Comments on: Day 5: Find a free hobby http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html Becoming debt-free is the first step to building a better world. Financial independence is the second. Doing what YOU want is the third. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:07:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-27200 Michael Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:38:43 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-27200 *oups* should be 33000ft² - did forgot the meter to ft conversion, even if I wrote ft ;-) *oups* should be 33000ft² – did forgot the meter to ft conversion, even if I wrote ft ;-)

]]> By: Michael http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-27199 Michael Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:34:24 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-27199 Moin, To have or to be? I would suggest hobbies, where you meet other people. A mix of outdoor activities for summer, and some indoor things for winter, e.g. chess and swimming. But even hobbies that are considered expensive might be worth, if its not a 'to have' hobby but a 'to be' hobby. I guess most people consider my summer hobby as expensive, as I'm a sailor. But I'm not a rich sack, with a big boat in a marina, but I have and old 19ft boat and I'm in a workers club. The club owns a boats house and 4 docks distributed over 20 miles. Membership is only €100 per year for a adult with boat, or €50 for children with boats or adults without boats. Of course we dont have a nigger to do our work, we maintain our boats, our club and and our docks ourself. At least 20 hours per year per member, often much more. One does not need to own a €1m Abeking & Rasmussen yacht to be a sailor, a do it yourself Seggerling for €2000 in parts and 3 weekends of work will more likely fit a 'to be' sailor, than the expensive yacht that is moved twice a year of the 'to have' sailor. And I could count that my hobby even saves money. I dont need an own garden, because we have more than 3000 square foot of water side parcel in the club. I dont need expensive flight holidays, because our club has a free harbor agreement with hundreds of other clubs within 4 weeks of sailing range. ciao,Michael Moin,

To have or to be?

I would suggest hobbies, where you meet other people. A mix of outdoor activities for summer, and some indoor things for winter, e.g. chess and swimming.

But even hobbies that are considered expensive might be worth, if its not a ‘to have’ hobby but a ‘to be’ hobby.

I guess most people consider my summer hobby as expensive, as I’m a sailor. But I’m not a rich sack, with a big boat in a marina, but I have and old 19ft boat and I’m in a workers club. The club owns a boats house and 4 docks distributed over 20 miles. Membership is only €100 per year for a adult with boat, or €50 for children with boats or adults without boats. Of course we dont have a nigger to do our work, we maintain our boats, our club and and our docks ourself. At least 20 hours per year per member, often much more. One does not need to own a €1m Abeking & Rasmussen yacht to be a sailor, a do it yourself Seggerling for €2000 in parts and 3 weekends of work will more likely fit a ‘to be’ sailor, than the expensive yacht that is moved twice a year of the ‘to have’ sailor.

And I could count that my hobby even saves money. I dont need an own garden, because we have more than 3000 square foot of water side parcel in the club. I dont need expensive flight holidays, because our club has a free harbor agreement with hundreds of other clubs within 4 weeks of sailing range.

ciao,Michael

]]> By: Lana http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-22246 Lana Thu, 19 May 2011 04:58:20 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-22246 I just found your website and I absolutely love it!! My favorite hobby is reading, which is obviously cheap as I can get most books I want from the library. I was also given a Sony reader as a gift (one of the best gifts ever!) and I have many free ebooks I can read. I actually used to buy many books (used when I can) on amazon, but since I got my reader, I pretty much stopped buying books and reading mostly free ebooks or books from the library. I just found your website and I absolutely love it!! My favorite hobby is reading, which is obviously cheap as I can get most books I want from the library. I was also given a Sony reader as a gift (one of the best gifts ever!) and I have many free ebooks I can read. I actually used to buy many books (used when I can) on amazon, but since I got my reader, I pretty much stopped buying books and reading mostly free ebooks or books from the library.

]]> By: north9nj http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-10454 north9nj Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:43:06 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-10454 bird watching. you can get cheap rebuild binoculars that are brand names and audubon field guide books are about $20.00 new. i get mine for 9 bucks. you can go out by yourself and walk for two hours or so (and get some exercise too) or you can hook up with a group and meet people. you don't need the expensive scopes and gear,some of the rarest birds i've seen i had no binoculars. you can do it anywhere,i hear it's even popular in new york city. bird watching. you can get cheap rebuild binoculars that are brand names and audubon field guide books are about $20.00 new. i get mine for 9 bucks. you can go out by yourself and walk for two hours or so (and get some exercise too) or you can hook up with a group and meet people. you don’t need the expensive scopes and gear,some of the rarest birds i’ve seen i had no binoculars. you can do it anywhere,i hear it’s even popular in new york city.

