Have you converted anyone?

[MLKnits]

One of my business partners is a capital-S Spender; her favourite hobby is shopping.

I wasn't trying to convert her, but was just sort of explaining why I've been excited lately. We're equal partners, so we have the same income and similar tax arrangements, etc, and I just decided to go ahead and show her my spreadsheets.

She got VERY excited, so I did one for her. She had very (very) small additions to her RRSP and TFSA planned for this year, so I showed her what that would add up to. "Well, what if I put $2000 per month in my RRSP, instead?" Changed the number, showed her the result, watched her eyes go wide.

"So what if I did that every year?" It took five minutes to show her how soon she could be FI, and at the end she was entirely convinced of the glories of investing substantial chunks of one's take-home income.

(I don't think she's taking up biking soon, or ever, though.)

Have any of y'all converted people in your life by showing them the direct benefits of saving?

[Retired To Win]

I can honestly say I converted my wife.  Or, rather, that my wife "converted by osmosis" from seeing the changes I was continuously making to my/our saving and spending based on frugality and Mustachianism.  After a while, during which she had snorted and huffed a lot about my mindset, I realized that she had started acting the same way.  She's pretty much a frugal-minded person now.

[RunHappy]

My SO after showing him my net worth and just being frugal.  When we first moved in together (4 months ago) he pretty much said "just because you're frugal doesn't mean I have to be" and I said, with a smile,  "Ok".  Since then we've adopted more frugal habits on our communal bills (food, utilities, etc). He has also paid off all his student loans ($24k) and turned down buying an ATV (or something like it).  I know he more than had the cash for the ATV-thing, but said it wouldn't be a "frugal" move.

[ender]

A large number of my friends have brought up MMM in different contexts with me.

I have no idea if this is related to me posting articles on Facebook or having conversations with them.

Perhaps I just choose friends well :)

[Retire-Canada]

The GF was more naturally frugal than me but had no direction for it. I became more frugal after reading MMM and talked to her about my plans to FIRE. She's locked into a sweet gov't pension and an expensive underwater vacation property with her ex-hubby so she's going to keep trucking at work for at least 12 more years.

But she sees the power of saving AND investing now so she'll be growing a nice 'stach so she can feel less chained to the daily grind.

-- Vik

[innerscorecard]

I wish I could convert others in real life, but sadly it is not worth the risk of showing my hand by showing how much money we are able to save and retain. We might be thought of, mistakenly, as rich, with all the negative consequences that goes with that.

[kpd905]

If my fiance counts, then yes.

[EllieStan]

I don't think I converted anyone, but I impressed many with my abilities to find incredible discounts and pay less for quality items and items that I wanted. When I told my father I had a $400 budget for my wedding dress, he looked at me like I was nuts and told me good luck with a sarcastic tone. He later apologized (and my father is not one to easily admit he's wrong) when I showed him the amazing designer dress I had just bought from another bride (well, now married woman) online ... for a total of $200. This is just one recent example that shows I get still ''live the dream'', but I choose to do it at a fraction of the average cost. And quite frankly, I love the challenge and I've always succeeded so far.

I think most people in my entourage believe I am this frugal because I have been a student for so long and that it's how I have to live, out of obligation. While it's true my student years were a great learning opportunity on that matter, it now translates to my lifestyle by choice as I have no desire to live otherwise. Why would I spend more when I can spend less and still get exactly what I want?

Until my fiancé earns his degree and starts working full time, people will just assume we're poor and that there is nothing inspiring about our lifestyle. After that, we'll see. I don't feel like showing my spreadsheets but I can certainly talk about the benefits of living frugally and debt-free (once it's achieved !)

[darkadams00]

The GF was more naturally fungal than me ...

Not sure who gets the worse end of that deal.

[MayDay]

My sister, sort of.  She doesn't necessarily want to retire early, but she has some likely long term health issues (genetic cancer) so I "converted" her to the idea that she could save enough now to not have to work in her old age, should she be medically unable to do so. 

She was already fairly frugal but I did helped her with some budgeting and helped her fully fund a Roth.  She was appreciative.  Unfortunately she lives abroad so I am limited in the advice I can give her, for example it ends up she isn't allowed to contribute to a Roth, lol, oops. 

[tallen]

I haven't got anyone saving more money but over the years I've convinced a few people at work to cut cable and just use Netflix instead. (I've been doing that long before I found MMM)

When I mention I started putting almost $350 a week in to max out my 401k I get blank stares and sometimes a literal jaw drop. Then disbelief that I could make ends meet on whats left of my pay (still a little over $400 a week), so I don't think anyone else at work will be joining in on that one. :)

[ambimammular]

My best friend and her husband both come from irresponsible money families, and they were well on their way, too. (A bankruptcy.) She's been swayed by my enthusiasm and experience with frugality. Now we have cheap outings and slow fashion clothes, can applesauce, make our own soap/cleaners, shop at the Goodwill Outlet. A lot of DIY home fixing. We talk over savings goals and future planning.

As she puts it, she always felt that spending every dime was wrong, but she didn't know you could live another way until after she met us.

Makes me grateful that my parents were good examples.

[ambimammular]

Also, her husband is slowly converting, too. If only I can get him to stop buying those lousy Big Gulps.  Rrrrr.

[thebrowze]

I don't think I have converted anyone per se, but I have opened the eyes of a few of my colleagues to what could be possible with the incomes we're able to earn.

Many of my co-workers receive hundreds do thousands of dollars in annual compensation, but seem to blow through much of it on $15 lunches, $100 bar tabs, monthly trips to Las Vegas or NYC, and expensive hobbies like sailing or golf.

I certainly don't preach mustachianism at work and lord knows I still have plenty of work to do on myself, but bringing my lunch everyday, talking about camping trips vs. Vegas vacations, and dropping nuggets of truth about potential retirement within 10 years may have revealed an alternative path to those that hadn't ever considered spending less than 90% of their take home pay.  I've had a few people ask me about my plans and small tactics they see me utilize, but I haven't seen anyone jump in with both feet just yet.

[J Boogie]

The GF was more naturally fungal than me ...

Not sure who gets the worse end of that deal.

Sounds like there's been a lot of growth in that relationship.