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Archives for June 2015

We Could Only Bring The Essentials

By Frugaling 7 Comments

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Camping is in tents!

I was caked in an unknown quantity of sand, dirt, sunscreen, deet, and sweat. Every time I splashed water on my face, a brownish liquid ran off. As I looked in the mirror, my skin appeared darker by a few shades, with a reddish tinge. I had little doubt that I was developing a burn. Bug bites occupied nearly every part of my body — from head to toe. Three days in the Great Sand Dunes National Park had turned me into a mountain man with overgrown scruff. I was ready to try out to become the next Brawny man.

In this beautiful, alien landscape, I sat crosslegged with a book, ran through the sand, and generally paused to reflect. Life’s busyness faded momentarily, and the only nerves present centered on lightening and bears. These were real threats — everything else was illusory.

With my brother along for the ride, we entered the park with some essentials. There was the two-person tent, camp stove, water, food, matches, and our books. The agenda was two-fold: relax and adventure. I’m proud to say we succeeded on both accounts. We took a long night hike amidst the sand dunes, and relished in the opportunity to read along the river.

As I reflected on the trip, I couldn’t help noticing the takeaway: living simply is restorative.

Many consider camping to be rejuvenating, as people can reconnect with the world. But how can that be if we were missing many of our creature comforts? Heck, my brother and I practically slept on gravel! If we can somehow make do without superfluous items while camping for few days, why do we suddenly need them when we get home?

In regular society, surrounded by others, it’s hard to resist indulging. We buy the shirt that’ll be a “tremendous” addition to our wardrobes. We fantasize about the cars and homes we’ll buy and live in. We eat at the classy restaurant. We dream of contentment that we might have with just one more purchase.

Ironically, the beauty we experienced was because none of these options existed. The campground is magnificent because it’s void of the trappings of mainstream society. There aren’t any big screen TVs, billboards marketing unnecessary products, or commercials penetrating this isolated area. Most of the time, the park is immaculately cleaned and people tend to respect each other. There isn’t a discontent cultivated to encourage spending. They live by a “pack it in, pack it out” mentality. Competition is non-existent here. Everyone’s just trying to take it easy and slow down.

Back in the “real world,” people fight to change lanes — cutting each other off, jump over other shoppers for Black Friday deals, and amass gigantic McMansions with stuff in every nook and cranny.

After spending a few days in this separated world, part of me struggled to return. The essentials are simple: shelter, food, and water. And yet, we fight to make more, buy more, and sell more. Maybe there’s a happy medium, but as I returned home there was a culture shock. I wanted to stay, but obviously couldn’t.

Fortunately, the simple life needn’t end when the busy, city streets come into view. I needn’t regress to this unlearned state. As I transition back to society, I cannot help but wonder what camping taught me about living simply and minimally.

1. Pack light

Pretty simple right? When camping, you can’t bring or carry everything. The solution is to pack light. Get the tent you need, not the bigger one you might want. Don’t be afraid to wear the same thing day after day. In life, packing light means only bringing, buying, and holding on to that which sustains life.

2. Pack it in, pack it out

Whenever people go camping, they should pack up all the trash and mess they make and throw it away appropriately. Camping ethics says that you should leave a place better than you left it. If you brought disposable plates, bring them out of the park. Don’t pollute and litter amidst this beautiful place. Back in society, this helps remind me of my impact on the world around me. We can’t take our purchases into the afterlife. What we buy has a lasting consequence to the environment.

3. Seek out adventure in moments, not things

Nothing is better than free. Although there’s a nominal entrance fee, national parks make this lesson easy. Hours, days, and weeks can be spent exploring and learning. But that fun, adventurous spirit doesn’t need to stop when leaving the park. There are moments everywhere to look, go, and discover — it’s all about the attitude. When I first moved to Iowa, I struggled to occupy my time and spent more money trying to create fun. The best decision I made was to buy a bike and ride everywhere. There’s adventure out there, and money shouldn’t be the necessary variable.

