The Value of Time

[debit.servus]

Which is the fuller and richer life? 

Hmmm, it would seem that if one was at peace on their current path the exact scenario is irrelevant.

You need to realize that little curves and cliffs sometimes present themselves in life that may push you away from your original goals.

Enjoy the moment. It's pretty cool.

Which life is the most desirable to most people? The desert hermit or the perpetual traveller??

Little curves and cliffs do sometimes present themselves, some people create imaginary ones between the real ones (making excuses).

Enjoy which moment? The one in the van as a desert hermit or the one where I am in line to the ferry to Newfoundland (and countless other examples)?

Not to be a mean statement, but you sit in your parent's home and preach to those of us who are out here living our dreams on what we have earned.

Not to mention, many of us have kids older than you who have been taught good values.

Most of us learned the value of time and money before you were born and have earned the life we live.

I hope you can catch up with us one fine day

I am not in a basement, however. I am so close to being full time, have pretty much everything for a microapartment; now it needs to be moved from the DODGE van to the FORD van.

Having kids is not in the discussion.

Since you are older, can you please share how you value time and money?

I will catch up with you soon (unless that entails scrimping, scrounging, and being miserable to save a quarter)!

...
However, with all that said I feel that you are safely on track to avoid the calamity of passing to the other side with $1.5M in assets.

I am part of Tim Ferrises "New Rich" meaning I am working to be rich in Money, Options, AND Free Time.

 

[Raven+Squid]

Good luck with everything.

 

[storm6398]

Since you are older, can you please share how you value time and money?

Money is money. It helps you buy stuff. It is not a magical cure all to all your problems, it doesn't make you a better or worse person than anyone else, (your attitude does that) and it doesn't cuddle up to you when you are lonely because someone you love has died. It sure as hell doesn't buy you one more second to say "I love you". It's the means to an end. All you really need to survive is food, shelter, and clothing.

 I work part time at  job I really like and make enough to get by on, yet I have a most awesome life. I have an amazing group of people I am lucky to call friends, ended up in a place that I never thought I'd be in (turned right at a crossroads), and I am grateful everyday when I get to wake up.  Your time, on the other hand is limited and you never know how much you have. I have lost a brother at 30 (car accident), a husband at 50(terminal illness), a good friend who was murdered at 48, and another good friend who died at 52(terminal illness) and all the money in the world will not bring them back. Time is the one gift you can give that has lasting impact on another persons life, whether it's kickin back with your friends or taking the time to just say "hey, hows it going" to someone you meet at the grocery store. So in my little world, the way I spend my time is way more important than working 50 hours a week for a future that may never happen. At 52 I have learned to live in the present moment because the future isn't guaranteed.

I have found that when I live in a state of gratitude for just being able to have one more day on this great big playground called earth I never lack for anything. Do I have everything I want - yes. Do I have everything I need - yes. Somehow it all works out. Don't know how or even why but it just does.

I'd rather be happy than right and at the risk of being banned from the forum the words I try to live by are "Don't be a dick - be kind".

 

[debit.servus]

Money is money. It helps you buy stuff. It is not a magical cure all to all your problems, it doesn't make you a better or worse person than anyone else, (your attitude does that) and it doesn't cuddle up to you when you are lonely because someone you love has died. It sure as hell doesn't buy you one more second to say "I love you". It's the means to an end. All you really need to survive is food, shelter, and clothing.

 I work part time at  job I really like and make enough to get by on, yet I have a most awesome life. I have an amazing group of people I am lucky to call friends, ended up in a place that I never thought I'd be in (turned right at a crossroads), and I am grateful everyday when I get to wake up.  Your time, on the other hand is limited and you never know how much you have. I have lost a brother at 30 (car accident), a husband at 50(terminal illness), a good friend who was murdered at 48, and another good friend who died at 52(terminal illness) and all the money in the world will not bring them back. Time is the one gift you can give that has lasting impact on another persons life, whether it's kickin back with your friends or taking the time to just say "hey, hows it going" to someone you meet at the grocery store. So in my little world, the way I spend my time is way more important than working 50 hours a week for a future that may never happen. At 52 I have learned to live in the present moment because the future isn't guaranteed.

