Live Simple and Be Fulfilled
Anti-Consumerism
Investing For Young People… BNL Style
208 months ago
This morning I read a post at Brip Blap about investing for young people. I always enjoy Steve’s articles (including this one) and I found this post a good muse for my own recommendation on how to start off your investing life after college.
Buying a Home Unlike BripBlap, I do not consider home ownership an investment. In most cases, it is a a preferred option to renting, but it’s not an investment in that you will gain money over the long run. Historically, house prices have tracked well with inflation meaning the real gain is zero. An investment, on the other hand, is intended to loan money in order to finance activities that should bring in more money. The primary reason I want to bring up this clarification is because so many More >To Have Or To Be
159 months ago
The trend in “Lifestyle Design” these days is all about minimalism, but I’m afraid they’re missing the point. Their focus is on reducing things through clever tactics, but this is only good in the short-term.
The fundamental flaw with this strategy long-term is that it assumes the opposite of “having” is “not having.” Physically, this is correct. Mentally, this is false. Mentally, the opposite to having is being. “Not having” is still in the paradigm of a having mindset, and therefore will regress. “Being” is a new mindset, a healthy one that is not corrupted by consumerism.
A young woman that desperately wants to have a husband and kids is an emotional wreck. Rather, if she focuses on being a great and supporting person, she will More >
Family, Children and Consumerism
99 months ago
My in-laws are in town this week. They have always been pleasant with me, and have treated me with respect despite not really understanding me. They are the epitome of Consumerism and Comfort. If you know anything about me, you know that I am not. Every time they come, they buy unnecessary presents for my kids, force us to eat elaborate and expensive meals, and spend money on “improving” our house. Today they are painting a room that doesn’t need to be painted. Yesterday they bought my son a toy garbage truck – despite the fact that he already has one (which they bought for him last Christmas). My in-laws are great people, and their actions always have good intentions but misdirected.
I’m struggling to instill good financial virtues with More >
