Work harder, get a better car, bigger house blah blah blah
Discussion
I get exhausted just reading some of the replies on this thread!
I've never been ambitious, preferring a quiet life.
My wife and I live on £600pm, the rental income from our house.
Neither of us work now. We spend most of the year cruising around the canals and rivers on our boat so no need for a car, but we do buy an old banger for the winter months.
Simple things please me, like the new wooly jumper that i bought today, what a treat! It made me feel all warm inside
I've never been ambitious, preferring a quiet life.
My wife and I live on £600pm, the rental income from our house.
Neither of us work now. We spend most of the year cruising around the canals and rivers on our boat so no need for a car, but we do buy an old banger for the winter months.
Simple things please me, like the new wooly jumper that i bought today, what a treat! It made me feel all warm inside
And despite what I said above, we actually have two houses, not by design but because the money would have been spent elsewhere if we didn't buy the second one, after we moved countries.
I have a minimal pension to look forward to, relatively speaking, so the one rental house will be no small part of what we survive on after I retire.
I have a minimal pension to look forward to, relatively speaking, so the one rental house will be no small part of what we survive on after I retire.
Kawasicki said:
Cotty said:
Why the difference? At one point I had a £3,000 BMW and a £15,000 Elise. They were both driven the same. Oh look a country lane 
No one to pose to.
It's not about posing. I just don't like putting claims in to insurance companies. I try to finance my own risks. No one to pose to. Kawasicki said:
I'm much happier thrashing a cheap car than posing in an expensive car.
King Herald said:
And despite what I said above, we actually have two houses, not by design but because the money would have been spent elsewhere if we didn't buy the second one, after we moved countries.
I have a minimal pension to look forward to, relatively speaking, so the one rental house will be no small part of what we survive on after I retire.
You worked hard and had a break.I have a minimal pension to look forward to, relatively speaking, so the one rental house will be no small part of what we survive on after I retire.
Being able to keep house 1 in the UK and build house 2 in Philippines for not a lot of money (well a bit I have seen the thread) and own it outright.
You therefore are lucky that you can use one to fund the pension, that will do that in a country were costs are lower than the uk.
2thumbs said:
I get exhausted just reading some of the replies on this thread!
I've never been ambitious, preferring a quiet life.
My wife and I live on £600pm, the rental income from our house.
Neither of us work now. We spend most of the year cruising around the canals and rivers on our boat so no need for a car, but we do buy an old banger for the winter months.
Simple things please me, like the new wooly jumper that i bought today, what a treat! It made me feel all warm inside
Can't afford to turn on the heating then? I've never been ambitious, preferring a quiet life.
My wife and I live on £600pm, the rental income from our house.
Neither of us work now. We spend most of the year cruising around the canals and rivers on our boat so no need for a car, but we do buy an old banger for the winter months.
Simple things please me, like the new wooly jumper that i bought today, what a treat! It made me feel all warm inside
Edited by Yazar on Saturday 31st January 01:17
I have two siblings.
The eldest, my parents had to cajole, bribe, threaten her to work. She got an A in the subject she liked, C's in everything else. A levels she got A/D/E (A in the subject she liked) that was just enough to get her to the course and university she wanted. There, she did the minimum, had a great time, and got a 2:2. She got a job, got married, had kids. Took time off, then started work as a teaching assistant (she has always been passionate about helping disabled or troubled kids) She then retrained as a teacher, and teaches on her terms (part time, to A level students only) Paid off mortgage in a UK country town. She's always been happy and content
The other, my parents had to cajole, bribe etc to get her to relax. Even meaningless school exams would see her get no sleep, cramming. She went to Cambridge, read law (even though she doesn't like it) qualified in a "magic circle" firm, ended up as a legal director at a top tier investment bank. Married, kids, but the kids were brought up by nannies at great expense, and are now at boarding schools. House worth millions, always being altered. She joined a very exclusive club in London, and her only relaxation time is about 30-90 minutes a week she spends there reading magazines. She has always been discontent with what she has. This drives her, but she's never really happy.
When I came along, my parents left me alone. I fall into the middle - I am happy with what I have, but am ambitious (though it is a negative ambition, I don't want to take on more responsibility because of the money, it is because I genuinely think I can do a better job, and the work interests me) I drive a 13 year old car, and save 60-70% of my salary, because we don't have anything that we need to spend it on.
