I was at work today, during lunch hour, I told my collegues that I was trying to save 40%+ of my paycheck and instead of getting any support, all I got were people telling me "Why are you doing that for??? Your not living your life, you will regret it." and then another collegue was like "You need debt to live". The worse reaction is when I said I don't own a car, I take the bus to anywhere I go and everyone stares me like an alien and telling me "What do you do when you go out?", I replied "Huh, well I take the bus." and I still would get stares...What the hell is wrong with people. Mind you, I am not even doing anything hardcore, there are mustachians here who save much more than me and ride their bike to work...I could only imagine what my co-workers would say about that, already they think I am crazy for saving 40%. Even worse is that no one bats an eye when someone at work says "I got a 5 year loan on a car", but because I save 40%....I am the weird one. Try to figure that one out.
Yup. In the same breath my friends will imply that I'm cheap for not having an iphone (although I do have a smart phone with data even, just a super cheap plan so I don't go crazy with unlimited data), but then sigh about how they have no savings and debt and how privileged I am to not have to worry about these things and to be able to afford a SAH spouse. And these are my friends, the people IRL that I feel like most closely share my values. I can't imagine how others would react.
I know and the worst part is they always come up with that excuse "You only have one life to live". I mean, since when spending 10$ here, 50$ there means you are happy in the end???I get much more fun just of bike riding or playing sports or even working out and it doesn't cost much or nothing at all in most cases. Plus I love knowing that when I am 40 or 50 years old, I will have the freedom of doing what I want, if I feel like quitting my job, I can, because I will have the means by then to do so, if I want to pursue some other career, I can too.
Although, now my expenses are very low, because I am working on that goal, I don't feel I am living a miserable life doing so, which many of collegues think I am doing, they actually think I am suffering for that long term goal.
It is funny, how society are like sheeps, anything out of their bubble is wrong to them. Everyone has these days, iphones and samsung with crazy data plans, but they seem to forget the world used to exist without them and you can still live today without them. I hate the fact that everyone would know where I am at all time, if I am busy, they will simply have to wait when I am available to call them back, but yet I am the insane one,lol. When I hit 30, I decided to eat healthier and follow a healthy meal plan, yet again, I still got no support from anyone.They don't realize we are a country with terrible eating habits. And since I live in Canada, I actually save the country money (we have healthcare) because my chances of going to the hospital for health related issues drop dramatically because I exercice and eat well, but yet, the still tell me that I am in the wrong and that...yes....I have one life to live so I gotta make the most of it.
I still have yet to find someone in my city who doesn't think like that...and I live in a big city. I am sure there is someone who has the same mustachian values, but I have yet to meet one in real life. This city seems to be infatuated by cars,technology and embraces debt.
Ah it felt great venting here :p .I have to learn that people's mindset will never change unless they accept change.