Mr. Money Mustache's latest post is inspiring:
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/12/09/soldier-of-luxury/You've all read it. He uses a fable, an extended analogy (sort of like those business books - The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, Who Moved My Cheese) of a soldier to reiterate key points of his frugal lifestyle. The minimalist soldier with everything his backpack is fun to follow.
Here, as it is throughout his blog, MMM emphasizes what others in personal finance often do not
- that frugality is enjoyable
- that frugality does not have to equal harmful deprivation
- that frugality is preferable to many other forms of living
The soldier notices how well his body works for him, wonderful little things like this that are folded into the entire mustachian lifestyle is what makes it appealing.
Notice that at no point in the fable is the soldier living minimally to spite anyone. Instead, he chooses this life because it works for him.
In far too many frugality blogs is an off-putting, knee-jerk stance against "The Man," when really it's just a guy in his dingy apartment who is jaded about life in general and must blame someone to feel better about his own circumstances instead of improving life for himself.
MMM blends the almost perfect mix of personal responsibility, inventiveness, openness to being different and appreciation for society's advances. He doesn't completely throw the baby out with the bathwater and it shows in his newest blog post.
Well done, again, MMM.