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-Land of the Free
Wise words from a reader
2023-04-16
[Rural-Revolution] In response to my last blog post, "The Only Way to Survive 2023," a reader named Leigh chimed in with her two cents' worth. I found her words so wise — far better than I could phrase things — that I wanted to highlight them here.

She writes: In reading these articles, I notice a common denominator, which is basically (over-simplified, I suspect) that the alarms and cautions are related to embracing the current economic system, which relies on debt and the hope of wealth accumulation through investments. The ideas that debt can make us affluent, or that everyone has to be a millionaire before they can retire is a new one, within my lifetime at least. Growing up, it was explained to me that one strives toward their highest earnings in one's younger years: to buy a home, raise a family, and secure tangible assets. Once the children are on their own and the house is paid for, there isn't need for so much, and a smaller retirement income will suffice to be happy and comfortable. Now, this is foreign thinking.

My husband and I have never had the income to get caught up in the economic investment lifestyle. So honestly, people getting panicky over the state of the economy is something that makes no sense. Instead, we have "invested" in the land, tools, equipment, and skills to live a simpler lifestyle and become more self-reliant. Of course, I don't like higher retail prices and disappearing products. But because of our lifestyle, we can pretty much say "oh well" and shrug it off.

The biggest challenge is that learning how to be frugal also requires learning how to be content.
Yes.
And that it isn't a stopgap measure, it's a lifestyle. Unfortunately, contentment pretty is pretty foreign to human nature, which I suspect contributes greatly to people getting stressed out.

Yes!! This woman gets it! She explains things so clearly. Listen to her wisdom.
Posted by:746

#3  I don't know how old this woman is but I'm presuming she and her hubby are pretty healthy late 60s or early 70s.

As they get older, they will probably need help taking care of their property and later maybe need help taking care of their house cleaning and organizing and then help with cooking and medicine. So they may find their income won't be enough at some point.
Posted by: lord garth   2023-04-16 14:19  

#2  Cashless society all will change. Everything the Democrats do fails so I expect the same this targeted July changeover. I see electronic systems fail nearly every day. Hacks of all kinds.
Posted by: Dale   2023-04-16 13:55  

#1  The current set of beliefs for consumers is driven by advertising that pushes the "this is what you could should have" lifestyle. It's been in motion for over a hundred years.
The plan is to get you in over your head and keep you there.
Posted by: ed in texas   2023-04-16 11:41  

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