What I’ve Learned About Happiness From Diego
Diego is my buddy. He’s my muse, my writing partner, and my confidant.
He’s also my dog.
I guess it’s good to have a confidant that can’t talk!
We’ve had him for a few years now and he’s really grown on me in a big way. I guess I used to be a bit indifferent towards dogs, and pets in general. But I love him as much I could possibly love anything, and certainly on the same level at which I’m capable of loving humans.
Our little Chihuahua keeps me company when I’m alone at home writing all day. It’s interesting in that even though he can’t effectively communicate with language as we know it, he’s been able to teach me a lot about life, happiness, and what really matters.
It’s The Simple Things
I can tell you what makes Diego happy:
A roof over his head.
Food in his food bowl.
Water in his water bowl.
Snuggling under the covers.
A ball to fetch.
Getting 14 hours of sleep.
Company.
And a clean place to go to the bathroom.
It just doesn’t take much to make him happy. He just needs a little food, some good company, occasional play time, and a lot of sleep in a warm bed. What’s interesting, however, is that this is pretty much what we all need.
Are Choices Killing Us?
Is Diego some kind of genius? I don’t think so. I just think it comes down to his nature. And, of course, lack of choice. By nature, he’s perfectly happy with a simple life. But it probably doesn’t hurt that he lacks choice in the matter. Meanwhile, us humans have more choices in front of us than we can possibly contemplate in any single moment.
Burger or burrito for lunch? 1,000 square feet of living space or 5,000? Apartment or house? Bicycle or BMW? Money or time?
But it’s not these choices in themselves that are killing us. Each choice is nothing more than an opportunity. However, not all opportunities are created equal. Just like the choice to buy a house far larger than you really need and more expensive than you can afford comes with the “opportunity” to work until you’re 65 years old, the choice to live below your means and invest the difference comes with the opportunity to become financially independent at a relatively young age.
No, it’s not the choices. It’s the decisions that are killing us. People oftentimes unfortunately make poor decisions when it comes to money, believing that money buys happiness. They are apparently oblivious to the fact that the research has come in, and it shows that time buys happiness. They say time is money, but they’re not equal. Money can surely afford you your needs, but beyond that it’s time that actually does the heavy lifting toward happiness.
Diego Lacks A Hedonic Treadmill
Hedonic adaptation is the theory that we all have some kind of baseline happiness level. Buying a brand new Corvette might elicit elation for a bit. But then you’ll realize after a while that it’s just a car. It has a gas and brake pedal, doors to get in and out of the car, a speedometer, and four wheels. You know, like most cars. Hey, wait a minute. My $5,400 Toyota Corolla has all that!
Furthermore, you’ll realize the Corvette actually comes with all kinds of drawbacks like more expensive insurance, the need to use premium fuel only, and an incessant desire to keep it clean and park it far away from everyone else. Before you know it, the car owns you more than you own it. And that initial elation quickly fades. Interestingly enough, these drawbacks could actually drain your happiness, dropping you below your baseline level, causing the exact opposite effect of what you were aiming for.
The hedonic treadmill is one’s need to constantly raise the bar. Once the Corvette doesn’t do it for you anymore, maybe it’s time for a Ferrari. Once the shopping spree this past Saturday is behind you and the closet is sorted, you’ll need another spree next weekend to get that feeling of elation back. You’ll eventually bore of your new 2,000 square-foot house, desiring the bigger pad overlooking the city. Once you adapt to that view, it’s time for a mountainside cabin.
Only then will we really be happy.
Or so we tell ourselves.
But Diego doesn’t have a big house, a fancy car, or a closet full of clothes. Not only does he lack the means to go out and get that stuff, but he also lacks the desire. He knows what makes him happy and he appreciates it every day. What’s even more interesting is that because his happiness is so tied to a low-maintenance lifestyle, that even a modicum of improvement in the basics causes this massive shift in his attitude.
Appreciating The Basics Makes It Easier To Enjoy The Occasional Luxury
Diego’s diet mostly consists of dry dog food. We try to mix it up with different flavors, but that’s what can usually be found in his bowl. However, I can tell you one thing about him: He absolutely loves the occasional table scraps. Give him a piece of chicken from some stir-fry or a bite of a PB&J sandwich and he’s over the moon. Who needs a Corvette or a mansion when you can have freshly cooked chicken?
However, like with anything else, there’s a slippery slope there. If we were to feed him nothing but human food every day, he’d probably lose his taste for dry dog food. I’m sure he’d eat it if he had no choice, which speaks to choices, but he probably wouldn’t be very happy about it.
The same goes for me. I love our little two-bedroom apartment. It’s not big, at under 1,000 square feet. And it’s certainly not luxurious, with old, basic appliances, plain white formica countertops, small bedrooms, a balcony that needs repairs, and worn out carpet throughout. But it’s a roof over our heads and it provides all we need.
Sure, if someone were to gift us a fancy house it might be nice for a while. Tile floors and granite countertops would be new and different. But we’d eventually adapt to that as well. Sooner or later, we’d realize that the new stainless steel refrigerator cools food no differently than our old white fridge, the tile floors are still just a barrier between us and the ground, and granite countertops do not somehow magically make food taste better or easier to prepare.
More importantly, we’d probably lose our appreciation for what we already have. The small apartment might seem confining. The kitchen just wouldn’t look as nice. The view of a parking lot might not be all that inspiring. So we’d end up with a situation that really doesn’t better our happiness in any meaningful and lasting way, but further from the realization that we didn’t need that situation in the first place. Meanwhile, our bar has now been raised so high to where our appreciation for everything in life changes. One aspect of lifestyle inflation can beget a whole new dynamic.
Conclusion
One other interesting thing about Diego is that he has no desire for money. If I were to give him a $20 bill, he’d look at me like I was crazy. Maybe if I dip it in beef gravy, he might try to take a bite. Otherwise, it does nothing for him.
