Living like rich people?

Tim_Mullis

Through my life I've known several people who are comfortably well off in Devon, some of them from families that have always been 'well to do". Now here's the odd thing, they don't spend much.

Firsty they live in houses that have flag stone or floor boards. Traditional wooden windows with thick curtains. Very little in terms of 'devices' preferring to potter in the garden or read in front of the fire. A large AGA (year's old) that burns readily available logs from the area. A Volvo or Landy for a car that is years old.

Every item that is bought is carefully chosen and well invested in. Furniture is solid wood or leather and lasts many decades.

Well kept veg. plots.

Enjoying walking cycling for entertainment. Casserole in the oven for when they come home rather than fast food.

etc etc

You'd never catch them down pound land or hoarding stuff from car boots. They don't buy much as their life style doesn't need much.

When I look through my Amazon or ebay purchases I frequently ask myself what I am still using now. It strikes me that this whole money thing may be partially influenced by frame of mind and I might be better living like a rich person.

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N9eav

Sometimes, those rich people have big houses, but no money. I watched a TV show about a gentry family than could not afford to buy the heating oil for their mansion and so lived pretty much in one room in the winter.

engineer_amy

i suppose its about what you think you need to be happy. These people you know obviously don't need the material things in life to be contented.


There is someone on this forum (forgive me, I cant remember who) who sold up everything they had in an urban area and moved to a Scottish island, paid off their mortgage and debts, bought a small cottage, very few people around, definitely no restaurants, cinemas, fast food etc and they have never been happier.


we could all be rich if we didn't spend money. im guilty of this, I have an extra few quid in my account and I want to go shopping. I don't "need" anything, but im sure I would find something to buy. I better go and pay it off the credit card then I wont be tempted!

upoiupou

Sounds like they're living mindfully. I don't mean that they went on a course at a Buddhist centre or anything, just that they're living simply, paying attention and appreciating the moment.

I'm amazed how much stuff I feel I need. I tend to get a lot of use out of what I buy, but I still buy a lot.

One of the most useful things for me to do is to save up for things. I save under headings like "garden" or "devices". If I've spent months gradually building up funds in a particular savings pot, if I buy something with that money it will be something I've really thought about. The more I slow down and keep things simple, the less I spend.

tori.k

Location is a big part there isn't the peer pressure no even with the kids to have the latest designer labels and gadget. Most of what you are describing is practicality due to living in a rural area carpets would soon be trashed dragging muck into the house. as for entertainment a lot does become self financing In Cornwall we have some of the best surf in the world who wouldn't take advantage of that we also don't have much the entertainment infrastructure of city's but this is slowly changing.
From your example your friends aren't particularly living richly more they live simply something we all could benefit from.

andyfromotley

Well as dave ramsey is fond of saying, 'if you want to be rich do what rich people do'.

this generally means

dont use debt
dont buy new cars
dont eat out 4 times a week
dont spend a fortune on clothes and 'things'
spend less than you earn
save regularly and for the long term

He frequently interviews people with a net worth of over $1m dollars and nearly all of them did it on modest incomes by following ther above principles.

lessonlearned

THeres a saying

"Money talks, wealth whispers".

You can live simply but live well, a nice home, good food, nice clothes, the occasional outing but without being flash or ostentatious.

If you buy wisely, and more importantly look after your home and your possessions, then you can live on surprisinglY little.

Why buy cheap flashy clothes which look like a dishcloth after a few washes. Why buy cheap flat pack furniture that collapses after a few years use, why eat horrid chemical laden fast food when you can cook gourmet meals from scratch for a fraction of the price.........

All it takes is a bit of effort and forethought to live well on surprisingly little money.

I have "champagne tastes and a lemonade budget" :rotfl: but I live very well. My home is warm, comfortable and welcoming, we eat like kings, I like clothes, I like to travel and have fun.

I don't think you need to splash the cash to be happy.

I'm not sure how much location plays a part- although of course housing affordability and good transport are major factors. Most rural living requires you to own a car, sometimes you can live in a city or surburb and get away without one.

Sometimes entertainment can be cheap or even free in cities - museums, parks, libraries etc.

I do buy gadgets and gizmos because I believe in buying tools that make life easier for example a good food processor because I have arthritis and sometimes struggle with manual food prep, a tumble dryer because I hate wet washing hanging round the house. Sometimes gadgets can actually save money, a freezer for example to take advantage of offers and reduce food waste.

Living simply needn't be a penance and you don't need to live like a hermit. You can still have fun.

I agree it's about living "mindfully" - something that we can all benefit from. It cuts down waste and helps conserve the earths precious resources for future generations as well as ensuring a healthy bank balance.

Mirno

When you buy something look at it's value to YOU.
How valuable is a new car? Is the extra comfort and fuel economy of a new car worth the extra cost? If not, don't do it.

Will a gadget make your life better? Will it make it better enough to justify the cost? What other thing(s) could you buy for the same money - would they make your life better than buying the gadget would?

As for keeping up with the Joneses, if everyone in the world could only be happy by having more "stuff" than anyone else, then that would mean only 1 person could ever be happy. That's not a game I'm willing to play.

datlex

Trouble with keeping up with the Jones is it assumes you want all the new gadgets available.

Regarding a car, I use public transport these days. Costs less than having a car where I am. I also find I have more free time despite longer journeys.

theoretica

I try to think of the price of things as cost-per-use as a way of putting quality into perspective.

If you come from a background where of course could afford new if you wanted it then buying something new isn't an achievement and possibly doesn't bring the same pleasure for its own sake.

sourcrates

Have you noticed how rich people stay rich people ?

By getting poor people to pay for there !!!! !!!

Once you understand that, you'll be a rich man my son !!!