I have found that when I live in a state of gratitude for just being able to have one more day on this great big playground called earth I never lack for anything. Do I have everything I want - yes. Do I have everything I need - yes. Somehow it all works out. Don't know how or even why but it just does.

I'd rather be happy than right and at the risk of being banned from the forum the words I try to live by are "Don't be a dick - be kind".

I agree with everything that is in bold and then more. Same here, Don't want to piss my life away working 50 hours a week for "retirement" and at the same time don't want to scrimp, scrounge and be miserable to live monetarily cheap. I rather work to LIVE, cutting the big expenses time cost effectively and not worry about the little stuff that may or may not add up. Thinking about savings in dollars and not pennies, aka Pound Wise and Penny Foolish.

Having beautiful experiences everyday and not be buzzkilled by spending $1 more on a meal because I misplaced the coupon. Being able to afford coffee & cookies at Tim Hortons when I crave it this summer or put a couple dollars into a Reverse ATM in Las Vegas without robbing Peter to pay Paul this June. Or paying a $6 cover to go inside a Salt Lake City gay bar (Salt Lake City has the most gay bois per capita, more than San Francisco). If I don't have this kind of cash cushion I'll still travel, I don't need to have ALL the money to cover any and every unexpected expense, just the fuel.

I am NOT missing a 3rd Canadian summer!!!!!!!!!! I missed 2014, 2015, I am NOT missing 2016 even if I have to steal the money to fuel the van.

 

[GotSmart]

I am NOT missing a 3rd Canadian summer!!!!!!!!!! I missed 2014, 2015, I am NOT missing 2016 even if I have to steal the money to fuel the van.

We just had a member have her possessions taken in front of her.  This happened a couple days after she was in an accident.  So you are going the way of being a thief?  Destroy someone else's life because you want?  :huh:

What about the agreement with your mother?  :dodgy:

Suck it up buttercup, and pay your dues by working for a year and pay her back while you put some cash away. You are only as good as your word.  Do not ruin your reputation.  

Nobody here judges you by anything other than your honesty.  Don't ruin that.

 

[highdesertranger]

you are only as good as your word. you made an agreement with your parents now live up to it. highdesertranger

 

[flying kurbmaster]

DS can I offer a bit of advice, no charge, you don't have to take any of it, a full refund if you don['t like it, try not to put a monetary value on time, money comes stop worrying about it, it really does just come, hard to believe but have a little faith, don't worry about what others are doing, thinking or how they live their lives, try not to make judgements on them, live your life, your adventure, follow your bliss. don't listen to your parents, especially your Dad, they mean well but are misguided, they want security for you, and finally don't take yourself or anyone else too seriously and be kind.
Canada is only 15 hours away, 1000 dollars there and back, it can be done in four days save the money up, show your parents let them know that you are willing to pay it towards the van but would really like to visit cousin Tim in Alberta as a summer adventure and if you can amend your agreement a little, nothing to loose by asking.

 

[debit.servus]

We just had a member have her possessions taken in front of her.  This happened a couple days after she was in an accident.  So you are going the way of being a thief?  Destroy someone else's life because you want?  :huh:

What about the agreement with your mother?  :dodgy:

Suck it up buttercup, and pay your dues by working for a year and pay her back while you put some cash away. You are only as good as your word.  Do not ruin your reputation.  

Nobody here judges you by anything other than your honesty.  Don't ruin that.

you are only as good as your word.  you made an agreement with your parents now live up to it.  highdesertranger

DS can I offer a bit of advice, no charge, you don't have to take any of it, a full refund if you don['t like it, try not to put a monetary value on time, money comes stop worrying about it, it really does just come, hard to believe but have a little faith, don't worry about what others are doing, thinking or how they live their lives, try not to make judgements on them,  live your life, your adventure, follow your bliss.  don't listen to your parents, especially your Dad, they mean well but are misguided, they want security for you, and finally don't take yourself or anyone else too seriously and be kind.
Canada is only 15 hours away, 1000 dollars there and back, it can be done in four days save the money up, show your parents let them know that you are willing to pay it towards the van but would really like to visit cousin Tim in Alberta as a summer adventure and  if you can amend your agreement a little, nothing to loose by asking.

I will reply to these in the 2001 FORD thread as I do not want this one derailed.

Can VJD1977 please step up?