]]> By: Marie http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3808 Marie Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:03:35 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3808 Where have you been in my life? I can't believe I am just coming across your site. I am cracking up with your passion and energy. My husband (Significant Other) and I had a '20 year' plan. In May of 2007, when I was laid off in year 18 of our 20 plan, he quit his job and we sold just about everything. Now we live in a 5th wheel. We managed to raise a child and save like a madwo/men so we could buy our souls back. I, like you, followed a somewhat similar plan and my SO went along for the ride. We are are just barely FI, which these days is sometimes under discussion. We are still struggling to find peace with being non-consumer but are very adverse to going back to J O B's. My FREE hobbies include blogging (http://blog.thatwhichisgood.com) learning a bit of computer whimsical graphics (http://www.thatwhichisgood.com)and creating a store. I think you nailed the key to FI in this post...FREE HOBBIES... Free hobbies/passions are empowering, life changing and can be fulfilling! I can't wait to read more of your brain food. I have great admiration for anyone who is both as frugal, finds joy, leverages money, and is more long winded the me! Cheers! Where have you been in my life?

I can’t believe I am just coming across your site. I am cracking up with your passion and energy. My husband (Significant Other) and I had a ’20 year’ plan. In May of 2007, when I was laid off in year 18 of our 20 plan, he quit his job and we sold just about everything. Now we live in a 5th wheel. We managed to raise a child and save like a madwo/men so we could buy our souls back. I, like you, followed a somewhat similar plan and my SO went along for the ride.

We are are just barely FI, which these days is sometimes under discussion. We are still struggling to find peace with being non-consumer but are very adverse to going back to J O B’s. My FREE hobbies include blogging (http://blog.thatwhichisgood.com) learning a bit of computer whimsical graphics (http://www.thatwhichisgood.com)and creating a store.

I think you nailed the key to FI in this post…FREE HOBBIES… Free hobbies/passions are empowering, life changing and can be fulfilling!

I can’t wait to read more of your brain food. I have great admiration for anyone who is both as frugal, finds joy, leverages money, and is more long winded the me!

Cheers!

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3331 Jacob Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:35:43 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3331 Well, personally I hate these short vacation type one week stay way of traveling where you get into one airport, out another one, then take the shuttle to a hotel and then spend a week sampling fancy restaurants. That is positively the worst kind of vacation I can imagine. I asked DW if she could explain to me why these are so popular but I was (and frequently am) beyond her pedagogical reach :-D If I'm going to travel it's going to be about the journey, not the destination. I'd like to walk the circumference of myCountry (that's actually doable in a couple of months) or hike the AT. I'd like to bike across the US or sail to to Caribbean. This to me is real traveling. And I think, not too expensive either. Well, personally I hate these short vacation type one week stay way of traveling where you get into one airport, out another one, then take the shuttle to a hotel and then spend a week sampling fancy restaurants. That is positively the worst kind of vacation I can imagine. I asked DW if she could explain to me why these are so popular but I was (and frequently am) beyond her pedagogical reach :-D

If I’m going to travel it’s going to be about the journey, not the destination. I’d like to walk the circumference of myCountry (that’s actually doable in a couple of months) or hike the AT. I’d like to bike across the US or sail to to Caribbean. This to me is real traveling. And I think, not too expensive either.

]]> By: steve http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3328 steve Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:09:17 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3328 It is a commonplace that everybody loves to travel and everyone loves fine food. They can be interesting conversation topics, no doubt. However, the fact that someone enjoys such a commonplace is not a marker for intellectual sophistication or discrimination. It's just something that a larege portion of humanity agrees on. Even though those things are nice, the question is, what are you willing to pay for them, and can you really afford them, and are they a priority for you? It is a commonplace that everybody loves to travel and everyone loves fine food. They can be interesting conversation topics, no doubt. However, the fact that someone enjoys such a commonplace is not a marker for intellectual sophistication or discrimination. It’s just something that a larege portion of humanity agrees on.

Even though those things are nice, the question is, what are you willing to pay for them, and can you really afford them, and are they a priority for you?

