Mr. Money Mustache

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good is money if you can't enjoy it?

He uses his money so he can spend his time in ways he finds more meaningful and enjoyable than being an an office/cubicle for 40+ hours a week.I agree-- I prefer finding a job that isn't a grind and then spending money on other things-- but i think what he says is interesting.

Like what?

I admit I haven't read his blog, but, unless you are a "crazy scientist' who sits in his house all day trying to solve Fermat's theorem and finding it enjoyable and meaninful.. what does a 30-year-old dude with a family do all day that doesn't involve earning, or spending, money? I guess he could meditate all day, that's a time-consuming but free activity, but otherwise, I'm baffled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good is money if you can't enjoy it?

He uses his money so he can spend his time in ways he finds more meaningful and enjoyable than being an an office/cubicle for 40+ hours a week.I agree-- I prefer finding a job that isn't a grind and then spending money on other things-- but i think what he says is interesting.

Like what?

I admit I haven't read his blog, but, unless you are a "crazy scientist' who sits in his house all day trying to solve Fermat's theorem and finding it enjoyable and meaninful.. what does a 30-year-old dude with a family do all day that doesn't involve earning, or spending, money? I guess he could meditate all day, that's a time-consuming but free activity, but otherwise, I'm baffled.

Seriously?? I don't read his blog that much, but my sense is that they do hikes or bike rides, they cook, read, exercise, work on the house, he does woodworking (which does earn him some money, but he's not doing it as a job).

[Anonymous]

My sense is that someone in the Mustache family has ongoing access to a steady stream of family money.

'No, really. I saved all this money.'

[Anonymous]

I love his blog. I don't think I can ever be as frugal and as environmentally friendly as him and his family (who the hell can ride a bike to work when it's super humid outside?). However, I do try to minimize wasteful spending. I would love to quit my job, so I try to save >50% of my salary. I think he is a really good role model for the younger generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/06/01/raising-a-family-on-under-2000-per-year/

And don't forget, he has a paid-off house. Even in this area, I think I could survive on $27k, if my mortgage was gone!

It'd be damn hard. $1500 a month for everything? Food, insurance, heat, electricity, gas, clothes, etc..

How do you calculate the $1500/month figure? 27k/12 months would be $2250, no? That seems do-able, especially with no mortgage/rental payment.

Take out taxes and something for health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting. I wouldn't want to live that way, but I do think keeping spending and expenses in check is important as is reevaluating what you're spending your money on. A big issue for me personally right now is how much house to buy and frankly I just don't see being frugal with that purchase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/06/01/raising-a-family-on-under-2000-per-year/

And don't forget, he has a paid-off house. Even in this area, I think I could survive on $27k, if my mortgage was gone!

It'd be damn hard. $1500 a month for everything? Food, insurance, heat, electricity, gas, clothes, etc..

How do you calculate the $1500/month figure? 27k/12 months would be $2250, no? That seems do-able, especially with no mortgage/rental payment.

Take out taxes and something for health insurance.

You should read his blog. You've got it dead wrong.

[Anonymous]

I make over 100k a year and easily live on about 30k a year while paying for a friend to go to school at a local community college(including his monthly rent.)

On top of that I also took 20 friends on a cross country(I'm from Texas) to ski in Colorado last year.

If you wisely spend your money you can have the exact same amount of enjoyment out of a lesser amount.

Conscious spending is the key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good is money if you can't enjoy it?

He uses his money so he can spend his time in ways he finds more meaningful and enjoyable than being an an office/cubicle for 40+ hours a week.I agree-- I prefer finding a job that isn't a grind and then spending money on other things-- but i think what he says is interesting.

Like what?

I admit I haven't read his blog, but, unless you are a "crazy scientist' who sits in his house all day trying to solve Fermat's theorem and finding it enjoyable and meaninful.. what does a 30-year-old dude with a family do all day that doesn't involve earning, or spending, money? I guess he could meditate all day, that's a time-consuming but free activity, but otherwise, I'm baffled.

I'm not trying to be rude, but this is quite possibly one of the most depressing things I've ever read.

With those free ~40 hours a week(not counting the extra hours from commuting and unwinding) you could easily do most anything you wanted.
A short list is as follows:

Exercise
Read
Spend time with your wife
Spend time with your child(which all evidence says is far better than a pre-school of any price)
Learn to cook food better than any restaurant(and cheaper and healthier)
Learn a language
Do everything on your to-do list
Sleep in
Learn to do anything you've ever wanted
Hike
Watch bad TV
Watch good TV

All of the above are easily done for cheap or free and should keep you quite busy for a very long time and I guarantee doing a few of them will make your life far better than sitting at work.

And this is by no means an exhaustive list of free/very cheap activities.

[Anonymous]

BTW -- his expenses are around 24K annually, NOT his income.

His income is much greater, due to investments etc. plus his wife has had part time jobs, but they keep their spending down to $24k.

I am blown away by his blog and would love to try and save more money.

We max out our 401ks, have paid for cars (bought with cash) but there is little at the end of each month. We have a few monthly "habits" that really add up -- specifically cable and cell phone.

Once our cell phone contract expires we are def. going pay-as-you go, but I know my DH will NEVER get rid of cable and that g*damn $160 monthly bill kills me.

(It's that high b/c of all the crazy sports channels.)

I agree with him totally on the whole convenience thing. Sometimes I end up spending money (take-out, or Amazon) because it is just so convenient.

Trying to be better about this.

[Anonymous]

"I make over 100k a year and easily live on about 30k a year while paying for a friend to go to school at a local community college(including his monthly rent.)"

Do you not pay taxes? I made over 100K and paid 28K in federal tax, 10K in D.C. tax, and 50K to cover PTTI for a 2000 sq. ft. single family home.

[Anonymous]

His life seems so miserable.

[Anonymous]

I think he seems pretty happy. But then again, he is in Colorado.

[Anonymous]

I think there is a lot to learn from the money moustache blog. I certainly have learned a lot. The best advice I think he offers it to tell you to move if your income isn't cutting it in a high COL city (ex: NY, SF, etc.) That being said, he is just as extreme as the folks who are in massive debt and buy, buy, buy. A better course would be to save a significant amount of money while still occasionally going out to eat, wearing makeup and driving a car. Maybe own one car instead of two, spend less on housing than you need to, rent out a room or basement apartment, educate your kids in public school, etc. However, some of the advice - especially the women to not wear make up and to cut your own hair, is just beyond me. Sorry - I want pretty hair and tasteful makeup. I want to splurge on dinner once in a while and I certainly like my prada shoes. BUT - we save well over 50% of our take home pay so I don't think the fact I enjoy these things is a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I make over 100k a year and easily live on about 30k a year while paying for a friend to go to school at a local community college(including his monthly rent.)"

Do you not pay taxes? I made over 100K and paid 28K in federal tax, 10K in D.C. tax, and 50K to cover PTTI for a 2000 sq. ft. single family home.

Not to mention houses in Texas are way cheaper than the equivalent around here.