4. Find ways to relax and reflect

There are always moments when camping where the wind blows through my hair and I breathe easy. My brain seems to take a pause, and everyday concerns evaporate. Relaxation is essential to a long life; even more, to creativity. It was on a drive to Burning Man that Elon Musk brainstormed the idea of creating a solar energy company with his cousin. And it was in music that Albert Einstein manipulated complicated physical concepts in his mind. Relaxation is only evil in a corporate world that asks its workers to do the same motion over and over again; there, creativity is shunned. Camping is a reminder that relaxation helps cultivate a diverse, capable mind. Whether in the wilderness or weirdness of home, relaxation and reflection are vital.

5. Respect the environment, each other

Camping in national park changes your appreciation of the environment. The research has repeatedly shown that when people connect with the outdoors, they learn to respect the world around them. When people go out into the wild, a togetherness is cultivated. By staying in a small, two-person tent with little room for more than a book, light, and sleeping bags, it was impossible to ignore the world around the camp site. Bad weather shook and stirred the tent. Rain pelted the lining and attempted to enter the tent. Quickly, I learned to appreciate the weather as the natural state that we must respect. The world has been around for billions of years before us, and is a powerful keeper. But we also must respect and take care of it in return.

Our daily lives offer up countless opportunities to consume more than we need, at great cost to our environment. If we focus on the essentials over the extraneous, we will greatly slow our contributions to climate change.

Filed Under: Minimalism Tagged With: backpacking, camp, camping, Climate, environment, great sand dunes, Minimalism, tent

Frugal Articles of the Week

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Reading Nook Photo

Last week I took a little break from the frugal round-up. Sorry Frugaling fans, but I’m back and have a terrific list of favorite reads over the last couple weeks. Hope you enjoy and share widely!

The Millionaire Pitcher that Lives in a Van [Video] by VICE
Daniel Norris isn’t like most star athletes. Heck, Daniel Norris isn’t like most people. With around $2 million in the bank from a baseball contract, he could be living well; at least, fancier than he does today. In the off-season, Norris takes to his VW camper van and lives, cooks, reads, and travels in the tiny enclosure. I love this guy’s story, and it’s neat to get a little tour of the camper.

What Would Happen If We ALL Stopped Paying Our Student Loans, Together? by Jennifer Schaffer
Growing numbers of graduates and students are doing something rash and potentially harmful to their credit score: they’re purposefully defaulting on student loans and refusing to pay them back. Regardless of your feelings about defaulting on loans — whether right or wrong — the rise in this behavior speaks to the broader context and problem. Student loans are over $1 trillion! A TRILLION! This is unsustainable and harmful to the greater growth prospects in America.

Pope Francis, in Sweeping Encyclical, Calls for Swift Action on Climate Change by Jim Yardley & Laurie Goodstein
Thursday, the Pope and Vatican released a 184-page document cataloguing the reasons why climate change is of utmost importance and what we need to do about it. The Pope talked about consumerism, throwaway culture, and how the victims tend to be those in the Southern hemisphere.

The Health Benefits Of Early Retirement Are Priceless by Financial Samurai
Consider this, working life takes a toll on people. Many are overworked and underpaid, and the stress of being in difficult jobs adds a terrible weight. The Financial Samurai points out the many rewards of early retirement (if it’s possible).

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: articles, Catholic Church, Frugal, Millionaire, Retirement, Student Loans, weekly

Leave The Boom And Bust Cycle Of Life

By Frugaling 13 Comments

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Stock Market Photo by Perpetual Tourist - Flickr

Growing up in two market bubbles

I was 10 years old when the stock market entered an epic gurgle and burp. The technology bubble was well underway. As a child, I couldn’t help notice the daily papers’ coverage. Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft were going to stun the world, and a wealth of startups were making groundbreaking achievements through the Internet. Stores were moving online — people could buy stuff from their couches. And the market loved it.

Then it all came crashing down. Without profits and expected cash flow, companies petered out. They couldn’t sustain their losses, and the market was late to the realization. Nonetheless, as soon as people began selling the tech sector, stocks were doomed. The NASDAQ collapsed over a one-year period. While some had benefited from the meteoric rise, many failed. They chased moneyed dreams. The market had become a ponzi scheme of sorts, and the burst annihilated portfolios.