I admire this attitude and it’s something I try emulate. What is $20 after all, other than the needs it can fulfill and the time it can buy? Once we have our basic needs met, then the continued and increasing exchange of more money for more stuff does very little for happiness. The fact that people lust after more and more money, therefore, is puzzling.
Whenever I see my puppy light up, it’s over something very small. If we leave for a few hours and come back, he goes crazy like we’ve been gone for years. Give him a small bite of what you’re eating and he’ll be your friend forever. Give him an 80″ TV, on the other hand, and he’ll just cock his head at you like you’re an alien.
However, I also guarantee you that if I were to make Diego get up at 6:30 every morning and march off to the local Doggie Jobby Job and do busywork for eight hours every day, he’d quickly lose his zest for life. He’d be totally bummed out. And who could blame him?
It’s important to maintain perspective. If a dog can realize what’s truly important in life – basic needs, love, relationships, autonomy, freedom, safety – then why can’t we?
What do you think? Is there something to be gleaned from our pets?
Thanks for reading.
Totally agree. You have a fantastic way of articulating how I think a lot of us feel but so easily forget, especially for those of us still so focused on our own Jobby Jobs. We also often forget about how important our health is too. All the time in the world means nothing without good health IMO.
Outstanding post–I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very true- the simple things in life or most important, and we almost forget them. Time being the big one.
Rock on DM–keep up the great posts and Happy 2015!
DM,
I like the post. My wife and I have 2 dogs and the amount of unconditional love they give us every day is astounding. Like you said, you give them a piece of chicken and they won’t leave you alone. I agree that we could learn from them with the way they approach each day in regards to finding happiness in the littlest things. I enjoy reading posts like these that bring the focus back onto saving and in a subtle way reminding us that our time will be the greatest happiness of all.
Thanks,
ADD
Thanks for sharing Jason! Your dog is definitely onto something that take other people their whole lives to figure out. Our hearts can’t miss what it doesn’t know. I 100% agree that big and fancy will lose it’s zest over time, and that it only provokes us to want something bigger and better. However I really do hope to own another sports car again! Driving and keeping it shiny brings happiness to my life, but I know there will be a time a place for all that. I suppose that has something to do with delayed gratification and what not hey?
Hope all is continuing to go well on your end Jason!
Ace
Stumbled on to your blog looking for random investment advice. I’m a graduate student who finally paid off my bachelor’s (Whoo Hoo!) and ready to build my nest egg. Minimum wage contributions at first, but you have to start somewhere! I have really enjoyed reading about your outlook on life, prioritizing time over money and look forward to your future posts.
And I wish I could be as happy as my dog! If only a walk were all I needed for entertainment.
Best Wishes for 2015!
Great post! After reading Your Money or Your Life, I stopped exposing myself to the things that made me unhappy with my own life – magazines, home improvement tv shows, etc. It made all the difference in how I appreciated what I already had.
P.S. Diego is a very handsome dude! 🙂
Diego’s life is much like FI in that he doesn’t have to work in order to have his basic needs met. We’re all striving to be like Diego!
Bill,
Glad you enjoyed it. I always try to take concepts and put a new, unique spin on them. And this all true – Diego really has taught me a lot about life and happiness. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
DA,
Thank you. I do my best to articulate ideas and concepts in such a way that they’re approachable and easy to understand for everyone. We can all relate to our pets, I think. 🙂
Agreed on health. Wealth without health isn’t wealth at all.
Cheers!
ADD,
Yeah, the unconditional love is amazing. I could be a really crappy person, and Diego would still love me. But I take great care of him. He’s a wonderful pup.
Hope you found some value in the article. We can learn a lot from the simplest things. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Best wishes.
Ace,
Sure. Money has utility. I don’t believe in saving money just to save it. I prefer to spend mine on time, but if you already have all the time you could want and a sports car is easily affordable for you (and truly brings you lasting happiness), then that’s great. I’ve kind of been there and done that, and realized that the drawbacks weren’t worth the benefits. For most of us, our resources are finite, so choices must be made that lead to the best opportunities. If I had a billion dollars, for instance, then I might end up owning a shiny car. Then again, I’m probably just as well off walking – keeps me in shape. 🙂
Cheers!
Hi, Dividend Mantra.
Great article! I really enjoyed the correlation. Mrs Jones & I have an eight pound Shih Tzu, so I can totally relate. It’s totally true that zebras don’t easily change their stripes. The most fascinating stories are those of down on their luck lottery winners that blow through their cash as quickly as it came in. One really has to practice discipline to overcome the hedonic treadmill.
I’m going to try to mix in a similar article in the next week (mostly because I’ve got some funny pictures of our Shih Tzu that I’d like to post). Take care.
Goosemann Jones
Flight to Dividends Blog
Piled,
Glad you stumbled upon my humble spot on the internet. Hope you stick around!
We all have to start somewhere. I started with very little money and fairly small contributions. They grow over time as you gain experience and a zest for saving/investing. You’ll get there. 🙂
Best wishes.
Kari,
Thanks! I’ll tell him how handsome you think he is. 🙂
YMOYL was a eureka moment for me. Still love that book and have a lot of respect for it.
Sounds like you’ve done a great thing over there. Although we haven’t had true cable in a long time now (we have basic cable as part of an internet package right now), I can appreciate the love for stuff on HGTV. But all that gawking over these made-for-TV homes just makes you lust for something you don’t have, instead of realizing how good you do have it. It’s funny, because Claudia would actually like a nicer kitchen. Our stove kind of sucks. But after seeing the picture on the blog, she thought it actually looks nice in the picture. Funny how perception and perspective can make all the difference. Tough to appreciate what we already have, but that’s often where one’s happiness lies.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers.
That’s a really nice piece Jason. Sometimes the most important lessons in life is drawn from the things around us, pets included.
Josh,
Ha! Exactly. I guess he secretly motivated me to live more like him. Now we get to hang out all day together. Life is good! 🙂
Best wishes.
