The top 10 advantages of low-rent living
One of the biggest threats to happiness at work is having too many fixed expenses at home. When you’re completely dependent on bringing home a pay check (or two!) every single month, you’re vulnerable. If work turns out to be unbearable you can’t simply up and leave and take three months without income.
I’ve chosen low-rent living for myself. At first it was through accident rather than planning but now I would never live any other way. Read on to see how it has made me happy at work - and in life.
Some years ago, my wonderful girlfriend Patricia and I were hunting for a new place to live in Copenhagen. We were living in her small, 1-bedroom apartment and we really longed for more space, more rooms and a bigger kitchen. Homes are getting ludicrously expensive in all European capitals including Copenhagen, so we went through a process that is common to many people hunting for a new home:
- We started looking at places within our budget that we could easily afford.
- But those places weren’t really cool so we started looking at more and more expensive places
- Untill we’d reached our threshold of pain and were only considering the most expensive places we could conceivably afford
We actually submitted bids on two different (expensive) homes and narrowly lost out in each case to other bidders. Back then we were devastated - we really had our minds set on those two places. Today we’re incredibly relieved that it never came through. We’re still living in Patricia’s apartment which costs us next to nothing and looking back I can see how much of an advantage that has been for the both of us. Obviously this applies not only to your mortgage or rent but to all fixed expenses. Rent/mortgage just happens to be the largest fixed expense most of us have.
Leaving lots of breathing room in my economy has brought me some huge advantages:
1: Freedom to leave a bad job
When a job doesn’t make me happy, I can quit without worrying about the money. I’ve done it once, Patricia twice. It’s not that we’ve quit at the fist sign of trouble - we have always tried to make it work. But when we’ve realized that a particular job wasn’t going to make us happy, we’ve had the freedom to say sayonara without first finding a new job.
2: Freedom to take a chance
In the startup I’ve been running the past three years I’ve been able to take some chances and focus more on building a happy, sustainable business than on bringing home a big pay-check every month. It has allowed the business to grow organically which has paid off immensely now that the business is up and running.
3: Freedom to do what I enjoy
I can decide to do stuff that lets me learn, meet interesting people or plain have fun but may not make any money here and now. This is a huge boon to me and my business in the long run because it means that I’m constantly developing and learning.
4: Freedom to do what’s right
I can do what’s right rather than what makes me more money. I can decide to work for free for a company that really needs me, but can’t afford me. I can give stuff away if I think people need it. I can set a high ethical standard and not need to worry about having to compromise it for profit.
5: Freedom to work less hours
There’s no pressure on me to work 50, 60 or 80 hours a week. I can if I want to and sometimes I do and if I’d rather work 20 hours one week I can do that. I’ve once and for all left The Cult of Overwork.
6: Freedom to say no to some customers
Some customers just aren’t right for your business. The chemistry is wrong, their needs dont’ match your solutions or they’re just too much trouble. I have the freedom to say no to some customers and yes to the best customers.
All of the above really comes down to short-term vs. long-term planning. Economic freedom let’s you invest in your future by doing things now that make less money, but will eventually make you more.
7: Peace of mind
I spend almost zero time and energy worrying about money - it’s just not an issue. I also don’t need to worry whether the interest rates go up or down half a point. Or whether there really is a housing bubble and house prices are about to start falling. That’s a huge relief and gives me more time and energy for business and life.
8: Focus on what really matters
When I’m not concerned with a bigger home, bigger car or bigger TV I focus on what really matters. My girlfriend, family, friends, business, writing, networking, learning, reading, etc… I waste no time keeping up with the Joneses.
9: Simple living
Living in a small appartment has taught us to own only the things we really need. We’ve been getting really good at throwing or giving away clothes, linens, kitchenware, furniture, knick-knacks etc. that we don’t use regularly. And this is a huge relief because you can form a huge attachment to the things you own and paring them down to only the things you really need teaches you to let go of that. There’s a mental relief and freedom that comes from that. Less stuff in your home = less stuff on your mind.
10: More money for fun stuff
When less money goes into the stuff I own, there’s more money for the stuff I do. Like snowboarding, conferences, travelling and more.
I want to make two things very clear:
1: This is not about being unambitious at work or setting small business goals. I can assure you that my aspirations are as big as the next person’s. It’s about realizing that economic wiggle room frees you to do things and take chances that lead to more happiness and therefore to great results in your work life and your private life.
2: I’m not knocking anybody else’s lifestyle and financial decisions. This is simply an observation of something that I discovered mostly by accident but which works incredibly well for me. Maybe you would be terribly miserable living in a small appartment instead of a huge house.
But I know that many people feel trapped in jobs they don’t like because their financial situation is precarious and leaves them no wiggle room. If that’s the case for you maybe you should consider trying the low-rent life and granting yourself some financial freedom. It’s a huge step towards more happiness at work and in life.
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Angel Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 10:58 am
Congratulations. You have found one of the happiness’s keys.
I try to live in that way.
JM Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 11:14 am
I’m posting this on my fridge!
Leandro Nascimento Camargo Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 1:25 pm
This post fell like a glove to me!
These ideas is much like I long inside my mind.
Only in mind for now, but it’s a great beginning, I guess.
dalroth5 Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 1:49 pm
A good post; I only wish that more people could realise, as you have, that the more ’stuff’ you have, the less freedom you have. It’s a direct correlation. ‘Stuff’ has to be looked after…and replaced…and insured…and kept clean…and gets in the way…and provides an incentive to thieves, so it requires security measures…and often uses energy, which costs you even more…it’s nothing less than a gigantic millstone around your neck, dragging you down and wasting your time until one day you find you’re dying and have never really lived. Tell everybody you know not to do it!
