Some high earners are opting for "underconsumption"

https://fortune.com/2024/12/28/rich-millioniares-underconsumption-life/

by jbrins1 • 2 years ago

2 2 2 years ago

https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Living_below_your_means

I'm not a high earner by any means, but I'll say that I've caught the underconsumption bug. I've always been of the mindset that I need less than I think I do, but I really took it to another level and I've got to say, my life has never been better.

I never buy new clothes (except shoes), all thrift store clothes. My rent is probably a quarter your rent. If you're in SV, more like 10%. I take care of a family of four on a 1200 a month budget. When I was single, it was $600 for just me, that's all expenses.

We have everything, clean clothes, nutritious and delicious food, a clean environment, all the facilities you need, private family space, lots of outdoor space, access to beauty and amenities. And, we have time to explore, we have time to learn, we have resources to experiment. We have time for each other. There is very little pressure to make ends meet, and we live in what we consider to be luxury, not hedonic luxury, we have things most others wish they had. I have the luxury to go camping for two weeks with my family on a whim. I have the luxury to teach them myself.

If I ever become a millionaire, I'll keep doing it. I'll probably own land instead of rent, the dwelling will probably be a little bigger, I'll probably spend more on projects. But I will never buy a new car on payments, a house in the suburbs, I'll never try to get a condo in a city, I'll never eat out every meal, I'll never buy my kids designer clothes because they demand it or out of some sense of shame. I'd probably keep doing the thrift store thing honestly, the clothes I currently have are way better than anything I've ever bought brand new.

Some high earners are opting for "underconsumption"

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