Gooseman,
Hedonic adaptation at its finest. Lottery winners and athletes are fascinating examples of that. The bar just keeps getting raised higher and higher. But none of that creates lasting happiness. Just more liabilities, obligations, and things to worry about. A simple life is not only easier, but generally just plain better. At least, that’s my view on it. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing some pics of the Shih Tzu!
Take care.
Funny discussion with some merit at it’s core level, but hopefully we all want more out of life than what a dog would experience. There are many things you can do to fully enjoy your life that are free or almost free, and you have highlighted them in past posts, and some people may or may not enjoy those types of activities. For me to go sit in a library or a Mcdonalds all day would be akin to nails on a blackboard, and would be bored at the thought of it, but to each their own. Getting together with friends to go play a round of golf, or to watch a hockey game or to just get together to shoot pool and a few beers are relatively inexpensive but sometimes time spent with friends now, is more important to me than saving every dime for the future. There has to be balance in one’s life, and some things do cost money, and to limit your activities and fun in life to only those that are free, is unimaginable to me. Your dog doesn’t know any better, nor has the option of thinking or doing for itself, and counts on you to provide for him and do his thinking for him. That is why he has a leash and we don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I worked my life, saved and invested but I made sure to enjoy life along the way, by travelling, golf, sporting events, concerts and dinner parties with friends, as well as some of the simple free activities like walks, fishing and shooting the basketball in the driveway. I admire the way you have picked yourself up from a less than perfect upbringing, given yourself a purpose in life through your writing and investing, and enjoy reading your articles, and occassionally the comments. You are only 32, and as much as you think you want to live with only the basics in life like your dog has, let us all enjoy everything that we can possibly can while we are alive and healthy, because there is no more chances after we have the dirt nap. Cheers my friend, hope all is well.
Josh,
Glad you enjoyed it.
Totally agreed that sometimes the best perspectives lie in that already around us.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope all is well! 🙂
Best regards.
Brian,
Right. Well, your post would insinuate that free activities do not/can not bring as much joy as those activities that cost a lot more money. Not only do I believe that is false at its core, but so does the research. Just like sitting in a library would be akin to nails on the blackboard for you, playing golf would be the same for me.
In the end, however, you have to find the kind of life you want and strive to align your choices with those opportunities. We all have decisions to make, but our money is generally finite. And so is our time.
I wasn’t saying that, in the literal sense, my life and a dog’s life should be one and the same. I find it strange/interesting/weird that sometimes people read my articles and take them almost literally. Reminds me of the post I wrote not long ago about being already financially independent, where I was discussing a concept of a me that exists in the future that’s motivating the me of today. Some people commented that I wasn’t already financially independent because my passive income doesn’t cover my expenses. I guess some of this stuff goes right over people’s heads.
But you’re right in that free activities can often be fun, and just as fun as those that cost a lot of money. But you have to find that balance. Some people enjoy traveling the world. Others enjoy a quiet night at home. Maybe I’m just lucky in that, like Diego, a simple life generates a lot of happiness for me. I used to spend a lot of money, but it never brought me lasting happiness. I wouldn’t write these types of posts if I hadn’t already tried it that way.
But I’m also not selling anything here. And I’m not saying anyone has to live a spartan life. You have to do what’s right for you. But I’ve often found that more is indeed less. And so have a lot of other people.
One other point is that when you develop good habits and get to the point to where you’re saving half of your net income on a regular basis, there’s no need to really heavily restrict yourself. If you want to hit the occasional concert or sporting event, it’s not going to derail your plans. Go out every night, however, and you’ll probably find yourself working those expenses off for years. That’s where the balance comes in.
Cheers!
Nice post and analogy about a dogs life 🙂 I certainly try to not spend a lot, and dont feel a need to buy a lot of things, but I do enjoy the occasional treat. Like a nicer steak, maybe a bottle of wine for the occassional eat-in date night. On Sunday took the GF to see the new Hobbit in 3D iMax using free movie points, and bought us a big drink n popcorn, so the whole night only costed us $12.50 Definitely worth the fun experience, memories and movie!
Great article DM! What more can I ad? This is perfectly in alignment with my own philosophy.
That’s a cute dog you got there!
He who knows how to get off the hedonic treadmill can easily achieve FI in a short time. In a sense, Diego is a a stoic sage who has his priorities straight.
Balance is indeed the key. Money is not finite, but time to experience things in life is. You can always, and will always be able to make money whether from writing, social security, old age pensions, dividends, work pensions etc but when your time is up, regardless if you are 32 or 92, you can’t ask for a bit more time to enjoy what you missed. Neither of us has all the answers as to what is the right balance, but let us hope we live long enough to enjoy it.
DW,
We occasionally go to the movies as well. I don’t mind going here and there if it’s a movie I really want to see, but it’s also tough spending $25 on something that I know will be $1 in just a few months. However, going to the movies is also a lot cheaper than a lot of other alternatives (live sporting event, live theater, etc.).
But it’s exactly because we (like you guys) don’t go out to the movies every night that, when we do go, it remains special. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Cheers.
Stoic,
I figured we’d be on the same page here. 🙂
Appreciate the kind words and support. Keep up the great work over on your end as well!
Best wishes.
Spoonman,
Thanks. I think we’re going to keep him for a while. 🙂
The hedonic treadmill can slowly ramp up the speed before you even know it. Kind of like the frog in a pot of water where the heat slowly gets turned up. It’s boiling before you know it. Always something I’m mindful of.
Hope all is well!
Cheers.
Brian,
“Money is not finite, but time to experience things in life is.”
Time’s finite quality is exactly why I chose to live this lifestyle and leave the 50+ hour/week grind. Tough to “experience life” when you’re busy all the time working, and you’re exhausted when you’re not working.
And money is indeed finite unless you’re, say, Warren Buffett or Bill Gates. That’s why it’s important to remember that our choices with money allow us opportunities, but also come with consequences. Every dollar I spend on Choice A is a dollar I can’t spend on Choice B. If my money was not finite, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.
