Comments on: Maybe I’m Feeding The Trolls, But It’s Worth Discussing Anyway: The Fundamental Values of The Simple Dollar http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:03:21 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: English Major http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3925 English Major Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:05:06 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3925 See, here's a difference in values: one of the things I'm willing to sacrifice for <i>is</i> great, adventurous travel. I'm willing to skip meals out and contribute less to my retirement accounts than I could so that I can save money for travel. To me, travel isn't a "neat thing"—it's a vital life goal. To me, electronics and cars and early retirement are "neat things." (Why retire early if I can do something I love for a living?) To me, what matters is whether you're making possible for yourself the things that <i>you</i> want. I want to travel. I don't care all that much about retiring young to a big house, but I don't want to die without seeing the streets of Marrakesh. If you want to retire young and spend time coaching Little League, skip the travel and save for a beautiful home with room for grandkids. Know what I mean? See, here’s a difference in values: one of the things I’m willing to sacrifice for is great, adventurous travel. I’m willing to skip meals out and contribute less to my retirement accounts than I could so that I can save money for travel. To me, travel isn’t a “neat thing”—it’s a vital life goal. To me, electronics and cars and early retirement are “neat things.” (Why retire early if I can do something I love for a living?)

To me, what matters is whether you’re making possible for yourself the things that you want. I want to travel. I don’t care all that much about retiring young to a big house, but I don’t want to die without seeing the streets of Marrakesh. If you want to retire young and spend time coaching Little League, skip the travel and save for a beautiful home with room for grandkids. Know what I mean?

]]> By: kendrick http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3621 kendrick Sun, 21 Jan 2007 22:42:31 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3621 The grammar/spelling lead me to believe that it was written by a 15-year old who hasn't had to work or pay a bill in his life. I'm not sure which article he's replying to, but what he misses is that there's a huge difference between simple living and being a miser. The grammar/spelling lead me to believe that it was written by a 15-year old who hasn’t had to work or pay a bill in his life.

I’m not sure which article he’s replying to, but what he misses is that there’s a huge difference between simple living and being a miser.

]]> By: Rosie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3603 Rosie Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:00:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3603 Trent, You're living off of approx. 30% of your income? That is truly inspiring. I've been spending 95% (saving 5% automatically toward retirement -- not enough), and some weeks have a hard time juggling to get to the next paycheck. No other savings. High debts. Poor credit rating. I'd stumbled on one of your posts about a week ago, subscribed, and have been reading every word daily. Troll is wrong. It's not about restrictions. It's about freedom -- freedom from debt; freedom from worry; freedom from bill collectors; freedom from high interest rates and "I can help you" loan hucksters who will relieve short-term financial inconvenience with with real long-term financial pain. It's time to declare my personal financial freedom. Time for my own revolution. It's about freedom. Trent,
You’re living off of approx. 30% of your income? That is truly inspiring. I’ve been spending 95% (saving 5% automatically toward retirement — not enough), and some weeks have a hard time juggling to get to the next paycheck. No other savings. High debts. Poor credit rating. I’d stumbled on one of your posts about a week ago, subscribed, and have been reading every word daily.

Troll is wrong. It’s not about restrictions. It’s about freedom — freedom from debt; freedom from worry; freedom from bill collectors; freedom from high interest rates and “I can help you” loan hucksters who will relieve short-term financial inconvenience with with real long-term financial pain. It’s time to declare my personal financial freedom. Time for my own revolution. It’s about freedom.

]]> By: traineeinvestor http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3589 traineeinvestor Sun, 21 Jan 2007 02:32:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3589 Nice post. There are definitely more important and meaningful things in life than material posessions. I also find that I enjoy the things I do spend money on a lot more if I think long and hard before buying them. Nice post. There are definitely more important and meaningful things in life than material posessions. I also find that I enjoy the things I do spend money on a lot more if I think long and hard before buying them.

]]> By: mary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3575 mary Sat, 20 Jan 2007 20:50:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3575 I recently started reading your blog and love the info and the ideas behind being frugal and am trying to put some of the ideas to work for me in my life but I have to offer another perspective on your comments above. Retiring early with time to do things with your family and grandchildren is a great goal but that does not always happen (my father retired at 55 and had his life set up well financially for him and my mom to enjoy their retirement years but he was dead at 58 of an incurable cancer) I think he would have said to enjoy some of the fruits of your labor earlier in life and not always plan for that future that may not be.....my mom is now set up well because of their financial decisions but she still wishes that they did not put off so many things "until retirement". I recently started reading your blog and love the info and the ideas behind being frugal and am trying to put some of the ideas to work for me in my life but I have to offer another perspective on your comments above. Retiring early with time to do things with your family and grandchildren is a great goal but that does not always happen
(my father retired at 55 and had his life set up well financially for him and my mom to enjoy their retirement years but he was dead at 58 of an incurable cancer) I think he would have said to enjoy some of the fruits of your labor earlier in life and not always plan for that future that may not be…..my mom is now set up well because of their financial decisions but she still wishes that they did not put off so many things “until retirement”.

]]> By: efipo.com http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3562 efipo.com Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:02:38 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3562 Hey Trent, I received the same EXACT comment on an article. So I think it is spam. Just to let you know. Hey Trent, I received the same EXACT comment on an article. So I think it is spam. Just to let you know.

]]> By: Tag http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3561 Tag Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:57:50 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3561 Well said. I like spending time with my wife. We have our first kid on the way. I want to be able to have "real" time for both of them, not just "quality" time. It all comes down to what value you place on different things. Like you, my family is at the top of the list. Keep up the good work. Tag Well said. I like spending time with my wife. We have our first kid on the way. I want to be able to have “real” time for both of them, not just “quality” time. It all comes down to what value you place on different things. Like you, my family is at the top of the list. Keep up the good work.

Tag

]]> By: Shane http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3559 Shane Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:27:00 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3559 Completely agree! Just recently I discovered the joys of not buying every little trinket I saw just for that fleet few minutes of happiness. Completely agree! Just recently I discovered the joys of not buying every little trinket I saw just for that fleet few minutes of happiness.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-3556 Daniel Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:27:58 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/01/20/maybe-im-feeding-the-trolls-but-its-worth-discussing-anyway-the-fundamental-values-of-the-simple-dollar/#comment-3556 Sehr true! The troll comment misses the very fundamental thread of your blog--that happiness is NOT contingent upon external "stuff." Sehr true! The troll comment misses the very fundamental thread of your blog–that happiness is NOT contingent upon external “stuff.”

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