[ericmedem]

I guess I am understanding a bit more about the frugal lifestyle and perhaps there are some things to be learned from it.

I had never been to this forum before and it uttlerly blew me away at the odd things people do to save money rather than just making a bit more.

Dont get me wrong I think everyones main goal in life should be happiness, if being frugal makes you happy then stay frugal. Thats awesome if you enjoy it.

Here is my way of thinking, I am sure most of you will disagree, but it is my way. I always ask my myself "self, are you willing to pay $90/hr to sit on the couch and watch judge judy", since my work time is worth $90/hr and I am either working or relaxing, taking away from one to put in the other. Putting a price on my time helps keep me doing high value activities when I do work, and when I dont then I try to do things that I would be willing to pay $90/hr for. If you could be making $15/hr working then time spent not working you are essentially paying $15/hr for. If you work at a job making $9/hr and you could be making $20 with a little effort. Then you are essentially paying $6/hr to stay where your at rather than taking another job.

I dont want to be place holder in life, a good enuffer. A person who doesnt have it bad enough to want to change, but not good enough to be really satisfied with their lives. I'm not talking just money either. Im talking more about life satisfaction. Looking back on life and saying you know, I did my absolute best and have very few regrets. I enjoyed everything God had in his world. Now if no regret living and you highest level of satisfaction in life can be gained through the frugal lifestyle then awesome. My idea of life satisfaction is time with my family being in the moment, being able to be there for all of my kids activities as he progresses through life (along with my wife), seeing the world through travel, donating money to solid organizations (the more money you make the more you can donate), driving a very comfortable and fun car because I spend 2-3 hours a day in it, the list gos on and on.

I think these are the questions that you need to ask yourself to see if you are doing all that it is to be happy. If you can be happy with your answers then you are living a no regret and happy lifestyle.

If I could be anything in the world with no possibilty of failure what that be?If your not what your answer is, and your not working towards getting to what your answer is then what are you doing?

If I could pick any spouse in the entire world, who would I pick the same one over again? Now give your own spouse a bit of slack, but on a basic level would you pick them all over again if given the chance. If you answer differently than your own then, get to work.

This is just how I think, I could be wrong but I think everybody has the abiltiy to live the life of their dreams eventually, as long as you are building towards that life, even if you never get their then awesome. If frugality is part of living your lifes dream then by all means stick with it.

Eric Medemar