Comments on: Voluntary Poverty and Escaping the Need for Money http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/ Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:02:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Viridia Rainbird http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-342857 Viridia Rainbird Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:56:03 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-342857 if you have money to fall back on you're still another annoying wannabee, playing pious among the real outcasts. give away your money and perks and social connections then try live by your wits like we do. if you have money to fall back on you’re still another annoying wannabee, playing pious among the real outcasts. give away your money and perks and social connections then try live by your wits like we do.

]]> By: Festival of Frugality #125 - Save Some Money If You Are Rich Edition http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-306551 Festival of Frugality #125 - Save Some Money If You Are Rich Edition Tue, 13 May 2008 02:52:35 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-306551 [...] Advice uses voluntary poverty as an extreme example of learning to live with [...] […] Advice uses voluntary poverty as an extreme example of learning to live with […]

]]> By: froggies13 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-304113 froggies13 Sat, 10 May 2008 06:15:25 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-304113 If poverty is defined as not having enough money to live in comfort, how can these people say they are living in povery when they have a fat bank account? Shouldn't they give their money away? People who live in poverty don't have a financial cushion to land on if something goes wrong in their lives. If poverty is defined as not having enough money to live in comfort, how can these people say they are living in povery when they have a fat bank account?
Shouldn’t they give their money away?
People who live in poverty don’t have a financial cushion to land on if something goes wrong in their lives.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-302471 Lisa Thu, 08 May 2008 02:56:34 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-302471 Most of us come from a perspective of scarcity. There's not enough for us. We sell our time on this earth for health insurance, a pension, a big house we work too many hours to truly enjoy, a car that feels good for the first day, week, month or if lucky year and then we feel deprived and needy again. There's just not enough out there to make us feel fulfilled. So some folks decide to be like Buddha although they may not call it that and try to live simply. Some give up one thing, that leads to another, to another until they live very simply. The authors of "Your Money or Your Life" are a good example. I freely admit that I only continue to work because I am afraid to be without health insurance. Do you love what you do or do you do it out of fear of being without something? Do you ever feel like you have enough? Most of us come from a perspective of scarcity. There’s not enough for us. We sell our time on this earth for health insurance, a pension, a big house we work too many hours to truly enjoy, a car that feels good for the first day, week, month or if lucky year and then we feel deprived and needy again. There’s just not enough out there to make us feel fulfilled. So some folks decide to be like Buddha although they may not call it that and try to live simply. Some give up one thing, that leads to another, to another until they live very simply. The authors of “Your Money or Your Life” are a good example.

I freely admit that I only continue to work because I am afraid to be without health insurance. Do you love what you do or do you do it out of fear of being without something? Do you ever feel like you have enough?

]]> By: kay louis http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-302147 kay louis Wed, 07 May 2008 19:43:35 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-302147 Every time I contemplate the word poverty or listern to the ill fearing fate of the word, and how deep this cancer has spycologically stifle and criple the world, the planet, and the life of every living thing on this earth;our freedom and strengh and,the gift of life which is the most powerful and precious in freedom there of, most valuable, the riches gain, void of all what the opposite of worldly poverity stands for,and this generatiion of man has yet if ever to learn,leaves me to wonder how much longer will those who in the misleading power of social justice and welfare and in the name of capital gain of social high class continue to mentally enslave and inprision us the majority which feeds of the bread crumbs of war Lordes of the world dressed in sheep clothing, dazzelled with all kinds of precious stones and of gold, tempt us with fruitless words of uninspiring hope which leads us but into that bottomless pit of social misery, social strife, social hunger and illness greed,warfare, death and resurection. I marvel at this wonder with man,and his drive for power and dominion. It is indeed because of that ill fated fear of the opposite of such a word that we the world is in the state of becoming hell on earth.Think about it. Are we here to inherit life or capitalism. If not the latter, then God and life and heaven is invane. .. Every time I contemplate the word poverty or listern to the ill fearing fate of the word, and how deep this cancer has spycologically stifle and criple the world, the planet, and the life of every living thing on this earth;our freedom and strengh and,the gift of life which is the most powerful and precious in freedom there of, most valuable, the riches gain, void of all what the opposite of worldly poverity stands for,and this generatiion of man has yet if ever to learn,leaves me to wonder how much longer will those who in the misleading power of social justice and welfare and in the name of capital gain of social high class continue to mentally enslave and inprision us the majority which feeds of the bread crumbs of war Lordes of the world dressed in sheep clothing, dazzelled with all kinds of precious stones and of gold, tempt us with fruitless words of uninspiring hope which leads us but into that bottomless pit of social misery, social strife, social hunger and illness greed,warfare, death and resurection. I marvel at this wonder with man,and his drive for power and dominion. It is indeed because of that ill fated fear of the opposite of such a word that we the world is in the state of becoming hell on earth.Think about it. Are we here to inherit life or capitalism. If not the latter, then God and life and heaven is invane.
..

]]> By: jgwiss http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300756 jgwiss Tue, 06 May 2008 06:42:24 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300756 There is a spectrum of voluntary simplicity. This can range from hoboing to Goldenager RVing north in summer- south in winter. There are ideas like 'the commons', usefruct, gleaning, and wildcrafting that go back millenia in European culture. There came a time in the '90's in some coastal California cities when the cops stopped bothering the folks living in vehicles because These were the workers for those lucky folks who had ridden the real estate bubble up to serious heights. Most folks like being in community where they can contribute to the commonweal. I've met others happy to have a shopping cart and be left alone sleeping in a doorway. Strike up a conversation sometime with someone seeming to voluntarily have less stuff and more time. You might learn something. There is a spectrum of voluntary simplicity.
This can range from hoboing to Goldenager RVing north in summer- south in winter. There are ideas like ‘the commons’, usefruct, gleaning, and wildcrafting that go back millenia in European culture. There came a time in the ’90’s in some coastal California cities when the cops stopped bothering the folks living in vehicles because These were the workers for those lucky folks who had ridden the real estate bubble up to serious heights.
Most folks like being in community where they can contribute to the commonweal. I’ve met others happy to have a shopping cart and be left alone sleeping in a doorway. Strike up a conversation sometime with someone seeming to voluntarily have less stuff and more time. You might learn something.

