Read Mr. Money Mustache for the first time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've actually read his blog and I. I have to go back and look for a new post every few months or so so here's a few things

- he is retired in this sense that he claims to have enough in savings and Investments and rental property profits you do not have to work for a living. I think he does construction projects, and runs a co-working space as a hobby, not as money making activities

- I don't think he's making millions off of his blog it's probably more like thousands. I don't think blogs are really that profitable. He's also not someone who updates regularly like some professional bloggers who have a regular schedule and editorial calendar he just seems to post things maybe once a month or every other month.

- the Hawaiian construction vacation was pitched to him by a reader to come out and build the in-law suite so they could use that as income generation and then as a MMM and his family could stay there for free for a little while. I guess local law says if that if you build an in-laws see it you can't rent it out right away so he was helping to occupy it until it could be rented out legally.

- I don't remember what his clothes buying budget is but I do know that the he shares his spending reports every year. I don't know if spending on clothing was a line item but I don't really care enough to look it up

- I completely agree that he's a sanctimonious and self-aggrandising ass. he just has this word of myopic view of the world and doesn't seem to understand that other people can't always make the same life choices that he can or will find the same joy that he does in life philosophy.

I think the point that MMM and Bogleheads and Frugalwoods and similar blogs/sites are trying to make is that many people CAN make similar choices to save more/spend less but keep putting forth excuses why they can't. Like the previous poster who couldn't fathom drinking coffee from Costco, if a person is always thinking of reasons why they can't do something, they won't do it. The power of positive thinking is a real thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've actually read his blog and I. I have to go back and look for a new post every few months or so so here's a few things

- he is retired in this sense that he claims to have enough in savings and Investments and rental property profits you do not have to work for a living. I think he does construction projects, and runs a co-working space as a hobby, not as money making activities

- I don't think he's making millions off of his blog it's probably more like thousands. I don't think blogs are really that profitable. He's also not someone who updates regularly like some professional bloggers who have a regular schedule and editorial calendar he just seems to post things maybe once a month or every other month.

- the Hawaiian construction vacation was pitched to him by a reader to come out and build the in-law suite so they could use that as income generation and then as a MMM and his family could stay there for free for a little while. I guess local law says if that if you build an in-laws see it you can't rent it out right away so he was helping to occupy it until it could be rented out legally.

- I don't remember what his clothes buying budget is but I do know that the he shares his spending reports every year. I don't know if spending on clothing was a line item but I don't really care enough to look it up

- I completely agree that he's a sanctimonious and self-aggrandising ass. he just has this word of myopic view of the world and doesn't seem to understand that other people can't always make the same life choices that he can or will find the same joy that he does in life philosophy.

I think the point that MMM and Bogleheads and Frugalwoods and similar blogs/sites are trying to make is that many people CAN make similar choices to save more/spend less but keep putting forth excuses why they can't. Like the previous poster who couldn't fathom drinking coffee from Costco, if a person is always thinking of reasons why they can't do something, they won't do it. The power of positive thinking is a real thing!

I am definitely on the frugal life path, but there are lots of things I cannot and will not do and I don't think it's the product of negative thinking I think it's just a product of realistic outlooks and that I value my safety more than my money.


I know That Money Mustache is a huge advocate of biking everywhere but for me biking is not a safe choice, especially when commuting with a small child.


I think frugalwoods has giving up on being frugal to tell you the truth. she got her little cabin in the woods and she's happy and now she's just spending money on whatever she wants. she kind of got wrapped up in the hegemony of middle-class parenting expectations and now she's paying for preschool tuition and teacher presents and the like.