 

[debit.servus]

Here is another excercise:
I have a five boxes of books and other media including CDs, Cassetes, and VHS; which I have no use for and want to give them away (NOT throw them away):
-Donate them to SAVERS (local secondhand chain store better than goodwill)
-Sell them individually on EBAY - average 2 hour time cost per book (listing, packing, labelling, trip to the post office/UPS store/FEDEX store, everything involved) for a money return of 20-70% of market value for each book. Selling all the media takes months if sold individually.
-Sell them by the lot on Craigslist - One sale, cash in hand from one listing if the right buyer comes along. Time cost 2-20 hours depending on how many inquries fielded, and how many re-listings. Money return pennies on the dollar relative to the market value of the media (liquidated).
-Take them to a used bookstore that buys books, have maybe 2 dozen media items get accepted out of the couple hundred in the boxes and walk out with a potential 2-figure money return ($??.??). 2-4 hour time cost plus cost of fuel to travel to the used bookstore(s). Maybe go to 2-3 more used bookstores to potentially double money return. Then donate the rest of the media to SAVERS or the Library. Money return $10-$50 for 2-8 hours of my time plus fuel cost.
-Send them in individually to one of the online takers of used media, average 1 hour time cost per book (handeling, entering ISBN, packing, labelling, trip to the post office/UPS store/FEDEX store, everything involved with sending the media item in) money return dimes on the dollar relative to market value.
-Take them to the flea market for the next six months and sell each media item for as low as $0.01 each. How to calculate time cost and potential money return on this one???
-Donate them to SAVERS or the Library. Time cost 1 hour or less, money return $0.00; lower overhead by 3x3' and 150 pounds.

Notice how the option with the highest potential money return has the highest time cost.
Notice how the option with the lowest return ($0.00, and cost of fuel to drop off the media), has the lowest time cost.

If you or someone you know sells used books and audiovisual media on Ebay or at a flea market, and would like some free inventory hit me up!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

You gotta have stuff people want to be able to sell. Books, DVDs and such are slow movers at best.

 

[akrvbob]

This is a discussion forum, not a ridicule forum. Let's cut back the level of antagonism. You don't like him, you've said it in lots of ways.

No more, I'm deleting all those posts.

Say something nice or helpful or at least constructive--or don't say anything at all.
bob

 

[VJG1977]

I will reply to these in the 2001 FORD thread as I do not want this one derailed.

Can VJD1977 please step up?

I take a different approach to calculating the value of my time.

To start, I get paid twice a month and my employer lets me know what my work time is worth.  For 40 hours a week I earn well above the national average for a Geographic Information Systems Technician and AutoCAD drafter. Notice I said earn not pull, I work for my money.

In my free time (look it up), if I had to assign a value, it would be at time and a half my hourly pay.  BUT, I do not waste one minute of time calculating the value of my free time because it is meaningless.  Every hour and minute would have a different value not a constant.

When I landscaped (late 1980’s) I charged $30 an hour, when I did auto repair (mid 1980’s) I charged $35 an hour.  If I spend an hour mowing my lawn or changing my oil, what figure do I use, currant cost to have someone else do these task or some fraction of my take home pay.

Another way to look at it is, if I were not mowing the grass what would I be doing.  If the answer is sitting on my A$$ watching TV, I’ll let you assign a value.

The hours I spend with my wife before and after work are priceless.  You could save for a year and not buy one minute of it. 

The experience of time passing is itself a variable.  I bet a year seems like a long time to you.  As you get older the years go by much faster.  I turned 62 on April 2nd and decided to work four more years and retire at 66.

By the way, I spend less than 10 seconds a day cleaning my razor, that’s about one hour a year and the razor last over a year.  I don’t know how much that saves because I’ve never used more than 3 or 4 razors a year. I got the idea from Clark Howard (a self-made millionaire) Google him or look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Howard
 
You are lucky to have parents that can bail you out.  In 1972 I joined the army, when I got on the bus to leave for basic training my father gave me $50.  I never asked for another dime, maybe because I valued his time.   There will come a time when your parents will resent the money you take from them.  That is money they will not have for their retirement.  

I truly wish you the best but I’ve spent enough of my time reading your post and that time can be better spent.

 

[debit.servus]

I'm afraid that I totally lost the track on that one. The flea market I frequent usually starts VHS tapes at a quarter not a penny!