]]> By: Miranda http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300536 Miranda Tue, 06 May 2008 01:37:26 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300536 I certainly agree that it sounds romantic. I don't like the idea of living a freegan lifestyle. But when I look at what other, "normal" married people my age have -- two cars, a big screen TV, crazy toys for the kids, premium cable, cell phones, etc. -- I feel pretty abnormal. We only have one car and take advantage of our legs and public transportation, a smallish TV and basic cable. And we have a pay as you go cell phone. We have a garden and we buy very little at the store. You don't need to take a "vow of poverty" to cut back on your expenses and to live a lifestyle that isn't as wasteful as those around you. I certainly agree that it sounds romantic. I don’t like the idea of living a freegan lifestyle. But when I look at what other, “normal” married people my age have — two cars, a big screen TV, crazy toys for the kids, premium cable, cell phones, etc. — I feel pretty abnormal. We only have one car and take advantage of our legs and public transportation, a smallish TV and basic cable. And we have a pay as you go cell phone. We have a garden and we buy very little at the store. You don’t need to take a “vow of poverty” to cut back on your expenses and to live a lifestyle that isn’t as wasteful as those around you.

]]> By: asmom http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300444 asmom Mon, 05 May 2008 23:10:48 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300444 When I was little we used to call people like this "bums". That term went out of vogue for the term "homeless" back in the 80s. I am all for reducing waste and not being a slave to jobs and possessions but "squatting" on other's property- which is stealing by the way- takes it to another level. Bums. When I was little we used to call people like this “bums”. That term went out of vogue for the term “homeless” back in the 80s. I am all for reducing waste and not being a slave to jobs and possessions but “squatting” on other’s property- which is stealing by the way- takes it to another level.

Bums.

]]> By: JenLovesPonies http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300343 JenLovesPonies Mon, 05 May 2008 20:45:09 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300343 I find myself irrationally annoyed with the idea, and I can't explain why. I read a romance novel recently where the mother of the heroine was like this- refused to earn more than $3000 because she'd get taxed, working with various poor populations while her daughter lived with various friends, giving away all she could. The book opened with the daughter finding her checking account empty because the mother used the money to buy some women out of slavery. I was annoyed with the character, who never loved her child enough. I think I just get irritated with freegans and other people like that because it seems unfair that I have to do all those things I have to do, and they get it all for free. I do wonder what they do when they get sick. Public health clinics are funded by taxes, for one thing. Taking expired medicine can make you sick, if you dumpster- dived for it. Squating bothers me too. I doubt too many people aren't taking advantage of the utilities and I would be suprised if that many people fix up the place for free. On the other hand, I know reading PF blogs has given me opportunities that others don't get and/or pay full price for, and I don't mind that, certainly. I think I am a little hypocritical. Alexandria- I went to a Catholic college. The nuns and priests may not have owned much to their own name, but they were well taken-care-of. The priests, when they went to Seminary, had to spend a month on the streets begging to teach them humility or some nonsense. I was a little repulsed since they were taking things from actual homeless, all while enjoying the backing of the richest religion in the world. I find myself irrationally annoyed with the idea, and I can’t explain why. I read a romance novel recently where the mother of the heroine was like this- refused to earn more than $3000 because she’d get taxed, working with various poor populations while her daughter lived with various friends, giving away all she could. The book opened with the daughter finding her checking account empty because the mother used the money to buy some women out of slavery. I was annoyed with the character, who never loved her child enough.

I think I just get irritated with freegans and other people like that because it seems unfair that I have to do all those things I have to do, and they get it all for free.

I do wonder what they do when they get sick. Public health clinics are funded by taxes, for one thing. Taking expired medicine can make you sick, if you dumpster- dived for it.

Squating bothers me too. I doubt too many people aren’t taking advantage of the utilities and I would be suprised if that many people fix up the place for free.

On the other hand, I know reading PF blogs has given me opportunities that others don’t get and/or pay full price for, and I don’t mind that, certainly. I think I am a little hypocritical.

Alexandria- I went to a Catholic college. The nuns and priests may not have owned much to their own name, but they were well taken-care-of. The priests, when they went to Seminary, had to spend a month on the streets begging to teach them humility or some nonsense. I was a little repulsed since they were taking things from actual homeless, all while enjoying the backing of the richest religion in the world.

]]> By: EvieD http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300192 EvieD Mon, 05 May 2008 17:03:03 +0000 http://www.pfadvice.com/2008/05/05/voluntary-poverty-and-escaping-the-need-for-money/#comment-300192 LMAO at the "working less never hurt anyone" Generally, most employers require you to work "X" amount of hours per day/week/pay period, etc. Working less may in fact lead you to poverty but it won't be voluntary seeing as you'd probably get canned! @@ LMAO at the “working less never hurt anyone”

Generally, most employers require you to work “X” amount of hours per day/week/pay period, etc. Working less may in fact lead you to poverty but it won’t be voluntary seeing as you’d probably get canned!

@@

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