“…I don’t neglect them in the back of the closet which somehow seems to have become a national sport…” I’m imagining an Olympic competition in neglecting stuff in the backs of closets. Not a very exciting sport (or maybe I’m just not creative enough).

“I think you’d have to be evil to be purposely wasteful.” I don’t. I think ignorance works just as well. We learn how things are done by watching those around us, not by carefully thinking everything out. Yes, as we grow we can start thinking more about what we’re doing, but there are plenty of evil things I do because that’s how I was raised (and I haven’t yet figured out an acceptable alternative, or even realized how evil it is) rather than because I enjoy perpetrating evil.

(I’m remembering, for example, the day I learned that most chocolate is grown using a method that destroys the earth in three years. Now that I know, I buy only shade-grown chocolate. Unless I forget. And I still eat earth-rape chocolate at parties and when received as a gift.)

When I first read the title of this entry, I thought of some friends who used to tell me you don’t have to own your resources–it’s enough to have access. They were talking about computer stuff–that wouldn’t apply for food. But that meshes well with your second point, “there are very often different ways of using resources.”

This is my favorite route to improving my finances: discovering new and pleasant ways to access the resources I want. For example:
* Use temporarily, then trash vs. passing on to others (stuff that gets sold or donated)
* Use temporarily for one purpose, then trash vs. moving it to another purpose (such as turning work clothes into play clothes or turning the dish sponge into the bathroom sponge)
* Buy new versus getting it from others (hand-me-downs, thrift store buys, trash picking, gifts)
* Buy over and over vs. buy once and maintain (I think you’ve talked about watches and knives in this category)
* Buy vs. rent or borrow (such as library books and tuxes–I wish it were easier to rent interview suits–especially when you have several interviews for one opening–and funeral attire)
* Everyone gets one for themselves vs. one person buys something and shares it with others (having a roommate and sharing a car or clothes are common examples; I used to have friends who borrowed a neighbor’s lawn mower in return for mowing her lawn)
* Get it whole versus making it from parts (if the parts would otherwise be trash or are easier to find–for example some people make stuff out of their old wedding dress or unravel an ugly sweater for yarn to make a pretty sweater or turn scraps into quilts)
* Get something special for a new purpose versus use something you already have for a new purpose (I use a knife or cheese grater instead of a food processor; in efficiency apartments people use their bed for a couch instead of also getting a separate couch)

People have always been consumers/destroyers. Extinction of much prehistoric megafauna is linked to arrival of humans. We’re just everywhere now and on track to totally extract out every resource possible from this planet. Natural selection will self-correct of course in the form of wars over water, food, energy and diseases from over-crowding. After enough are wiped to get population numbers back down, there will be some period of peace before it starts again. Over time, there will be no choice but for life to evolve to subsisting on garbage and toxins.

true, you don’t watch TV. But how many hours per week do you spend at the computer?

I still don’t have a TV – I bought my first stocks long before I’ll have bought things like a TV or car. Consumption without a greater value extraction is definitely destruction by another name. TV-watching is just another form of consumption – and it’s not all information – and the information there isn’t that great of quality – much better, most of the time, to do book research – but that takes more effort…. TV is the fast-food of the knowledge industry (and that’s not even getting into things like soap operas, etc. ugh.)

@sandy – A lot! I’m a writer, so it’s the best tool ever invented.

I like this–having the resources you need available to you is more important than having money to buy resources. Money is ephemeral and variable and depending on using money to get your resources links you to all kinds of things beyond your control: inflation, stock market variations, unemployment etc. Maintaining your resources is entirely under your control.

I like the challenge of making things myself. But, yes, I think it’s enjoyable because I have time. My mother in law acts shocked/appalled when I bake my own bread, make my own pie crusts, plant seeds, scrub the floor by hand . . . from her perspective, I’m making more work for myself–but she also worked long days, 6 days a week her entire life since the age of 14–so she’s coming from a place where time is scarce. I don’t think you would have caught me making my own pasta when I worked 60 hours a week.

As for TV being a time-sucker and interfering with your ability to ‘make your own’ and just be inventive in general. I agree. Even when I worked ridiculous hours, I found time to do sports, take classes, read, work on my novel . . .Doesn’t the average American watch 10 hours of TV a week? You could do a lot with that time.

And I also spend a ton of time on my computer and online–true. But I don’t view computer time (at least mine) as passive entertainment or distraction. Often, I use the computer as a resource for my do it yourself activities. I’ve used the online community to learn how to make bread (and most cooked things from scratch), how to grow plants better, how to make my own cleaning supplies . . .

Congratulations on finishing your book! I look forward to reading it.