Welcome to the land of the truly free. :)
Robert Winter Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Great stuff, Alex!
I’m very enjoyed to read this post, goes also on our fridge :o)
NooYorker Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 2:16 pm
Maybe that works in Copenhagen, but in a place like NYC, living in a low rent neighborhood comes with a significant violent crime risk.
sonitus.org » Blog Archive » The top 10 advantages of low-rent living Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 2:31 pm
[…] Positive Sharing […]
Chris White Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 2:44 pm
I have a similar philosophy but I have to remind myself about it occasionally - I try to keep the relationship between me and my stuff clear… I own the stuff, it doesn’t own me. Singer/songwriter Mac McAnally said it nicely in his song “Meanwhile”…
“A lot of things are different than they seem
There’s a lot of ways to wind up chasing someone else’s dream
Full speed ahead and flying blind
Sometimes the things you love get left behind
I used to think I wanted everything
I never gave much thought to all the trouble that might bring
You end up counting money all day long
And all that wealth needs watching when you’re gone
And meanwhile summer turns to fall
Roses bloom and fade
Life goes on you can measure it all
By the difference that it made”
Scott Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 3:07 pm
“May I live simply so others may simply live” -Ghandi
Or, in my own words and example:
Some Say That I Am Cheap
I live on common ground
Though could afford to dwell among the elite
vacations in modest quarters
Yet could enjoy extravagant villas
Some say that I am cheap
The finest cars can grace my garage
Wines of the finest vintage could tumble across lips
Young women beyond number
could pass before my threshold
All these things I am told that I should desire
Am I cheap or is it that I can’t hear
Things pass
Decaying hubris to soil
Hands wither in search of lotion
Unnecessarily exposed to winter’s harsh touch
I spend my money to purchase time
Time to spend alone
To conjure upon snails and window pots
The next time we meet
You will find out what they have told me
What value do you bring to me
Tell me now who is cheap
Alexander Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 3:07 pm
Thanks for all the great comments everybody!
Leandro, JM, Angel, Robert Winter: Thanks! :o)
dalroth5: Yep! When we started getting rod of the stuff that wouldn’t fit in the small apartment it was difficult. But with a little practice it becomes really liberating.
NooYorker: Good point. In some places in cheap living is very, vey difficult. Copenhagen is getting ridiculous, but at least it ain’t New York yet.
Chris White: Mac hits it right on the head. Thanks!
craig Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
I have lived like this across the UK for the past 10 years, and love it.
The freedom of being able to change is amazing, like you say you don’t have to pack up and leave a job on a whim.
Its the choice that is liberating.
Good on you, and all the best for the future.
neverender Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 5:55 pm
living in the subs of the bay area can be really expensive (like anywhere in the bay is cheap). most of my friends and co-workers who rent, spend quite a bit of money to live in gated communities or places with nice apperances and amnemities. my girlfriend and i live in two bedroom apartment for half the price of what most people are paying. its not as nice by all means. it could use some paint and some better landscaping. our pool isnt resort standards. we only have one covered parking spot. but i guess it doesnt matter, as we find we have more money to spend on getting away from the palce, while others are constantly saying, ‘eh, can afford it this weekend.’
great post. i can fully relate.
Harry Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
I have a different take on that. I think that one should spend according to his/her income. If you have loads of cash at your disposal, live a life of a king. The whole money game is somewhat weird. Nobody can be sure when he/she would get lucky with money. Be ambitious, be passionate about your job, let money come by itself, and once you have it, spend it to fulfil your constructive desires. I dont see anything wrong with having a desire of living in a big penthouse.
If the money goes, you shift to your old lifestyle. Actually shifting to your old lyfestyle would be a difficult thing. But I believe its giving worth a shot. At least at the end of your life you wouldnt have any regrets that there were some things that you wanted to do/have and you couldnt.
Having said that, it all depends on the desires you have. Snowboarding for someone, flying a plane for someone else, or living in a penthouse for another. Different strokes for different folks.
That was my 2 cents:)
Tarun Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 6:28 pm
You’ve got a pretty good blog Alexander.
Scott - I hope you don’t think this is rude, but ‘Ghandi’ is actually spelt Gandhi.
Steve Shapiro Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 6:28 pm
A number of years ago, when I moved to London, I got rid of nearly everything I owned. I was able to fit everything into 2 boxes. One move in London was made in the back of a black cab…only 2 trips. I now rent inexpensive apartments, typically on a month to month basis. This gives me the ultimate flexibility to change direction in life and business whenever I want. In a blog entry, I wrote about the correlation between money and happiness. http://www.goalfree.com/?p=242
Thomas Madsen-Mygdal Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 6:31 pm
Amen, brother.
Tone Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 7:08 pm
Hi, another take on this.. I did the opposite, I selected a spacious new, 2 bdrm/2bath loft apt, with the following in mind… fit in a lot of ppl comfortably. I selected the nicest apt that ppl would want to live in, great downtown location.. thus securing demand for this space.
So now I’ve got 1 guy in the living room (gravyeard shift), one guy in the loft space (travles a lot), and one guy in the bedroom downstairs. This has reduced my rent substantially (70% reduction!), and I still have a large spacious master and clean house, and great lifestyle.
Use Craigslist as your resource to find the right roomies.. you’d be surprised, there’s lot of ppl willing to pay a little less rent for say a living room or partitioned loft space, its a win-win for everyone. Just make sure you do you background check, etc.
kareem Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
This is a great lesson to learn, Alexander! Thanks for sharing.
duh Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 7:43 pm
Well DUH of course your going to live in the cheapest place that you can afford. Theres not even any numbers in this “article”. whats low rent? $250 and you have to share the toillete? $650 with no roomamtes? a small apt in the city for 800$?
why dont you write your next article on “spend less than what you earn”. like these are essential life skills that everyone should know. who wants to pay more rent then they have to? well its a tradeoff. i hate these no content obvious blog posts damnit!!!!