I was there to liquidate them, as the less stuff I had to load back into the van the better! I could have sold the books, DVDs, VHS and Cassettes for a quarter each if I had waited.

I take a different approach to calculating the value of my time.

Would that be the cheapskate approach? $0.00 an hour?

To start, I get paid twice a month and my employer lets me know what my work time is worth.  For 40 hours a week I earn well above the national average for a Geographic Information Systems Technician and AutoCAD drafter. Notice I said earn not pull, I work for my money.

WOW.

In my free time (look it up), if I had to assign a value, it would be at time and a half my hourly pay.  BUT, I do not waste one minute of time calculating the value of my free time because it is meaningless.  Every hour and minute would have a different value not a constant.

" if I had to assign a value, it would be at time and a half my hourly pay." Time and a half of my hourly pay?

Calculating the value of ones free time needs to be quick and using basic metrics like "how much will it cost to hire someone to do ____________?", "Can I work more hours of my job to pay the cost of hiring someone?", "will this give me more Real Time?". What I mean by Real Time is if one has a $30 an hour wage, and the mexican day-labourers charge $10 to mow your lawn; which takes an hour. It gives you more Real Time to hire them as opposed to mowing the lawn yourself.

When I landscaped (late 1980’s) I charged $30 an hour, when I did auto repair (mid 1980’s) I charged $35 an hour.  If I spend an hour mowing my lawn or changing my oil, what figure do I use, currant cost to have someone else do these task or some fraction of my take home pay.

Use the figures I outlined in my first post, post #1.

Another way to look at it is, if I were not mowing the grass what would I be doing.  If the answer is sitting on my A$$ watching TV, I’ll let you assign a value.

If you enjoy mowing the grass, with the experience being a net gain I have no problem with that.

There is such a thing as busywork which I work to avoid when feasible and possible. I do not like working for the sake of working, keeping myself busy for busys sake.

The hours I spend with my wife before and after work are priceless.  You could save for a year and not buy one minute of it. 

Very true. Many people work themselves to death so they can have the big house, the luxury cars, the annual 2 week vacation to another continent and will have little to no family time to look back on.

The experience of time passing is itself a variable.  I bet a year seems like a long time to you.  As you get older the years go by much faster.  I turned 62 on April 2nd and decided to work four more years and retire at 66.

Already the weeks are flying by, in the sense that it's already Thursday. People wonder why I desire to get onto the road and LIVE ASAP.

BTW: These are the best years of my life, young and relatively fit. No worn out body like many people in their 70s. So in terms of value these are the most expensive years of my life. Being a wise boi, treating finances like a business, and living for today will pay dividends to having a full and rich life. How much will you need to be paid to voluntarily sit in prison for a year? For me it would be at least a few hundred thousand paid to spend a year in prison (for commiting no crime).

By the way, I spend less than 10 seconds a day cleaning my razor, that’s about one hour a year and the razor last over a year.  I don’t know how much that saves because I’ve never used more than 3 or 4 razors a year. I got the idea from Clark Howard (a self-made millionaire) Google him or look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Howard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_HowardThat is pretty easy to calculate. To be clear is it one dispo razor a year or 3-4? Lets be honest and not downplay or omit the work required to save.

Say a 12 pack of low-end disposable razors cost $3 at regular retail price (yes I know they can be bought on sale or with coupons but for this calculation we will use regular retail price) each razor out of the pack is $.25. 10 seconds a day times 365 days is 3650 seconds, 3650 / 60 is 60.83 minutes.

Many guys use one dispo razor every week or two.
Guy A: Uses 1 disposable razor a year for a money cost of 25 cents a year, and 60.83 minutes to wash said razor plus the cost of water (if one fetches water for $0.00 a gallon be sure to include the cost of time and fuel to fetch the water).
Guy B: Uses 48 disposable razors a year for a money cost of $12 a year, and doesn't have to wash the razor everyday at the cost of time and water.
Both Guy A & B have identical shaving patterns, shave schedule and use the same brand and style of disposable razor that they buy in packs of 12 for $3 a pack.

VJD1977, what is the cost of the water to wash the razor each time (we're going to account for that too like a business would)?