But it is indeed all about balance. And value. Every experience/experience I take on has a value proposition attached to it. If I find a lot of value in that experience, then the money is probably not a big deal. It’s wasting money that I’m not interested in, which just so happens to be common among expensive activities, experiences, and purchases, in my view.
Best regards!
Awesome post ! It really is all about the simple things in life ! 😀
Fantastic post Jason. Now, next steps. Let’s teach Diego to consistently pick winning stocks.
This is some of the best posts you have written. For many people desire for money is just related to their desire for consumption and luxury, Your text shows that you are still the same person in thoughts and has not changed due to your growing bag of money. 🙂
Hey DM,
well written article. However, I bet if you taught your dog to grab the 20$ bill, bring it to the closest food truck and change it for as much tasty “human-food” as possible, he’d be more than happy with it 😉
But still, I get the point of your article and it’s just so true. If you haven’t read the articles on MMM about hedonic adaption and the stoics they might interest you as well.
Awww. Diego! So happy to meet you! I feel the same way with Frugal Hound–she’s our little buddy and she has the simplest needs and wants in life. Seeing her sheer joy every day gives us really good perspective on what matters in life. Also, I think Diego should come do a Frugal Hound Sniffs interview :)!
Awesome post dude, I was picturing my dog the whole time as I read through. The way you described a Corvette was very Stoic in nature – looking at something in its most basic form.
I might have a problem.
The minute you started talking about your friend, I started researching how to invest in something related to pets. I looked PetsMart and its dividend history, but unfortunately, it is about to be acquired.
All jokes aside, is there wet food for dogs? I have a shared ownership of a cat, and I have learned that eating only dry food is bad for its stomach. So it eats a lot of wet food.
Either way, good post. I think most people want the 5000 sqft home because their neighbor has a 4500 sqft one. Comparing yourself to others, and trying to outdo them, is a recipe to never be happy in life. Simple things are the one that matter. Plus, you can probably work more and earn more money, but the downside is that the time you spent doing that is forever gone.. While you can always make more $$$, you cannot manufacture more time..I am willing to give all my money if I can get 10 years younger.
Best Regards,
DGI
That is not a bad kitchen at all! I like the countertops, much better than what I had when I lived in apartment. I have a new house now, and I can’t really say that it has made my wife and I happier. There are some good things about it (we needed the space for our newborn son), but it definitely takes up a lot of time and costs a lot more money.
It is awesome that you found a woman who is okay with the simple life. Very few women out there are, unfortunately. The vast majority equate possessions with happiness.
DD,
Haha. I’ll see what I can come up with. 🙂
Cheers!
When I get home from work, and the dog’s chilled out in his bed, I wonder sometimes who’s got the most sense.
He’s happiest when its summer and we’re all outdoors together. Give him the choice of a sausage or a roll of banknotes…. he’d take the sausage. The simple things are indeed the best!
Good old Diego he’s got life sorted… maybe he should start a blog 😉
Some great articles lately BTW.
Noob,
Indeed. It just doesn’t take that much money to buy what has a lasting and worthwhile impact on your happiness (shelter, food, etc.), which leads to a lot of curiosity on my part as to why most people continue to chase after more money only to spend it all away. I liken it to breathing. I could certainly have more oxygen if I were to breathe harder, but I already have all the oxygen I need.
Best regards!
Wise words for a 32 year-old Jason! I am 48 and figured out many of the lessons you mention a bit later in life. Having two children greatly helped activate the learning process for me. I think it truly is about finding balance. Aren’t so many things? The problem here in the US is we are heavily biased towards excessive consumption. I am thankful my former self didn’t make too many mistakes, and set me and our family up for a “soft landing” before I turn 50! Thanks as always for the insights! You are a gifted writer.
Liking the market downturn… I have buy orders out for BNS, CAT and BBL. We’ll see if they get hit;-)
Per Penning,
Thank you. I appreciate the big compliment. 🙂
Yeah, I suppose we could live in a much nicer place if we really wanted to. But it’s not all hype or words, but how I really feel. I think it comes down to desire. Once you no longer desire a bunch of stuff that you really know won’t bring you lasting joy, it’s easy to forgo that lifestyle. If I were constantly desiring a sports car or a big house with a pool in the back, this journey would probably be pretty tough. But I’m quite content. It’s really just a mindset.
Thanks for dropping by. Glad you enjoyed the article!
Best wishes.
Ben,
Haha. You’re probably right there. Though, I’m sure he enjoys the ease of just sitting in the apartment and getting fed. Life’s pretty good for him.
I did run into the MMM article a few years ago. If I’m not mistaken, I dropped a comment over there on that one. One of his finer articles where it kind of led to an “aha” moment. I think that was right around the time Pete had me guest post over on his blog. Still really enjoy his stuff.
Cheers!
Mrs. FW,
I’m sure Diego could fit an interview into his busy schedule. 🙂
It’s funny how much we can learn from animals in that way. They must look at us and wonder why we’re gone from the house all day, running around like our hair is on fire, stressed out all the time, etc. It’d be interesting to see the world through their eyes.
The simplest things can truly bring the most joy. Even Diego himself brings me a lot more joy than the most expensive toy ever could.
Thanks for stopping by.
Best regards!
Kevin,
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the article! 🙂
I once owned a Corvette. I was 21 years old, fresh off of an inheritance. So I know what they’re like. But quickly after buying the thing, I realized that the mystique was gone. It was a car like any other. I was still just sitting in a seat and using pedals and a steering wheel to move myself around. Sure, it could go 185 mph, but what does that matter when every street has a speed limit? In the end, it was a pain in my ass. I felt I had to keep it clean all the time, park it far away from everyone, etc. It really ended up owning me more than I owned it, and I hated that feeling. Never again. 🙂
Cheers!
Wonderful story, Jason.
I often wonder if more possibilities make one happier if basic needs are already satisfied. I guess it depends, but wanting too much is definitively dangerous. Being able to do everything provides me with a feeling on missing out and coming short in the areas that I don’t address.