Bill Nadraszky Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 7:57 pm
No, this is a fantastic post. In North America we only see a glimpse of what a low property or frugal lifestyle could give us. Most people, sometimes myself included, eill buy what ever they can afford at all times and have to continually make more to stay above water..
If this was Digg, I would Digg the article
UO Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 8:02 pm
This is what used to be considered common sense. Unfortuneately, this kind of common sense has mostly been forgotten, especially in the US where the mantra for the past few years has been “Buy the biggest house you can possibly afford”. It has put a lot of people in a huge amount of debt such that you need two people working full time making good money to barely afford the lifestyle (and then they’re not saving anything). If one person loses a job or some other unexpected financial event occurs, it’s pretty much over.
mixonic Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 8:15 pm
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can let alone.”
“Our life is frittered away by detail….Simplify simplify simplify!”
– Thoreau
Everything old is new again :-)
The Real Floyd Hayes Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
@ NooYorker
I hear ya. Moved from London to NYC and set up home in a basement studio in Williamsburg, Brkln. When the landlord put my rent up to $1,400 I just thought this is crazy. I’m going to be living to work! Madness!
So I bit the bullet moved to the less trendy Grand/Union part of Wburg and flatshared. As a grown man I hated the idea but my roomates are never there and when they are they are sweet and considerate.
The area is a little down at heel but close to the Lorimer stop, a few decent bars and places to eat.
My room is okay and I have a roof to sit on and watch the Empire State in the sunset all for $680!
Great post and I agree - I never even think about rent day (I used to dread it) and spend the extra dough on things to make life more fun and interesting…even managed to open a savings account!
Downsizing is the way forward!
Matt Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 9:11 pm
It’s called “living within your means” and it’s a shame that everyone doesn’t do this. You don’t have to rent. You simply have to determine what is a value to you and come up with a plan. For me it was homeownership so that I have the additional equity biulding up over the years as well as the ability to borrow money against my home for an emergency.
Peter Cooper Said,
August 11, 2006 @ 9:50 pm
Good luck buying a place in any major European city without having a solid partner and you both earning well over the average wage. :)
parker Said,
August 12, 2006 @ 1:17 am
Good article. I do not understand the logic of two people living in a space with more than two rooms, or even one person living in a space with more than one room.
After all, if a couple lives in a three-room apartment, then they could never use the space to it’s full capacity, at most they could get to 66%, and most of the time it would only be 1/3rd utilized. And a single person could never be in more than one room simultaneously, of course, so why have more than one room?
I’ve tried to convince my wife of this but she doesn’t seem to go for it. :)
Peter Cooper Said,
August 12, 2006 @ 1:55 am
Parker: That only applies if the one or two rooms are absolutely gigantic. Not everywhere is so open-plan. In my house I need a separate office as the living room (or bedroom) is not big enough :-( If we could all live in giant open-plan lofts it’d be nice though ;-)
» Low-rent living can get freedom. « Creeque Said,
August 12, 2006 @ 3:39 am
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living […]
Guy Said,
August 12, 2006 @ 2:30 pm
@Parker: That’s too simple a view. “Using a space” only seems to involve physically being in it for you. But what about storage? Or specific room uses?
Let’s say you have a primarily at-home job (like say, a freelance designer). I wouldn’t want my office in my bedroom, it detracts from being able to just put away the work and go to sleep. On the other hand, an office in the living room doesn’t work either, when you have to get work done and your spouse is entertaining guests or just watching TV.
Sure you can mix stuff up… I mean, when you’re a college student your dorm room basically IS all three. But let’s face it, we never got any work done in our dorm rooms, did we :)
parker Said,
August 12, 2006 @ 3:21 pm
Peter, Guy: yes, I admit my idea about room capacity is a bit simplistic. But sometimes its fun to think about taking efficiency to ridiculous extremes. Its similar to how a lot of US households have 2 licensed drivers but 3 or more cars (one for commuting to work, one for trips to Wal-Mart, and one for showing off). How many cars can they possibly drive at once? I wonder if this is just something that we SUV-loving Americans do, for some reason I can’t imagine other societies being so silly in this regard.
Ming Said,
August 13, 2006 @ 2:02 am
Hi I am in the US Peace Corps volunteer program serving in the jungles of Guatemala. I live in a simple wooden cabin with a latrin, one light bulb and a computer. I have no kitchen, sink, running water nor fridge. I totally agree with you, as this has the biggest lesson from my experience, we can live so much happier with less. With the money that I save, I can travel the world which is my passion and help people which ultimately make me happier by giving meaning to life.
One extension which is not mention to your writing, is that a larger house is not just rent or mortgage, but more furniture, more maintenance, more taxes, more ..more more… and with all the above not only does it require more time at work to earn the money to sustain it but also more time investing in upkeeping in cleaning, organizing, maintanance.. More is more and less is more..! great article.
dan vanderkolk Said,
August 13, 2006 @ 5:03 am
I am 61 with terminal cancer. I have lived very much within my means and thus have been able to have a great degree of autonomy in my life. Thank goodness since it will soon be over.
Oahn Macleod Said,
August 14, 2006 @ 5:59 am
I’ve been doing the same thing for almost 3 years now.
Left Verizon, Inc., here in New Jersey, worked a gig last year for another company which paid for me to see Europe for most of last year (AWESOME!) and I convinced my wife to sell our home last year as well, at the peak, to which we have rented since that time and saved $$$THOUSANDS$$$.