When is the book coming out, I will be sure to buy it

TV equates to monkey see-monkey do. TV is designed to produce an illusion of how life could be/should be/will be/needs to be.

The internet also provides some illusions but it is better because the internet is a tool or resource. It is a learning vehicle for those who wish to learn. Think “library” of just about everything. However you must skillfully screen your way though the websites. Just as TV force feeds crap to viewers, there are plenty of fanatic websites that would gladly give you the same or different nutcase thinking. You can go to a library and check out a book written by a nutcase, or by a very intelligent expert on a specific subject. Same-same.
In the end it’s the user who must control the input made to them.

Interesting. Based on the title, I thought your post was going to go in a different direction. I assumed that you’d be talking about community, family, and other social networks that are part of one’s ‘net worth’ in the sense that they can be an economic backstop and resource when job hunting, meeting others, and finding activity partners.

I’m convinced TV does lead to over consumption, I definitely consume less since I stopped watching TV (although I do have one)… We have already dug up almost enough stuff from the ground and everyone should be concentrating on reuse. I am almost sure even things like computers could be built with the newest technology from 100% recycled metals and materials.

[…] Early Retirement Extreme:  Money Versus Resources […]

“Digging resources out of the ground, turning them into shiny gadgets, selling them, and putting them back into the landfills; either our garages which serve as our personal fills or the official ones.”

I don’t normally spend a lot of time thinking about the morality of consuming, except to be annoyed at people who question my choices. (That, and my husband is a blacksmith who manufactures metal objects, mostly for high-end consumers, although he could make you a spiffy set of nails if you wanted ’em. Anyway, our fiscal health rests on people’s decision to spend their money)

But the above quote stopped me dead. You are absolutely right. And that’s an interesting way to look at it. Not sure I agree but I’ll think more.

I’m sure everyone else here has already considered all that. 🙂

Ah, one of those so very rare individuals who thinks the way I do. Some culture we have here where most people’s lives are consumed by evaluating, purchasing, maintaining, repairing and replacing… STUFF. Even most of the investment forums are consumed with discussions of how much to spend and when. And rarely with any thought as to what one needs. Bravo, Fred

Very well said. That’s a fresh way to look at it. I mean the only thing you read about on different blogs is evaluating evaluating and evaluating. I enjoyed reading this post and i’m going to check the book out. thnx for this refreshing information.

I’ve always had a TV.
Even when it was just a 5″ analog tuned black and white set in my camper van.
Now I have a great big 27″ Sony Trinton, with a DVR (which controls the digital converter box and is networked into my home network), DVD/VCR, CD changer, tape deck, receiver and 2 video game systems, as well as 2 computers
(Yep, all in the RV).
Of course, I didn’t actually pay for most of it (less than $200 spent, but negative overall balance if you take into account what I charged to haul away the other components).

TV is free, so you don’t have to be a consumer to watch it.
Personally, I never understood how or why advertising is effective, but I guess if the American public wants to subsidize my entertainment by (literally) buying in to marketing, good for me.
I also never understood the prejudice against TV. Its just another form of story telling, like plays, books, movies, and songs. All those other things are considered compatible with intelligence and independent thinking; though, like with TV, there is plenty of crap in the other mediums, and some gems if you look for them.

The problems we face when it comes to money can easily be overcome if we switch from a consumer mindset to a producer mindset. When you feel pride in your production and accomplishment you begin to feel a real sense and purpose in life. Good post.

I call our TV —The Black Hole.

No TV; maybe that is part of my anti-consumerist mentality. I’m always shocked by what I see on TV when I view it in a place where it’s on; endless commercials to buy stuff. Plus I guess all the shows that get people to feel that their homes, clothing etc. are inadequate. And gadgets; what’s with the “As seen on TV” stuff? I see that at stores and in paper ad circulars.

But in general I see a pretty mindless use of resources. I work in energy efficiency/conservation and spend my work week in client’s homes. Pretty wild how much stuff people manage to accumulate. Why does one person need 37 lamps? Four TV’s? How can one person manage to do a load of laundry daily? And then insist on using the dryer because the neighbors won’t like it if they hang out the clothes, or they have “allergies” or whatever. Seems like laziness is the culprit really. But what a waste to use the dryer when the sun is shining.

I don’t really get it. Houses, garages, etc. filled with stuff, and that doesn’t even count the storage units which I don’t get to see. When rooms are piled to the brim I can’t see how any of the stuff can be found let alone put to good use. And these are not wealthy people either; I see this in old mobile homes just as much as newer houses. Some days I come home from work and just have to find something in my house to recycle, trash or give away. I guess the more of the wastefulness of the US society I get exposed to, the less I want to own.