How much of a minimalist are you?

I think we need to focus on the few things we want to excel at, and eliminate the rest. Have fewer goals, but be really dedicated in pursuing them. I think this can breach the gap between life satisfaction and success.

Btw that post from @thebloggeradam smells like it’s AI-generated. :stuck_out_tongue:

5 Likes

What’s next, give up breathing?

3 Likes

One thing is absolutely necessary for the body, the other is poison for it.
Why compare these two things? :slight_smile:

Why should breathing be poisonous? :thinking:

1 Like

It used to be, dioxygen was a big deal when it first appeared in meaningful quantities, very corrosive, it killed a lot of the anaerobic organisms that populated the Earth at the time, very deadly.

I doubt the explosion of life and biodiversity Earth had after that is what alcohol will give birth to, though.

3 Likes

One of my regrets in life is not embracing a minimalist lifestyle early in life. Like Clooney in that Up in the Air movie. It must be liberating AND saves a lot of money.

There’s a quote from the movie Fightclub, if I remember it correctly: We buy stuff we don’t need to impress peope we don’t like with money that we don’t have. While I don’t 100% agree with this line, there’s an underlying sentiment which resonates.

3 Likes

How about “We buy stuff that don’t compound with money we could put into VT to impress people with a wasteful mentality”? :smile:

3 Likes

Not a minimalist but frugal by choice, total pig by nature. The only saving grace is I don’t really need much to be happy, most of my needs are covered with pretty much standard stuff.

Essentially for many years I’d fallen into the absolute mental black hole of postponing my happiness for later, but by the time the “later” came I’d changed myself, and there was a new “later” on the horizon. Still doing the same, just this time I am doing it with a plan, which is early-ish retirement.

Haven’t figured out what’s an actually good idea regarding life, I know people who had millions and lived like paupers (my friend from the share your story post), people who live like millionaires and are one bad step away from financial disaster and borderline not having enough to keep the lights on, and a couple of millionaires who really live like millionaires, talking about having servant etc. And tons of people in between.

A prime example. I could have rented this:

https://www.obi.ch/markt/mietgeraete/bohren-und-stemmen-255542/stemmhammer-30kg-230v-hex-28-18219

70 CHF for 4 hours. But then I have to add 1 hour of hassle to rent and drive to get it and drop it off again.

Instead, I bought a similar tool for < 200 Fr. It got delivered to my door. I could then use it any time it suited me.

If I can sell it again for 70 CHF less than I bought it, I’d be in the same position. Or if I used it 2 more times, it will have paid for itself.

3 Likes

I’d ask myself: how much use will I get out of it? How much do I cost that use vs how much do I cost my time and effort (and fuel) to rent it.

Normal people must think we’re freaks.

On topic since I am on a train, I am not at all beneath deals, sometimes deals which other people would find distasteful: was in a Diechmann, usually I buy ill-fitting shoes for 15 franks, just for the gym, when I spied some really nice Chelsey boots for 50% off, 50 franks total. I try them on and they fit, bring them to the cashier and they notice one of the straps to pull them on was broken. They said “ah tut mir leid, they are broken, can’t sell them”. So I said “for 50% off I’ll take them”. There 25 franks for a pair that goes with everything and I’m wearing all the time for the last 2 years. My wife was disgusted at me, said “aren’t they paying you well?!”.

P.S. what do you need a jackhammer for anyway?!

4 Likes

And isn’t this a toy compared with a Hilti?

I use to rent the best tool; it comes with a man. Although the last one did need a Hilti and had none, so I had to borrow it from a friend. For free of course. They are f.ing expensive.

1 Like

Friends or tools?

1 Like

Maybe not shout or curse into someone’s face.
That said, allowing yourself to be emotional (when the time is right) can act as a great relief valve, allowing you to release emotional pressure.

In fact, I’d very much doubt anyone to retain his mental sanity, if he’s just bottling up his anger.

1 Like