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Wage Slave Rebel Dispatch
Rich Beyond Your Dreams
Note: I’ve been busy lately with some business experiments and unable to write as much as I’d like. I should have some more substantial posts up next week.
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What is enough? Last week I published a bit of a summary of my views on Enoughism, namely that we ought to be satisfied with the things we have and very careful about acquiring the things we think we want. I had only really thought about this, though, in regards to consumer products, neglecting entirely the monetary system which allows us to afford such things.
I was led down this path of thought earlier today when, as I was browsing through my all-time favorite comic strip, I found the image I’ve posted above. When you read it, you’ll notice the connection immediately.
How briefly, though, do we celebrate our successes and those things which we have before we run off looking to gain even more? What does enough money look like and what is it really worth to us? As in the world Alan Watts described, do we really believe money is worth so much that we’ll sacrifice our time, effort and, in many cases, our lives in order to acquire an obscene surplus of it, but have no real goals or passions or any chance to enjoy what we accumulate?
Lately I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what it means to have enough money. While the resulting amount varies, there is a formula to figure it out. It’s not rocket science either, just common sense. The cost of basic necessities (food, clothing, shelter) for you and your family plus the cost of maintaining your passion (for example, as a web designer it’s great to have a computer and an internet connection). Anything besides that is frivolous spending. That’s not to say frivolous spending is bad. Indulging here and their is nice as long as it doesn’t consume your life. The problem is that it does consume most people’s lives.
The important thing is to have your priorities straight. Provide for your basic needs first, for your passions second, for others third and for indulgences very rarely. Hoarding more than what’s necessary is tantamount to theft.
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While I agree with this post about 99%, there are small exceptions: I think helping others should be equal to, or greater than, passions on the priority scale. And everybody should try to keep a small nest egg for emergencies like unexpected car repairs, traveling to help out a loved one in need, etc… Greed has been the main reason for Americas trouble. The fact that we burn through the planets resources at a faster rate than any other country isn't helping our worldwide reputation either!
Sounds about right to me. Take care of the basics plus use whatever is needed to fuel your passions. I've got a mountain of debt, so once I quickly knock that out, this is the formula I'll use. In so many ways I view money as a weak currency, often times I prefer to trade in time, inspiration and other intangibles.
[...] Site tagline: Lessons in dismantling the status quo J.D. says: “Wage Slave Rebel was founded as an online hub for the ever-growing digital community of freelancers, artists, bloggers, consultants, lifestyle designers and entrepreneurs, all of whom we collectively call ‘Wage Slave Rebels.’” Why you should check this blog out: J.D. doesn’t pull any punches. He’s known for his sharp commentary on the status quo and disdain for empty platitudes people in the lifestyle design community tend to make. Most recent post: Rich Beyond Your Dreams [...]