I see a common element is having a spouse (if there is one) of sharing the value of LBYM. For me the wake-up came after a divorce from "Spenderina" after I refused to take out a loan to go on a trip. To where, I don't know. The conversation never got that far. I simply didn't see any future going down that road. When would the borrowing stop?
Another common element I see here is either no debt or so little debt compared to income/assets that the debt doesn't matter much. No one here is living paycheck-to-paycheck, although many have in the past.
So 18 months later at age 36 I had a steady job (police officer) my own (albeit empty) home, a new pickup truck, and on an income of just under $40k/year I was just over six figures in debt between the house and the truck. Two years later the truck was paid off, I was engaged to DW, who is even more "value oriented" (i.e., frugal) than I am. Two years later we had actual furniture in the living room. What luxury!
At the time I really didn't care about the furniture. I had my own home and the the only spaces I used were the bedroom, bath, kitchen and workshop area. The rest was wasted space to me. I have a photo somewhere of DW-to-be sitting on the living room floor reading a book next to a table lamp, also on the floor. But ladies do sometimes have a civilizing influence on men.
In 14 years the house was paid off and I was eligible for a COLA'd pension that would provide an income. I stayed at work for a few more years because I enjoyed the job and was right where I wanted to be.
So for now I stumbled into a job that is okay, and the unplanned-for income lets us do some things that we wouldn't otherwise be comfortable doing although the bulk of it goes to savings/investments, and DW has the free time to look after her elderly father which is what matters most to her now.
While I don't share the aversion to work as much as some here, I'm not compelled to it and if things turn ugly there I'll leave. For example, right now there is much angst about some proposed changes that would make daily life there difficult and my response is that "Nope. I'm not gonna do that. I'll just turn in the gear and try something else."
Having the freedom to be in that position is great!
Another common element I see here is either no debt or so little debt compared to income/assets that the debt doesn't matter much. No one here is living paycheck-to-paycheck, although many have in the past.
So 18 months later at age 36 I had a steady job (police officer) my own (albeit empty) home, a new pickup truck, and on an income of just under $40k/year I was just over six figures in debt between the house and the truck. Two years later the truck was paid off, I was engaged to DW, who is even more "value oriented" (i.e., frugal) than I am. Two years later we had actual furniture in the living room. What luxury!
At the time I really didn't care about the furniture. I had my own home and the the only spaces I used were the bedroom, bath, kitchen and workshop area. The rest was wasted space to me. I have a photo somewhere of DW-to-be sitting on the living room floor reading a book next to a table lamp, also on the floor. But ladies do sometimes have a civilizing influence on men.
In 14 years the house was paid off and I was eligible for a COLA'd pension that would provide an income. I stayed at work for a few more years because I enjoyed the job and was right where I wanted to be.
So for now I stumbled into a job that is okay, and the unplanned-for income lets us do some things that we wouldn't otherwise be comfortable doing although the bulk of it goes to savings/investments, and DW has the free time to look after her elderly father which is what matters most to her now.
While I don't share the aversion to work as much as some here, I'm not compelled to it and if things turn ugly there I'll leave. For example, right now there is much angst about some proposed changes that would make daily life there difficult and my response is that "Nope. I'm not gonna do that. I'll just turn in the gear and try something else."
Having the freedom to be in that position is great!
