The Opposite of Lifestyle Creep

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feb 11, 2016 10:37:20 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Feb 11, 2016 10:27:31 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I still think it's a "safe" place to open up to.  I don't get the budget posting fears and such.  Do people really get their feelings hurt because someone on a message board says they're spending too much on a cell phone? 

  I was actually going for   with the logical fallacy term, not  .  Makes me wonder if people don't know exactly what it means : "The term "logical fallacy" refers to the concept of making an error in terms of reasoning".  So, A may not necessarily lead to C, but that doesn't mean B doesn't lead to C.  I think it's important to understand your reasons really honestly (with yourself--you don't have to share at all here if you don't want to).  But you really have to get to the core of it for it to be useful.  The reasons could be perfectly valid, but if the same reasons seem to keep popping up leading to the same problems over and over, maybe it's time to try to focus on that area.

Lizard Queen ,so, in my skimming, I think I missed the word "logical" and went with the mis-interpretation that you were calling my financial life a bucket of lies and I should get my poop together. So, yeah, that's totally on me; I apologize. I do know the reasons for my tight budget. I also know the reasons I have chosen not to get rid of any houses--which we could have done through foreclosure and bankruptcy. I'm not making excuses. I'm fully aware of why we are barely treading water.

minnesotapaintlady , I'm an oversensitive person. As an example, I took the intent of shasta's first post to be disdainful of  anyone whose household budget exceeds $7,000. There are others who do not believe I should have interpreted it that way. I don't know who's correct. Another example, I screwed up buying my second house. I don't like to have that pointed out to me every time I post my budget. I cannot wave a magical wand and make the 2006 housing/property purchase never happen. I've posted questions, and people will want to focus on why I have two mortgages on that house and why I don't sell all of my things and live in poverty until I am able to unload the house. One time, Carl himself has asked WTH is wrong with us since we gross almost $200k/year (less now that I lost my previous job). I very well may post our budget after we sell the MFH just to discuss how to allocate the unencumbered funds. 

Feb 11, 2016 14:35:49 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Chloe didn't mean to click this one, and now she cannot make it go away.

Feb 11, 2016 15:23:36 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Feb 11, 2016 14:51:39 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I don't think she was saying people should live as she does either. I think some (or at least I) have an issue with her using the word "redonkulous" in regards to another's finances.  It's pretty critical of someone who, while they may have gotten in over their heads and made some unwise decisions. are at least paying what they owe.

I saw it as a criticism of another and a case of "those who live in glass houses", but that's just me. However, from reading, I don't think I'm alone. 

Many, many people here - me included - have expressed admiration for Shasta's accomplishments, but that doesn't mean she can crap in the pool and everybody is going to smile about it.

I find a lot of finances here rather "redonkulous" but I know better than to say so. I'm not one of the special snowflakes. There are posters who CAN do that, or get away with so much other crap and never get called on it. 

As if YM doesn't criticize everyone all the time, including the person she was talking about. 

No, no one will give her any slack. She's living a YM disapproved life. 

I--seriously--don't know who is a special snowflake and who isn't. Let's continue to discuss our lives! 

[zibazinski]

Feb 11, 2016 19:59:38 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

What is the value of the property to the potential buyers if the feds come in and file for forfeiture?  That could depress the value to the potential buyers. 

.
I would think anyone remotely legal authority wise has been bought and paid for.

[seriousthistime]

Could be that way now, zib. 

Beyond the argument of who's being bashed, who's a special snowflake, and so on, my take on this (and yes, I do recall the back story about workingshasta) is she was comparing herself to someone who makes way more money and whose budget is tight, which she thought was "redonkulous," compared to her own situation where she makes ends meet on much less.

Trouble is that, as others have pointed out, she is NOT making ends meet because she is not paying all her regular obligations.  If things are as they were a year or two ago, workingshasta also gets some sort of State benefits.

My budget is tight because I am pouring a lot of money into my retirement account.  As a W2 employee I also pay the state and the feds a lot of money in income taxes and also have money deducted for health insurance.  I have large co-pays and deductibles that I have to meet.  I get no benefits from the state except for what other people get: the privilege of using the roads, fire and police protection, etc.

