(no subject)

[vicarz]

Wow...up since 1 and still...but no worries, no need to work until Monday. I'm still working this not-quite-a-head cold, even took decongestant for it.

I have nothing to write of interest to anyone, but I'm really stuck on how happy I am to have sold the place. I'm sort of online shopping, mostly comparing prices and deciding "I don't need that, what I have is fine, it'll be cheaper soon anyway." The thing I keep returning to is blessed financial security.

I related to friends tonight, and kinda thought to myself, that I started on this real estate and stock venture in 1995. I lived beneath my means on purpose, spending to the max of a GS-7 salary (which was 24.4k at the time) to buy that condo. My intent was never to move or sell it, but more importantly to live at that standard of living no matter what happened to my income. I've gotten more flexible with some areas, but for the most part I'm still living at nearly that GS-7 1995 level (my biggest sins are booze, clubs/booze, and restaurants) (and that very expensive habitat charity trip this past year). I'm very happy with the decision I made over 18 years ago, and very happy to visit some of those benefits today. I didn't buy a fancy car, didn't travel around the world, didn't buy a huge house, didn't renovate the hell out of what I have, don't have the biggest/best electronics, don't eat out every day in fancy places, don't wear jewelry...and I don't feel like I'm sacrificing.

I'm losing sleep sure, but it's not over money.

Comments

[djpsyche.livejournal.com]

A good strategy. I think due to marketing people have a really screwed up idea of what they "need".

[desiringmachine.livejournal.com]

I am (trying) to live like that, I can see a big payoff years from now when my savings is actually impressive, but there are already advantages. I am never flat broke. I work with people who have to put a pair of jeans on layaway (and they aren't $300 jeans) because somehow their money just disappears. Sometimes I stress about money but when I think about it, things are OK. Less than 3 years ago I had just racked up thousands in debt by moving across the country without having a job lined up, now I've almost paid off all of it, got myself health insurance, AND still kept putting some $ into savings. I was brought up to be thrifty and it doesn't seem so hard to me.