tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post6891818363714861067..comments2024-03-28T01:51:22.367-03:00Comments on Not Buying Anything: Not Buying Equals More Time And FreedomGregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-23305001598118001092014-08-18T15:34:10.522-03:002014-08-18T15:34:10.522-03:00Rick E.,
Thank you so much for sharing your story...Rick E.,<br /><br />Thank you so much for sharing your story both here and in the "House Size By Country" post. It is most appropriate in both, and is a powerful testimonial as to the power of simple living.<br /><br />Without success stories such as yours many people will not believe that less can possibly be more. Turning what seems like failure to society into your own personal success is possible when we turn away from crazy consumption and just get on with living the life we REALLY want.<br /><br />Congratulations on getting through your ordeal and coming out the other side happier and more content. Your precautionary tale is proof there is a better way.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-68954540530076563772014-08-18T15:26:00.827-03:002014-08-18T15:26:00.827-03:00Trmist,
David Edwards quit a management-level mar...Trmist,<br /><br />David Edwards quit a management-level marketing job in mid-career to become a writer and live a more simple life that does less harm. <br /><br />He has written several books and is unceasing in his criticism of the capitalist consumer society, and the illusions that our "democratic" system fosters in order to keep the whole scam going.<br /><br />You can find an enlightening interview with Edwards <a href="http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/interviews/78-nothing-to-lose-but-our-illusions-an-interview-with-david-edwards.html" rel="nofollow">at this site.</a><br />Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-91548904796549302722014-08-16T18:31:02.948-03:002014-08-16T18:31:02.948-03:00Thanks for introducing me to David EdwardsThanks for introducing me to David EdwardsTrmisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10098036634498167941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-24373844996948190782014-08-16T14:50:34.089-03:002014-08-16T14:50:34.089-03:00I had read and was responding to your 3/25/12 post...I had read and was responding to your 3/25/12 post, "Average House Size By Country" but figured I would post the comment here as well. It took me a long while, but I have come to embrace the values you describe ... Thank you!<br /><br />I lived in Florida as the worst Real Estate crunch/crash I have ever seen caused the market in central Florida to crumble. I lost my job and I lost my home ... I hit rock-bottom ... it was the worst thing I had ever experienced. <br /><br />I was crushed and moved to North Carolina chasing a job offer but felt utterly defeated. After a few months searching, my girlfriend and I (plus her 2 cats and my 1 dog/1 cat) settled on a modest 980 sq ft house. Leaving a 2000+ sq ft home, it seemed like such a demotion in life. I had kept up with the "Jones" while passing a bunch of the "Smiths" ... so I looked very successful until one day I wasn't. <br /><br />Fast-forward six years later and I can honestly say that I am better off today than I was in Florida and I love the house we are in. Without realizing it, in Florida, I had become a slave to my mortgage, taxes and insurance. Even if I had been able to keep the house, the added stress (unrecognized at the time) would have negated any perceived benefit. I had lost substantial equity (more than the price of my new home) as the property value plummeted becoming upside down in my mortgage before losing my job. Unemployed, I rode the ship all the way to the bottom continuing to pay the mortgage out of misguided pride. <br /><br />The worst chapter in my life became life-changing and I can now say it was the best thing that ever happened to me! I make a little less money today than I did but find my quality of life is better, I live better and the spare time I have today is far more enjoyable and relaxing than I could have imagined while chained to my bigger, "better" house. <br /><br />I wish I had seen your site 7-8 years ago. Being firmly entrenched in the American dream/mind-set of "bigger is better" or being vain, stupid, stubborn or all the above I had to learn the hard way. Success and wealth is better measured in freedom and happiness than in “things”. The oddest thing after losing everything is that now I have the home and life I always dreamed of. <br /><br />Thanks for the Post! I live it and love it!!Rick Enoreply@blogger.com