I'm Heather, 37, living in New Zealand, not married, no kids, no debt, but not much else to my name either.
I have always lived semi-mustachian (always paid off credit cards monthly, walk everywhere possible, which in my case includes work and everywhere else I need to go regularly (I have now started cycling those places that were a bit too far to walk) and have ancient low fuel car (not that it gets used much, just can't seem to give up the convenience), but somehow still managed to spend ridiculous amounts of money (I couldn't tell you what on).
I miraculously somehow had enough money to take four months off over summer (anyone living in NZ will know this was the best summer ever), this was not exactly by choice, but when my contract finished I decided not to panic until February when, happily, a new contract was given to me, and it made me realise there is a lot more to life than work. The last couple of months while getting through the MMM blog, have got me excited about every extra dollar that comes my way, dividends that before I would have ignored, I am now gleeful about, it is quite amazing how much money comes your way when you start taking notice of it.
To be honest apart from rent and house expenses (shared house, so fairly low) all I spend my money on is food and drink (slowly weaning myself off the excessive nights out). I have no interest at all in shopping anymore and am selling my excess stuff online, while previously I would have thought it not worthwhile, now I am loving watching the dollars come in.
Property prices here are crazy high at the moment, so my plan is to save hard and when it becomes more reasonable, or at least there is decent choice, buy. If anyone can advise on where to put my cash in the mean time, that would be fantastic, currently have some shares, but looking putting any new savings into Smartshares after reading other Kiwis' discussions.
I have never, ever read a blog from beginning to end before, this has been enlightening and although I am a little jealous of those in their twenties who have seen the light already, I am so grateful to have got there now rather than in ten years, or never.
Thanks MMM!