 

[debit.servus]

Here is a great excersise:
Say the government had a program for law-abiding citizens to trade a year of their life for a paycheck by going into prison voluntarily. Same accomidations as every other inmates, no special treatment or priveleges because you commited no crime. How much money would you have to be paid to voluntarily sit in prison for a year?

For me, the cost to trade life on the outside (I have no intention to do any crime that will land me behind bars, no matter how low the risk) for a year will need to be $300,000 before I'll consider it (going into prison for commiting no crime, taking part in a program that pays law abiding citizens to spend a year in prison in exchange for a paycheck).

 

[USExplorer]

My time does not have any monetary value, which is why I often volunteer.   Without knowing how much time I have left, budgeting time is a worthless pursuit to me. A six hour walk, or talking to a stranger for two hours, why not? In actuality, I burn about 100 calories an hour. I spend from 10 to 20 cents per hundred calories, so my time is worth a little over a dime an hour. If I work hard and eat well, 50 cents an hour. 

I don't pinch pennies; in fact, I don't even keep pennies. Couponing, who could be bothered with all that paper. Out where gas is scarce I check prices and locations of stations ahead of time and make sure I don't get ripped off. I mainly buy cheap high-carb foods at discount grocery stores, budgeting a little for fruit and an occasional luxury. I do live an ultra-frugal car dwelling lifestyle, but only because adventure and seeing new places are more important to me than creature comforts like daily showers and weekly steak dinners. In my view, the privations are actually part of the adventure. Traveling the country in a Class A, staying in luxury RV resorts, would be far less fulfilling to me than my current mode of transport. In fact I often see my current lifestyle as being far too easy, and I'm now thinking of temporarily ditching my wheels and backpacking in a foreign country next travel season. Not to save money, but to learn and adapt and enjoy.

If I work, I work because I enjoy the setting and the work environment, the money being just a side benefit. I used to work dull jobs to pay for college or my truck, but that is no longer my way of life. 

Frugality is a middle finger in the face of the consumer culture, that same culture which endlessly promotes spending money as the key to happiness. We understand that spending money on luxuries does NOT make a person happy or more fulfilled. In fact it is quite the opposite for most people. 

Hell, you are 22, I am 21. I have traveled nearly fifteen thousand miles all over the US over the past year and a half, living out of my SUV and working along the way. I have earned about ten thousand dollars in those 18 months, and I currently have three grand saved up and one month until my next job. I have also attended three years of college, paying part of my way. After college my dad loaned me five thousand dollars to buy my truck and I paid him back in six months, then moved out on my own and after a few months set out on the road. With all your preaching against frugal living, how many miles have you traveled ON YOUR OWN?

Those of us who live "miserable" frugal lives, the hippie Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, the cross-country hitchhikers from Germany, the Oklahoma cowboy driving a rattletrap motorcycle to Panama, the Slab City desert rats, the SoCal beach campers, we are living frugally because we enjoy it MORE than a bland life in a generic suburb or luxury camper.

 

[highdesertranger]

Say the government had a program for law-abiding citizens to trade a year of their life for a paycheck by going into prison voluntarily.

trade freedom for money? I don't think so. I don't even believe this was brought up. highdesertranger

 

[debit.servus]

My time does not have any monetary value, which is why I often volunteer.   Without knowing how much time I have left, budgeting time is a worthless pursuit to me. A six hour walk, or talking to a stranger for two hours, why not? In actuality, I burn about 100 calories an hour. I spend from 10 to 20 cents per hundred calories, so my time is worth a little over a dime an hour. If I work hard and eat well, 50 cents an hour.

Must be eating rice and beans every meal. Swore off having any snacks, prepared food, or ready made drinks on a regular basis.

I don't pinch pennies; in fact, I don't even keep pennies. Couponing, who could be bothered with all that paper. Out where gas is scarce I check prices and locations of stations ahead of time and make sure I don't get ripped off. I mainly buy cheap high-carb foods at discount grocery stores, budgeting a little for fruit and an occasional luxury.

Sounds like you're a dollar pincher like me, pound wise and penny foolish. Saving on the biggest things instead of the little stuff that may or may not add up.

I do live an ultra-frugal car dwelling lifestyle, but only because adventure and seeing new places are more important to me than creature comforts like daily showers and weekly steak dinners.