Average Joe’s and Jane’s across the world were affected. Money disappeared from pensions, IRAs, 401ks, and regular old investment accounts. Suddenly, people’s spending reduced — sour from massive losses and concerned about financial futures. People cut back because their ability to save and earn was jeopardized.

Putting the past behind us

Over time, these booms and busts are held in reverence. Ah, remember the market crash of 1999-2000? How about Black Monday? Oh, and how about the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009? Those were the days, right?

We try to put these events behind us and focus on the future. Some may say, “We’re long past those idiotic dreams and bubbles. We know better now.” We treat these as abnormalities — one-off events. The mavens repeat their mantras to calm the masses: “Timing is your friend. The market will recover.” But we never fix the underlying, systemic problems; thus, the cycle continues: boom and bust after boom and bust.

Wallets eventually open again. The economy eventually “bounces back.” In time, market optimism returns because consumer discretionary spending increases. Stocks get bid up again. And while we hope another bubble never returns and convince ourselves that a lesson was learned, something in us remains. We are still humans — the ones who caused the bubble in the first place.

That mentality to save every penny in crises fades like the hangover of a party best forgotten. We get excited again, and invest in financial instruments that some “guru” recommends that make little sense to us. We convince ourselves that we know better than to fall into some scam or trap. Eventually, the price of stocks becomes too expensive to sustain their momentum — for whatever the reason — and the roller coaster plummets.

Boom and bust cycles are everywhere

Even beyond the stock market, various points in history talk about cutting back and saving. For instance, the entire country rationed gasoline, coffee, and other necessities for those in combat during World War II. Our sacrifices would win the war. Our rationing would help others in need. And our country helped us collectively achieve this goal. These were frugal times. But after World War II ended, the country entered one of the largest economic growth spurts of all time. Production was enormous and the largest generation followed: the Baby Boomers.

California Drought Map

More recently, an epic drought has swept over California. Crops are unable to grow and farmers are being asked to cut back on water usage. Without rain and irrigation, this might be one of the worst seasons for the West coast. Every time you look at the map of California it’s bright red for “exceptional drought.” There isn’t another level dryer, unless we’re forced to create it.

This exceptional drought has led to more brush and forest fires. People and their homes have been threatened. The state has fought bravely against these disasters, and many are pitching in to conserve and ration their precious water. Smartphone apps have been created to rat out neighbors who are using more than necessary. Residents are being asked to let their lawns brown. Certain crops and foods (i.e., almonds) are being targeted because of their excessive water needs.

The city of glitz and glamour, Los Angeles, has been a focal point for conservation. Rivers are non-existent and the heat bakes the surface. Many celebrities have extolled the value of cutting back, too. But everyone is wondering whether California will be able to weather this drought. What if the rains never return in full force? What if the land stays perpetually scorched? How long could this exceptional drought really last?

At many points in history we’ve done well rationing, scrimping and saving amidst tragedy. We come together and embrace each other as humans. We work together to move beyond struggle. And we ultimately have overcome every major concern we’ve ever faced. But over time, humanity has a painfully ironic inability to hold back and resist the urge to spend and splurge. We seem to perpetuate feast or famine — unable to live in moderation and within means. If history repeats itself (and it does), then we will likely see California boom again if the rains return. People will resume their previous water usage and restaurants will once again drop off full glasses of water without asking first.

Five ways to weather any storm

From the stock markets to droughts to wars, the booms and busts are everywhere. If we admit that we have a cyclical problem, the question becomes, What can we do about it? The following are five rules to follow a middle path in times of tragedy and prosperity:

1. Create a rationed budget

At the heart of saving more and spending less is a good budget, but what if you lopped off $100, $200, $300, or more each month? What if you pretended that the money was gone? In modelling the potential new budget during a tragedy or bust cycle, you can see the depths of your budget. If all else failed and suddenly made less each month, how would your spending change? How would your savings change? How would you cut back? The essential aspect to this thought experiment is actually going forth with it. Enact the rationed budget and see how low you could go. Pretend that the crisis is here, and save for better times. Then, if a problem occurs, you’ll follow a path of moderation.

