Comments on: Early Retirement Extreme is 2 years old

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 03:13:56 +0000

Congrats Jacob! You really have made me explore my own limits of frugality. I think the biggest effect you've had on me is downsizing and de-cluttering my life. I now hate having too much stuff, and gladly take on chores that have, as a side-effect, a reduction in the amount of stuff I own. I fear I may have been responsible for one of your two negative comments here. I meant it as lighthearted ribbing, but now that I re-read my comments there, they just seem mean, so I'd like to apologize if my comments offended anyone.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:08:35 +0000

Happy Birthday ERE!!

I got turned on to your blog when I heard about it on a Kiteboarding forum thread….dude you are branching out!!

I have found your efforts entertaining, educational and inspirational! Thank you for helping us along our journey Jacob!

By: Tom Strong

Tom Strong — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:06:31 +0000

Congratulations on your blog Jacob, certainly one of the best on the internet, no doubt about it.

I first visited it by searching something related to resource depletion and peak oil. I was already a fan of frugal living at 23 years of age and fully committed to not live the rat race for more then 6-8 years.

I wished you posted more about resource depletion and related investments, because you seem to know way more then this blog suggests.

(sorry for weird english)

By: Concojones

Concojones — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:35:57 +0000

‘Posted’ … literally

By: Concojones

Concojones — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:33:28 +0000

Jacob,

Congratulations with your work, and thanks for doing this!

I think there’s more than enough material on this site for anyone to get going. What I look forward to most of all is how you’ll live life in the years to come. Keep us posted!

By: ghandy

ghandy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:56:58 +0000

Jacob,
Thanks for sharing your ideas and experiences here. Following your blog over the past year-and-a-half or so has been many things for me: enlightening, engaging, challenging, inspiring, frustrating, thought provoking…to name a few. All the best in the years ahead. Keep it extreme. Your blog and your readers are fantastic.

By: Thomas Britz

Thomas Britz — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:49:31 +0000

Hi Jacob, and Happy 2nd Birthday of your blog! I like reading your posts; they are well-written, creative, and analytical, and you don’t pull many punches… and half of your posts are better-expressed versions of some of my rants
It’s also nostalgic and escapist reading for me: I lived (a bit too) frugally and individualistically as a student and also had extreme early retirement plans, but now with kids, my priority is to take care of them, so the hobo life is no longer responsible. I do miss it sometimes though. Kids have also moved the focus from me to them and, weirdly, to the rest of the world. It no longer seems appropriate, for this stage of life, to think of self-improvement, travels, personal happiness, etc.; instead, I dream of improving the world in measurable ways.
Although my maths research might last a few centuries, I doubt that its accumulated impact will be worth much, maybe more than most jobs but still not substantial. My teaching and industrial consulting has much more immediate impact but it still doesn’t feel like much. In contrast, your blog and other activities are improving the world measurably, and you’re really making a difference. It’s a good job you’re doing here, and you do it well! Your example tempts me dangerously to find better ways in which to help improve the world… you have any ideas on how a maths researcher could do good?
Anyway, congratulations, and well done. I wish you lots of energy and good ideas for the next two years!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:21:09 +0000

Just wanted to say congratulations and thanks for the great blog! I find your posts such as ‘manifesto’ and ‘stranger in a strange land’ very helpful in maintaining motivation to keep going on the early retirement path when surrounded by peers that are definitely of a more consumerist / ‘gotta work your whole life and spend every dime on junk just ’cause that’s the way it is’ mentality.

I also found your blog through a comment one of your other readers left on TSD. Some of his readers were giving Trent a hard time about buying some expensive cheese or free range chicken or something like that despite holding himself out there as a frugality expert and one of your readers said ‘You want to see frugal, check out this guy!’

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:44:51 +0000

Congratulations Jacob! I am one of the inspired ones. I am one of those who owe a lot to you and the blog for the way I look at money and life. Keep up the good work! Viva Jacob! Viva ERE!

By: OlivAmor

OlivAmor — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:48:38 +0000

I have regularly followed your blog for over a year. Your sincerity at reaching your goals is very obvious in your posts. I enjoy reading your blog. Congrats! Cristina

By: mike

mike — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:51:58 +0000

Great job. Now take the next step, set up an RV community for people to join you to live in a frugal community. Or at least hold a ERE conference at a convention center (I mean free space in a park or something).

By: ElizabethG

ElizabethG — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:55:56 +0000

Happy blog birthday. I continue to read you because I feel that you have stayed authentic in your writing and continue to speak your mind.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:07:24 +0000

I found your blog via a reader’s comment on either TSD or GRS. Now I read this and not those! I’m only bummed I’m not in my 20s so I can emmulate your path, but I feel much support for my lifestyle when I read your blog. Thanks for sharing your life with the world! And Happy Blog B-Day! Let’s drive to the pizza place and buy you gifts! Just kidding…haha.

By: fandd

fandd — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:43:30 +0000

Congratulations, Jacob! Love your blog. It is practical and inspiring.

By: frugalscholar

frugalscholar — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:11:37 +0000

I can only add to the accolades.

By: jenn

jenn — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:52:48 +0000

Thanks for 2 years of blogging. I enjoy your writing and find motivation here.

By: AJ

AJ — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:52:25 +0000

Thank you, Jacob, for this wonderful blog! Best blog on the internet (as one of the commenters pointed out), hands down. I discovered your blog in August this year and it was a complete eye opener. I must humbly admit that this is the ONE and ONLY blog out there that I read and re-read every single post you wrote. I even printed-out some posts to have them handy:) Thank you for your deep insights and pointing out the “obvious” that is not obvious for many anymore. By reading your blog I finally realized that being several sigmas off the mean can actually be a huge advantage:) Please, finish the book, I will be the first one to buy it. Your daily reader, AJ.

By: CB

CB — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:11:44 +0000

Thanks, Jacob. Your blog has been an inspiration. I look for new entries every day!

By: sassy saver

sassy saver — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:54:33 +0000

Congrats!! I found your blog through Frugal Bachelor (who has disappeared)…and I must say yours is probably the only one that catches my attention 100%! I love reading your posts! I’ve always been a saver, but not necessarily frugal and you have inspired me to change in more ways, so I am saving more b/c of you!! You have a great writing style which is why I keep coming back for more and you also have very posts. Keep it up! I especially liked your recommended books section..I’ve read some of those already:)

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:53:04 +0000

Thanks for existing!

Your views on frugal living help bulled-proof my ER plans.

I like it how you are a jack of many trades, a lifelong learner and someone who can reduce complex subjects to what really matters.