People who once thought we were crazy are now envious and all we ever hear is about other people’s debt. We have NONE and have made money in the commodities market, MORE than we could have ever by putting it into a bank or another home.
Congradulations!
Kevin Carson Said,
August 14, 2006 @ 10:19 am
Great post, Alex. My top budget priority each month is to pay off several hundred dollars worth of debt. When I get that paid off, I intend to buy a few acres of land far enough out in the country to be cheap, and put a used trailer on it. The bargaining power of labor would be enormously improved if most workers knew they could survive unemployment if necessary. There’s nothing that equalizes things between you and the boss like several thousand $$ of “fuck you” money in the bank.
www.johnjasonchun.com Said,
August 14, 2006 @ 2:35 pm
I’m a roommate in $1m home 92660. NW$20m. Frugal! Total living costs under $1k/month. Travel 6-10 months/year!
Been 2 over 65 countries. Jet skiied 7 countries in 1 year 13k miles(North America), motorcycled 3 countries 33,000 miles 1yr. Average Gross profit is 1117% last 190 real estate deals with a 22 month avg. hold. =50%/mo/Gross. No Brag, Just Fact! But most of all I don’t smoke, drink, do drugs, have STDs and I’m happy with no debt & can buy any investment in real estate with CASH.
John Jason Chun RETIRED LANDLORD-PARALEGAL
XRealtor XStockBroker XInsurance XTaxMan
Box 7249 Newport Beach CA 92658
Box 5301 Berkeley Ca 94705
Box 30635 Laughlin Nv 89028
Cell 888-532-7999 Fax 888-595-6299
20 minute Powerpoint Slide show Resume!!
http://spaces.msn.com/members/repo4sale/
http://www.johnjasonchun.com
Cesar Cardoso Said,
August 14, 2006 @ 3:27 pm
Hm… one of the advantages of living alone… I try to spend A LOT, but it seems that always have money on my bank account in the end of the month :)
Anyway, good read, as always. Go Alex Go!
Kristina Said,
August 14, 2006 @ 11:07 pm
I always thought I’d grow up, go to college, get a car, house.. maybe some kids and pets. Well here I am living what most consider the American Dream. Dream? I don’t think so .. not mine, perhaps someone else’s. I am the most miserable I have ever been. I hate having to clean extra bathrooms!! I once was poor enough that I had to get food at the salvation army and live out of a car. I have to say the misery with all the bills and the upkeep and the cleaning and the crap to keep simplifying is just as miserable as being homeless. There is always so much in my head that there isn’t any room for the simple pleasures in life anymore! It is pretty bad when you sit back and have all this stuff and aren’t even thankful for it. Money does matter, but the real key to happiness is knowing how not to spend it!! Thanks for the advice! We are preparing to sell our home and start doing what really matters! Living our own dream and not the so called American dream.
Kevin Carson Said,
August 15, 2006 @ 1:12 am
I know people at work who are working 60-hour weeks and have mortgage payments, but constantly shop around the Internet for the new big-screen TV or convertible they’re dying to have. Their mortgage is probably almost nothing down with a 40-year term–and any equity they miraculously manage to accumulate will be cased out at Ditech for some fancy consumer goods. Of course, they’re probably a month’s pay away from getting thrown out of that McMansion, so they’d better pray to God that everything goes absolutely perfectly in their lives and they’re always “blessed” with those 60-hr weeks.
Slavery.
Keith Said,
August 16, 2006 @ 2:55 am
I cannot believe this! My wife and I are sitting here reading this and amazed how this seems to be ME writing this article! I live in Charleston, SC. In an Apartment townhome 1.4 miles from my work. Everything about the housing purchases you almost made were identical to ours. Everything about my business, free time and everything else is the same! wow…
This guy is RIGHT…rock on
Alexander Said,
August 16, 2006 @ 9:07 am
Thanks again for all the great comments and the added perspective on living below your means.
Am I the only one who sees more and more people realize this and leave the notion that more stuff and a bigger home to lock it up in is a path to happiness?
Scott: Thanks - those are words to live by.
Harry: I like your approach. Spend what you have, then switch to a simpler lifestyle when it’s gone is a great way to rid detach from the need to attain a specific (expensive) lifestyle.
mixonic: “One simplify would have sufficed” - Walt Whitman :o)
Ming: You’re right it’s not just more. It’s more more!
Dan: I can say nothing except offer my deepest condolences!
Kevin, Kristina: The american nightmare, huh?
Keith: Hey, transatlantic synchronicity. Great to hear t works for you too!
stuart @ amanzi » Blog Archive » More healthy living Said,
August 18, 2006 @ 1:25 am
[…] Also, read this article too: http://positivesharing.com/2006/08/low-rent-living/. It’s not anything to do with diet or fitness, but I like it… Tags: diet fitness health life weight loss Posted by stuart Filed in General […]
Trine-Maria Said,
August 20, 2006 @ 7:03 pm
I am there as well - living in a small but affordable place - and being happy with it :-) But unfortunately most people can’t get a cheap apartment here in Copenhagen - and moving around from one sublet to another is probably ok for a couple of years but I can understand it when people give up and buy something too expensive to get out of that trap/trip from place to place.
