W
Yes but how much is 'just a little bit higher'?
The point about blogs like MMM is to show people who dont even realise (no consciousness) about what one really needs to live a nice middle class lifestyle. You envoke immages of "counting pennies"....im too busy for that.
Agree.
When is enough, enough? It is for each person to answer that question level.
I came to that point and here is our story.
Married young to school sweetheart. In our twenties and thirties we were child free. Most cars were toys like MX5. We ate out heaps, really heaps, even breakfasts every second day because we both worked long hours. We went ot Gyms and Biked etc. Went to movies, clubs, etc.. Stayed at luxury BNB like Lillianfells, Chateau Yearing.
Loved our small inner city Terrace in Sydney, no yard etc. Had cleaner and full time laundry service. Wife did Pilates at $30 per session private studio, 3 times a week ( ok, i never did agree with this one but what do you do
) I went to gym. She had designer outfits befitting her job, office wear, I had suits, etc.. BUt we worked long hours and in stressful jobs.
As I approached late 30's I saw my future in a friend with similar business. Wealthy but still working 24/7 with staff stress. Never saw his kids or wife and then he had a heart atack at 48 (and he was slim where I like my food.
)
Then, almost at a trigger, we fell pregnant with our daughter. So I said LET STOP and consider our options!!!
We could have stayed in Sydney and continued our life.
- moved to two cars to get around not one, less exercise
- drive to kinder / childcare as they are all full in city
- pay for private school because local was poor
- pay for lots of flights to VIC to see family due to daughter
- add kid social events involve spending money, kinder gyms, kid movies, cafes, etc.
- designer kids wear because DD friends would have them ( and yes in sydney you must)
- And our terrace would be too small so either suck up and have play dates and squealing or buy new house, around another $250k at least to stay in city
And
Wife would still have to work.
Or
Tree Change back to Family in Country VIC
We did that now:
- We kept business but dialled it down to key clients and paid good staff more, I stress heaps less and we actually improved our return and income - working more on the business that in the business
- We still have two cars, one is my Ute that cost $7k converted to gas for $3k.
- Sports cars traded for Subaru Forester in 2005 still great, scratches? who cares?.
- Kinder & Childcare we walked to and no waiting list. Small fee.
- Now at great public school across the road, with free music program, dedicated teachers and even an off site country campus for grade 4 : all free
- all flights are me only and for business, so deductible and we earned enough points to go the France with Wife, free, twice in 3 years.
- Social events: we still hit our cafe but eat at home 80% not 20% and social events are local fairs and fetes and private parties/dinners were you simply have fun not pretentious glamour. Even in the bush we have free open air cinemas, carols in the park , Halloween Nights etc... all free and no parking costs.
Daughter and now wife, wear smart simple wear and not designer focussed or Dora crazy, if anything DD wears the same stuff all the time. Wife gave up shoe and bag fetish and has one pair of designer gumboots and dress boots. Same in same out each day. T Shirts and Jeans is de rigour.
HOW DID WE DO IT?
Sold Sydney and bought heritage cottage in centre of country town 1hr fast train to Melb CBD. Renovated home and about to build new home at rear of large block and then rent cottage as BNB earning $400+ a week. All from sale of Sydney funds.
For exercise I cut wood, mow lawns, garden, and lead daughter on her Pony which cost $0 (a free gift) and $10 a week in medicine and care. Saddle $150 and Safety Gear another $250. Free agistment on neighbours land. Pony eat grass, all good.
Wife still goes to Pilates
but cheaper and less frequent and she works in our business doing the accounts. At best 2 days a week.
So we have more time and less stress, better lifestyle for less cost.
TYPICAL DAY NOW
Get up 8am (me) Wife 7am to do hair etc ( some things never change LOL). We walk Daughter to school at 8:45am. Hit local cafe for coffee, work few hours then pick up daughter at 3:30pm every day except when I am in Sydney for business which is 2 days every week or so. If at home, go for pony ride, garden, visit friends, read, whatever.
BONUS
Grandparents have moved to our town and part of her upbringing giving us breaks AKA three weeks in Paris in oct 2012.
SUMMARY
I write this to say "each to their own".
Personally never liked yachts being seasick. Like cars but like Ute as well. Would like tractor but wife says
Still like eating out and have time to eat in and to cook well for friends and us and browse local farmers market for produce and grow our own stuff ( very poorly I must add but we barter with neighbours for wood and jam wife makes).
This lifestyle means our daughter's favourite thing is books not TV. We never hooked the TV up, she only has DVDs. She thinks Mc Donald's is boring except for playground. She values our time to play and learning with us over possessions. i.e. One of her
most precious toys is a home made , and decorated, cardboard sword and shield set I made, for her and I to battle "dragons and princesses" in the garden. PS she cheats invoking fairy magic clause each time I win.
TO CLOSE...
So as Christmas approaches (my daughter has no TV ads telling her buy the latest doll etc..) so when Daughter was asked
what she wanted? She said only 1 thing please....... A Tree House.
So neighbour offered tree on boundary ( massive oak) and a friend helped 3 days for free and BINGO, she is about to get a massive two storey tree house complete with rope ladder, toy kitchen, lookout, lifting baskets and it cost me a free dinner for mate and wife say $100, $50 in screws, and $0 in Wood and Sheeting I already had 2nd hand.
this is Lifestyle, not retirement.
Regards Peter 14.7