A to Z Challenge: M3 - Mr Money Mustache

Today is one of several M posts because there are many M things I'd like to talk about, and I couldn't choose just one.


I can't get enough of Financial Independence advocate Mr Money Mustache. His mantra is "Financial Freedom Through Badassity."

Darn tootin'! My cousin put me onto him, and I haven't looked back. I proudly declare myself a Mustachian. Please go read him. He will change your life.

If you have anything to do with money (and what human doesn't)? You really need to read him.

Essentially, his message is that we are cleverer than we realise, and through a simple plan of simplification (some would call it "frugality", but I don't know if that's the best term for it), you spend less than what comes in, save'n'invest your surplus so that in the end, instead of you working for your money, your money works for you. Also, with your attitude adjustment, you will find the happiness you were trying to buy with money.

He's not some accountant or financial guru. He's just some Canadian living in Colorado who once had a regular job AND RETIRED AT AGE 30.

After reading his blog, (I went hard core from the beginning) I see this as entirely doable. I've already put some of his ideas into place and I'm doing so much better for it.

His platform is thus:

1. We spend too much money on things we shouldn't. "Your current middle-class life is an Exploding Volcano of Wastefulness," says MMM.
2. We're far too consumerist as a society. And the worst thing is, many of us think that that is how it's supposed to be. 
3. You don't have to "deny" yourself everything. Just be wiser in how you spend your money. Depriviation is NOT his message. (Frex: do you really need a double-soy latte from Starbucks every single day, when you could make your own at home for less than half the price?)
4. Investments are simple and any Joe can do it. (He loves Vanguard.)
5. Don't be a complainypants. That doesn't solve your problem. Proactivity is your friend.
6. DIY's not that hard. Not only does it save you money, but increases your useful skill set and your self-esteem.
7. Debt sucks your life as well as your money. How many of us are in a Debt Emergency? If you have debt, it's an emergency.
8. Know what has true value in your life, and what adds true value. MMM lives a rather luxurious lifestyle by cutting out the junk and embracing what's truly valuable. This guy eats organic every day! His exercise plan keeps him in top shape without costing him a cent. He lives in the kind of efficient and comfortable house most people dream of. And it's all paid off.

It's hard to describe just how successful this bloke is in my solitary blogpost. All I can do is say, go read him. His no-nonsense attitude may be a little strong for those of nervous disposition or who are afraid to look their finances straight in the eye, but he's just the kind of kick in the pants many people need. His attitude towards money is one I think more people need to adopt.

Go Read Him Now!

__________________________________________
Her Grace is already on her way to her own Financial Independence, even with her small salary.

Wherein I declare my Mustachianism

Three more days until For Richer, For Poorer comes out. Go buy my books!

I'm a big fan of Mr Money Mustache. If your wallet pinches uncomfortably, if you find yourself weighed down by consumerism, if you loathe working a Day Job, you really need to check out his hardcore badass financial advice.

He recently had a case study about Joe Average wanting a better life. A few people commented about how MMM's philosophy doesn't benefit the poor; they are not his target audience.

I disagree. Anyone who wishes to improve their financial situation would benefit from reading MMM, even if they can't apply everything he recommends at the present time.

A simple raising of one's financial awareness is what he advocates.

Normally I don't comment on his awesome posts, but I had to say this:
I’m a faithful reader who didn’t know a lot of what MMM preaches before I started reading his blog. My cousin pointed him out, and I went hard-core, and now I’m happily Mustachian.

It all comes down to awareness and education.

When I was a child, my father got injured and was out of work for a while. We lived in poverty. Boy, did it sting!

In university, I spent a few years as an impoverished student because I was not financially savvy AT ALL. (Woe, my ignorance.)

Post-uni, I got a job with a decent wage, but was frivilous in my spending.

Twenty years later, I am now educated, thanks to MMM, and I’m much better off. I’m looking at early-ish retirement BECAUSE I GOT EDUCATED.

Sure, I practiced a brand of frugality in my poverty years, but that was due to necessity and lack of choice. The moment I wasn’t so poor, I went back to foolish ways.

I believe that MMM can benefit those in poverty by educating them on ways of good, better, best.
Last year I read an articles (not related to finances, but to making choices) called “Good, Better, Best”. (Go google it, if you like. It has a religious slant on it, but the advice is sound for all walks of life.)

We all make choices. Lots of people make poor choices, which is why they struggle to make ends meet on a US$100K+ salary. Some choices we make are good. What we need is the wisdom to stand back from our choices and determine if our choices are good, better, or the best we could make.
That’s what MMM’s advocating here. I’m always pointing the impoverished to his blog.

Sometimes we can’t help finding ourselves poor (like when my dad got injured and couldn’t work). But if we have the best mindset, we do not have to remain in poverty for long.

It is the difference between me blowing $40K one year with nothing to show, and me now able to live plus invest with $30K.

So, yeah. I share this with you now, because greater awareness gives you a greater chance at happiness.  New Year is coming up. Don't you have some resolutions to make?

____________________
Her Grace's resolutions are simply to keep doing what she's been doing, as her view is long-term.