New job, selling the car, back to a flip phone, cancelled cable and gym

[Tyler Newleaf]

This blog has really opened my eyes to how I should be approaching so many life concepts.   Within the last year I bought a new(ish) car and got a loan for it.  How stupid!  Since reading this blog I've been making some changes for the better...

I finally landed this consulting gig working from home.  I have a bike, so I want to sell my car. I brought it to CarMax but got a very low price.  I would still be upside down 6k.  I am going to clean it up, upholster the center console and try to sell it privately.  If I could make an extra 3-4k on the private market I think it would be worth selling.  I'm not sure if that is a reasonable expectation...

* I got rid of my data plan phone and went back to a durable, simplistic flip phone that lasts for a week without charging once. 
*Got a Roku for 40 bucks and got rid of cable
*Cancelled my gym membership and have been doing P90x, which I'm pleasantly surprised with.  Being a fit person I was skeptical.  I got the P90x for free and everything else off CL for super cheap.
*Got a BJ's card of Groupon for 10 bucks and don't go out to eat anymore.  I enjoy cooking, so we eat better meals than restaurants can prepare in my opinion.

I still have a long way to go, but this is my starting journey down the road of badassity.  Reading other people's progress motivated me to make changes and hopefully this could do the same.  I am fortunate to have my fiancée on board!  Our end goal is FI and early retirement.

The biggest thing I've come to realize after all of these changes is how much I hate contracts and stipulations.  If a contract is involved, I'm not interested.  If a loan is needed, it's not for me.  All of this hinders change and freedom and caused a lot of hold ups, and still is in some cases. 

[Paulie]

Wow, nice changes with a lot of impact, good work!

[Greg]

The biggest thing I've come to realize after all of these changes is how much I hate contracts and stipulations.  If a contract is involved, I'm not interested.  If a loan is needed, it's not for me.  All of this hinders change and freedom and caused a lot of hold ups, and still is in some cases.

I hear that.  I also lose interest whenever something has an introductory rate after which "regular rates" apply.  What I want to know is how much will it cost in 6 months, a year?  I don't want to spend my spare time chasing the latest special deal, however un-mustachian that may be.

Congrats on your changes, btw.  Amazing how easy some changes look once you put them into action.

[SunshineGirl]

Nice job.

I agree: If there's a contract involved, I'm not interested. 

[prestojx]

This blog has really opened my eyes to how I should be approaching so many life concepts.   Within the last year I bought a new(ish) car and got a loan for it.  How stupid!  Since reading this blog I've been making some changes for the better...

I finally landed this consulting gig working from home.  I have a bike, so I want to sell my car. I brought it to CarMax but got a very low price.  I would still be upside down 6k.  I am going to clean it up, upholster the center console and try to sell it privately.  If I could make an extra 3-4k on the private market I think it would be worth selling.  I'm not sure if that is a reasonable expectation...

* I got rid of my data plan phone and went back to a durable, simplistic flip phone that lasts for a week without charging once. 
*Got a Roku for 40 bucks and got rid of cable
*Cancelled my gym membership and have been doing P90x, which I'm pleasantly surprised with.  Being a fit person I was skeptical.  I got the P90x for free and everything else off CL for super cheap.
*Got a BJ's card of Groupon for 10 bucks and don't go out to eat anymore.  I enjoy cooking, so we eat better meals than restaurants can prepare in my opinion.

I still have a long way to go, but this is my starting journey down the road of badassity.  Reading other people's progress motivated me to make changes and hopefully this could do the same.  I am fortunate to have my fiancée on board!  Our end goal is FI and early retirement.

The biggest thing I've come to realize after all of these changes is how much I hate contracts and stipulations.  If a contract is involved, I'm not interested.  If a loan is needed, it's not for me.  All of this hinders change and freedom and caused a lot of hold ups, and still is in some cases.

Great job amigo!
Freedom is the goal!

[LibrarIan]

I hear you on the P90X. A friend of mine gave me the whole set so I've been at it for about 5 weeks now. I had a pretty good foundation to work with, being a bean pole (6 feet tall, 135 pounds). Over the last five weeks my stamina and endurance has increased at a noticeable level and I'm starting to see differences in my muscles. You can't beat awesome free workout guidance.

[tomq04]

Having just gotten a smart phone in october, I can't imagine going back to a "dumb phone".  In terms of craigslist deals I have made it pays for itself over and over again.  That being said, it's from work and I don't "pay" anything...but I would if I had to.

[Tyler Newleaf]

Having just gotten a smart phone in october, I can't imagine going back to a "dumb phone".  In terms of craigslist deals I have made it pays for itself over and over again.  That being said, it's from work and I don't "pay" anything...but I would if I had to.

Thanks for all of the encouragement.  Tom, I understand where you're coming from.  I actually do quite a bit on cl and even work, most would say I "need" a smart phone.  One cool thing I found out is that, I've downgraded to a dumb flip phone, but my smart phone's wifi still works!  It's pretty amazing!  So I've been carrying it with me here and there where I know wifi is available. 

For the gym, etc...

[_JT]

If you're going that far, you might save yourself even more money and sell your smartphone for a used ipad touch. All the same app support and wireless functionality.

[tomq04]

I didn't realize you were still carrying it around :)

JT is a bit on the money, you just need an ipod touch or even one of these cheap 7" windows tablets for even a bit more functionality.

"need" is a strong word.

[Tyler Newleaf]

I just realized the other day that my old phone still has Wi-Fi capabilities with no service plan, so it's not something I really planned.  I suppose I could sell this and buy an ipod touch or something like that and try to make a few bucks, but just using my phone seems to work fine.  I don't carry it around that much...mainly when I go to the gym at my apartment.  It has Wi-Fi there, and I'm not sure how much more functionality I really need.  Although I did find an app which you can scan books and see how much they would sell for on Amazon, mentioned in some posts above. I might be bringing that to BarnesandNoble and see what kind of a profit might be possible with some of these sales. Or even Goodwill or little book stores.

My fiancée got her mom's old Ipad for Christmas so that is always laying around if I want the luxury of easy(ier) access to the internet. I actually think the Ipad is a huge distraction.  I find that she is on it quite a bit now...it's creating a need that wasn't necessarily there before.