. I have to say it's pretty amazing to me that she used to lecture people about home made presents but of course when her child is being invited to birthday party she will buy brand new presents from Amazon (I think recognizing that being The Kid Who Gifted You a Mason Jar of Homemade Pickles is social suicide.). I did write it and suggest that she look at used books because you can find some really pristine used books at my local used bookstore and that usually becomes presents for my daughters friends

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I notice a lot of people on the MMM forum are in their 20s or early 30s and don't have kids. Or have kids who are 2 years old. They can't believe that kids will ever cost them fore than $400 a year. And they aren't going to pay for college. (Builds character... my kids will earn heir way... etc.) I'm sure at least some of them will start spending more on their kids at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've actually read his blog and I. I have to go back and look for a new post every few months or so so here's a few things

- he is retired in this sense that he claims to have enough in savings and Investments and rental property profits you do not have to work for a living. I think he does construction projects, and runs a co-working space as a hobby, not as money making activities

- I don't think he's making millions off of his blog it's probably more like thousands. I don't think blogs are really that profitable. He's also not someone who updates regularly like some professional bloggers who have a regular schedule and editorial calendar he just seems to post things maybe once a month or every other month.

- the Hawaiian construction vacation was pitched to him by a reader to come out and build the in-law suite so they could use that as income generation and then as a MMM and his family could stay there for free for a little while. I guess local law says if that if you build an in-laws see it you can't rent it out right away so he was helping to occupy it until it could be rented out legally.

- I don't remember what his clothes buying budget is but I do know that the he shares his spending reports every year. I don't know if spending on clothing was a line item but I don't really care enough to look it up

- I completely agree that he's a sanctimonious and self-aggrandising ass. he just has this word of myopic view of the world and doesn't seem to understand that other people can't always make the same life choices that he can or will find the same joy that he does in life philosophy.

I think the point that MMM and Bogleheads and Frugalwoods and similar blogs/sites are trying to make is that many people CAN make similar choices to save more/spend less but keep putting forth excuses why they can't. Like the previous poster who couldn't fathom drinking coffee from Costco, if a person is always thinking of reasons why they can't do something, they won't do it. The power of positive thinking is a real thing!

I am definitely on the frugal life path, but there are lots of things I cannot and will not do and I don't think it's the product of negative thinking I think it's just a product of realistic outlooks and that I value my safety more than my money.


I know That Money Mustache is a huge advocate of biking everywhere but for me biking is not a safe choice, especially when commuting with a small child.


I think frugalwoods has giving up on being frugal to tell you the truth. she got her little cabin in the woods and she's happy and now she's just spending money on whatever she wants. she kind of got wrapped up in the hegemony of middle-class parenting expectations and now she's paying for preschool tuition and teacher presents and the like.


. I have to say it's pretty amazing to me that she used to lecture people about home made presents but of course when her child is being invited to birthday party she will buy brand new presents from Amazon (I think recognizing that being The Kid Who Gifted You a Mason Jar of Homemade Pickles is social suicide.). I did write it and suggest that she look at used books because you can find some really pristine used books at my local used bookstore and that usually becomes presents for my daughters friends

MMM is a man and definitely has a male point of view. He may feel differently about biking if he had to deal with the sexual harassment women face riding a bike in a city. It can be dangerous and not worth saving a few dollars to bike to work.

It’s also easy to not spend money on grooming when you’re a dude living in Colorado. Start working as a woman in a high paying job in corporate America and tell me that you don’t need to spend money to look good. Some women are naturally pretty but the rest of us truly do need some highlights, lifht Botox, waxing, makeup and well made clothing.

[Anonymous]

Coffee from Costco is quite good. I get the beans whole. I take a small part of the bag and put it a secure tin container. The rest I vacuum seal and put in the deep freeze. I have a fancy grinder and pour over machine. Tastes as good as coffee out. Way better than Keurig dreck.

You do NOT need Botox for your job. Don't kid yourself. Biking in downtown DC can indeed be dangerous though. Depends a lot on your route.

MMM is great and helped me and DW accumulate $1 million before 35.

I still work and we have a small house in a W school district. DW stays home. I think sometimes our neighbors (who are either more advanced in their careers or dual income or both) wonder how we swing it.

