Steps towards a simpler life

Jampy00

Jampy00

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Trying to navigate life in today's world can be complicated. I've decided to make changes to help maintain my sanity.

1. Bought property. No more neighbors to deal with.
2. Reduced debt load. Cash is king.
3. Changed jobs. Slightly less pay, short commute and easier job.
4. Reduced spam. Cancel subscriptions, unsubscribe emails, no social media.
5. Diet. Cutting back on junk, snacks and eating out.

I'm sure I'll make more positive changes, but so far I'm feeling much better, less tired, and have energy.
Anyone else in the same boat, just tired of the rat race, politics, uncertainty?
 
I think a lot of people feel the way you do. The most positive change I’ve made in my life was leaving my save, secure job of 26 years and starting my own business. It immediately released me from that soul destroying commute to Toronto every day. I love what I do and I only go into the city if it’s a job I want to do. Working for yourself like riding a roller coaster, lots of ups and downs but way more satisfying than punching a clock for someone else.
 
I’m lucky , I have neighbours but dealing with them is a non issue . Good people all around
Cash is good , there is good debt and bad debt , knowing the difference is key
My wife retired early because her job sucked . She was very lucky to have that option.
Most of us may not realize how friggin good we have it . Nobody is dropping bombs on my house , my dollar while not powerful globally buys my groceries. I don’t need a gun to feel safe .
A lot of us have houses, motorbikes and cars , some boats and cottages and many vacationing in nice places and enough savings that retirement won’t suck . Now look at the rest of the world.


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Bobo said:
I think a lot of people feel the way you do. The most positive change I’ve made in my life was leaving my save, secure job of 26 years and starting my own business. It immediately released me from that soul destroying commute to Toronto every day. I love what I do and I only go into the city if it’s a job I want to do. Working for yourself like riding a roller coaster, lots of ups and downs but way more satisfying than punching a clock for someone else.
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That's awesome congrats! I would also love to go full time with my contract gig...but unfortunately I simply cannot afford to do so and go without a steady paycheque for a few months.

It's easier when you're an empty nester, or young and have lots of time to make back up...but with wife, kids, mortgage, and life...it's a non starter for the vast majority of people.
 
mimico_polak said:
That's awesome congrats! I would also love to go full time with my contract gig...but unfortunately I simply cannot afford to do so and go without a steady paycheque for a few months.

It's easier when you're an empty nester, or young and have lots of time to make back up...but with wife, kids, mortgage, and life...it's a non starter for the vast majority of people.
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Yes, quitting my job took a huge leap of faith, I never would have done it with a wife, kids, mortgage etc. It certainly was an adventure and I’ve never looked back.
 
Bobo said:
Yes, quitting my job took a huge leap of faith, I never would have done it with a wife, kids, mortgage etc. It certainly was an adventure and I’ve never looked back.
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That's the way to do it. Congrats again! May we ask what type of business? I'm always curious about people's path.
 
While I have too many obligations and expenses to follow the FIRE path at this point, I am pushing hard to increase passive income. Trading my time for money isn't my favorite pastime. Knowing what I know now, instead of intentionally overbuying a house as that avoids CG tax, I should have gone for a smaller house and more investments kicking out money. It's not worth downsizing so just keep digging. Still a long way to go but investments are increasing faster than gross income from my full-time job so if I can stay on that curve, the end is in sight. During covid, market investments (not including primary residence) and liabilities (including mortgage) were equal. Six months ago, investments were almost double liabilities. The gap has increased by about 15% more now. Currently only withdrawing enough to service a loan used to buy some investments. The rest is being reinvested. That's good for tomorrow but no help for me today.

About a decade ago I quit working for somebody else and started my own company and since then I have been wfh most of the time. That was a magical improvement in quality of life.

My wife is slightly pining about moving east and enjoying life. Her job is stressful and depressing. Sadly, unless she puts in another 15 years, her pension is utter shite. If she puts in the time, her pension is decent but she started at this employer at ~40 so it's not a ticket to freedom. With her pension and six figures of money moved from house to income producing investments, life will be good. Right now we have elderly parents within a few hours drive so we want to spend as much time as possible with them. Once they are no longer in the picture, we will re-evaluate.
 
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mimico_polak said:
That's the way to do it. Congrats again! May we ask what type of business? I'm always curious about people's path.
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mimico_polak said:
That's the way to do it. Congrats again! May we ask what type of business? I'm always curious about people's path.
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I’m an electrician. Did my apprenticeship with a large electrical contractor, mostly in the office towers downtown and some large manufacturing plants. I did everything imaginable. One day I was fixing a pump that pumped monkey sh-t where they did vaccine testing on animals at Connaught Labs( now Sanofi Pasteur), the next day I was setting up for the Rolling Stones at The Rogers Centre. Anyway, I went on my own in 2010 and ended up doing ok. I may have made slightly more more money (taxable) had I stayed, the overtime and after hour emergency calls paid unbelievably well. I’m a thousand times happier now and was able to have more control of my life and travel.
 