Humbleness and gratitude are rare skills these days. I could certainly be better at both things.
Thanks for sharing; I enjoyed it.
DGI,
Haha. There’s always an angle there. I know how you feel. I also heard about Zoetis after Pershing Square bought a stake, but that thing shot through the roof.
Hmm, I hadn’t heard about dry dog food causing any issues like that. And he regularly visits the vet, where they always recommend dry food. We actually used to feed him wet food when he was a puppy, but he just kind of stopped eating the stuff. Not sure why.
Yeah, I liken it back to an article I wrote a long time ago about buying time. If you could buy time at the store in five or ten-year increments, what would they be worth? If I were dying, but you could sell me 10 years of time/life, I think that would be worth all the money I had. Yet people so freely, eagerly, and cheaply exchange their time for money when they’re young and healthy. I know we have to make a living, but we all know there’s more to it than that. I just decided years ago that I wasn’t going to continue buying into that system, especially when the research shows that it really does nothing for you. It’s like being on a rat wheel where you think you’ll get further along by expelling more energy, only to be disappointed to find out you’re still in the same spot.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best wishes.
I misread the headline when I first saw it and thought I was in for an article on Diageo, which is a stock I’ve had my eye on lately. I thought, man, I didn’t know Jason was that into hard liquor!
I did enjoy the article, and agree that we can learn a lot from how content our pets are without the things we strive for in life that we don’t really need. My dog (a 10 year old basset hound) has a similar lifestyle to Diego and couldn’t be happier. I often look at her on my way out the door and wish I could skip work in order to take her on a long walk in the park followed by a nice nap on the couch.
EWB,
Right. It’s not bad at all. Has everything we need. There are people in India and China and Africa who I’m sure would love just to have a kitchen at all.
I hear you there on the new house. I know it’s the American Dream and all that, but a big, fancy house sounds more like a nightmare to me. I know of people with beautiful, large homes, but they’re never there to enjoy them. What’s the point? Now, nothing wrong with owning a house in and of itself, especially if the payments are easily affordable. In fact, owning real estate can be a great idea. But, like with anything else, you have to be smart about it. Unfortunately, most people buy all they can.
I am very lucky that Claudia is okay with a simple life. She takes the bus to work every day, eats plenty of sandwiches like me, and doesn’t desire a mansion or a boat. But there’s some benefit there, which allowed her to buy in. I’m now at home a lot more and a lot less stressed out, which leads to more time together and a better relationship. And I think we’ll also be able to get her to the point to where she can scale back if she wants to. Plus, there’s always the possibility of travel/living outside the country in a few years, which is exciting. But she just wants time with each other, not stuff.
Cheers!
Ahh! Diego is so cute!!! And your kitchen looks just like the one I had in my apartment back in my college years. Brings back some good memories. 🙂
Wonderful article. I’ve got a few people in mind that I want to share this with – hopefully this’ll help them to open to their eyes.
P.S. I see that bag of Quaker oats you got on your counter. Long PEP.
Nick,
Haha. I felt the same EXACT way for quite a while about Diego. I’d be working hard at the dealership and come home after 11 hours of work only to find him playing in the living room with the same rubber ball he’s had for a year. I thought, “This dog has life all figured out.”
Appreciate the support! Glad you’re enjoying the content. 🙂
Best wishes.
Tim,
Thank you!
I agree it’s all about balance. And sometimes it’s tough to find that balance within yourself when there are all these external forces weighing on you. But perspective is important. Instead of looking at the fancy complex across the street from ours, where homes are $1 million+, I instead look at my dog. I don’t look up. I look down. 🙂
I hear you there on the market. This could very well be the start of something much larger, which would be great. Of course, it could just be a slight breather before it takes off for another 10%. But I’d be willing to bet that some of these stock prices come back down to earth this year. Looking forward to continued opportunities there!
Cheers.
Stef,
Gratitude is definitely an underused and undervalued feeling. I’m extremely grateful for the position I’m in. If I could trade away my current freedom to work on things that matter to me and set my own schedule for, say, a big house and a boat out back, I’d quickly go back to my laptop.
Glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks for dropping by.
Take care.
Chris,
Haha! I actually don’t drink at all. I’d have to be in dire straits to be in that kind of situation. 🙂
A long walk in the park and a nap on the couch. That’s good stuff right there. Easy, free, enjoyable, and memorable. The simple things in life are often indeed the best. I sometimes think about my best memories in life, and they’re often moments like that.
Thanks for sharing!
Best regards.
When I was living in Florida, I would occasionally look out from my porch at some ducks and trees and wonder “What do these ducks really want? Why am I any more complicated?” Thinking about this helped me appreciate the little things a bit more. Getting in touch with nature helps you realize how meaningless most of the material things we value really are.
Good post!
Awesome job as usual.You always seem to hit on the subjects that i think about all the time.Time is so precious and to have the ability to not only have it, but to appreciate the freedom it brings when it it yours and not for some company is what truly matters. I’m 55 and just retired on January 1st..The only reason i made it was for having the same mindset that i hear in each of your articles..I didn’t start until i was almost 40 when i stumbled upon Dave Ramsey on the radio one night on the drive home after another double-shift worked of 16 hours just to pay for things i didn’t need or really want that much..The debt was gone in a couple of years and then the savings and the amazing magic of compounding interest and Dividend Reinvesting has brought me to this point.But the most important thing Dave did was put my feet back on the ground in the way i think about money,time and the way i use them.I have no doubt you will reach your goals before the age of 40, but your way of thinking will never change and it will only get better after that.This is an amazing feeling to have.. not to mention lack of stress that comes with the security.I’m a big fan,keep on moving ahead…PS.. your in-depth analysis of stocks before you purchase is absolutely fantastic.
Bob.P
Seraph,
Nice! I was wondering if anyone would catch the Quaker granola on the counter. Gotta support PEP. 🙂
Appreciate you sharing the post and spreading the word. I hope those you share it with find some value in it. If not, then you tried your best.
Thanks for dropping by.