Johnjasonchun.com Said,
August 20, 2006 @ 8:01 pm
I love reading this site! I just bought a $280 round trip ticket back to Waikiki (cheap/frugal). 2 weeks in Waikiki/Hawaii surfing, boogie board, fishing, diving, sunning, eating, drinking, riding an AirCon bus all over the island for $2(cheap) with friendly non-violent people. Not like Los Angeles (body & head gear on the bus) with pepper spray & medical mask (diseases). Filth 2 the max! The hostels in Waikiki are less than $17/night with party schedule from 8am to 5am! Or the other mellow hostels by the university/waikiki/NorthShore that don’t go bonkers all the time!. My friends go nuts when I spend most of my time traveling, spending REC.$ 4 investment research & burning cell minutes! One thing when you rent cheap. You realize the DEBT-Club is really not a happy gang of people! They live on stress and are “bitchie/bitchey/bitchy” all the time I’m traveling. My no-debt friends say stop “rubbing salt in their cuts”….oh well!
250 photos of me all over the world (65 countries) here:
http://spaces.msn.com/members/repo4sale/
1 major tip for all international travelers:
A=Register at the Local American Embassy & get the Attorney Approved 4 Americans List (free list of English Speaking American Educated Attorneys) that have to treat Americans well or they get removed! (Very Good list).
B=Make appointments at 11am every day with 1 type of “special field” attorney that “perks your mind”… 1 hour is free.
C=GO SEE THE ATTORNEY, and bring an American gift (cheap T shirt, etc.)
D=Get a free 1 hour education on that Countries laws!
E=OFFER A FREE LUNCH, flatter the Attorney! Talk 15% only, Listen 85%!!
F=LEARN 2 HOURS FREE if you want.
G=With this method of Touring, I have earned a PhD in Law!
H=Did this in almost 35 countries!
Conclusion???? USA IS THE BEST FOR ALL REASONS! We are the BEST in=
Business, Family laws, Immigration, Civil rights, freedom, Everything!
It’s fun being in a different country for 1-2 weeks, but it get’s booooring & sometimes dangerous. Like Sept-Oct2005 in Paris cheering on the young unemployed college grad Muslum males protest by burning 11,000 cars! No guns like Los Angeles or USA, so they went nuts burning up to 600 cars in 1 night! Was like Los Angeles and Chicago Riots with cops protecting the protesters not the property! “French are different”…. very different! Or like in Shanghai (1 year gold Chinese visa/in/out unlimited visa). This was my 4th visit to China. Was ready 2 put some big money$$ in Shanghai. But the economy is weak, like bamboo, the people are “primitive”, water dirty, sewer system (?duh? wher is it), air so dirty I had to take Advil at 10am every day, and the soot on your skin could be scraped off under your nales every day at 5pm. The construction is D grade as in Dangerous! The spitting occurs day/night/outside/inside building/female/male! Yeeeeehaa! Where was my “mask”… And they read every email and I got “black balled” or “86″ from every internet cafe and my wifi was blocked by the Chinese govt. Complained 2 the US embassy! They said too bad, it happens to about 50% of all Americans because they email bad stuff! Wow, NSA for verbal bad words in China is very 100% efficient. I was kicked out of internet cafes 3 times!!! Oh well, rattling on, enjoy the 250 photos!!
See you on the waves in Waikiki or the Convertible in Newport Beach 2 Malibu Pacific Coast Hwy #1 Drive!
js Said,
August 25, 2006 @ 2:49 am
I’m currently paying $950 for a decent sized studio in the Los Angeles area. I hate, hate, hate, hate this. And it’s hardly top of the line housing or anything. Even worse is that I’ve heard some economic predictions that rents may increase to bring them more in line with housing costs!!! Heaven help us!
Unfortunately I am finding the options for saving money in California to be harsh, and the options of saving money by leaving California to be plentiful.
bymyreckoning.com » links for 2006-08-28 Said,
August 28, 2006 @ 2:48 pm
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living (tags: lifehacks life simplicity tips money) […]
mayflower hill » Work Happiness and Versailles Said,
August 28, 2006 @ 11:23 pm
[…] This article is from a blog “The Chief Happiness Officer”. I think he is spot on, not just in this article, but in all of the posts that I have read. His post “The top 10 advantages of low-rent living” is certainly correct, and a good reminder to me of why we have chosen to live and work the way that we do. I’m sure that some people will think it is “hippy” or “left-wing” but it’s really just sensible, and allows you to serve your clients, your family, and yourself in ways that you really just can’t otherwise. […]
clarafiedwords Said,
September 1, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
wow, i’m printing this post and the comments.
Steve Trinward Said,
September 3, 2006 @ 10:52 pm
I figured this out years ago, have always lived below my means housing-wise, and now solved the problem of “needing more space” by moving from the inlaw apt to the main house … and finding a (series of) housemates to occupy the attic, and pay just enough to make the monthly nut about 30-35% of what I bring in, from part-time online writing and editing. Still a few things that I could stand to have, but am pretty happy most of the way, marking my own hours on my terms.
bymyreckoning.com - » links for 2006-08-28 Said,
September 4, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living (tags: lifehacks life simplicity tips money) […]
Top 10 tips for productive, creative, fun writing Said,
September 5, 2006 @ 10:30 am
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living […]
Is your boss a prison warden or a party host? Said,
September 8, 2006 @ 9:24 am
[…] Live a low-rent life. Control your fixed expenses so that being fired is not an immediate financial disaster. […]
Sean » Such were the observances attendant upon the Governor”s morning Said,
September 16, 2006 @ 3:04 pm
[…] http://positivesharing.com/2006/08/low-rent-living/ […]
How to lose your fear of being fired Said,
September 19, 2006 @ 10:08 am
[…] The second way is to keep your private expenses low, so that you’re not 100% dependent on that pay check every month. I love this approach myself, and wrote about it in a post called The Top 10 Advantages of Low-Rent Living. […]
Rodolpho Said,
September 20, 2006 @ 3:56 am
“giving away clothes”
Yeah, I’ve been doing that because I had not enough room in my closets. I felt very nice when I donated a large bag full of old clothes to a neighbourhood community. I also donated an old Palm PDA and a digital camera (this one was so old that didn’t have LCD display). In short, it makes me feel good…
Matts Blog » ‘”Oh, yes,” says I, winking to myself, for I knew the kind of seven Said,
October 25, 2006 @ 7:10 am
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living […]
OffBeatMammal Said,
November 26, 2006 @ 8:35 pm
so true.
