (or semi-retired) and they have no money worries.
I think the optimal spending for most people -- i.e., the amount of spending that would maximize happiness -- is far lower than the amount that most people actually spend (in large part b/c people work at jobs they don't love to earn money to buy stuff they don't need). Much of it is wasted on mindless luxury that people come to believe is necessary and that doesn't really increase happiness because of hedonic adaptation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_adaptation Here's Mr. Money Mustache's piece on hedonic adaptation: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/22/what-is-hedonic-ad...
And MMM considers himself to be fairly "non extreme" compared to other big names in the space(Early Retirement Extreme being the most prominent contrast...that guy was harrrrrdcore)
I haven't read the blog, but I wonder how it compares to the philosphy of the book "Your Money or Your Life". In that book, it talks about a fulfillment curve in which the least pleasure is to be found in having too little (poverty, deprivation) and in having/spending too much. Optimization is to be found in having (spending) "enough" but not too much.[1] The book walks you through tracking your spending and then at the end of the month, deciding whether each category's spending was above or below what you think it should be in terms of the enjoyment you got out of it. It then walks you through how to cut back on what you're overspending on with the ultimate goal of getting into better a financial position, up to and including early retirement.
I read that blog yesterday as it was mentioned on a different thread. It seems most of his advice is don't buy anything you literally don't need to survive. What's the point of living if you can't enjoy your life? You'll be a rich corpse, who cares?
What am I missing?
I think you're missing that the most gratifing things in live are not shoppable. Learning stuff, producing stuff. Seeing your kids grow. It's the difference between strawberries from the supermarket and strawberries you raised and harvested yourself. The feeling of sleeping the first night in a bed you made with your own hands.
Or, another example I just observed looking out the window: Here in Germany people often seem to think they need special clothing for the most mundane activities. They want to go cycling, first thing they do is go to a store and buy cycling clothes. It's ridiculous. As if you are able to ride longer or faster in pink polyester shorts with stripes. I think that's what that blog is about. Shopping is a distraction from real life.
The main sentiment behind MMM has always seemed to be "get a really high paying job and work your ass off for a few years". It doesn't really work if you are stuck in an average wage, with few prospects and no jobs to apply for.
he was(and so was his wife). AND they were canadian so free/cheap school graduating right around 2000 before moving south of the border, they defs got lucky(and definitely worked hard)
I'll try this out when I have more time later, but I think it's worth noting that, of course, saving is only part of the equation. There is so much you can (and should) do to reduce expenses outside of the mundane day-to-day, as well! For great advice on pursuing financial independence or betterment, much of which has changed my life and habits, see: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ "Financial Freedom Through Badassity"