tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post5707264502773034105..comments2024-03-28T01:51:22.367-03:00Comments on Not Buying Anything: Unlearning ConsumerismGregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-44119046646996669022015-03-14T13:39:42.501-03:002015-03-14T13:39:42.501-03:00Charlotte,
After Linda and I stopped buying anyth...Charlotte,<br /><br />After Linda and I stopped buying anything we realized that we were making more money than we needed. So we saved like crazy, and then eventually were able to retire early. I was 40 and Linda was 35 when we decided to see if we could make it without jobs. That was 14 years ago, and we are still OK. <br /><br />But it means making sacrifices and being ultra-frugal. Fortunately we like living like that, and realize it has so many benefits for us and the environment. <br /><br />You are right - time is wealth. I would rather be free than have lots of money.<br />Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-38399571681326019182015-03-14T13:35:04.163-03:002015-03-14T13:35:04.163-03:00Nadya,
I like the idea of using the mall for your...Nadya,<br /><br />I like the idea of using the mall for your own purposes, but not buying anything while there. Winter is a difficult time, as Linda and I know. There are times she can't get out and it can be hard to take. Our town is so small that we don't even have a mall. We live rural, so no sidewalks or places that I can push Linda in her wheelchair even in good weather.<br /><br />However, there something we like about hibernating for a while, and we manage to keep busy and happy in our accessible home. But, spring is coming... I think! Another winter storm is forecasted for this weekend. Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-60709680501208886012015-03-14T13:31:17.950-03:002015-03-14T13:31:17.950-03:00Francesca,
Before I quit full time work I too was...Francesca,<br /><br />Before I quit full time work I too was a teacher. It does seem like a poor payoff to work so hard only to spend earned money on crap you don't need while making more billionaires.<br /><br />Linda and I were able to save a lot of money while we were both working because we just quit buying stuff. It turned out to be our saving grace since now Linda can't work due to her multiple sclerosis, and I can't work because she needs someone to care for her.<br /><br />What a relief that we made the decisions we did back then. Living simply has allowed us to be prepared for whatever happens with Linda's health. I miss being with the kids, but I can't think of a better job than caring for my best friend full time.<br /><br />I am happy to hear that you have achieved peace within your job, and that you are tuned in enough to not give your hard earned cash away easily. There is nothing that I have found as satisfying as teaching when everything else is in place.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-23664038845543372622015-03-14T13:22:55.621-03:002015-03-14T13:22:55.621-03:00Melodee,
You are headed in the right direction by...Melodee,<br /><br />You are headed in the right direction by trying to be the worst consumer you can be. There is always more to be done, but it is a most satisfying pursuit.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-44190715119813690862015-03-14T13:21:13.945-03:002015-03-14T13:21:13.945-03:00Kamyria,
From personal experience happiness is in...Kamyria,<br /><br />From personal experience happiness is indeed a byproduct of living simply. The System certainly does not want more people to make this same discovery for themselves. Congratulations on freeing yourself from all the consumer bindings and chains.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-80290026616361655562015-03-07T16:38:08.777-04:002015-03-07T16:38:08.777-04:00Television is BAD news. We recently got rid of it ...Television is BAD news. We recently got rid of it and are much better for it. Who wants constant bad news and awful adverts all day anyway. Cut back the internet as well as this is full of clickbait.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-7873846301558787892015-03-07T05:56:08.257-04:002015-03-07T05:56:08.257-04:00Maybe as people realise that as they consume less,...Maybe as people realise that as they consume less, they will need to work less and have time to do other things, it will speed the anti-consumerism movement. This morning we visited our neighbour (who had offered us pancakes!) and yesterday we walked in the local hills and went to the local shop where I know the staff...life is good and you cannot buy more days to tack onto the end of it!CharlottePhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16693808113369554138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-5998059493044999502015-03-06T20:41:22.457-04:002015-03-06T20:41:22.457-04:00Thank you for this posting. It resonated with me b...Thank you for this posting. It resonated with me because I am often left wondering where I can walk with my daughter in the winter other than the mall. I prefer to consume less and would rather not be at the mall three times a week pushing the stroller (I don't even bring a wallet with me). Unfortunately, I can't safely walk outside with 7 feet of snow, no cleared paths, and an infant. I have noticed that usually young families and elderly people are walking in the mall on mornings. I wish there were more options in my area. As soon as the snow melts, we will be trekking outside! I cannot wait!Nadyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06874225574734194151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-66961998885860836072015-03-06T18:05:59.663-04:002015-03-06T18:05:59.663-04:00The best mantra I found to help me stop the madnes...The best mantra I found to help me stop the madness was to say over and over to myself ' why am I working every day of my life to make other people rich?'<br /><br />This really helped me, I am a teacher with a huge and difficult, stressful and high needs clientele. It exhausts me. There was no way I was going to work at this job and give all my HARD EARNED cash to someone else. As a result I have financial peace, mental peace and can pay for our needs when they arise. Once in this place, my stressful job seems so much less of a challenge.Francesca, Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-49738112083293040762015-03-06T11:29:17.942-04:002015-03-06T11:29:17.942-04:00This is so true! Clothes only at school time (and...This is so true! Clothes only at school time (and were often hand-me-downs in my case) and gifts only on your birthday and Christmas. I fight my own battles in this arena and am continually striving to be a very bad consumer. At least shopping is no longer my greatest hobby, but I still do have a long way to go.Melodeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14721175322595091905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-55360012738389898612015-03-06T10:36:04.596-04:002015-03-06T10:36:04.596-04:00I've been unlearning consumerism for the past ...I've been unlearning consumerism for the past several years and I've never been happier. Not "needing" stuff is so liberating. :)Kamyriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00856184455026650598noreply@blogger.com