I used to subscribe to that philosophy, travelled the world and lived out of 2 suitcases.
Then along came my daughter and all the extra baggage - which I’d not miss out for on the world - but it does lead to a review of the priorities.
We’ve since settled (though moved 4 times in the last 5 years including to a different country) by keeping the minimal “stuff” approach
It’s hard to get into the habbit, but once you’re there it’s a good feeling
Lori Said,
December 22, 2006 @ 7:47 pm
I am glad to see that economic minimalism is growing in popularity.
Shameless plug:
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Economic_minimalism
I hope the practice grows, and I hope at some point the movement includes not just
the downshifters we all love, but also pre-career and non-career adults with _intelligent_
strategies for bypassing the economic maximalism (i.e. “career”) game in the first place.
The golfomercials of brokerage firms these days are of course
jumping on the baby-boomers-as-retirees-NOT bandwagon in a way I
can only imagine most chronological “boomers” must find grating in
the extreme. The punch line (and presumably the cautionary tale
for us post-boomers) seems to be that membership in the high-end professions,
combined with prudent saving (i.e. “wealth management”), is
how one pays one’s dues to become eligible for such
“altruistic” callings as “teaching.”
zoop Said,
December 31, 2006 @ 7:05 pm
How tedious. All your advantages are the same thing — you’ve traded real estate for less money. Could have made a much shorter post.
repo4sale Said,
January 1, 2007 @ 2:47 am
I share a 5br 5bath home valued at about $800k 3car garage & 1 lemo to share, 4000sqft. 1 outdoor & 1 indoor Jacuzzi! 15 minutes from the beach in Southern California! $775/month + utilities! 2 Tvs per room, I have a 2bedroom SUITE. This home would cost me about $6-7k/month if I purchased it. But the investment returns would be “negative per year”. So, while living “frugalllllyyyyyy” I visited 66 countries backpacking, traveling 6-10 months year, sold 192 properties (my own deals), motorcycled (3bikes) 3 countries 33k miles, jet skied 6 countries 14,000 miles (gps) and did my “investments” via email and internet. All this in the last 8 years. On my 4th passport, 4th has only about 4 pages left 2 fill. Learned USA is the best and we better be nice 2 USA and APPRECIATE IT AND KISS THE GROUND. Liberals! you will turn conservative after 5-10 countries! Oh, have graph of GOVT. TAX BITE FOR THE TOP 48 ECONOMIC POWERS! USA IS 6TH CHEAPEST COUNTRY TO LIVE IN! YUP 6th CHEAPEST!!! Cheaper is the Oil Countries and 1-2 African Jungles! I mix with the Los Angeles & Orange County Citizens. Most are just making it, or don’t want to “disclose” debt! Most live ATM-Home Equity style. I’m a frequent Swap meet participant & 24hr Fitness Fanatic! 90% of the time I’m driving around in a convertible sports car that “burns rubber” like a motorcycle and has a SUPER HEATER that permits me to drive TOPLESS in 40 degree weather, sometimes all the way to the mountains 2 Snowboard on a week day! Women that show “cash poor behavior” or as we say “18% MORTGAGE PERSONALITY” I stay away. I meet some of the hottest gals at the Orange County Swap meet, where it’s more like an “UPPER CLASS SWAP MEET”… (:-) Oh, I do credit checks, background checks, and blood checks, also “State & Fed” checks if the gal looks like a winner but something is “fishy”… $9, $50, $100 fees are worth it to avoid problems! Examples: 3 dui convictions! 34 negatives on credit report, 2 open warrants, not divorced as stated, 1-3 bankruptcies, Herpes, family with many felons, 2-3 jobs per year type, AA, drug convictions! Finding Frugal Educated Normal Honest Funny Employed Sober Smart Gals are tough in California (37 million). Hey, I’ll pay you $10,000 if your introduction lasts 6 months with me! and $15,000 if we get hitched. If she gives me a child, I’ll pay you a fee to $10,000 each! With 2 kids your fees could exceed $45,000. Prenuptial contact a requirement with age 25-35 & no luggage with the qualities above. Asian/White desired. My file is on match dot come Name EzAloha and on Yahoo.com it’s EzAloha or Repo4sale. Anyway, I’m tired of rambling. Everyone have a safe New Year! and prosper in 2007. Yours truly, http://www.johnjasonchun.com
repo4sale Said,
January 1, 2007 @ 3:10 am
Oh, forgot to tell you the Homeland Security is 100% efficient! Each of us has a state department file. My file is about 7-8 computer pages! Because of this, and the amount of travel, I have had the “super special pleasure” of being in handcuffs 3 times in the last 4 years. Niagara Falls, Los Angels, New York! Each time it’s because I have extensive travel records. Almost in New Mexico and Vancouver too! Yup, the Canadians have access to the USA computers! The usual questions for a “PERSON OF INTEREST” that travels a lot is:
1-Why do you travel so much? Answer: I’m semi-retired Single Guy.
2-Where do you get your money? Answer: Landlord-Realtor-Paralegal LA!
3-Why do you travel with only a backpack? Answer:I’m cheap & travel alone!
4-Why do you visit so many countries? Answer: I want to see the world!
