Comments on: Buy Freedom, Not Things http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/ Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:24:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge / Articles I liked this week http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-22170 Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge / Articles I liked this week Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:43:20 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-22170 [...] Jeffrey reminds us to buy freedom, not things. [...] […] Jeffrey reminds us to buy freedom, not things. […]

]]> By: pfadvice http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4605 pfadvice Thu, 20 Jul 2006 03:53:32 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4605 <i><b>This is also why I tell folks not to pay off credit cards, without having an emergency fund. Paid off bills gives you the opportunity to go back into debt. Money gives you options.</i></b> Hmmm, as I have stated before, I think that in most cases, <a href="http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/01/29/credit-card-debt-vs-emergency-fund/" rel="nofollow">paying off a credit card debt is a better move than creating an emergency fund</a> (my view and I understand there are arguments that don't agree with me). In this case, I think the main point is to not get in debt in the first place with things and instead save the money for freedom. I don't think that anyone who is in debt is in a position to use their money for freedom until that debt is paid off... This is also why I tell folks not to pay off credit cards, without having an emergency fund. Paid off bills gives you the opportunity to go back into debt. Money gives you options.

Hmmm, as I have stated before, I think that in most cases, paying off a credit card debt is a better move than creating an emergency fund (my view and I understand there are arguments that don’t agree with me).

In this case, I think the main point is to not get in debt in the first place with things and instead save the money for freedom. I don’t think that anyone who is in debt is in a position to use their money for freedom until that debt is paid off…

]]> By: Teri Pittman http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4604 Teri Pittman Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:35:43 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4604 This is also why I tell folks not to pay off credit cards, without having an emergency fund. Paid off bills gives you the opportunity to go back into debt. Money gives you options. This is also why I tell folks not to pay off credit cards, without having an emergency fund. Paid off bills gives you the opportunity to go back into debt. Money gives you options.

]]> By: Dennis http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4603 Dennis Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:55:52 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4603 I could not agree more. My wife and I are in the process of cutting back on the new cars, house, and toys. We want to work just as hard, but put our money priority on freedom of time. Well done. -Dennis I could not agree more. My wife and I are in the process of cutting back on the new cars, house, and toys. We want to work just as hard, but put our money priority on freedom of time.

Well done.

-Dennis

]]> By: ChippingAway http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4595 ChippingAway Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:30:50 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4595 As has already been said, excellent post and point! I think Kira's also hit the nail on the head as well with ehr comment about how being temporarily responsible now will (hopefully) allow us all to have a choice later on of whether or not we want to be responsible anymore. :-) Hmm, work and be reasonably responsible now. Retire to a life of liesure in my 50's... and have my last check bounce when I finally kick the bucket. :-) As has already been said, excellent post and point! I think Kira’s also hit the nail on the head as well with ehr comment about how being temporarily responsible now will (hopefully) allow us all to have a choice later on of whether or not we want to be responsible anymore. :-)

Hmm, work and be reasonably responsible now. Retire to a life of liesure in my 50’s… and have my last check bounce when I finally kick the bucket. :-)

]]> By: Jill http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4578 Jill Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:34:51 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4578 Great thoughts. That is exactly why I love frugality and personal finance. Great thoughts. That is exactly why I love frugality and personal finance.

]]> By: Mike http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4575 Mike Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:30:36 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4575 As a long-time nerd, I love my toys. I've made decent money over the past 10 years or so and have quite a pile. Today, I'm not happy. All of this crap that surrounds me in my house feels like a huge ball and chain. If I didn't have all of this crap (yes, I call it that), I would not need as much space and therefore could have a smaller house paymen. I'd also be much more able to easily move to pursue a complete life change/re-start that I want to do. However, having paid so much for everything, and much of it still having some value, I have trouble just donating it or throwing it away. I feel as though I need to sell the stuff on Ebay or to friends, or something like that. So, not only did I work to buy this crap to begin with, I worked to pay to store it, and now, I must work again to sell it. It's taken many years for me to see it, but it's true that stuff (crap) does not create happiness. And, with simpler desires, you need less money, so you arrive at the classic "money does not buy happiness" also. Anyone want some of my crap so I can begin working towards my desire to uproot and move somewhere else? ;^) As a long-time nerd, I love my toys. I’ve made decent money over the past 10 years or so and have quite a pile.

Today, I’m not happy.

All of this crap that surrounds me in my house feels like a huge ball and chain. If I didn’t have all of this crap (yes, I call it that), I would not need as much space and therefore could have a smaller house paymen. I’d also be much more able to easily move to pursue a complete life change/re-start that I want to do.

However, having paid so much for everything, and much of it still having some value, I have trouble just donating it or throwing it away. I feel as though I need to sell the stuff on Ebay or to friends, or something like that. So, not only did I work to buy this crap to begin with, I worked to pay to store it, and now, I must work again to sell it.

It’s taken many years for me to see it, but it’s true that stuff (crap) does not create happiness. And, with simpler desires, you need less money, so you arrive at the classic “money does not buy happiness” also.

Anyone want some of my crap so I can begin working towards my desire to uproot and move somewhere else? ;^)

]]> By: Daniel http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4574 Daniel Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:10:58 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4574 I couldn't agree more. However, this is easier said than done. I dream of the day when there are no obligations, the day, where if I lost my job, everything would be fine. But we always go out and incur more obligations? I'm not sure if we are just trying to keep up with the Jones' or what, but I am one person who will struggle to stop buying "things" even as much as I really want to. I couldn’t agree more. However, this is easier said than done. I dream of the day when there are no obligations, the day, where if I lost my job, everything would be fine. But we always go out and incur more obligations? I’m not sure if we are just trying to keep up with the Jones’ or what, but I am one person who will struggle to stop buying “things” even as much as I really want to.

]]> By: Kira http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4571 Kira Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:46:11 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4571 No, I think you are right on. One of my friends joked that she would never be as responsible as me, with all my retirement saving and planning and all that, and I said well I'm being temporarily responsible so that in the future, I can stop being responsible and do whatever the hell I want. No, I think you are right on. One of my friends joked that she would never be as responsible as me, with all my retirement saving and planning and all that, and I said well I’m being temporarily responsible so that in the future, I can stop being responsible and do whatever the hell I want.

]]> By: Retireyoung http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4551 Retireyoung Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:04:51 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2006/07/18/buy-freedom-not-things/#comment-4551 Great advice. I tried telling my family that I plan on quitting my job and working on my websites fulltime. I don't think they could understand how this works and how I make money. I want to be financially secure, but I don't need the trappings that most people associate with wealth. Great advice. I tried telling my family that I plan on quitting my job and working on my websites fulltime. I don’t think they could understand how this works and how I make money. I want to be financially secure, but I don’t need the trappings that most people associate with wealth.

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