Yep, one sister is by far the most successful. Sucks to be her though
The eldest, my parents had to cajole, bribe, threaten her to work. She got an A in the subject she liked, C's in everything else. A levels she got A/D/E (A in the subject she liked) that was just enough to get her to the course and university she wanted. There, she did the minimum, had a great time, and got a 2:2. She got a job, got married, had kids. Took time off, then started work as a teaching assistant (she has always been passionate about helping disabled or troubled kids) She then retrained as a teacher, and teaches on her terms (part time, to A level students only) Paid off mortgage in a UK country town. She's always been happy and content
The other, my parents had to cajole, bribe etc to get her to relax. Even meaningless school exams would see her get no sleep, cramming. She went to Cambridge, read law (even though she doesn't like it) qualified in a "magic circle" firm, ended up as a legal director at a top tier investment bank. Married, kids, but the kids were brought up by nannies at great expense, and are now at boarding schools. House worth millions, always being altered. She joined a very exclusive club in London, and her only relaxation time is about 30-90 minutes a week she spends there reading magazines. She has always been discontent with what she has. This drives her, but she's never really happy.
When I came along, my parents left me alone. I fall into the middle - I am happy with what I have, but am ambitious (though it is a negative ambition, I don't want to take on more responsibility because of the money, it is because I genuinely think I can do a better job, and the work interests me) I drive a 13 year old car, and save 60-70% of my salary, because we don't have anything that we need to spend it on.
Yep, one sister is by far the most successful. Sucks to be her though
I posted on the first page of this thread
Basically Im happy slacking now but there is a bit more to it than that
When younger I worked bloody hard, always over my contracted hours and always without reward apart from the odd wink from the boss for a job well done. At this time I had no family or commitments other than a social life , some mates who chose to slack and others who chose to graft even harder than I did
Now Im established work is nowhere near as important
I still enjoy it and put the hours in but now its the minimum I am contracted for although Im driven to do a good job and still work over and above this for no reward from time to time
The difference is that if I wanted to I could work as many hours again for a consummate increase in pay
We would enjoy good holidays and have new cars but if I only see the kids whilst driving to St Tropez in my shiny FFRR then whats the point?
We are comfortable but live within our means and dont take credit (apart from the modest mortgage)
None of us have an iphone and our house doesnt have a swimming pool
So yes I could be a lot more wealthier if I doubled my hours, which I could easily do, but Id hardly be at home and thats the crux for me
Some of my peers from 'back in the day' are still doing 80h plus, they are very comfortable financially but their kids dont see them, ones wife has left him as she was lonely!! and another has stress related health problems
Cheers
wisbech said:
I have two siblings.
The eldest, my parents had to cajole, bribe, threaten her to work. She got an A in the subject she liked, C's in everything else. A levels she got A/D/E (A in the subject she liked) that was just enough to get her to the course and university she wanted. There, she did the minimum, had a great time, and got a 2:2. She got a job, got married, had kids. Took time off, then started work as a teaching assistant (she has always been passionate about helping disabled or troubled kids) She then retrained as a teacher, and teaches on her terms (part time, to A level students only) Paid off mortgage in a UK country town. She's always been happy and content
The other, my parents had to cajole, bribe etc to get her to relax. Even meaningless school exams would see her get no sleep, cramming. She went to Cambridge, read law (even though she doesn't like it) qualified in a "magic circle" firm, ended up as a legal director at a top tier investment bank. Married, kids, but the kids were brought up by nannies at great expense, and are now at boarding schools. House worth millions, always being altered. She joined a very exclusive club in London, and her only relaxation time is about 30-90 minutes a week she spends there reading magazines. She has always been discontent with what she has. This drives her, but she's never really happy.
When I came along, my parents left me alone. I fall into the middle - I am happy with what I have, but am ambitious (though it is a negative ambition, I don't want to take on more responsibility because of the money, it is because I genuinely think I can do a better job, and the work interests me) I drive a 13 year old car, and save 60-70% of my salary, because we don't have anything that we need to spend it on.
Yep, one sister is by far the most successful. Sucks to be her though
Yeh but you'll work till you're nearly dead, she can retire at 40 The eldest, my parents had to cajole, bribe, threaten her to work. She got an A in the subject she liked, C's in everything else. A levels she got A/D/E (A in the subject she liked) that was just enough to get her to the course and university she wanted. There, she did the minimum, had a great time, and got a 2:2. She got a job, got married, had kids. Took time off, then started work as a teaching assistant (she has always been passionate about helping disabled or troubled kids) She then retrained as a teacher, and teaches on her terms (part time, to A level students only) Paid off mortgage in a UK country town. She's always been happy and content
The other, my parents had to cajole, bribe etc to get her to relax. Even meaningless school exams would see her get no sleep, cramming. She went to Cambridge, read law (even though she doesn't like it) qualified in a "magic circle" firm, ended up as a legal director at a top tier investment bank. Married, kids, but the kids were brought up by nannies at great expense, and are now at boarding schools. House worth millions, always being altered. She joined a very exclusive club in London, and her only relaxation time is about 30-90 minutes a week she spends there reading magazines. She has always been discontent with what she has. This drives her, but she's never really happy.