I desire to be a few steps above that. Pretty much have everything to live luxuriously when I go full time. Daily showers? Weekly steak dinners? Not required for me to be happy. Got to have the option to shower at least twice a week however.

In my view, the privations are actually part of the adventure. Traveling the country in a Class A, staying in luxury RV resorts, would be far less fulfilling to me than my current mode of transport. In fact I often see my current lifestyle as being far too easy, and I'm

The space is part of the adventure? How?

Have no desire to travel in a Class A and stay in luxury RV resorts. Rather have a rig with a smaller footprint than a regulation parking spot to travel to more places with smiling faces! Not be cooped up in a RV park with seniors who wished they didn't put their dreams on hold to live the conventional life.

now thinking of temporarily ditching my wheels and backpacking in a foreign country next travel season. Not to save money, but to learn and adapt and enjoy.

Have no problem with that, have fun if you decide to go backpacking!

It's not good for the soul to be miserable to save a buck. At the same time it's not good for the soul to work 50 hours a week to be able to afford every gadget  advertised on Television.

If I work, I work because I enjoy the setting and the work environment, the money being just a side benefit. I used to work dull jobs to pay for college or my truck, but that is no longer my way of life. 

Amazing!

Frugality is a middle finger in the face of the consumer culture, that same culture which endlessly promotes spending money as the key to happiness.

Agreed. I do not plan to live extremely frugal for the rest of my life, rather work more to have more Real Time versus Working to Save.

We understand that spending money on luxuries does NOT make a person happy or more fulfilled. In fact it is quite the opposite for most people.

I am part of that We. We know better than to keep up with the Joneses. Whoever has the biggest, newest Television in the neighborhood today will not have it next month or next year as electronics always come down in price.

Hell, you are 22, I am 21. I have traveled nearly fifteen thousand miles all over the US over the past year and a half, living out of my SUV and working along the way. I have earned about ten thousand dollars in those 18 months, and I currently have three grand saved up and one month until my next job. I have also attended three years of college, paying part of my way.

Awww.

After college my dad loaned me five thousand dollars to buy my truck and I paid him back in six months, then moved out on my own and after a few months set out on the road.

Great.

With all your preaching against frugal living, how many miles have you traveled ON YOUR OWN?

I am not against frugal living, just pinching pennies at the cost of hours of ones time. 9 times out of 10 the hours spent to save pennies is better spent working.  
In the van I have travelled over 10,000 miles with 4,500 consisting of road trips (Burning Man 2014, RTR 2015 in Quartzsite, EDC Las Vegas 2015, Burning Man 2015). Flying to Calgary and back to be with relatives for December 2014 (1010 miles flight distance x2), taking GREYHOUND bus to Las Vegas for EDC Las Vegas 2014 because the DODGE had fuel problems (615 route miles x2). 

Those of us who live "miserable" frugal lives, the hippie Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, the cross-country hitchhikers from Germany, the Oklahoma cowboy driving a rattletrap motorcycle to Panama, the Slab City desert rats, the SoCal beach campers, we are living frugally because we enjoy it MORE than a bland life in a generic suburb or luxury camper.

Well yeah it's easy to enjoy life when you are seeing new horizons everyday.

Desert hermits don't even get to see new horizons everyday, just existing for the welfare check.

As far as luxury goes for me, it's function before form. Having an ugly van that runs great is better than a shiny painted van on blocks.

Say the government had a program for law-abiding citizens to trade a year of their life for a paycheck by going into prison voluntarily.

trade freedom for money?  I don't think so.  I don't even believe this was brought up.  highdesertranger

This exercise is about valuing a year of your time. How much would you need to be paid to give up a year of your life?

Likewise if you had the option to sell your life to someone else by the year, every year sold being one less healthy year you have to live on Earth; where would the bidding start for a year of your life? Would your young years be valued more than old years?

 

[highdesertranger]

I repeat, you can not pay me enough to give a year of life for money not even a million bucks or a billion. I find it hard(impossible) to comprehend this thought. freedom is priceless. highdesertranger

 

[USExplorer]

@debit.servus If your thing is taking road trips to festivals, more power to you. Millions of Americans also choose to work full-time living a comfortable life, taking expensive vacations every once in a while. But that is not what this forum is about. To most of us, the journey is the destination. We feel most at peace when we are on the move, and we will make many sacrifices to be on the move as much as we can. 

