The Big Adventure

skint_spice

Mrs MM also brings in money sometimes as far as I can see so totally agree with you but maybe it's that they have enough that they can work as and when they choose?

Goldiegirl

skint_spice wrote: »

Mrs MM also brings in money sometimes as far as I can see so totally agree with you but maybe it's that they have enough that they can work as and when they choose?

It's certainly quite a feat to get to that point at 30 years of age, and the were brave to give up their jobs, so hats off to them for that. But it'd probably be more honest for him to say that he's undergone a career change for a more relaxed and free life.

gallygirl

He actually never has to work again if he doesn't want to - but does stuff from time to time. I think his pension pot is v large so he really doesn't need the money and the site probably earns a lot with relatively little input.

Goldiegirl

Good morning!

Last night the last Buy It Now sold on eBay. So that's all four of the BINS that I listed last weekend. All were things that didn't sell at auction, after several attempts, so a low price BIN has done the trick.

This was also sold to a person in London, so that's six items heading to the capital.

This week I have very little in the way of life admin, so I can please myself what I do.

I'm going to post the parcels, do a paprika beef to put in the slow cooker, then do a bit of housework.

Later, I might start looking at a yearly review, and also take a further look at MMM.

This MMM thing is very interesting.

Is it really possible to have enough money to fund the next 60 years at the age of 30?

Could MMM really manage without his other income streams?

Has anybody followed his advice and retired in their 30's, without having a lucrative blog and other income,and genuinely never do another days work in their life?

Is it healthy to stop work in your 30's and do nothing for the next 50 odd years?

I think it's too early to answer most of my questions, so I'm going to have to keep reading him now, so I can find out!

Karmacat

Very interesting! Immediately raises some reaction from me - I just had a hunt for Simple Living, and found this forum: http://www.simplelivingforum.net/ which I immediately felt was better simply because it doesn't rely on one "guru" type figure, which I always distrust.

There's an existential issue too though, that you're picking up on, whether or not MMM himself can survive on the investments and saving he already has: is not doing any paid work the same as "doing nothing"? Personally, I don't think it is, but I think it entails looking long and hard at identity - what are we for, if not to work? Its a theme that Doris Lessing explores in her novels more palatable to me than straight discussion

Goldiegirl

For long periods of our life, I think we are defined by what we 'do', and 'doing' is normally our job, as this takes up most of our time.

To a certain extent, I still define myself by my previous job - I worked there for 28 years, so it was a huge chunk of my life. It took me quite a while to realise that period of my life had come to an end.

I'm glad I've had a period of part time work, which has given me time to think about life, and to wind down.

It would have been tough for me to have worked full time, and then just stop.

This transitional period has helped me re-define myself. Part of me will always be the person that worked for the bank that gives a little Xtra help..... But I now think of myself as a person whose life is is centred on home and leisure.

There's still quite a lot of "doing' involved, but it's things I want to do. I'm not adverse to the thought of finding ways to bring a little additional money into the house, but on my own terms - not formal paid work.

Hmmm, it all sounds like a MMM lifestyle. But, for me, this is fine now I'm in my 50's. Not sure I could have done it in my 30's.

From glancing at the MMM Forums, he seems to have a lot of followers. I hope they don't have all their eggs in the MMM basket - as KC says, I prefer to get ideas from a wide range of sources. Which is why these forums have worked so well.

I think I need to read some Doris Lessing. I expect The Golden Notebook is the place to start.

Karmacat

Ooh, The Golden Notebook is *so* big - I don't think I've ever finished that If you like science fiction, I'd go for the first Canopus in Argos book, Shikasta, amazing stuff, and very much about identity. The Grass Is Singing was a good starter for me, because of the Zimbabwean connection. You've got the time to follow your fancies now :j

I know what you mean about jobs defining what we do, and they do, of course, you're right. Its *my* job that makes me have to go beyond that, I'm afraid :o:o I work with all sorts of people - financiers, actors, housewives, students, administrators, and the inner life is so much richer than the job. I do tend to zoom in on that, feel free to pass over that really quickly

The place of Xtra help is part of your history, always will be, of course - but its lovely that you can start to think of yourself as someone who focuses on home and leisure :j

skint_spice

Re MMM I didn't discover his blog til last month so at 45 it won't work for me! I could get by just fine not working if only I could afford it:D too much to do and too little time...

Goldiegirl

I've added Shikasta and the Grass is Singing to my books to consider list - it's a long list.


Hopefully, I'll be having more time to make a dent in the list!


I've added £9 to the LXF, being a share in the eBay sales from the weekend.


KC, your job sounds very interesting. It must be fascinating to 'get under the skin' of so many diverse people

skint_spice wrote: »

Re MMM I didn't discover his blog til last month so at 45 it won't work for me! I could get by just fine not working if only I could afford it:D too much to do and too little time...

Yes, I'm way too late to for MMM to make a difference to me.


I seem to have arrived at the place I was hoping to get too - but it seems to have involved a lot of luck, hard work and only some judgement. I've really only focussed on finance in the last few years - I wonder what would have happened if I'd adopted this level of focus 20 - 30 years ago.


But no regrets. I've enjoyed all the things I've done in my life, even if sometimes it wasn't totally MSE (or MMM for that matter)

Karmacat

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I've added Shikasta and the Grass is Singing to my books to consider list - it's a long list.

:j

I've added £9 to the LXF, being a share in the eBay sales from the weekend.

:j

KC, your job sounds very interesting. It must be fascinating to 'get under the skin' of so many diverse people

It is, it really is - I've just been doing it for too long, thats all.

Yes, I'm way too late to for MMM to make a difference to me.

Well, 45, as skinty says, thats the *aim* of a MMM-er, I suppose - but doing the MMM thing might make the difference between a retirement age of say 63 or 59 ... big difference, looked at from here!

I seem to have arrived at the place I was hoping to get too - but it seems to have involved a lot of luck, hard work and only some judgement. I've really only focussed on finance in the last few years - I wonder what would have happened if I'd adopted this level of focus 20 - 30 years ago.

Your comment about hard work reminded me of a modern adaptation of a Thomas Jefferson quote: "the harder I work, the luckier I get" If I'd overpaid the mortgage, instead of buying into consumerist nonsense for about 5 years in my 30s, things would be very different.

But no regrets. I've enjoyed all the things I've done in my life, even if sometimes it wasn't totally MSE (or MMM for that matter)

Thats lovely! I *do* slightly regret the frittering, but compared to what many people do with their finances, I've been the soul of frugaloogalness

I'm about to start paid work now! Have a good evening.