2. Spending shouldn’t change based on market optimism

It’s easy to get swept away in the good times. People buy enormous houses, $1 million vehicles, and gigantic yachts when the market is doing well. Success looks like materials, so people buy in. To weather storms, spending cannot cave to market swings. Consistency is key. When others start buying wildly and race to the top, you should be thinking about where you’re spending too much.

3. Saving shouldn’t be limited to tough times

Saving money and concentrating on safe investments should always be a first priority. That priority shouldn’t waver or change amidst good times or bad. Tough times are the hardest time to save, actually. Think about it, if times are tough, you’re clearly strapped for cash. Save in the windfalls, booms, and busts. Again, to find the middle path amidst the excitement and tragedy, you need to calmly continue your savings.

4. Don’t trust market makers and commentators

Turn on CNBC and your brain will instantly accommodate talking heads’ suggestions. Their swanky ties, expensive suits, beautiful sets with technology galore, and impressive lifestyles can be captivating. I’ll be the first to admit that being able to eat at wonderful restaurants, travel the world in a jet, and drive a fast car sounds intriguing. But those market makers and commentators are selling a life that is temporary and not available to everyone. I will never own a jet or drive a Ferrari. Why would their advice and financial “expertise” help me? They live in a different category of human. Try to avoid their messages, as it can help you stay frugal.

5. Find a greater purpose/sacrifice to motivate modest lifestyles

Modest lifestyles can be challenging. It means eating out less, owning less, and looking for ways to invest and save every extra penny you have. But doing any of these things means bucking a system that encourages spending everywhere you go. Walk out the door and you’re bombarded by places to go, see, and spend. It’s easier to listen to these messages. To have a lasting, rationed budget or save more, you must find a higher purpose and reason to dig deep. Saying you get to live modestly through booms and busts isn’t enough. For me, I recognize that climate change is directly affected by my consumption behaviors. That changes my behavior. Additionally, I hold powerful regard for time to be peaceful, calm, and at rest. I value time over money.

We can leave the boom and bust cycle. We can protect ourselves and those around us, too. Create a rationed budget, and live it. Spend less than those around you. Save more than you thought you could. Don’t waiver as others panic or lavish themselves. Lastly, find a higher purpose that’ll motivate you when the going gets tough.

Filed Under: Minimalism, Save Money Tagged With: Boom and Bust, Budget, Business, California, cnbc, Conservation, Drought, Market Crash, Rationing, Stock Market, stocks, Tech Stocks

Frugal Articles of the Week

By Frugaling 5 Comments

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Reading Nook Photo

Last week I took a little break from the frugal round-up. Sorry Frugaling fans, but I’m back and have a terrific list of favorite reads over the last couple weeks. Hope you enjoy and share widely!

Slow Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja by Budget Bytes
This week I’m hoping to cook this special recipe up! Budget Bytes is one of my favorite frugal blogs because the author breaks down total and serving cost for all the meals. This chicken dish costs about $1.32 per serving. Heck yes, I’ll try it!

Living In An Expensive City Can Make You Richer, Happier, And More Diplomatic by Financial Samurai
Here’s a unique twist on the choice between big-city and small-town living. Sam reviews some compelling reasons for considering more expensive cities. One of the most interesting centers on the push and need for frugality in a bigger city with less space. Cities seem to be bastions for minimalism and simple living, and when done right, can still be affordable places to live.

Why Do We Like Brands As Much As We Like People? by Eric Jaffe
Do we love Apple, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Pepsi, Google, etc? Can we love brands? If so, what does that mean for our spending habits? This article analyzes the very real effect that your love/like of brands has.

Millionaires Who Are Frugal When They Don’t Have to Be by Paul Sullivan
Frugality crosses income and wealth classes. It doesn’t mean that wealthy people can’t be frugal. This is a philosophy and way of life. Paul Sullivan from The New York Times perfectly highlights the trend of millionaires living well within their means.

Escape to Bro-topia by Steven Kurutz
Despite an abysmal, corny title, this New York Times article features one man’s simple life… in the trees. He built an incredible house in the forests of Oregon. Take a look at these pictures, too!

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: articles, brands, Food, Frugal, millionaires, Minimalism, Recipe, rich, Simple Living, Wealth, week

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