Everyone will do what brings them fulfillment. It is easy to criticize others because their goals differ from ours. Maybe I think it is a waste to pay three hundred dollars plus to camp at Black Rock City. Maybe you think forgoing basic necessities to prolong time on the road is a miserable life. 

Only some are wanderers at heart. Our life cannot be quantified, a value cannot be set upon any of our experiences. In the view of the working professional I am squandering talents and abilities and TIME that could be used to great ends within a corporation. 

Others take great pride in DIY projects and recycling, and will spend all their waking hours building things and collecting junk. For them if they are not working with their hands and continually brainstorming new projects they are not enjoying life, and the time spent and money saved is completely irrelevant.

 

[debit.servus]

@debit.servus If your thing is taking road trips to festivals, more power to you.

EDC (with other electronic music club events & festivals) and Burning Man are just two of the hundreds of different experiences I desire to experience. The trips are a great way to see what works and doesn't for my eventual full-time vandwelling life. When I go fulltime I will have a time & money cost effective setup, with a focus to minimize "set-up, break down" for many systems.

Millions of Americans also choose to work full-time living a comfortable life, taking expensive vacations every once in a while. But that is not what this forum is about. To most of us, the journey is the destination.

The journey is the destination for me too, most of the time. Vandwelling is a one of the best ways to get the most LIVING from every dollar. We show everyone else that you don't need a 45' Class A to live great on the road! Infact the supersized RV is a hinderance in a lot of cases.

This summer; Between the end of EDC and end of June, I plan to take it slow up to CANADA; including to spend AT LEAST a few days in Salt Lake City railfanning, going to gay bars and traveling on the extra wide streets the smart Mormon city planners built with other things. I plan to be in CANADA no later than June 30th, in time for CANADA day. Desire to see a Canada Day fireworks show then work my way back into the US to see 4th of July fireworks; then come back to CANADA for the rest of July.

We feel most at peace when we are on the move, and we will make many sacrifices to be on the move as much as we can.

Mee too.

Poor bois like me have to make sacrifices while on the move, but if that includes deliberation on a $5 purchase, might as well not move that day.

I would rather work more so I don't have to work to save every cent!

Everyone will do what brings them fulfillment. It is easy to criticize others because their goals differ from ours.

I am just questioning the savings mindset that penny pinchers and extreme cheapskates have.

Maybe I think it is a waste to pay three hundred dollars plus to camp at Black Rock City. 

If it was just camping there wouldn't be 70,000 people dying to burn each year.

Maybe you think forgoing basic necessities to prolong time on the road is a miserable life.

So I guess you could say: I "forgoed" A/C in Las Vegas.
I "forgoed" a haul trailer, battery capacity and reliable refrigeration in Black Rock City.
I "forgoed" a HONDA genset.
I "forgoed" a FANTASTIC fan.
I "forgoed" a 3-ton floor jack and jack stands.

The reason I "forgoed" those things was due to not having the M-O-N-E-Y to acquire them. Now that I have them (with the exception of the haul trailer, battery capacity and HONDA genset) I have no plans to give them up.

Just because I have A/C & heat doesn't mean I have to be 70 degrees all the time. Just because I have compressor-based 12v refrigeration doesn't mean I have to keep it filled with frozen entrees and ice cream. Just because I have a generator doesn't mean I need to run it 24/7. Those things are nice options to have available, and I like having options. Having options is a part of having freedom.

There are no points to earn for making oneself miserable. This is the takehome message.

Only some are wanderers at heart. Our life cannot be quantified, a value cannot be set upon any of our experiences. In the view of the working professional I am squandering talents and abilities and TIME that could be used to great ends within a corporation. 

I am not saying to quantify everything, just when it comes to spending money and time to save money.

Others take great pride in DIY projects and recycling, and will spend all their waking hours building things and collecting junk. For them if they are not working with their hands and continually brainstorming new projects they are not enjoying life, and the time spent and money saved is completely irrelevant.

Have no problem with that, infant some of my projects are not about money at all.

But when that project is building a breastpump from dumpster dived parts, I ask you to ask yourself "how is building ____________ going to improve my life? " and "Am I really saving money through this?".