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This will be difficult to make come across as intended, but here goes.
What is the point of being financially secure, of having adequate assets and income and not having a comparable standard of living?
No, it doesn’t mean buying a Vacheron Constantin watch for $195,000, but it also doesn’t mean driving a ten year old junker.
We can claim to enjoy living modestly, “comfortably”, but is it true? Wouldn’t we rather live a bit, just a little bit, above average? To splurge on occasion? It still doesn’t have to be flashy.
To be honest, my life-long goal was not to be average, but neither was it to be wealthy.
Mark talks about simplicity and not being fancy. That’s fine. If that’s what it takes to achieve financial freedom – as it did for us as well, so be it.
However, once achieved, I see no reason to keep playing the game if you miss out on little extras that make you and perhaps others happy.
I drive a Mercedes because it was a dream since I was 18, a dream that took to age 70 to achieve. It’s called a luxury car, but in reality cost no more than many of the SUVs and pickup trucks on the road. The difference may be that I actually bought the car.
Does that car make me fancy, not really. It’s all relative. There are 24 parking spaces in our building garage. Only two spaces have cars that are not a BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar or Porsche, nearly all are leased – the average age of residents is around 75. Looking at any of us would not create an impression of being fancy or wealthy. They all complain about a $50 monthly increase in the HOA fee. Nobody dresses to impress.
I don’t need to buy anything, I don’t need to impress anyone. Hey, I have shoes that are 30 years old. I have ties so old they have gone in and out of style. I never bought designer clothes in my life. I don’t want jeans someone already put rips in the knees. I did spend $350 on a hand made Irish sweater bought in Donegal a few years ago. I didn’t need it, but I wanted it, so I bought it.
Don’t waste, don’t flaunt, don’t deny, enjoy.
Wearing Casio watches, driving Toyota work trucks and sedans for many decades have proven not only benefical for our peace of mind, but our paid in full retirement in Hawaii. Where by the way, Japanese autos far out number Eupropean versions.
Dick, I know you won’t relate to the specifics, but you’ll relate to the principle. Hubby and I are going out of town the next two weekends:
Both of these are modest wish list items for my husband. He adores the Beatles and especially Paul and has never seen any of them in concert. He’s always wanted to do the South Bend junket, but I’ve never been willing to make that long of a trip in the middle of fall quarter—and now I’m retired, so off we go.
They are both events that may be “now or never”—Sir Paul for obvious reasons; USC/Notre Dame because there are rumors that this 100-year-old rivalry game may soon be discontinued (😢).
As you might imagine, I’m leveraging various perks from credit cards and travel to offset the costs of the two trips. It looks like we’re going to be OK with the weather on both trips…but the government shutdown snarling travel is a concern.
Anyway—we’re making ourselves happy!
I’m so jealous about #1! Seriously, I hope everything goes smoothly and that you have the time of your life! Still on my wish list, but this tour won’t be anywhere close to me. (But I have a wish list item coming soon – will share later) 😉
Go for it. That’s what retirement and a little extra cash are all about. And no doubt you are still living within your means so you’re safe from the frugal police.