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3231 Jacob Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3231 @frugalscholar - Either arrange it so that your job includes those or wait until after FI; then work as needed to support the hobby. @frugalscholar – Either arrange it so that your job includes those or wait until after FI; then work as needed to support the hobby.

]]> By: frugalscholar http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3230 frugalscholar Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:14:46 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3230 Those of us who like reading, hiking, listening to music etc (as above) are the lucky ones. Many worthy hobbies are expensive: anything involving art supplies, travel, and so forth. How do lovers of those hobbies get around the cost? Check out my new blog: frugalscholar.blogspot.com Those of us who like reading, hiking, listening to music etc (as above) are the lucky ones.

Many worthy hobbies are expensive: anything involving art supplies, travel, and so forth. How do lovers of those hobbies get around the cost?

Check out my new blog: frugalscholar.blogspot.com

]]> By: Debbie M http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3227 Debbie M Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:26:23 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3227 Be careful about dismissing hobbies as almost free. I recommend doing the calculation. For example, I watch a lot of movies. I get most of them from Netflix ($18/month) but occasionally go to a matinee movie ($6.75 x 2 people = $13.50) socially or buy a DVD on sale ($10). Assuming I spend $28/month and save $516.67/mo toward retirement, watching movies sets back my extreme early retirement by over a year. There may be a similar picture for things that are free after start-up costs. Whatever you had to buy to start up might wear out at some point. For example jogging shoes that cost $80 and last six months would set my retirement back by half a year. Web surfing costs me a computer (maybe $1500 every 5 years) plus internet service (actually, my roommate pays for that) plus electricity. That sets me back over a year. Be careful about dismissing hobbies as almost free. I recommend doing the calculation. For example, I watch a lot of movies. I get most of them from Netflix ($18/month) but occasionally go to a matinee movie ($6.75 x 2 people = $13.50) socially or buy a DVD on sale ($10). Assuming I spend $28/month and save $516.67/mo toward retirement, watching movies sets back my extreme early retirement by over a year.

There may be a similar picture for things that are free after start-up costs. Whatever you had to buy to start up might wear out at some point. For example jogging shoes that cost $80 and last six months would set my retirement back by half a year. Web surfing costs me a computer (maybe $1500 every 5 years) plus internet service (actually, my roommate pays for that) plus electricity. That sets me back over a year.

]]> By: Kevin M http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3226 Kevin M Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:24:10 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3226 Great post, unfortunately my hockey "hobby" also falls into #1. Great post, unfortunately my hockey “hobby” also falls into #1.

]]> By: mjukr http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3225 mjukr Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:20:44 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3225 @Paul - Why not go for the women who are at the library on weekends? ;) @Paul – Why not go for the women who are at the library on weekends? ;)

]]> By: PC http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3224 PC Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:16:09 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3224 I'd recommend investing as a hobby, particularly value investing. It requires endless nights studying accounting, company filings(free), conference calls(free on the internet) and industry health etc. The only problem is that eventually you'll want to act on your ideas and that costs money, sometimes offset by returns though. I’d recommend investing as a hobby, particularly value investing. It requires endless nights studying accounting, company filings(free), conference calls(free on the internet) and industry health etc. The only problem is that eventually you’ll want to act on your ideas and that costs money, sometimes offset by returns though.

]]> By: Bruno http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3222 Bruno Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:58:38 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3222 Great post! Hobbies I recommend are: -Blogging -Book writing -Programming -Musical instrument -Urban cycling -Reading -Bodyweight training -Yoga I'm sure there are more, but one gets the idea. Great post! Hobbies I recommend are:
-Blogging
-Book writing
-Programming
-Musical instrument
-Urban cycling
-Reading
-Bodyweight training
-Yoga

I’m sure there are more, but one gets the idea.

]]> By: Litha http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3220 Litha Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:50:43 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3220 I have transitioned to hobbies that encourage wellness. Hiking, biking, and cross country skiing are all relatively inexpensive (after initial costs) They also promote physical health and positive social interaction with other frugal people. I do spend money on traveling to exciting ski/hike/bike destinations. Hate to give that up, but looking at it in "years of slavery" instead of dollars helps. [hey Paul, dating women who think excess consumerism is sexy sounds like the most expensive hobby of all] I have transitioned to hobbies that encourage wellness. Hiking, biking, and cross country skiing are all relatively inexpensive (after initial costs) They also promote physical health and positive social interaction with other frugal people.

