Author Topic: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants  (Read 3333 times)

londonstache

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TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« on: September 17, 2018, 11:01:41 AM »
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6175445/How-retire-FORTIES-without-earning-fortune.html

TEA (who is a regular UK FIRE blogger) has shared a great article on how to FIRE in the Daily Mail. All well, good and sensible (even name-checks MMM).

Comments section is, as predicted a bunch of complainypants who come in the standard flavours of "I can't save £20, lol", "It's impossible to live on less than 100% of my income, I'd rather be dead" and "What if he gets hit by a truck tomorrow? Because there is an extremely small chance of this happening, it's stupid to save anything, amirite?"

FINate

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2018, 11:35:59 AM »
Yes, people seem to be strangely fixated on the idea of retiring early only to be done in by an early death. Statistically this is very unlikely. Much more probably to work to age 70, have a few good years, then experience declining health followed by death.

This makes me sad for our society, a believe many have internalized that spending equals happiness, and therefore the point of life is to spend as much as possible, to "live life to its fullest" as several commenters put it.

bacchi

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2018, 01:27:10 PM »
Quote from: thedailymail
He then invested all of it in low-risk stock market funds and shares, bringing in up to 12 per cent return every year for 19 years while also paying down his mortgage.

I want some of that.

SpreadsheetMan

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2018, 02:26:53 PM »
Although...both TEA and MMM were high earners, so there is a grain of truth to some of the complainypants comments.

Hitting high savings rates is a lot easier if the amount left covers all essential living expenses. (Mustachian definition of "essential" obv)

SupersavingMMM

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2018, 03:27:48 PM »
There is a Guardian article too...slightly less commentary of the dismissive kind.  Still a good sprinkling of the disbelieving though.

I can’t decide if it is good or bad, the publicity.  Although newish to this myself, with only 6 months serious consideration under my belt, it has the slight air of a secret exposed! 

Wonder if there will be lots of new UK peeps to get to know in the coming weeks.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2018/sep/17/retire-early-fire-movement-never-work-again


js82

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2018, 06:59:28 PM »
Yes, people seem to be strangely fixated on the idea of retiring early only to be done in by an early death. Statistically this is very unlikely. Much more probably to work to age 70, have a few good years, then experience declining health followed by death.

This makes me sad for our society, a believe many have internalized that spending equals happiness, and therefore the point of life is to spend as much as possible, to "live life to its fullest" as several commenters put it.

The notion that spending money now will do more for my lifetime happiness than saving 50% of my income and retiring in my 40's is laughable.

It becomes even more laughable when one considers the well-documented impacts of stress on 1) happiness and psychological health, and 2) physical health and longevity.  I'm pretty sure I know what will happen to my stress level as working begins to become more of an option and less of a financial necessity.
« Last Edit: September 17, 2018, 07:01:01 PM by js82 »

SpreadsheetMan

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2018, 02:28:51 AM »
There is a Guardian article too...slightly less commentary of the dismissive kind.  Still a good sprinkling of the disbelieving though.

I can’t decide if it is good or bad, the publicity.  Although newish to this myself, with only 6 months serious consideration under my belt, it has the slight air of a secret exposed! 

Wonder if there will be lots of new UK peeps to get to know in the coming weeks.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2018/sep/17/retire-early-fire-movement-never-work-again
It might bring in a few people that were already fellow travelers, but didn't know it was a "thing".

I'd be surprised if there are many new converts judging by the comments and the general tone of the article (which was terrible).

Prairie Stash

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2018, 04:25:05 PM »
Yes, people seem to be strangely fixated on the idea of retiring early only to be done in by an early death. Statistically this is very unlikely. Much more probably to work to age 70, have a few good years, then experience declining health followed by death.

This makes me sad for our society, a believe many have internalized that spending equals happiness, and therefore the point of life is to spend as much as possible, to "live life to its fullest" as several commenters put it.
Its the jealousy response. People like to believe that anyone doing better then themselves will die a horrible death.

It speaks more to the pettiness of the poster then anything else. Re-read those comments and feel sorry for the people that can't come up with something nice to say.

CrustyBadger

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2018, 06:53:52 PM »
Yes, people seem to be strangely fixated on the idea of retiring early only to be done in by an early death. Statistically this is very unlikely. Much more probably to work to age 70, have a few good years, then experience declining health followed by death.

This makes me sad for our society, a believe many have internalized that spending equals happiness, and therefore the point of life is to spend as much as possible, to "live life to its fullest" as several commenters put it.

It's far more likely that people will be disabled, than die early; or that their spouse or a family member will become disabled and need someone to care for them.

Wow, do I wish my disabled husband and I were financially independent right now; and that I had the ability to quit work or reduce my hours to be able to be home with him.  There's no way that living cheaply and saving money will be a bad thing for you down the line, in this situation!

Plugra

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2018, 10:35:37 AM »
https://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2018/sep/17/retire-early-fire-movement-never-work-again
I'd be surprised if there are many new converts judging by the comments and the general tone of the article (which was terrible).

The comments on that Guardian article are amazing:  "The FIRE people can afford to save tons of money because they already have it."

I am waiting for a news outlet to write an article - not about FIRE - but about why the people get so f**g angry and defensive when they hear that someone is living below their means.  That would be an interesting study.


bacchi

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Re: TEA on FIRE, lots of complainypants
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2018, 11:17:55 AM »
Its the jealousy response. People like to believe that anyone doing better then themselves will die a horrible death.

Yep. It's the realization of what they've know all along but didn't quite know how to formulate into an action or couldn't bring themselves to admit -- buying expensive shit doesn't bring as much happiness as they were led to believe.

When you're deeply entrenched in that lifestyle and come to that realization, and see no easy way out due to family or massive inertia or fear, the only recourse is to criticize any other path before it keeps you up at night more than you already are.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!