We choose the house over retiring super early. We got our mortgage at 3.5 fixed and I think it will be a good long term buy but it does raise costs. And of course kids are time and money pits.

We don't save as much now. Like 25%. But the rest just silently compounds in the background.

[Anonymous]

Of course "small sensible house in good suburban school district, DH works close to home, DW watches kiddos (thus lower tax bills, no daycare) family watches budget and saves a lot behind the scenes" = totally normal millionaire next door stuff.

MMM just repackaged common sense from prior generations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've actually read his blog and I. I have to go back and look for a new post every few months or so so here's a few things

- he is retired in this sense that he claims to have enough in savings and Investments and rental property profits you do not have to work for a living. I think he does construction projects, and runs a co-working space as a hobby, not as money making activities

- I don't think he's making millions off of his blog it's probably more like thousands. I don't think blogs are really that profitable. He's also not someone who updates regularly like some professional bloggers who have a regular schedule and editorial calendar he just seems to post things maybe once a month or every other month.

- the Hawaiian construction vacation was pitched to him by a reader to come out and build the in-law suite so they could use that as income generation and then as a MMM and his family could stay there for free for a little while. I guess local law says if that if you build an in-laws see it you can't rent it out right away so he was helping to occupy it until it could be rented out legally.

- I don't remember what his clothes buying budget is but I do know that the he shares his spending reports every year. I don't know if spending on clothing was a line item but I don't really care enough to look it up

- I completely agree that he's a sanctimonious and self-aggrandising ass. he just has this word of myopic view of the world and doesn't seem to understand that other people can't always make the same life choices that he can or will find the same joy that he does in life philosophy.

I think the point that MMM and Bogleheads and Frugalwoods and similar blogs/sites are trying to make is that many people CAN make similar choices to save more/spend less but keep putting forth excuses why they can't. Like the previous poster who couldn't fathom drinking coffee from Costco, if a person is always thinking of reasons why they can't do something, they won't do it. The power of positive thinking is a real thing!

I am definitely on the frugal life path, but there are lots of things I cannot and will not do and I don't think it's the product of negative thinking I think it's just a product of realistic outlooks and that I value my safety more than my money.


I know That Money Mustache is a huge advocate of biking everywhere but for me biking is not a safe choice, especially when commuting with a small child.


I think frugalwoods has giving up on being frugal to tell you the truth. she got her little cabin in the woods and she's happy and now she's just spending money on whatever she wants. she kind of got wrapped up in the hegemony of middle-class parenting expectations and now she's paying for preschool tuition and teacher presents and the like.


. I have to say it's pretty amazing to me that she used to lecture people about home made presents but of course when her child is being invited to birthday party she will buy brand new presents from Amazon (I think recognizing that being The Kid Who Gifted You a Mason Jar of Homemade Pickles is social suicide.). I did write it and suggest that she look at used books because you can find some really pristine used books at my local used bookstore and that usually becomes presents for my daughters friends

I noticed a lot of this too. But even before she had the first baby I thought...just wait until you have kids. However, she still doesn't buy herself clothes and buys most of her kids clothes used. They buy very used cars and don't outsource anything at all. She makes their bread for cryin out loud. She doesn't wear makeup and her husband cuts her hair. She said once a long time ago that the rent they collect on the Cambridge place, in addition to paying for that place, also pays a significant portion of the Vermont mortgage. So she still qualifies as frugal to me, even though she's maybe less so than she was before.

[Anonymous]

Dude is definitely earning hundreds of thousands from his blog.

I love the concept of FIRE, but the extremes of MMM are not for me. And here's my question - if he is earning a lot but living off only 37K a year (which is more than funded by investments he had prior to early retirement), what's the plan for the big pile of cash he's building? I don't see him wanting to set his kids up to be rich/living the high life.

At some point, savings can turn into being a money hoarder and a miser. You can't take it with you, so there is something to be said for balance. It's like he keeps his spending low just as a personal challenge rather than really making the most of enjoying life within their means.