I do spend money on traveling to exciting ski/hike/bike destinations. Hate to give that up, but looking at it in “years of slavery” instead of dollars helps.

[hey Paul, dating women who think excess consumerism is sexy sounds like the most expensive hobby of all]

]]> By: get money http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3219 get money Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:45:36 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3219 ^^^ @Paul chose hobbies you enjoy and that support your goals regardless of what others think. impress women with your strong believe in yourself and commitment to your goals rather than on superficial things. ^^^

@Paul

chose hobbies you enjoy and that support your goals regardless of what others think. impress women with your strong believe in yourself and commitment to your goals rather than on superficial things.

]]> By: Paul http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3218 Paul Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:00:08 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3218 There's peer pressure with hobbies, and specifically expensive hobbies. If I meet a nice woman, and I wish to impress her, its much better to say "I love to travel" instead of "I love to spend Saturdays at the library reading books and magazines". The most conspicuous difference between the two personas, is that travel is by far, much more expensive, and by extension, impressive. There’s peer pressure with hobbies, and specifically expensive hobbies. If I meet a nice woman, and I wish to impress her, its much better to say “I love to travel” instead of “I love to spend Saturdays at the library reading books and magazines”. The most conspicuous difference between the two personas, is that travel is by far, much more expensive, and by extension, impressive.

]]> By: Seth Miller http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3216 Seth Miller Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:14:04 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3216 Not to throw off this whole 30 days of lifestyle change, but I really want to hear more about the third rail of sustainability (or is having a vasectomy day 27?). I realize overpopulation is a difficult thing to talk about but I think it needs to be more out in the open so please consider a post. Not to throw off this whole 30 days of lifestyle change, but I really want to hear more about the third rail of sustainability (or is having a vasectomy day 27?). I realize overpopulation is a difficult thing to talk about but I think it needs to be more out in the open so please consider a post.

]]> By: jenn http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3215 jenn Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:37:27 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3215 I used to have expensive hobbies as well, photography, the latest computer equipment, etc. but have transitioned to inexpensive but not totally free hobbies: - swimming. $3.00 per pool visit at a beautiful outdoor Olympic pool (much cheaper than a gym membership) plus it is reimbursed at a 40 percent rate by the company where I work - cycling. initial startup costs (probably more than I should have spent) but 1.5 years later very few costs other than an occasional fee to participate in a cycling event - gardening but I probably end up spending a bit more than the free veggies I get :-( - geneaology - occasional costs to have a record duplicated but essentially free - reading - free via the library. Years ago, I foolishly bought books but that is absolutely against my personal rules now. It is quite easy to go online and order any book via the LA library system and have it delivered to my local branch. I haven't yet made the transition to my hobbies giving back - I guess I need to work on that. I used to have expensive hobbies as well, photography, the latest computer equipment, etc. but have transitioned to inexpensive but not totally free hobbies:
- swimming. $3.00 per pool visit at a beautiful outdoor Olympic pool (much cheaper than a gym membership) plus it is reimbursed at a 40 percent rate by the company where I work
- cycling. initial startup costs (probably more than I should have spent) but 1.5 years later very few costs other than an occasional fee to participate in a cycling event
- gardening but I probably end up spending a bit more than the free veggies I get :-(
- geneaology – occasional costs to have a record duplicated but essentially free
- reading – free via the library. Years ago, I foolishly bought books but that is absolutely against my personal rules now. It is quite easy to go online and order any book via the LA library system and have it delivered to my local branch.

I haven’t yet made the transition to my hobbies giving back – I guess I need to work on that.

]]> By: Get Money http://earlyretirementextreme.com/day-5-find-a-free-hobb.html/comment-page-1#comment-3214 Get Money Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:13:05 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/?p=1022#comment-3214 one other thing I should mention is that I use 5% of my income for "fun and entertainment" I find this still lets me buy the occasional thing I want and do the occasional thing I want to do that costs money while still staying committed to my financial goals what do others think of this? does anyone else do something similar? one other thing I should mention is that I use 5% of my income for “fun and entertainment”

I find this still lets me buy the occasional thing I want and do the occasional thing I want to do that costs money while still staying committed to my financial goals

what do others think of this? does anyone else do something similar?

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