What is Mustashian?

[deborah]

Sometimes I look at posts and try to work out how they are mustashian. They fall into several types.

1. Help me find the best xxx (non-mustashian thing) - how to find the best deal for a consuma sucka purchase.

Sometimes people want an SUV or a truck or a big house... And others chime in giving ideas. There is the occasional person who suggests that it would be better NOT to buy xxx. I find myself chiming in, when really, I should be asking why they NEED it in the first place. I have a way to go.

2. Help me to continue my habit without spending anything on it

Is it Mustashian to continue wasteful habits? I thought we were also about living simply and sustainably. I don't think it is just about not spending money. I find some things, like hacking travel miles (this is not the only instance), cause me to have arguments with myself - are these Mustashian or not? Did MMM have a temporary aberration when he posted that hacking travel miles was a good thing to do?

3. I earn a lot of money, so I'm never going to live frugally, because I will never need to, or my family are used to not living frugally, but help me get my budget under $1million a week...

Saving is just one face of Mustashianism. Don't we really want to value life's simple pleasures, and work toward having more of them?

What do you think is mustashian?

[pbkmaine]

I define it as "creatively living below your means". How you do it varies from person to person. In my case, it means that our house is furnished with goods that were mostly free, used or inherited. I sewed the curtains, slipcovers, tablecloths and pillow covers from remnants, fabric given to me, or purchased at a deep discount. Much of our food is made from scratch and I throw away very little of it. Most of our clothes come from Goodwill. We bike a lot. On the other hand, we purchased our Ford Escape hybrid new (paid cash) 4 years ago, and have quite an array of electronics, cameras and kitchen gadgets.

[begood]

To me, it's aspiration and optimization. I don't fit the classic Mustachian mold, but I'm still here, and I'm still chugging away. It's an antidote to my continued desire for a Volvo XC60. It's what drives me to search AirBnBs in the NC mountains instead of a resort in Hawaii. It's given me a framework to use - a framework that's simpler and more sustainable, yes, but also one that makes me ask: "Does spending more on something make me value it more? Is there a way for me to be satisfied without spending $x?".

My Mustachianism is by degrees: cutting electricity use, checking out ebooks from the library instead of driving (48 miles by the time I check out a book and return it) from the closest physical library, listening to free Pandora instead of buying songs from iTunes.

[Eric]

Mustashian sounds like the perfect name.  Poser Mustachians.

[arebelspy]

I think there was a good discussion on this awhile back that I missed cause I was off the forums (but briefly ran across when someone linked it).  Hopefully someone will know what I'm talking about and link it; since I didn't participate, I don't have the right phrases in my head to Google for it.

In the meantime, some relevant threads:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/what-does-mustachianism-mean-to-you/
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/what-makes-you-'officially'-mustachian/

Also a very early on thread about this, with MMM's input:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/authoritative-philosophy-of-mustachianism/

[mohawkbrah]

What about the ERE fanatics?
















(me)

[Bertram]

I define it as "creatively living below your means". How you do it varies from person to person.

After reading the threads arebelspy linked I think this is the best, though broadest/most inclusive, definition. After all there's really no need to turn it into a cult, where we denounce everyone who is not the purest believer.

Personally my philosophy even before FI/MMM was always to live at a standard of living that was sustainable, even after stopping for work. I stumbled into this thing here after significantly increasing my income (for now, don't know how long term it will be), and it seems like only a small step from where I was to start thinking about moving the ER date closer to now. So that's what I've been doing. It wasn't live changing, but it gave me a more precise goal/motivation to work towards, with what I'd been doing anyways sort of.

[Moostache]

1) An awakening slap that you can escape the consumerism driven lifestyle monkey house
2) A collection of various viewpoints on what a sustainable lifestyle is
3) A tool set to help you build the financial stash necessary to be the economic engine driving your financial freedom, enabling you to cut the job market umbilical at a time that is right for you
4) A community of like minded individuals helping to advise each other on their path to enlightenment and freedom
5) Financial security, peace, and knowledge that you can punch back when inevitable 'bad things' happen in your life
6) Smart

[Fire2025]

I'm not naturally frugal, I'm like a horse that's fought the bit for 25 years.  But by the time I found MMM I was:
Biking to work most days - Muscle over Machines
DIY almost everything  - Because I love making things
Live as cheaply as possible - because I was broke all the time - read - artist with first grown up job.

So for me I love the stoic ideas - I've been broke/ poor and now with MMM I'm Frugal.  Much more power and control in my life, just by embracing my spending habits, as hard won from more difficult times.

Also I was "waiting" for retirement before, now I'm in the act of retiring.  One more DIY project I know I can tackle because of past success.

I'm not a great writer, almost cost me my masters, but I hope that makes sense.

[VladTheImpaler]

I can relate to everything others have posted on this thread.
I am a recovering artist who is presently at War with Reality.
MMM has helped me navigate the "real world" yuk.
For instance, instead of being broke, I am now "frugal."
It is MMM's optimism and creativity that keeps me coming back to this blog.

[Fire2025]

I am a recovering artist who is presently at War with Reality.

Vlad, welcome fellow artist.  I like to think of my art the way some mustachians think of kids.  Once I FIRE I get to be a Stay At Home Artist (SAHA) again.  But this time by choice!!