How Many People Have You Introduced to MMM?

[EscapeVelocity2020]

After looking at a poll around 'MMM and Lifestyle' and seeing a comment around how MMM might not be universally appealing, I thought I'd throw this poll out there.  I had assumed, hearing about MMM's blog raking in booku buckaroos in the late 201x's (early two thousands) that this blog was spreading like wildfire via word of mouth.  Maybe that's not the case?

Over my long history of being 'Mustache curious', I have attended just one meet-up.  I probably did not introduce anyone to MMM but I did further the cause, being FI at the time and quite a zealot about how everyone should be going for this goal.  But I don't think I've ever gone so far as to introduce anyone 'from the outside' to Mustachianism...

[ixtap]

Zero. No one has asked for advice, although lots have given us unsolicited advice without knowing much about us.

I do have two friends on a similar path, one wants to spend more time snowboarding and the other plans to start cruising at the same time. But they were both already on that path when we met and one has specifically used the term 'FIRE'.

[Loren Ver]

I've sent a few links to a few people, usually to answer a specific question they have asked and I usually send it with several other links to different resources or blogs that cover the same topic with different focus or attitude.  I've never just sent a general, hey read this guys stuff.  More like here is a good example of how compound interest can be used to your advantage and cut down you working years.

But then, I was pretty close to FIRE before I found MMM, so he wasn't part of my foundation.

Loren

[E.T.]

I answered 3+ times. I'm fairly open with coworkers about my plans to retire early so if they're interested in knowing more I share the site, usually specifically the link to the shockingly simple math article. I usually share JL Collins stock series and Your Money or Your Life as starting points too.

[YummyRaisins]

One I suppose if you include spouses, although honestly she may have seen the site before I did as she was more into personal finance than me early on. I found the site while searching for ways to consolidate and pay down debt and posted a case study.

I don't talk about the site at work since I'm not comfortable this early in my career talking about retirement since most of my colleagues are very career-minded.

[ysette9]

Probably a half dozen or so, family and close friends.

“Beaucoup” bucks.

[Adventine]

I voted "every chance I get" because I bring up MMM to people, but only if they have, on their own and without any nudging from me, expressed interest in saving, investing or getting away from a soul crushing job.

Now as for how many people has MMM introduced to ME, I met my fiancé on this forum, as well as many other wonderful people. So the Mustachian way of life has done a great deal for my social network.

[Little Nell]

Hard to say. My husband told a hundred-person class about it last fall.

[RWD]

Coworkers, family, and friends. I've shared it with quite a few people. I'm pretty sure none of them have gotten on board with the philosophy. Though maybe a few have made small financial tweaks. Mostly I think it's turned me into the person they ask when they have tax questions, haha.

[Dancin'Dog]

You guys are my heroes.  I've told countless people, everyone from family & friends to complete strangers, about MMM and all of the intelligent, and interesting people here.  The FIRE movement is a great thing and something that I feel is important for more people to hear about and understand can be achieved by regular people. 

[Abe]

Coworkers, family, and friends. I've shared it with quite a few people. I'm pretty sure none of them have gotten on board with the philosophy. Though maybe a few have made small financial tweaks. Mostly I think it's turned me into the person they ask when they have tax questions, haha.

Yep.

[Dicey]

“Beaucoup” bucks.

You beat me to it. Merci beaucoup!

My 96-year-old friend wanted to read my journal, so I helped her create an account, so that's one for sure. Typically, I steer people to the blog. If they're interested, they'll find the forum themselves. When I was approachig FIRE, but still working, I mentioned MMM to loads of people.

Later, when I was co-executor for my parent's estate, I had to interact with investment professionals at several brokerage houses. If people noticed that I was retired early and knew something about investments, I always gave credit to MMM.

[Metalcat]

Oh, at least a few hundred.

However, young professionals come to me for career and financial advice, so I get a lot of opportunities to point people to resources.

[slappy]

I've only talked about it with a couple of people. I have the MMM shirt and I wore it to my son's birthday party a few years ago. My friend from work walked into my house, looked at me and yells "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SHIRT? I HATE THAT GUY!" Good times. haha

[Rhinodad]

Coworkers, family, and friends. I've shared it with quite a few people. I'm pretty sure none of them have gotten on board with the philosophy. Though maybe a few have made small financial tweaks. Mostly I think it's turned me into the person they ask when they have tax questions, haha.

Yep.

This. And then they look at me like I have 2 heads. Most people don't want answers, they just want company with their misery.

[Zikoris]

Tons, but only people who have expressed interest. Which is a lot because these days people I know often stumble across random Youtube videos with me in them talking about FIRE, and they have questions. But I definitely don't exclusively send people to MMM - I try to send people to whatever is a good fit with their own situation. Sometimes that's MMM, or ERE, or Millennial Revolution, etc.

[MrMoogle]

3+ but not every chance I get.  Mentor isn't the right word, but I help new grads that work in my area.  I usually link them the JL Collins stock series and the surprising simple math of early retirement.

[Metalcat]

3+ but not every chance I get.  Mentor isn't the right word, but I help new grads that work in my area.  I usually link them the JL Collins stock series and the surprising simple math of early retirement.

Same, I these are the specific things I refer them to as well, but also the book "Count on Yourself", which is a great resource for Canadians just starting out.

[SwordGuy]

MMM changed our life for the better.   WAY better.

I share it with ANYONE I can.

