Luxury is basically what the masses aren’t doing.
Think about it!
In the past, people had their clothes tailored, then it became luxurious and fashionable to not make your own clothes, but to buy them off the rack in pre-made sizes.
We’ve basically swung back the other day, where it is now not as luxurious to buy clothes off the rack, but to have them tailored for you in any fabric you want, in any style you desire.
Whatever it is that is luxurious is what people can’t afford to either do, or buy, no matter what it is.
In the Middle Ages in France, poor people ate butter, and rich people preferred oil and lard.
Today? Switcheroo!
Lobsters were once considered the rats of the sea, but now they’ve been elevated to a status of “luxury seafood”.
Everyone has a car now because it’s so affordable? Upgrade to a super-charged uber expensive car that the masses can’t afford.
Even in that circle, if everyone can afford that super-charged uber expensive car, go for something rare and old that only a few exist in such condition any more!
TIME IS THE ULTIMATE MEASURE OF LUXURY
Now, the luxury of the rich is that they have Time because they have lots of money to not have to worry about meeting their bills.
Can’t buy Time outright, but you can definitely work more, use up more of your Time and make more Money to buy Time.
We can have the same luxury of Time if we just concentrate on looking at our expenses. The less you spend, the less you need in terms of money, and the more Time you’ll gain.
Don’t take on a mortgage for a house unless you know what you’re getting into and really want one, otherwise it hampers your ability to have more time (you have to work more to make sure you keep up on those payments!)
Don’t buy a car you will end up paying 50% of your net pay each month just to drive.
Don’t go into debt for a degree that will be pretty much useless for you in the real world.
Make choices about your expenses and live with them, sans bitching and whining about how things are soooo expensive.
I am more of a fan of this school of thought than someone working like crazy, 24/7 to achieve what they feel is their level of “early retirement”, so that they can finally get started on their life.
I prefer a more moderate approach: Save Money, take Time off, and balance Life.
What’s the whole point of working like a dog until you’re 35, 45, 55, or 65, only to put off all the things you wanted to do then?
You’ll be old, tired, and/or burnt out, and probably annoyed that you spent that time working like crazy only to realize that you missed out on most of your actual life.
Money (ironically) is not the goal. Living life, is. So why not do it now?
