Comments on: How Do You Know When You Have Enough?

By: oneadvice

oneadvice — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:07:50 +0000

I have just ‘Tip’d’ this article because I found it so thought-provoking and want to get the word out there.
Thanks for making me think that little bit deeper about finances and materialism.

By: hustler

hustler — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:07:08 +0000

I also read Your money or your life about a year ago. I’m glad I did. Since then I’ve saved a good chunk of money. It’s meant for a house down payment, but when I’m at work feeling frustrated and undervalued, I know that I could walk out that door at any time and have the money to pay my bills for a good while. That’s a great feeling. And more rewarding than any thing I could buy.

By: dlm

dlm — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:34:08 +0000

Your Money Or Your Life “Revised and Updated for the 21st Century” by Vicki Robin is just out. I’m lucky enough to be the first borrower from the library.

By: Chris @ BuildMyBudget

Chris @ BuildMyBudget — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:11:51 +0000

I am happy when I know I can pay myself first out of every paycheck. This is definitely enough for me.

By: Rosa

Rosa — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:51:40 +0000

In my twenties, i kept my needs low so I could work fewer hours. But I’ve found in my thirties I can not find a job that pays for health insurance that is not full time. Right now I’m on my partner’s health insurance, but it’s maddening – I don’t need the hours or the cash, I just need benefits.

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:49:15 +0000

I agree with you about the book Your Money or Your Life being a great one. This post hits me at the core. Is what I’m doing worth the expense. What do I sacrifice to support the “stuff” in my life. Good post!

By: Yo Prinzel

Yo Prinzel — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:44:57 +0000

What a great idea to quantify your time working with your consumer habits. I never really understood the trade off until I started working for myself.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:37:09 +0000

I keep hearing about this “Your money or Your Life” book and I think it’s the universe telling me I need to buy it. “Things” will never satisfy. In fact, to get out of debt we ended up selling many of our things. Having a sense of purpose and is insurance for happiness. Life is too short to spend it on junk that, as you pointed, you can’t take with you.

By: Melaniesd

Melaniesd — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:57:47 +0000

Great article. Good food for thought.

I work for a bank in Canada. It amazes me looking at client profiles at the debt load people feel is reasonable to carry.
How many toys and vacations down south do people really think they NEED?
Sure, I’d LOVE to travel and have a bigger swankier home, but I don’t want the stress that comes along with it. I will have lots of time to travel as my son gets older and my little piece of paradise is just fine for me.

As for helping to fund our childrens education, I think it’s wonderful to try to help as much as you can, but we do a huge diservice to ourselves to neglect our retirement & emergency savings for the safe of the kids educations. We can always help them pay the student loans, but like David, said we can’t borrow to finance our retirements.
It truly breaks my heart when I speak to clients who are living on $1000/month and have $700+ in expenses each month and are looking for credit. I can’t lend to them, because they can’t afford the debt, but the can’t afford much of anything on their monthly incomes. I think we need to do more to help our families and communities. No one should have to live so poorly in their old ages….

By: Pinyo

Pinyo — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:45:40 +0000

Great article David. It’s really true how much pain and suffering is caused by not comprehending the word enough and not reaching that state of mind.