Cheers!
Kevin,
Right. Why are we so complicated? I guess we make life more complicated than it really needs to be.
It’s good to sit back and realize that life is a lot easier and simpler than we make it. 🙂
Best regards.
Bob,
Thank you so much. Appreciate the kind words and I’m glad you enjoy the stock analyses.
Sounds like you did pretty well over there. Retiring at 55 years old puts you in pretty rare company. I’m glad Dave Ramsey was able to open your eyes and firm up the mindset necessary to get rid of debt and then save/invest your way to retirement. Sounds like you’re really happy over there, which is what we’re all aiming for.
Keep on enjoying life! 🙂
Best wishes.
Your apartment sounds really nice. The kitchen is huge compared to mine, and I pay quite a lot for my apartment. I live in NYC, so my living room and kitchen are combined with my bedroom! At first I was like this is going to be horrible, but now I rather like it. It makes me only keep important things, and not buy anything unnecessary. Plus my wife and I are super close, and we never loose things! lol.
presone,
That actually sounds pretty nice to me. I prefer smaller spaces. A big house not only bothers me in terms of the thought of taking care of and paying for all that space, but it also bothers me on an absolute level. I just don’t like big spaces. I think small pads are cozy. 🙂
Sounds like you guys have a great apartment over there. And NYC is probably pretty exciting!
Best regards.
Great post, Jason. Was curious as to why you still hold VOD, as I hadn’t heard an update on that one from you lately and their recent acquisitions seem to be a farcry to being able to emulate the returns they were enjoying from VZ. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Jason P,
I’m not quite so sure that VOD isn’t making the right moves. I was hoping they could have held on to VZW for a while longer, but it just wasn’t meant to be. That said, wireless is a commodity. So I think they’re doing what they can to increase their subscriber base, add value, and add revenue per subscriber. You see a similar strategy across most major telecoms. As long as they can continue to pay their sizable dividend and grow it modestly, I’ll remain a fairly happy shareholder.
Best regards.
I really believe that dogs are truly our friends. Like you now, DM, I am a dog person, so I totally relate to everything you wrote about Diego and also take the analogy to the heart. You really blew my mind when I read for the first time that you actually lived on ramen noodles for a whole year, and it really got me thinking. That was about 8 months ago. Of course, my first buy didn’t beg me to go as frugal as I am now, but whenever you talked about your sacrifice now and then, I couldn’t agree more that it’s either make more money or save more to invest more. And like you pointed out, in order to make more money, I have to spend more time to do so, hence, it is natural (and easier) to settle with the latter, and honestly, I have no regrets over my frugal living choices. I don’t know if you remember, but there once was a post where you and other readers talked about the book Your Money Or Your Life in the comments, and I told you that I was going to read it. And I did, and I already knew and was doing some of the stuff the book discussed, but it truly helped me solidify my mind toward frugal living, although still not as extreme as how you did. Mainly it’s because of the fact that I run, and I am currently training to become Boston Qualifier, so eating healthy (not necessarily organic… I don’t do organic) and carbs oriented diet is given (and I am sure you understand that aspect well). In other words, grocery bills can’t be cut as much as I wish (but I gotta say that I don’t spend a dime on junk food nor eat out), so I have decided to look else where, and decided to work on rent (or mortgage), car payments and auto insurance, which pretty much almost everyone spend at least ⅓ of income they spend on. That is what I meant by I am going to make big adjustments this year so that I can increase my savings rate and invest more, which means the earlier (than later) retirement, like your goal. What I appreciate most from your blog is that you constantly remind readers like myself of how little we need to be happy. Thanks for the reminder yet again.
P.S. I wish I had a dog. I live by myself and work long hours (oh, now, it is better in terms of my life energy than before), so I figured that it is such a selfish thing to live a dog at home by him/herself, and that technically it isn’t part of frugal living as much as I’d love to adopt one. I miss my Australian Shepherd that I had a long time ago, and you are absolutely right that he didn’t need much to be happy. He was the happiest dog on the planet when I played Frisbee with him.
My understanding is VOD is attempting to go for the “one-stop-shopping” approach and acquire various telecom, TV, and Internet providers all under one roof. I’m long on both VZ and VOD, and I think once the dust settles from the breakup and Europe stabilizes in general, they will be alright. Until then, VOD is in the bargain bin paying a nice dividend.
I get your analogy, but I think there’s another side to it as well. I totally agree that “chasing the high” of having something shiny, new, and trying to out-do other people is a terrible approach. On the other hand though, I think there’s merit in buying something because you know that “high” will never go away. Or perhaps more aptly put for this site, it keeps paying you dividends in the form of joy, thrills, happiness for years to come. It’s all about the meaning and significance of what you’re buying and what’s truly the motive behind wanting it.
Ps. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I’ve gotten the same notification about your last couple blog posts multiple times in my inbox (not because of commenting). Glitch maybe?
Another great article to help put things in perspective. Now if only I could get my wife to buy into this life style…
We have been traveling the world doing contract work for the DoD and have managed to grow our investments pretty well over the last 15yrs. And while we have been living overseas we have tried to live ‘small’, well at least I push for that.
I have also learned that, while I cannot contribute to a Roth IRA, my company does allow after tax contributions that I can roll into a Roth IRA when I retire or turn 59 1/2. And for even more gravy they continue matching my after tax contributions.
When I learned that I started maxing out my 401k contributions. But one thing that was somewhat interesting was I also learned that the maximum contributions one can make to a 401k plan in 2014 was $57,500 and it goes up for 2015! Far more than most people know about.
So I’m piling it in as fast as I can, while I can, and hope to reach that mystical million dollar retirement fund before I am forced out of the work place.
Again keep up the great work and keep the information and article’s flowing.