Most people ignore it.   

Some glance at the material and abandon it at the first thing they don't like about it -- real or imagined.

A few understand it but don't want to make the necessary changes.

And a very, very few take it to heart and change their behavior.


Had to have a crown put on a tooth today.    The dental assistant had just spent the last 2 years working a 2nd job (a full-time job based on the hours she put into it this last year) to pay off $26k in credit card bills.   She'll pay it all off next month.

Passed on the MMM info at exactly the right time.   She's obviously motivated to make real changes in her life to improve her finances and she's about to have real money she can invest.     I suspect she'll follow thru.   If she does she'll go from a very lean retirement to a comfortable one.  She's 53.

[DizzyDaisies]

I’ve shared a link to the site with 2 people, but I don’t think either bothered to check it out.

[Mr. Green]

I've mentioned it to a few people but only in the context of them asking us how we're doing what we are. To my knowledge no one has looked into it further.

[ChickenStash]

I've shared it with a small number of people but no one was interested. They usually just say something like the only reason that works is because I'm single or because I have no kids or something along those lines.

Of course our later conversations are about their new truck, boat, RV, UTV, sports car, and cruise. I'm sure that is unrelated, though. /s

[ixtap]

I've shared it with a small number of people but no one was interested. They usually just say something like the only reason that works is because I'm single or because I have no kids or something along those lines.

Of course our later conversations are about their new truck, boat, RV, UTV, sports car, and cruise. I'm sure that is unrelated, though. /s

In the end, all of our choices are crazy and/or selfish and all of their choices are perfectly logical, so it is quite unfair that we have the options we do while they are stuck with the consequences of their choices.

[Bateaux]

I've recommended MMM to a few.  As far as I know none have taken the bait.  I offer my free amateur advice and some I have shared our financial status with.  People generally prefer spending their money.  I know the status of many posting in this thread. The ones given the privilege of your advice should take it. 

[Tinker]

... successfully, or just introduced?

I've shared articles with three people, and that's about the number I'm comfortable talking money with.

[Metalcat]

... successfully, or just introduced?

I've shared articles with three people, and that's about the number I'm comfortable talking money with.

I only count people who I know actually read it, not just people I sent the link to.

Beyond that, I don't really care what they do with it.

[KathrinS]

MMM links and references are all over some of my blog posts, and people do click through sometimes. So, I think I've introduced a number of people to him and the concepts of FI.

In person, I am fairly open about my finances, although I don't think I mention MMM's blog very often. The people I spend the most time with are usually older and more advanced career-wise, so they are at a stage where they're thinking about these things.

[Aelias]

My husband.  And, due to a very healthy skepticism of self-styled experts, I guarantee you he hasn't read it.  But he eventually warmed up to the ideas of FIRE and satisfied himself that it was possible for us.  He's far more frugal by nature than I am, but took some time to accept the concept that, at some point, you have enough that work is entirely optional.

I don't think I've told anyone else about MMM or that we're on target to retire in about 6-7 years in our mid-40s.  It just doesn't come up, y'know?  I run in a pretty comfortable crowd of professionals, so we don't hear many gripes about money.   

[BudgetSlasher]

Zero.

For two reasons.

A) I fly under the radar. Discussion MMM or similar philosophy ultimately will reveal the gap between me and them, with regards to savings and debt. I get enough grief for being a DINK, and I've seen friends and co-workers talk with at least a hint of jealousy/resentment about those who have a nest egg. I would like to stay out of that column.
B) Religion, Politics, and Money: these things and the choices surround are incorporated into the core of many people's identity/perception of self. There are relationships that I enjoy, but would suffer if I were to bring any of those subjects into.

[Metalcat]

Zero.

For two reasons.

A) I fly under the radar. Discussion MMM or similar philosophy ultimately will reveal the gap between me and them, with regards to savings and debt. I get enough grief for being a DINK, and I've seen friends and co-workers talk with at least a hint of jealousy/resentment about those who have a nest egg. I would like to stay out of that column.
B) Religion, Politics, and Money: these things and the choices surround are incorporated into the core of many people's identity/perception of self. There are relationships that I enjoy, but would suffer if I were to bring any of those subjects into.

Funny. Religion, politics and money are like the most benign things I talk to people about.

[Just Joe]

I'd love to spread the good word about ways not to be a wage slave but we're surrounded by people who seem unwilling to change their choices even in the face of COVID.

Maybe they'll notice an ease with which we cope with life's challenges and decide to work on their "delayed gratification" abilities.

As someone above mentioned - money, politics, religion - we stay away from those topics with most except our kids. We speak very plainly to our kids.

[ender]

I reference this a lot - https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/

while telling people I don't generally like his blog. lol.

[markbike528CBX]

Me: nose in my iPad,
Others: watcha reading?
Me:  MrMoneymustache.com , financial, lifestyle blog.
Others with glazed over eyes:  Oh.
Me, not noticing: it is really cool, save money, save on taxes, FIRE,  etc etc etc etc etc etc.  I'll send you the link.
Others: Oh.. sure....

[scottish]

Almost nobody.   Nobody asks and I don't talk about it very often.

Plus, all those consuma suckas are a big part of the reason why it's possible to become FI in the first place.   So I'm not particularly motivated to evangelize.   

I find it hard to understand why people don't think in terms of financial independence on their own.   I was doing this 6 months after I finished school, which was way before this blog.   Way before the internet for that matter.