When I came along, my parents left me alone. I fall into the middle - I am happy with what I have, but am ambitious (though it is a negative ambition, I don't want to take on more responsibility because of the money, it is because I genuinely think I can do a better job, and the work interests me) I drive a 13 year old car, and save 60-70% of my salary, because we don't have anything that we need to spend it on.
Yep, one sister is by far the most successful. Sucks to be her though
Dickens was not far off the mark.
Mr Micawber's quote from David Copperfield covers one part of this pretty well:-
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen [pounds] nineteen [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."
And then there is the question of how much is enough.
One thing I do know; the more money I have the less I appreciate the things I buy. Money looses its meaning once you have a pound more than you actually need. After that earning it does not feel the same, spending it does not feel the same and saving it is just what happens because you don't need to spend it.
My financial goal is no longer to earn lots of cash, but rather to earn enough so I never have to think about money. I bloody hate money, but I need it so best to just earn more than is needed and then ignore the stuff as much as you can.
Sadly our collective desire to earn more and more means that the world is literally being raped by billions of people all blindly devoting their lives to the capitalist dream of earning money that they can spend in s
t they don't need. st that is made by billions of other people who make it not because it is useful, but because idiots like us keep buying it. And let's not even get started on what this is doing to the planet.
I think I had better sign off now before I start ranting about how we are becoming a species of semi-lobotomised overweight morons who devote our lives to following the suggestions of cheap advertisements for throw away rubbish whilst aspiring to emulate a bunch of performing monkeys on toe curling talent shows.
Right, off to drive one of my 5 cars to the shops to buy more st that I don't really need, hypocrite that I am. Looking forward to the Voice tonight as well!
Mr Micawber's quote from David Copperfield covers one part of this pretty well:-
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen [pounds] nineteen [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."
And then there is the question of how much is enough.
One thing I do know; the more money I have the less I appreciate the things I buy. Money looses its meaning once you have a pound more than you actually need. After that earning it does not feel the same, spending it does not feel the same and saving it is just what happens because you don't need to spend it.
My financial goal is no longer to earn lots of cash, but rather to earn enough so I never have to think about money. I bloody hate money, but I need it so best to just earn more than is needed and then ignore the stuff as much as you can.
Sadly our collective desire to earn more and more means that the world is literally being raped by billions of people all blindly devoting their lives to the capitalist dream of earning money that they can spend in s
t they don't need. st that is made by billions of other people who make it not because it is useful, but because idiots like us keep buying it. And let's not even get started on what this is doing to the planet. I think I had better sign off now before I start ranting about how we are becoming a species of semi-lobotomised overweight morons who devote our lives to following the suggestions of cheap advertisements for throw away rubbish whilst aspiring to emulate a bunch of performing monkeys on toe curling talent shows.
Right, off to drive one of my 5 cars to the shops to buy more s
t that I don't really need, hypocrite that I am. Looking forward to the Voice tonight as well!
Dr Jekyll said:
No it isn't.
Hmm, so the rainforests are just fine are they? Fish stocks all good? Air quality in our major cities pure and pollutant free? Billions of tiny plastic fragments definitely not littering pretty much every mile of coastline on the planet? Water tables all good and water quality all peachy?I know I shouldn't bite, and I'm definitely not a green warrior, I just think as a species we are pretty much f
king at all up for ourselves. Having said that I guess the planet will be just fine in the long run - once the cause of the problem has made itself extinct!
So in hindsight I think you are probably right.
TorqueDirty said:
Dr Jekyll said:
No it isn't.
Hmm, so the rainforests are just fine are they? Fish stocks all good? Air quality in our major cities pure and pollutant free? Billions of tiny plastic fragments definitely not littering pretty much every mile of coastline on the planet? Water tables all good and water quality all peachy?I know I shouldn't bite, and I'm definitely not a green warrior, I just think as a species we are pretty much f
king at all up for ourselves. Having said that I guess the planet will be just fine in the long run - once the cause of the problem has made itself extinct!
So in hindsight I think you are probably right.
t in rivers. I assume the greens are hugely conflicted about the news.TorqueDirty said:
Dr Jekyll said:
No it isn't.