Mike
Hi Jason. Interesting perspective, So far from our personal day to day focus that you left me thinking about it. I’ve had a cat for many years (died some time ago) and you could almost feel his lack of material needs. Just a hand to scratch his back from time to time…
Reporting my last buy here:
http://www.dividendogma.com/compra-reciente-general-electric/
Great post, DM. My sentiments exactly. It is remarkable that humans are the only animals with so much extra stuff besides basic needs. Even our hunter and gatherer ancestors were content to live simply with just basic needs. Freedom from materialistic concerns is liberating indeed.
Hi Jason,
Great post. Thanks to Diego for the inspiration. I have several dogs and enjoy them daily. They are happy if basic needs are met and they get a few treats randomly. We should be too.
One thing my dogs have taught me is to live in the NOW. They don’t think about tomorrow (as far as anyone can tell) so that naturally limits their desires. I feel that as my dividends grow to cover my expenses I can live even more in the present.
I remember a cartoon that showed a person looking at their dog and there was a big clock on the wall. The caption read “Dogs always know what time it is” The dog’s thought bubble says “NOW, NOW, NOW”.
BTW, I missed my dividend goal by $65.00 a month in 2014. Hope to do better in 2015 but haven’t set a goal yet.
as always, I like your style
my point is some dogs love work! like some humans.
my mum had a border collie , Scott, domestic pet she’d take for walks and he’d lie at her feet when she sat down by the fire, always loving and faithful, enjoyed his food and his comfy bed at night.
on the other hand on the farm where they lived was another border collie, Jack,
now jack was a working collie. scruffy and his fur covererd in cow muck.
he’d some times come up to mums flat for a stroke and to see what Scott was up to, but then there would be a shout from the yard “Jack” he knew he had work to do, he;d jump up, alert, full of enthusiasm, , run down the staircase and would hurl himself in to tractor, the seat next to the farmer. off they would go. he was needed, he had cows to round up and bring in for milking!! oh those cows!
i would wonder …..which dog was the most happy?
Awesome Article Jason..
I enjoy very much to read your articles. This one was great. I also want to ask you what you think about investing in Starbucks?
I am not a mammal person but I do have pet hermit crabs (and spiders). Their life philosophy is quite a bit different from Diego’s! Champion hedonic treadmill runners, those guys.
For me, like for them, the issue is shelter. I know that an apartment fulfills my needs, but I hate most aspects of apartment living. We have a condo now, but it’s just an apartment with equity. Most houses on the market are much bigger than I’d ever want or need; everybody’s building an addition or installing granite countertops to raise their selling price. As to whether the expected gains of additional comfort, autonomy, etc. of having a house are worth that price tag, it’s a really tough call.
Scorpio,
I’m glad you read “YMOYL”. Just one of the best books out there. What I think I really like about it is how simple the authors make everything out to be, which is something I try to emulate here. I appreciate that because it’s really not that difficult once you have the mindset and commitment. It’s just tough to get away from the traditional worker/consumer mindset.
I hear you there on the diet. I was actually a competitive bodybuilder in my early teens, so I used to eat fairly healthy back in the day. My ramen noodle diet was kind of a “scorched earth” policy, whereby I started to drop as much of everything as possible out. It was a desperate measure for desperate times. No regrets there, but everything has a spectrum. And it’s possible to eat cheaply and somewhat healthy as well. In addition, there are two other big areas of the budget to focus on – transportation and housing. Take care of the big wins and the small wins will work themselves out. 🙂
It’s tough to have a dog if you’re working all the time. Diego was home alone for much of his first year or so with us, but he adapted pretty well to that. He would totally flip out when we came home after a long day, he’d end up running around the whole apartment. Too funny. And maybe having a companion like that would motivate you to spend more time at home.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
Chris,
Thanks for the heads-up. Mailpoet sometimes duplicates newsletters for some reason. Haven’t been able to figure that out yet, but I’m usually able to catch it. Sorry about the multiple emails.
I think it’s possible there are things that probably provide lasting joy, though the research around hedonic adaptation would infer that we all have that baseline happiness level, regardless. I suppose the body just can’t operate at an elevated state constantly, which is why it reverts back to some kind of mean. I think that, in the end, most of the lasting joy that you’ll find in terms of repeatable elevation beyond the baseline will come from that which I listed at the end of the article – freedom, basic needs, safety, autonomy, flexibility, time, etc. I just can’t think of anything I’ve ever purchased that was a “thing” that brought me lasting joy. However, I do feel an elevated sense of joy every day I wake up and realize I don’t have to march down to the dealership. So there’s something to be said about that.
It’s definitely an interesting topic! 🙂
Cheers.
Mike,
Sounds like you’ve gone pretty well there even if you’re not living as “small” as you’d like to. Excess income can certainly mean the margin for error in terms of frugality, saving, and investing is much larger. Someone who earns, say, $200,000 per year has a lot more flexibility in terms of just what they can get away with than someone who earns only $40k or $50k per year.
Appreciate the support. Best of luck reaching your goals! 🙂
Take care.
DD,
Diego is much the same way. He just loves snuggling. He acts like a big, tough Alpha male. But he’s really a big baby. 🙂
It’s really the simple things in life.
Thanks for dropping by!
Cheers.
JTF,
Absolutely. There are a lot of movies out there that portray humans as this kind of cancer upon the planet, whereby we just constantly want more and more and drain the planet of its resources. Something to be said about that. I guess it’s just a lack of contentment. And it’s not a problem money can solve for most people, as the drive for more is just somehow largely inherent. Doing my best to fight back. 🙂
But that freedom is liberating. When I “woke up”, I felt like a big weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Life’s a lot easier when you’re not constantly yearning for more.
Best wishes!
Jan,
That’s a funny cartoon. Never ran into it before, but it sounds pretty correct to me. I agree that living in the now is more exciting and limits your desire for more. After all, what could be more important than this very moment, right now? Of course, that thought process is somewhat limited for those of us that need money to survive (all of us) and are thus saving and investing our way toward freedom. So it’s a delicate balance there between now and the future. In order to get more of the now, you need to think about the future as well. Dogs are lucky in that we provide for them. I have no such benefactor. Hopefully, my portfolio will serve that role in a roundabout way one day. 🙂
Another year, another opportunity to hit your goal. Stick with it!