My point is that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison.   

[Lizard Queen]

I'm afraid Shasta's message has gotten lost in the details. She stripped away all the extraneous stuff that we tend to hold on to in our modern lives, and found rebirth and contentment in the simplicity. It's almost like a spiritual transformation, IMO. You don't see monks living in posh surroundings, but very sparse, basic lives. There's something to be said for doing that to clear your mind of personal demons that may be lurking there.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feb 12, 2016 9:20:00 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I'm afraid Shasta's message has gotten lost in the details. She stripped away all the extraneous stuff that we tend to hold on to in our modern lives, and found rebirth and contentment in the simplicity. It's almost like a spiritual transformation, IMO. You don't see monks living in posh surroundings, but very sparse, basic lives. There's something to be said for doing that to clear your mind of personal demons that may be lurking there.

Well, heck! That was the message? Seriously, my interpretation of her original post was an attack on those of us who spent more than $7k per month. My over-sensitivity can be blinding. I'm much better than I used to be--really! If she had framed it as you just did, that would have been much easier to understand. 

[alinal]

Feb 12, 2016 9:20:00 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I'm afraid Shasta's message has gotten lost in the details. She stripped away all the extraneous stuff that we tend to hold on to in our modern lives, and found rebirth and contentment in the simplicity. It's almost like a spiritual transformation, IMO. You don't see monks living in posh surroundings, but very sparse, basic lives. There's something to be said for doing that to clear your mind of personal demons that may be lurking there.

I also interpreted it as -- you do what you have to do. When your situation changes, you have to adapt. I looked at my numbers, and I could possibly live on $7k a year if I absolutely had to, and stay in my house since it is paid off (I would pay the $900 property tax, but drop the $1300 insurance). Would I choose to do that? No, but I probably would do it for a little while while I waited for my house to sell, or before sucking it up and moving in with family.

Spending money I don't have doesn't make me happy, so I'm pretty sure I'd choose to live on a meager amount and simplify my life, and be much happier.

[haapai]

post deleted by author, who is mighty pissed and typing a bit faster than prudent. 

[gooddecisions]

If Shasta was paying all her obligations, I don't think anyone would have a problem with this post and would find it very inspiring. As it stands, it's similar to the strategic foreclosure posts from years ago. Some folks were impressed, others found it unethical and morally wrong. Same thing here. Nobody is right or wrong, it's just perspective. And, it seemed a little dishonest not to mention that she was not paying certain obligations in her original post. Others had to point it out.

[Opti]

Feb 12, 2016 10:03:07 GMT -5 alinal said:

Feb 12, 2016 9:20:00 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I'm afraid Shasta's message has gotten lost in the details. She stripped away all the extraneous stuff that we tend to hold on to in our modern lives, and found rebirth and contentment in the simplicity. It's almost like a spiritual transformation, IMO. You don't see monks living in posh surroundings, but very sparse, basic lives. There's something to be said for doing that to clear your mind of personal demons that may be lurking there.

I also interpreted it as -- you do what you have to do. When your situation changes, you have to adapt. I looked at my numbers, and I could possibly live on $7k a year if I absolutely had to, and stay in my house since it is paid off (I would pay the $900 property tax, but drop the $1300 insurance). Would I choose to do that? No, but I probably would do it for a little while while I waited for my house to sell, or before sucking it up and moving in with family.

Spending money I don't have doesn't make me happy, so I'm pretty sure I'd choose to live on a meager amount and simplify my life, and be much happier.

Is the $900 property tax yearly?

[alinal]

Mine is. $910 last year, to be exact.

[Opti]

Feb 12, 2016 10:30:36 GMT -5 alinal said:

Mine is. $910 last year, to be exact.

Nice. In NJ, that is more likely to be a monthly amount.

[HoneyBBQ]

Feb 12, 2016 9:20:00 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I'm afraid Shasta's message has gotten lost in the details. She stripped away all the extraneous stuff that we tend to hold on to in our modern lives, and found rebirth and contentment in the simplicity. It's almost like a spiritual transformation, IMO. You don't see monks living in posh surroundings, but very sparse, basic lives. There's something to be said for doing that to clear your mind of personal demons that may be lurking there.

