Managing Excuses

[Milkman666]

I don't adhere to all of the Mustachian tenets as laid down my MMM. First, I drive to work. Second, I have a gym membership. There are other things too, but I'll just stick to these two for now.

The First Sin: I drive a car to work.

The Excuse: I am required to have my car for my job. I am occasionally called out to emergency situations that require me to attend locations throughout the city (Ottawa's a fairly big place). Oh, and it gets a tad nippy here in the winter.

The Management Factors:

• My job is 6km from my house.
• I drive a 2005 Mazda 3, so pretty good on gas and insurance.
• I drive like an old man... you know, slow starts, no speeding, avoid unnecessary stopping by timing lights, occasionally forget to turn off my signal.
  
• I get compensated every time I drive for my job.
• My wife and I used to drive separate vehicles, but she recently took a lesser paying job (we don't really need the extra) that is very close to my office, so now we only use the Mazda. The difference in her commute (and job satisfaction) makes up for any loss of income in my eyes... but she's still not entirely convinced.
• I do all my own maintenance work; oil changes, filters, tires, brakes, etc. I'm a motorcycle guy, so messing with mechanical stuff is no big deal for me.

The Second Sin: I have a gym membership.

The Excuse: I can't commute by bike, and I can't find anymore time for meaningful exercise.

The Management Factors:

• I have a membership at a community centre right across the street from my office ($27/month)
• I work out during my lunch hour instead of sitting in front of my computer eating all the shitty "meeting food" that is always around.
• I actually exercise; the thought of wasting the membership fee inspires me to get my ass in gear.
• I use my bike for errands like groceries. My 4 year old can come with me on her bike now and my younger one is almost old enough to stick in the trailer, so I get some pretty good daddy time on these errands, and will get more soon.

I'm not perfectly Mustachian, but I'm trying to minimize some of the anti-mustachian things I do.

[zoltani]

Just to help with the cold weather excuse with regards to biking, see these tips:

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/?page_id=12

Though if you are often needed for job emergencies then I am not sure biking is practical. Good that you carpool at least.

[Milkman666]

Well, that's why I added the cold winter excuse as an afterthought. I could commute through most of the winter by bike if my job didn't require a car (especially with a commute of only 6km each way), and I would. I'd hate it, but I'd do it.

I do ride my bike in the winter, and my daughter loves it! I put her in the trailer and she laughs and laughs while we ride around the 'hood. She just seems to delight in the insanity of it.

[zoltani]

Well, insanity is indeed delightful!

[alandjackson]

Car makes sense, but not the gym.

You can work out your entire body with almost no equipment (pushups, squats, bridges, holds, handstands).  A pullup bar  (park or the door jam kind) for pullups, dips, and leg raises is pretty useful though.  For cardio, you can bike, run, do circuits, jump rope, jumping jacks between sets.  I agree that it is easier to work out when you can go some place to do it, but that is a pretty minor excuse.

[Melissa]

You won't find me arguing about the gym membership (price seems more reasonable than most gyms I have seen).  I am a trainer so I know that you nedd little or no equipment to get a good workout completed.  I also know that the psychology behind exercising is equally important.  If you are working out consistantly I don't think the cost it that big of a deal.  Guilt is sometimes a very good motivator, although I wouldn't use it as the only one for working out.

I like comraderie and I know that is why many others join gyms.  Down the road you could also think about buying a few items that alandjackson named and find someone (maybe your wife?) to work out with you.  I got tired of running by myself, so I started coaching middle school cross country and am starting on a running club.  This way I know that other people are counting on me and I am focusing on developing relationships as well fine-tuning my body.

I don't see mustacianism as being about $ amounts.  I see it as making conscious decisions about living a deliberate life

[Richard3]

Could you car share for the emergency call outs or leave the car at the office if you don't use it for errands very frequently?

Although I work (for another week) at a company with free parking a mile from my house so maybe this isn't practical for normal people.

[RadicalPersonalFinance]

Just ask yourself this question about any expense like this: "In order to pay for my $27 per month gym membership into perpetuity, I need to have $8,100 ($27 x 300) of investments. Based on how long it will take me to accumulate $8,100 at my current savings rate, is this worth it to me?"

If the answer is yes, enjoy your gym membership.

[arebelspy]

Just ask yourself this question about any expense like this: "In order to pay for my $27 per month gym membership into perpetuity, I need to have $8,100 ($27 x 300) of investments. Based on how long it will take me to accumulate $8,100 at my current savings rate, is this worth it to me?"

If the answer is yes, enjoy your gym membership.

That seems like a good way to waste a lot of money on little stuff that won't bring happiness. I.e. "It's worth it for me to work 4 months to have a daily coffee for the rest of my life.. And it's worth it to work 2 months for gym membership forever.. And it's worth it to....."

And then you never actually save, because you're working to pay for all these luxuries you rationalized.

YMMV, but that reasoning would encourage more spending than other ways one might think about it, IMO.  But if it works for you, go for it.

[Milkman666]

Could you car share for the emergency call outs or leave the car at the office if you don't use it for errands very frequently?

You see, this is why I need places like this forum. I am simply not bright enough to recognize such a simple solution on my own.

The investigation into leaving my car at work begins today!

Thanks Richard!

[RadicalPersonalFinance]

That seems like a good way to waste a lot of money on little stuff that won't bring happiness. I.e. "It's worth it for me to work 4 months to have a daily coffee for the rest of my life.. And it's worth it to work 2 months for gym membership forever.. And it's worth it to....."

And then you never actually save, because you're working to pay for all these luxuries you rationalized.

YMMV, but that reasoning would encourage more spending than other ways one might think about it, IMO.  But if it works for you, go for it.

I think of it as an accurate way to do an opportunity cost analysis. That's truly the scenario and we'll all make different decisions on exactly the same things depending on our own circumstances.  Some people like fancier cars; I say as long as they really get what they're giving up and choose it consciously, it's fine.  Mrs. MM's crossfit addiction comes to mind also. That's definitely not worth it to me, but I say good for her.

What's a better way to do an accurate opportunity cost analysis without living another person's life for them?

I find it's one of the toughest thing to get people to think about.