Best regards.
dawn,
That’s interesting there. I think it comes down to what work really is. Is blogging really work? I suppose in a way it is because we tend to define work as something that exchanges time for money. But are pro athletes “working”? If you love what you do and you’d do it for free, how much work is involved?
Jack probably just loved getting dirty and being on the farm. Take him out of that element, however, and throw him into an office where he has to work on spreadsheets all day long and I’m sure he’d quickly lose his enthusiasm for “work”.
I think we’re happy when we’re spending time on things we love that matter to us. That’s regardless of whether or not some people define that activity as work.
Thanks for dropping by!
Best wishes.
Jay,
Thanks so much. Appreciate the support! 🙂
Cheers.
Ingrid,
I like SBUX. It’s priced for growth, but it’s surely well-positioned to deliver. I hope to build a position in the company at some point here. I’ve been turned off by the valuation, but it’s just not a stock that one finds on sale very often.
Take care.
Jana,
Well, shelter is a basic need. So that can of course provide lasting joy, especially in comparison to doing without it. However, that joy can quickly turn sour if you buy more than you really need, both in terms of cost and size. I’m not saying a house can’t provide more value than a condo in terms of happiness, but you’d have to really compare complete apples to apples, which is very difficult because they’re such different housing types. That said, I’ve never run across anyone who, five or ten years after buying their house, was still extremely elated about their home. That initial happiness fades over time, like another reader was mentioning. The average American moves every five years. I wonder if that stat might be different if people found a lot of value in their residences. If you really “loved” your home, I would think people would identify with these structures a lot more and move a lot less. In the end, a house (or a condo) is just a roof over one’s head. In my view, people glorify it into something more and become disappointed when they find out that it is indeed just shelter.
Best regards.
Hi Jason,
I have no plans to quit. I have already maxed my 2015 ROTH, except for $500. Who knew that Schwab doesn’t accept cash??? Anyway I hope to increase my dividends by at least $265.00/month this year.
Dawn, I have Border Collies and the good ones would rather work than anything else. OTOH, it is what they are bred to do. However all dogs love to be active.
Jan
I think you’re on to something here. I think we’re all a little jealous of Diego’s lifestyle. Of all the articles I’ve come across in the New Year about appreciating what you’ve had, I think this is the one that will stick with me!
Hi Jason,
Another great article. I really enjoyed it.
Have you ever checked out ROC? I’d appreciate your thoughts on this company… it seems like they may be well poised with the ramp in production of batteries, which use Lithium. They are on my watch list.
Thanks,
Mike
Wonderful post. I was once stuck on the aspirational treadmill until I had a “eureka” moment that it isn’t money that makes people happy (and that I’d rather be happy than rich!) Long story short, I was about to achieve a (very) modest retirement at 40 starting 5OCT2012. Like Diego, I get more sleep than I probably need now and find every moment of it luxurious.
Thanks for reminding us all to keep our focus on the things that matter!
-keith-
Emily,
Glad you found some value in the article. I’m also happy it might stick with you this year 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Best regards.
Mike,
ROC was recently acquired by ALB. So the company you’ll want to watch now is Albemarle. Solid fundamentals across the board. I definitely have to do more research on this one. But it seems like a solid bet from what I can see. 🙂
Cheers!
Keith,
Sounds like you’re loving life over there. Good stuff!
I hear you on getting more sleep than you probably need. I’m definitely not one of those people that can function at a high level on only five or six hours of sleep. My body does well on at least eight hours. But sleep is one of those things in life that is just wonderful and priceless…yet also free. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by. Keep enjoying the good life.
Best wishes.
Quite right man !
When you leave a dog alone at home, he thinks that you are gone forever.
We had many dogs for more than 20 years. Up to 4 abandoned dogs.
They truly teach you and lead you to a healthier and simpler life. They are Love and Fidelity.
with years passing by, now they all are in Heaven. We grew older and therefore switched to abandoned cats.
Enjoy your muse and best friend !
Aspenhawk
Aspenhawk,
They are pure love. Unconditional. It’s amazing how much zest for life a dog (and most animals) can have. It’s truly refreshing. 🙂
I hope the cats are keeping you guys great company!
Thanks for stopping by.
Best regards.
Your dog is adorable. I have two of them who are also content with love, a roof over their heads, and treats. Well, “content” isn’t the best word. Perhaps “spoiled” seeing as how they are prone to temper tantrums if they don’t get their nightly turkey slices and after-dinner treats.
Joey Batz,
That’s so funny. Content, but not content. I hear that. Diego is pretty content, as long as he’s getting that daily treat. 🙂
Sounds like Diego and your dogs would get along pretty well!
Thanks for dropping by.
Best regards.
He would get along with one of them. The other one is a territorial bully who constantly attacks his brother at the drop of a hat.
I really enjoyed your post. I have Sandy, a greyhound and she always makes me and my wife laugh and smile and sometimes proud when she shows off her running ability to other dogs and their owners in a leash off park. Small things in our lives typically makes differences and we are appreciative to be part of them.
BeSmartRich,
Dogs are great. I never realized how much they can open our eyes. It’s really just the small things in life. They say the best things in life are free, and I think that’s mostly true.
Enjoy your time with Sandy! 🙂
Best regards.
Jason, Excellent article – thanks for writing. I too see the same in our little Pekingese. She has truly taught me the meaning of true friendship and loyalty. Dogs can be great teachers if we pay attention. Thank you for sharing.
This is great man. I think my favorite article to date. Really puts things in perspective. Something we all know but nice to be reminded of every once in a while – what’s truly important – are only the essentials, love, and our relationships. Thanks for the wonderful read!
AJ,
Thanks so much. Really glad you enjoyed it!
It was one of my favorite articles to write. I felt it was finally time to honor our little Chihuahua and all his wisdom. 🙂
Dogs are really smart. I’ve sure learned a lot from Diego.
Best regards!