5-Can you verify the answers above? Yes, google REPO4SALE! 2500 hits!
6-Will you submit to a search? Yes, I avoid drugs drinking smoking & STD!
7-Do you have any references? Yes, on my cell phone I have many govt. #s.
1 HOT TIP FROM AN X-FED. (don’t know what branch). Every time you email, fly, train, bust, call, atm, charge, visa, master card, any electronic transaction, sometimes postage, UPS, FedEx, Dhl, etc. this is considered a “country visit”. I have been through UK about 12x, Japan about 7x, Hong Kong 5x, Canada 10x, Mexico 20x, Brussels 4x, France 4x, etc. etc. 66 countries, each 1-20 times! Can you imagine what my “STATE COMPUTER FILE LOOKS LIKE”…. Almost like a printout from “THE DEPARTURE SCREEN”.
2ND TIP: If you have been to 10-20 countries or more. Avoid the NEW CUSTOMS AGENTS! These new guys/gals tend to PRESS THE PANIC BUTTON FAST! They don’t like making mistakes, and I understand and support them but I’m a “unique case”. Oh Well, Asian Blond, 66 counties, could be a problem! Read my other post above! I need female referrals: Good ones in California, Hawaii, Arizona, Oregon, Canada, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Washington. Call me if you have a friend or “person of interest” toll free 888-532-7999. Interview me and invest 1-5minutes @ my cost. You could make $10-25-35-45k with a good referral. Again, my profile is at:
http://www.johnjasonchun.com and match.com name ezaloha!
repo4sale Said,
January 1, 2007 @ 3:16 am
How to be smarter than 99% of the Population! Read 20,000 pages a year! Or about 100 pages a working day! My sources are News/blogs/reports, etc. from GOOGLE, YAHOO, AOL, ETC. ETC. EMAILED 2 MY MAILBOX. One of the best sources for real estate is http://www.patrick.net But I get many email articles from .com .gov .net .uk and many other dot etcs.
Most popular posts of 2006 Said,
January 2, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living […]
How to find a job you’ll love Said,
January 3, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
[…] Also, reducing your expenses can be a great way to give yourself more leeway at work. […]
Living Within Your Means at JONTILLMAN.COM Said,
January 9, 2007 @ 7:37 am
[…] If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! You know, a lot of what I write about here, and what other folks write about, is nothing but old fashioned common sense. Basically, the thing I have been most excited about recently is just living within my means. […]
RyanDavis.Net » The top 10 advantages of low-rent living Said,
January 14, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
[…] Link [Via… I can’t remember] Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
Adrienne Said,
January 15, 2007 @ 2:06 am
I think this is such a great idea. My question, however, is how do you find low rental places that are in neighborhoods good enough for a single early 20s female to feel safe? I’ve looked at craigslist and can’t get many responses (probably because I’m moving from another state), rent.com, and apartments.com. One thing I have learned is that a rental place owned by an individual owner (rather than an apartment complex) tends to be kept up better, and if anything goes wrong (internet stops working, AC unit breaks, etc.) response (and repair) from the owner tends to be quick, friendly, and hassle-free. I even lived in a place where after the 1-yr lease was up, my rent didn’t increase.
Top Blogs » Blog Archive » Pros and Cons of Buying vs. Renting a home Said,
February 5, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
[…] Last week a recent comment by LAMoneyGuy on Dumb Little Man made me think about this topic. Then today, a message on Positive Sharing made me more curious. […]
chris Said,
February 7, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I used to owe quite a lot on money, imprudently spent on things I bought on credit. After being partnered in 1998, I took out a loan, repaid all the credit card debt, and haven’t run a balance since. I put away a good portion of my salary toward my pension, also save a bit in a savings account, and live in a relatively low rent flat here in the centre of high-rent London.
So when two years ago or more my then boss took me into a meeting room and said, “We may have to make you redundant.” he was shocked when I said, “Hey, no problems! That’s fantastic news. Thanks.” I spent a year and a half as a consultant for the company, not making as much money but working when I wanted to. At the same time I conducted software testing training courses that I enjoyed quite a bit, travelled some, and never went without. Every time I saw my old boss I thanked him profusely for the opportunity he gave me to have a wonderful time once I was set free. He was totally confused and very unsettled about it. I expect he may be one of those people who doesn’t understand what makes work satisfying and gives meaning to people’s lives.
www.johnjasonchun.com Said,
February 14, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
A few benefits from the “HIGH DEBT” pople:
1=Got 2 newer Fujitsu 17″ Notebooks from a Co going BK. $500 each! http://www.fujitsu.com said these sold for $2500 about 1 year ago!
2=Got a $100 round trip ticket(California 2 Hawaii) last minute fly out from a Teacher doing 3 jobs to pay a big mortgage!
3=Will try to make it to Hawaii and Mexico about 10 times this 2007! Many cheap tickets 2 Hawaii from California under $200! Tired and burned out on International Travel!
4=Land Auctions getting popular! Just listed about 12 land deals! 5=Sunday I will be picking up a $6000 New Honda Xr650L Dual Sport motorcycle for $3500(350miles). The guy is 1 month late on his mortgage payment, lost his job and his wife is working part time!
6=I FEEL LIKE IT’S GETTING TO THE POINT OF SEMI CRISIS FOR THE HOME OWNERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA! Prices going down now!
7=Everyone! Read the articles from http://www.patrick.net
8=The articles will make you smarter than 99% of the public!!
9=Any Single Gals out there just a FRUGAL? 25-35? check out my home page for a small bio, then check out the links for 300 photos!
