Comments on: The Taste of Freedom

By: Ginger

Ginger — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:55:11 +0000

As a small business owner (antiques/vintage items, gallery quality art, photography and locally produced hand crafted totes, scarves and jewelry) I have to say that not spending hard earned dollars on %$#@ at Wal-Mart is great, but buying intelligent, thoughtful gifts for loved ones from a shop like mine is even better. :) You are supporting a small INDEPENDENT business, a family and local artists and their community. Your money is not going to China, the item that you buy will be of very high quality, and hand-crafted, and if it is vintage, also high quality and you’ve saved something from landfill. The need/urge to accumulate doesn’t always lead to overflowing closets and storage sheds…there are ways to collect that don’t take up a lot of space, think stamps, Victorian calling cards, thimbles, etc. Just find out if the person you have in mind collects anything, or start them off with a new collection. Vintage poetry books, or Valentine’s. And when you are downsizing, if you must, don’t just chuck things in the garbage…take them to a local store like mine first, we buy (or trade) all the time, from people who walk in with bags of beads, old books, and the like. Take what’s left to the thrift store. Only real trash should go in the trash.

Trent, I love your blog, it’s really helped me change direction…and most of all THINK.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:36:35 +0000

I love the replies this post generated. Everyone asked me “What is you new years resolution” I didn’t have one, then it kind of hit me yesterday, 1] reduce spending by 50% 2] reduce my waste by 50%. I am going to my grandons 1st birthday party tomorrow. His gift? an $8.00 outfit off the clearance rack. He got tons of toys for Christmas. This is so far from what many grandparents would spend, maybe as much as $100 or more. I had also made another decision when my dil had twins this past October. I want to make memories with these grandchildren. A small gift of clothing or books to open, then an outing they can hopefully remember, the zoo, a rodeo, visiting some of our many beautiful state parks, etc.. I always had a lot of material things growing up, but not many memories of people who actually spent time with me. I want to give time to my grandchildren.

By: Jillian

Jillian — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:12:34 +0000

I used to have a job where I was on the road 3 weeks out of 4. Eating out can really get tiring when you don’t have a choice. I looked forward to my weeks off when I could just have a bowl of mashed potatoes or a home made sandwich! What can I say, I have simple tastes…

By: In Debt

In Debt — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:57:27 +0000

Ah yes. The good old “freedom from want.” FDR would be proud. ;-)

By: MJ

MJ — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:45:54 +0000

To Sandy and others, I enjoyed “Not Buying It, My Year without Shopping” by Judith Levine. (Yes, I know the title should be in italics because it’s a book but that’s not happening.)

Re: Christmas, our wishes were small this year – flannel sheets and a toaster but how nice it was to put gifts right into service. Usually our gifts languish under the tree until February – wants vs. needs, perhaps?

By: KiranG

KiranG — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:08:57 +0000

I traveled for business a handful of times last year, and even though I was spending the companies money I try to be frugal about it. I never stay at the nicest hotel the company would let me stay at. I ate breakfast one day at the hotel and the buffet was 22 dollars! I never did that again (I was at the hotel for 5 days).

I am amazed when my coworkers say that they order room service, get valet parking, stay at a more expensive hotel, etc.

@turbogeek
I figure if I’m going to be relatively frugal in my own life, I ought to be ‘non-extravagant’ on the company’s dime.

Although the biggest expense of traveling is the spoiled food! I came back from my parents after Thanksgiving, went and bought groceries for the next 10 days because I wasn’t supposed to be going anywhere until the second week of December. I get to the office Monday morning, and all of a sudden I’m going the next day!

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:42:45 +0000

I used to think that freedom meant buying whatever the hell I wanted and going everywhere /doing everything my heart desired. I now see that NOT making those choices actually increases my freedom by not locking myself into uncomfortable financial situations. I still find that there are many times more expenses than there is $ in the bank, but I now understand better how to manage the expenses, thanks to this blog.

By: JT

JT — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:19:38 +0000

Terrific post. For me, it really captures the essence of what money should be about: choices, freedom, and peace of mind, and not about how much you make or how much stuff you have. Congratulations, Trent!

By: vh

vh — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:14:23 +0000

Ah, the sweet taste of success!

Because you’re such a fluent and clear writer, you make what you’ve accomplished look relatively easy. But I think we all need to recognize that this huge leap into freedom required a great deal of insight, determination, self-discipline, and work. It’s at once inspiring and awe-inspiring.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:06:25 +0000

Trent–

This is why I am a loyal subscriber. You are so “real” and you always give me hope (that I can learn and make good financial decisions) when I need it and affirmation (that I am on the right track) when I need it. I am grateful that I “found” you as I enjoy increasing financial freedom.

THANK YOU!!!

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:38:54 +0000

My kids always want to know something that I “want” for Christmas and birthday. My “wish list” always consists of the same things: world peace; donations to charities; a lotion that I love but that is a splurge for me; free-trade, shade-grown coffee that is also a splurge but also the only kind that I will drink (I figure if I feed the birds in my yard that I should take care of them in other parts of the world and that people anywhere should get a living wage when they grow the beverage that gives me that morning lift).
They haven’t ever made a donation and one of them finally told me why. They hate the amount of mail that it generates! Donations do that–I don’t think I will ever have to buy another calendar or return address label again in my lifetime!

By: Dividends4Life

Dividends4Life — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:47:36 +0000

Reflection is a good thing when you are sitting on the right side of the perspective fence.

Best Wishes,
D4L

By: A.M.B,A.

A.M.B,A. — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:22:28 +0000

I, too, am like Laura K and Jim – essentially a non-buyer. Our family has more than enough stuff. I hate to shop and my kids (ages 6 and 5) have never been inside a mall. I would like to see a post on this topic as well. Laura K – maybe you can make purchases from the local businesses as gifts for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions coming up? The business wins, someone has a nice gift and you won’t end up with things you don’t need or want.

A.M.B.A.

By: Urbanfrugal

Urbanfrugal — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:56:23 +0000

I too would buy lots of souvenirs that I didn’t need when I when on a trip. Now I but myself one or two nice mementos. Knowing this prior to taking the trip makes me think… is this what I really want to have as my remembrance of my travel? It’s very freeing and doesn’t lighten my wallet as much.

http://www.urbanfrugal.com

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:41:53 +0000

Excellent post.

By: Brad

Brad — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:14:46 +0000

Wow, no wonder the economy is suffering and we’re headed to recession. That poor restaurant owner is going out of business because no one will buy that $24 lasagna….

That poor sunglass shop is closing down now too….

There are always two sides to every story……

By: Frugal Dad

Frugal Dad — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:01:44 +0000

Awesome post, Trent! It’s very inspiring for those of us out here still toiling away with moving a mountain of debt. I realize one day I’ll have a similar experience, and I can’t wait! Have a safe return trip.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:28:35 +0000

I think I heard on NPR an article about someone who decided to live an entire year without buying anything new but essentials, like food. If I remember correctly, one of the hardest things to get through was when her children were invited to birthday parties…I think she did handmade gifts. I did that also for a few lean years…made beanbags with the child’s name cross-stitched on it and a smiley face…good times…good times…

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:44:28 +0000

Count me in the ranks of the non-wanter, non-buyer crowd. It truly is a feeling of peace, and freedom.

By: Joe Fischler

Joe Fischler — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:38:22 +0000

I also think that financial stability means freedom. I like the phrase “taste of freedom”. Some of this freedom may be due to the sum of (some sort of) passive income you could accumulate in the past months and years. Although you don’t seem to “lay back” and still post many useful articles on your topic. Greetings from Europe!