Living Cheaply and Well - Make it a Lifestyle Starting Now
The thought of living cheaply means sacrifice and depriving yourself to most people. We have lived cheaply for so long it is second nature, but without sacrifice and we certainly do not feel deprived.
Our friends do not think of us as hippies, stingy, or Spartan. They also know we will not waste money either.
We have been retired for 14 years, since I was 49, by living cheaply and well. We have experienced living aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean, living in an RV and living overseas. All are much cheaper ways to live compared to a house and "traditional living". After all, what is considered "traditional" anymore after the erosion of assets in the last two years?
If these times of uncertainty have not made us all open to living cheaply, you wonder what it will take.
Before retirement my wife and led the life of DINK's...dual income no kids. We earned in the low 6 figures. We had nice cars, a comfortable lifestyle without waste. We resisted the urge to buy bigger and bigger houses and lived in our first house for 21 years.
We can say there was no sacrifice because we took regular vacations. For example, we took cruises and paid for the cheapest cabin. We ate the same food; saw the same shows; went to the same ports as the folks in suites paying 3 times what we paid. We went to Las Vegas, stayed off the Strip, didn't gamble and became fond of buffets. We didn't notice many smiles in the casinos...we were happy, we were living cheaply.
We used and use credit cards as a way to use other peoples money free for a month and accumulate free airline tickets...never to "reward ourselves" and buy something we couldn't afford. We pay off our credit cards every month; we have never paid a dime of interest. So should you.
Even then we thought living cheaply was the way to go. Goodwill meant something then and now besides being words in a Christmas carol. Before the internet made comparison shopping easy, we did our research before buying anything.
Coupons, outlet malls and buying in bulk were part of everyday life then and now. If you try living cheaply you will soon find it second nature... and fun as well.
You too will hear from the checkout lady..."Everything you bought was on sale or you had a coupon"...Duh!
Living cheaply is easily doable and allowed us to retire early and stay retired. If you make it a lifestyle you can do the same. Enjoy.
Frugal Living - Living Cheaply and Well - Make it a Lifestyle Starting Now
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