Five reasons to forget about money and focus on what makes you happy at work Said,
February 28, 2007 @ 11:37 am
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living […]
Move.com Rental Survival Guide : Arming you with information to thrive as a renter in tough market conditions… » Blog Archive » Live Happier with Low Rent Said,
March 1, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
[…] Living with a rent below your monthly income level can lead to a happier lifestyle, among other things according to Positive Sharing. Some of the benefits include the freedom to take a chance or do what you enjoy. From the article: When a job doesn’t make me happy, I can quit without worrying about the money. I’ve done it once, Patricia twice. It’s not that we’ve quit at the fist sign of trouble - we have always tried to make it work. But when we’ve realized that a particular job wasn’t going to make us happy, we’ve had the freedom to say sayonara without first finding a new job. […]
Financial Hack Said,
March 29, 2007 @ 5:57 am
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living [Chief Happiness Officer] […]
The Advantages Of Low Cost Living - Financial Hack Said,
March 29, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living [Chief Happiness Officer] […]
FRACAT - Free Resume and Career Toolbox - Home Said,
April 16, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
[…] Alexander gives some great benefits of Low Rent Living, including what I think are the most important: […]
Femi og Michael » The unusual office Said,
April 19, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
[…] The author and Chief Happiness Officer, Alexander Kjerulff discovered by accident that having a small, low-rent apartment made him happier and gave him more leeway to do what he wanted. “In the startup I’ve been running the past three years I’ve been able to take some chances and focus more on building a happy, sustainable business than on bringing home a big pay-check every month. It has allowed the business to grow organically which has paid off immensely now that the business is up and running.” […]
Dan Said,
April 20, 2007 @ 8:59 am
As a young (25 years old) medical student one learns to either live like you want to (and pay for it down the line; I will be $225,000 in debt when I am finished, mostly school/book costs which I cut down as much as possible; F’ US medical education it is a for profit industry!) or cut corners. I myself am an avid cyclist and musician. What does this mean? Well, it means learning to live on a $16,000 (USD) budget while trying to do what I want, which is bike when I want, afford the musical equipment/software I want, travel when I want, and go out when I want to (2-4 times/week). This seems like asking a lot, but it is not. I live in an old (but perfect condition) apt. on a not so perfect part of town. LOW RENT, very low. I have ~1000 sq. ft. of living with 7 bikes, a music studio, and room to study, plus storage and room for a washer and dryer. I travel anytime that time permits (from school; every few weeks-months). I keep my heating and general utilities low. I grocery shop for at least 2/3 of my meals, mostly vegetarian (some chicken), although I am an avid meat-eater I have learned that one can consume this a few times a week (no more) and be in shape, healthy (Americans such as myself are accustomed to eating way toooooooo much meat, not preaching), and happy. This allows me to effectively have my cake, and eat it too. My place is very cool ( I can send pics if you want), low budget decorations, and I go out any night I want with little worry about running out of money. Lastly I can afford to travel to conferences for school interests or go on random excursions with friends who aren’t as tied down scholastically as I am. My life is good. It wasn’t always.
Key point. Check your priorities. Are you living for tomorrow on today’s budget? Are you going to live where you are for the rest of your life? Can you do the things you want? Do NOT use credit cards beyond what you can pay for in a month or two (max). I had this trouble in undergrad, and it took a full year of work between med school and the former to rid myself of this burden. DEBT FREE = FREEDOM. You may not have the $5,000 you don’t really have, but you don’t really have it, so who cares. Fun is not what you have, it is what you do or what you work towards.
D
Peri Winkle Said,
May 12, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Great and helpful ideas!
I’m glad I surfed onto this site.
Happiness is just around the corner Said,
May 15, 2007 @ 11:10 am
[…] The top 10 advantages of low-rent living […]
Great Locations, Cheap Rent And Some Advantages Of Cheap Rent : Rental Survival Guide : Arming you with information to thrive as a renter in tough market conditions… Said,
July 14, 2007 @ 1:15 am
[…] that they’re cheaper areas or neighborhoods necessarily just more rent friendly cities. Well Alexander Kjerulf gives the top 10 advantages of low-rent or as I like to say cheap rent […]
Sunday’s Speedlinking 8-5-07 | Alex Shalman . com Said,
August 5, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
[…] Alexander Kjerulf on The 10 Avantages to low rent living. […]
Tina Su - Think Simple. Be Decisive Said,
October 18, 2007 @ 1:45 am
Once again, the power of being grateful of what you have is confirmed. Gratitude truly regulates our satisfaction level. I’ll share this to my friends. Thanks for sharing a very practical insight, it really inspired me more!
Love and Gratitude,
Tina Su - Think Simple. Be Decisive.
http://thinksimplenow.com
Pet Care and Medications Said,
October 30, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Pet Care and Medications…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
australian housing (un)affordability and low-rent living « Juiced Pixels Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
[…] means I can be more flexible in living. As Alexander Kjerulf explains in his excellent ‘low rent living‘ post, I have the freedom to leave a bad job and the freedom to take a chance on a new job. I […]
106 Ways to Save Money : SCN - Personal Finance Said,
December 9, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
[…] your abode with roommates to cut down on rent and utilities. 44. Living in low rent places has many advantages. 45. Take steps to avoid becoming the target of a burglar. Pets 46. There are several ways to save […]
Matt Palmer Said,
January 7, 2008 @ 1:31 am
so true, im currently providing the money for my partner and I while she finishes the last 18 months of her degree. I found myself wanting to quit and start a degree full time myself, but that would leave us with a big dent in our earnings which wouldn’t allow us to cover the rent and expenses.
I wish now that I had us living in a sharehouse or something more modest (though on a charity employees income it’s still pretty modest) so that we had the room to both be learning in such a way.