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[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]" data-quote="Bobo" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">
Bobo said:
I avoid residential work like the plague but it’s nice to know that it’s always there if you need it. There’s always someone out there that needs a couple of dozen pot lights.
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Why only a dozen ? And I got a bulb out and may need an electrician lol



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I`m 68 and retired for 10 years now, my perspective is different. Seems everyone is plan, plan, plan. Don`t forget to live in the here and now though, buy that nice car or bike, take a big tour or cruise vacation. I`m not sure if I`ve mentioned here about a friend`s dad who worked over 30 years at GM with a friend of his who started the same day. They retire together and the friend dies, heart attack, before his first pension payment. I knew two other guys who had big plans in retirement, one a world cruise in retirement and the wife dies weeks prior to departure. The other had big plans when he and his wife retire together, she dies suddenly just before getting out and Dave retires to die in a slip and fall at home a year or so after retiring. Just something to think about.
 
Glenn/RZ500 said:
I`m 68 and retired for 10 years now, my perspective is different. Seems everyone is plan, plan, plan. Don`t forget to live in the here and now though, buy that nice car or bike, take a big tour or cruise vacation. I`m not sure if I`ve mentioned here about a friend`s dad who worked over 30 years at GM with a friend of his who started the same day. They retire together and the friend dies, heart attack, before his first pension payment. I knew two other guys who had big plans in retirement, one a world cruise in retirement and the wife dies weeks prior to departure. The other had big plans when he and his wife retire together, she dies suddenly just before getting out and Dave retires to die in a slip and fall at home a year or so after retiring. Just something to think about.
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My uncle worked his whole life at SKF. He died before his first pension cheque. That plan had no survivor benefit so his wife was left with CPP/GIS as her only income for the next few decades of her life.
 
Jampy00 said:
Trying to navigate life in today's world can be complicated. I've decided to make changes to help maintain my sanity.

1. Bought property. No more neighbors to deal with.
2. Reduced debt load. Cash is king.
3. Changed jobs. Slightly less pay, short commute and easier job.
4. Reduced spam. Cancel subscriptions, unsubscribe emails, no social media.
5. Diet. Cutting back on junk, snacks and eating out.

I'm sure I'll make more positive changes, but so far I'm feeling much better, less tired, and have energy.
Anyone else in the same boat, just tired of the rat race, politics, uncertainty?
Click to expand...
Me. Left the corp world in Feb. put some effort into finding an interesting job (pay doesn’t matter). Worked on my investment properties (I love home improvement - it’s therapy). Moved to simple town Ontario for the summer, 700km north of the GTA.

Working part time for bigger money than I anticipated, when I want - month on month off seems to agree with me.

Exploring new roads on my bike, doing a little time on my ATV, relearning French as my new granddaughter will be raised speaking both.

Loving a simpler life.
 
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I'm all about the simple life as well.

I ratcheted down both the spending and earnings over a decade ago, and the only luxuries I splurge on are anything motorcycle-related, including road trips. No more fancy restaurants, expensive cars, non-bike vacations. No fancy watches or knives either. I update the computer and phone every 6-7 years. Probably keep my TV until it breaks.

So far, not missing a thing.

However...

Not everyone is cut from the same cloth. The Live-Life-Simpler path is not one that's made for everyone.

My buddy retired from corporate life a couple of years ago after complaining about the stresses at work. Trouble sleeping and developed a tic in his eye that required a cup-full of pills daily to keep under control. He was already well-off from employment income/savings and investments, so ratcheting down was never part of the plan, just getting rid of the work BS.

6 months into retirement and he starts calling into work asking if they need any help.

Then he took a part-time consultant role making more than he did on 50% of the workload. He missed being a part of the action and was painfully bored at home after trying hobby after hobby and none of it sticking.

Turns out he didn't want to leave the work stress behind completely. He just wanted less of it. And on his terms. He's much happier now than before.

Everyone's wired differently. My buddy couldn't live the life of a layabout, despite trying his best.

Me, I'm all about La Pura Vida!
 
Everyone is different, we all have to figure out the best path(s) to move us forward.
My biggest hurdle was getting over myself, getting my thought process corrected.
I'm now in a much better place.

The wife and I recently started a plan to prep our lunches to take to work.
Healthy choices, Canadian grown, buy in bulk. Then portion and vacuum packed.
As little as possible processed food, we're excited to see how this changes things.
Also nice to just grab and go as you're heading out the door.

I've also tried to provide solutions to my complaints instead of just bitching about things. I see enough of that here and want no part of it.

For the first time in awhile I'm actually pretty happy, calm and enjoying life even in today's world.
 
Jampy00 said:
Everyone is different, we all have to figure out the best path(s) to move us forward.
My biggest hurdle was getting over myself, getting my thought process corrected.
I'm now in a much better place.

The wife and I recently started a plan to prep our lunches to take to work.
Healthy choices, Canadian grown, buy in bulk. Then portion and vacuum packed.
As little as possible processed food, we're excited to see how this changes things.
Also nice to just grab and go as you're heading out the door.

I've also tried to provide solutions to my complaints instead of just bitching about things. I see enough of that here and want no part of it.

For the first time in awhile I'm actually pretty happy, calm and enjoying life even in today's world.
Click to expand...

We bought a cheap mini chest freezer, put it in the garage and then cooked big home made meals like a lasagna or moussaka or something that we put into portions. Froze them and used them when we didn’t have a lot of time. Works out very well and is better than the stuff you buy.
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