Spread some Mustachian wisdom in the comments section of the WaPo

[hybrid]

MMM was in the Washington Post again recently.  The article is essentially a rehash of much that has already been written in this blog.  The comments section is, naturally, filled with posts that are either not well thought out, dead wrong, or simply asinine.  If you want to help spread the Mustachian Gospel you can do so by filling your own well thought out, non-inflammatory comments.  Let folks know Pete isn't wandering in thsi wilderness alone, that his message resonates with a great many people.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/mr-money-mustache-answers-early-retirement-doubters/2013/05/23/7a491fe2-c180-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_story.html

My post read as follows....

Almost everything in this article was lifted straight from previous entries in his blog. I've become a big fan and reader of Pete, and have begun to make some common-sense lifestyle changes to improve my bottom line as well.
 
Too many commenters are nitpicking the overriding theme. That theme being that nearly everyone, in the middle class wastes entirely too much of their income on Starbucks, data plans, eating out, expensive vehicles and the like. Our "fun" budgets are keeping us from a better financial future (early retirement or not).
 
His basic philosophy was very similar to my grandparents. I highly, highly recommend folks take an hour out of their busy day to dig just a little deeper into his blog. It's time better spent that perusing this comment section, most of which would be better served in a virtual dustbin.  

[footenote]

I was reading WaPo this morning and noticed that MMM was "In the News."

I clicked and it was just his (old) Q&A. What do you think is making it trend this morning, hybrid? Every other "In the News" is something fresh (like the Washington state bridge collapse)...

(And, yes, many of the comments are just stupid.)

[aj_yooper]

Thanks for the link.  I posted this:

Mr. Money Mustache has inspired many to take a deep look at their 'spendy' lives (credit card use, car loans, student loans, commutes, excessive spending for basics, outsourcing when it should be personal, and general non-mindful spending habits) and their goals (fitness, health, personal engagement, family,  and meaningful work) to see if there is a better way to allocate the time of your life.  By being frugal and badasss ,MMM has demonstrated that early retirement  and an awesome life is attainable; the MMM blog and forum show how to do it and the people who are succeeding.  It's a trip!

[hybrid]

I was reading WaPo this morning and noticed that MMM was "In the News."

I clicked and it was just his (old) Q&A. What do you think is making it trend this morning, hybrid? Every other "In the News" is something fresh (like the Washington state bridge collapse)...

(And, yes, many of the comments are just stupid.)

That's a good question, my guess would be that the philosophy is so interesting to read about that the WaPo has discovered that it generates more traffic.  And more advertising revenue.

[footenote]

Wow - just read all the comments (and replied to a few). Reactions appear to fall into these categories:

• I don't care because I don't want to retire early anyway (totally valid)
• I don't believe it / MMM is hiding something, making s**t up, great at marketing (assertions that fall apart if you read the blog carefully)
• This isn't valid because you can't do it if your income falls below x (valid)

Overall, an interesting view of how Americans regard work, money and spending.

[lauren_knows]

I was reading WaPo this morning and noticed that MMM was "In the News."

I clicked and it was just his (old) Q&A. What do you think is making it trend this morning, hybrid? Every other "In the News" is something fresh (like the Washington state bridge collapse)...

(And, yes, many of the comments are just stupid.)

That's a good question, my guess would be that the philosophy is so interesting to read about that the WaPo has discovered that it generates more traffic.  And more advertising revenue.

Completely off topic, but... Hybrid, what is your profile icon a picture of?

[hybrid]

Completely off topic, but... Hybrid, what is your profile icon a picture of?

A Settlers of Catan game board - I'm a huge fan of strategy boardgaming.

http://www.catan.com/

[farmstache]

Completely off topic, but... Hybrid, what is your profile icon a picture of?

Looks like Settlers of Catan? But there's something in the water that makes me think maybe it's an expansion? Great game.

[hybrid]

I see several folks have taken up the call and written polite, well thought out responses.  Very cool. 

[Khan]

I tried reading the comments section, but there were too many doubters saying "SCAM" and I just...

I couldn't continue reading it.

[GoCubsGo]

I just read the comments section...quite frankly I could care less if most of those "sheeple" get slaughtered by their own stubbornness.  I don't personally agree with all of MMM's philosophies, and that fine.  I at least took the time to read all his posts after reading a similar article linked to MSN six months ago (my initial thought was he was probably full of shit).  Guess what, I learned a lot of things and have made some concrete changes because of his blog.  Succesful people tend to be naturally inquisitive and open to new ideas.  A lot of the moronic WaPo posts prove that some people just want to be in denial or are natural born haters.  Me wasting time posting takes precious minutes away from achieving my own goals in life.   While it is probably a noble thing to try to teach those type of people, my guess is that it would be fruitless.

[jdoolin]

Yeah, I spent way too much time with the last WaPo article posting replies.  I'm not even going to look at the article. 

[hybrid]

Me wasting time posting takes precious minutes away from achieving my own goals in life.   While it is probably a noble thing to try to teach those type of people, my guess is that it would be fruitless.

Good points.  I don't often waste much time in the comments section of websites - present website excluded! - but for me it was a good exercise in explaining why the philosophy holds true with me.  In my job I've often used the phrase "You don't truly understand something unless you can explain it to someone else." And that was the exercise for me here as well.  So in that sense it was not a waste of time.

But yeah, I'm ready to enjoy the rest of Memorial Day Weekend as well!  Cheers!