Hmm, so the rainforests are just fine are they? Fish stocks all good? Air quality in our major cities pure and pollutant free? Billions of tiny plastic fragments definitely not littering pretty much every mile of coastline on the planet? Water tables all good and water quality all peachy?I know I shouldn't bite, and I'm definitely not a green warrior, I just think as a species we are pretty much f
king at all up for ourselves. Having said that I guess the planet will be just fine in the long run - once the cause of the problem has made itself extinct!
So in hindsight I think you are probably right.
GroundEffect said:
TorqueDirty said:
Dr Jekyll said:
No it isn't.
Hmm, so the rainforests are just fine are they? Fish stocks all good? Air quality in our major cities pure and pollutant free? Billions of tiny plastic fragments definitely not littering pretty much every mile of coastline on the planet? Water tables all good and water quality all peachy?I know I shouldn't bite, and I'm definitely not a green warrior, I just think as a species we are pretty much f
king at all up for ourselves. Having said that I guess the planet will be just fine in the long run - once the cause of the problem has made itself extinct!
So in hindsight I think you are probably right.
However I think earning more doesnt cause the problem, spending it after you've earned it does the damage (altough I dont suppose you can earn more when others arent spending more)... economics is hard....
TorqueDirty said:
Hmm, so the rainforests are just fine are they? Fish stocks all good? Air quality in our major cities pure and pollutant free? Billions of tiny plastic fragments definitely not littering pretty much every mile of coastline on the planet? Water tables all good and water quality all peachy?
I know I shouldn't bite, and I'm definitely not a green warrior, I just think as a species we are pretty much fking at all up for ourselves.
Having said that I guess the planet will be just fine in the long run - once the cause of the problem has made itself extinct!
So in hindsight I think you are probably right.
You said literally raped. Presumably you had to rely on emotive language because there was no other way to make your case.I know I shouldn't bite, and I'm definitely not a green warrior, I just think as a species we are pretty much f
king at all up for ourselves. Having said that I guess the planet will be just fine in the long run - once the cause of the problem has made itself extinct!
So in hindsight I think you are probably right.
Some rainforests have reduced, others are fine. We aren't going to run out of fish, air and water quality in major cities is not yet pollutant free but cleaner than for centuries. At least in the parts of the world that have experienced the kind of economic growth you so strenuously object to. Presumably you would prefer some preindustrial idyll where the drinking water is full of parasites.
Tiny plastic fragments are barley noticeable on most coastlines.
Dr Jekyll said:
You said literally raped. Presumably you had to rely on emotive language because there was no other way to make your case.
Some rainforests have reduced, others are fine. We aren't going to run out of fish, air and water quality in major cities is not yet pollutant free but cleaner than for centuries. At least in the parts of the world that have experienced the kind of economic growth you so strenuously object to. Presumably you would prefer some preindustrial idyll where the drinking water is full of parasites.
Tiny plastic fragments are barley noticeable on most coastlines.
I suppose I could have said that the human race was depleting natural resources on a global scale at an ever increasing rate as a result of two broad drivers, first that the global populations is expanding rapidly, and second because per capita resource consumption is also increasing rapidly. I could have followed this with the observation that given there are by definition a finite level of natural resources available to us, the only logical conclusion is that we will eventually get to a point where we run out; and if the evidence of the past few hundred years is anything to go by, we won't be particularity sensitive to environment as we go about using all of these resources up.Some rainforests have reduced, others are fine. We aren't going to run out of fish, air and water quality in major cities is not yet pollutant free but cleaner than for centuries. At least in the parts of the world that have experienced the kind of economic growth you so strenuously object to. Presumably you would prefer some preindustrial idyll where the drinking water is full of parasites.
Tiny plastic fragments are barley noticeable on most coastlines.
And for what it is worth I'm not for a moment pretending that a pre-industrial idyll is achievable.
Sadly the human race is a victim of its own success. We have intelligence to combat disease, resulting in far greater survival rates and therefore relatively unchecked population growth, and we have the inherent drive to consume up to and probably beyond what our environment can sustain.
Malthus had a lot of interesting stuff to say on this if I recall correctly - Malthusian principle of population control.
As for the fish thing - I think most of the fishermen in the Med would beg to differ with you, but I'm no expert, just an observer like the rest of us, although in the dim distant past I did do a degree in area.
Anyway live and let live. It's Saturday and I'm going for a walk with the dog, who incidentally also couldn't give a f
k what I think on this subject!TD
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