Totally agree, I think my divorce showed me how the life you have and take for granted can be taken from you in the blink of an eye.
This is amazing & one of those harsh RP truths.
It really can go from 100 – 0 overnight…
If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to always have a backup plan. No matter how great your life is currently going, just have something in place incase it all goes to s~~~.
When I was blue pill I used to think that people who were homeless were just lazy and scroungers. I now believe that most people are only one or two bad life experiences away from losing it all and being homeless.
I was lucky, I had my family to fall back on but lets assume as well as being homeless as my ex-wife wanted to get on the carousel I had no family and lost my job. In that situation I could see myself falling into a spiral of debt and depression before ending up on the streets.
You never know when fate is going to deal you a s~~~ty hand but having something in place, even if it is just six months salary in the bank gives you time to take the 8 count and get up swinging again.
That is infinitely more useful than a load of expensive s~~~ in a cupboard you have long since got bored of.
This is an older post, but I wanted to respond. I can’t agree more. Like everything in life, balance is the key. A string of bad luck beyond ones control can lay you low.
Like yourself, in my younger years, I always felt that those that where homeless, or downtrodden had somehow done it to themselves. I came from a very stable, supportive family and just assumed others for the most part had the same advantages as me. My parents were far from rich, and lived a minimalist lifestyle. We were also very lucky to not suffer bad luck/tragedy up until recently.
I’m close to 40, and I wish I could sometimes beat my 20 something self. In the blink of an eye, when the ex decided to jump back on the carousel 4 years ago, if it were not for my parents, I’d have been homeless. I rebounded quickly, and had a brand new home within 2 years that I have since paid off. I was lucky.
Have a safety net, I think is important. Stuff is exactly that. Stuff. You spend more time maintaining it, storing it, and disposing of it. The only exception I would make is having a basic selection of tools. These allow you to make a living for yourself if need be. Also ammunition and fire arms.
I have about 1.5 years of my monthly living expenses cash on had. If I was to suddenly loose my employment, I could downsize my spending and stretch that to 2 years. I have 2 extra bedrooms that I could rent out if needed. This would bring in an extra $1000/mo after increased expenses. This would push things out about 4 years without dipping into my retirement savings. This is also assuming I had no work and did not qualify for any form of government relief.
Now, I could take this money and buy a luxury vehicle, or a down payment on another toy. But, the peace of mind this buys me is priceless.
Minimalism also allows me to protect my most precious asset which is my health and my time off. I don’t do OT anymore, my hobbies and time off is too precious. By not working I can maintain my body, rest and hopefully extend my life.
- Marriage is described as an institution. You would have to be crazy to be commited to it. -"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not people or things" Albert Einstein
Won'tGetFooledAgain 1 year, 6 months ago.