If I want to do that, I pay my taxes and then go backpacking.

I mean, maybe she has made peace with her situation. That is great. I agree, we have too much fluff and not enough substance in our lives. But I don't think she would rather have her taxes paid and a few more basics provided for. Maybe not.

[swamp]

Intesting that CA gives extra money from the tax sale to the property owner.

In NY, if you don't pay your taxes for 3years, the county gets a quitclaim deed to your place around July. In October they have a sale and they keep all the money.

[Chocolate Lover]

Feb 11, 2016 20:55:17 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Feb 11, 2016 14:35:49 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Chloe didn't mean to click this one, and now she cannot make it go away.

Feb 11, 2016 15:23:36 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I find a lot of finances here rather "redonkulous" but I know better than to say so. I'm not one of the special snowflakes. There are posters who CAN do that, or get away with so much other crap and never get called on it. 

As if YM doesn't criticize everyone all the time, including the person she was talking about. 

No, no one will give her any slack. She's living a YM disapproved life. 

I--seriously--don't know who is a special snowflake and who isn't. Let's continue to discuss our lives! 

Top one:     I know that feeling too well.


Second one: Our most very special snowflake no longer hangs out here but we've appointed a few since she left.  Depends on the subject most of the time. 

[NastyWoman]

Feb 12, 2016 13:26:04 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

I'm interested to see what the next election does to legalized pot. It is still illegal at the federal level. The current president has chosen not to enforce this law but that could easily change.

Shasta - if you can save the money you need to catch up I think I would. Will the county work out a deal with you? It's hard to see how the residual from an auction of the property would leave you enough money for housing.

 especially since the county won't consider selling the land to your potential buyers. After all, they even refused those buyers' TG turkeys...

[Phoenix84]

For some reason I thought you got rid of the iguana. Glad to see you kept it.

[Deleted]

My original point was that you can live with little and if you do, then you find that you really don't need all the things we all take for granted today as necessities. Small things and large. Thank you for the person who translated that so well for me.

I mentioned my taxes because I knew it was the first question coming - where is your taxes and insurance column. Figured I would head that off. It wasn't a brag or anything, it's a source of a lot of stress in my life.

My income issue should be resolved in the next couple months for many reasons. Kid got a job and can now support himself and I won't have to... I found a writing gig that pays more money. And, I now have permission to sell the material from the new gem quality fossil wood deposit I found here.

I'll post the eBay listing when it closes and we can all drool. We have a 4" x 6" piece with four large crystals inside agate inside opal wood. The estimate is $650. If it sells for that, the rock is worth $2K per POUND. It's being polished now.

I have 60 acres of wood and fossil jaspers to collect. It's literally everywhere in the field. We believe we have intact logs but haven't probed the soil yet. I'm still mapping the boundary of the deposit because it is huge.

The wood was under water in a bay and is both beat up and termite eaten, so it is full of crystals, agate, jaspers, opal, and fossil algae. It's amazing.

I know it sounds weird. Crone reads my FB stuff and can vouch for my rock find if no one believes me. Not that it really matters... But, I found a find of a lifetime and it is wonderful if it pays off financially for me and for the rancher.

[finnime]

Feb 12, 2016 19:56:04 GMT -5 @workingshasta said:

My original point was that you can live with little and if you do, then you find that you really don't need all the things we all take for granted today as necessities. Small things and large.

My income issue should be resolved in the next couple months for many reasons. [ ... ] But, I found a find of a lifetime and it is wonderful if it pays off financially for me and for the rancher.

Shasta, I admire what you've done since I first read your posts.

Your health improvement is phenomenal. You have been living in poverty for years, but doing much more than surviving.
I suffer from depression, too, and it's debilitating at times in a way incomprehensible to so many people.
Your having raised two boys alone, and now getting them on their own feet - outstanding.
You have found ways to generate income, increase it in the future, and have a (realistic, from what I can see) means to obtain capital from the sale of your property in the near term. And that will include taxes owed.

Your strength and perseverance through some real muck is impressive. Here's a gold star for your work.

[haapai]

Or you could save a nice piece of that rock for yourself and engrave YMMV in it.