What are /r/simpleliving's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

If you are serious, do 3 things now.

1) Go to the library and find and borrow "Your Money or Your Life"

2) Open a savings account at a different bank.

3) Go to HR tomorrow and ask for a direct deposit form, and have half of your paycheck put into the new account.

Live on half your salary, make it work. After 3 months of spending less than half your salary, start looking for jobs that are more fulfilling and/or less time consuming, and pay enough to allow you to save at least a 3rd of your income. Most likely, you don't want to live a life without money, you just want a life without worrying about money. Minimize your expenses now, to open up your options for the future.

There's a lot more than just a search for a part time job going on in this post. I'm not sure at what point it happened, but you've got some odd ideas around work. You don't need a job that you feel inspired to do or one that you particularly enjoy. In fact, at the beginning of your career (or whatever you call it) it's unlikely that you'll start with a high paying, enjoyable job where you make a difference. Why do you think your parents seemed unhappy with their jobs when they were younger? Maybe you'll get 1 out of the 3, but as you get better at doing the job you'll be more valuable as an employee and you can start negotiating for more. When in doubt, pick the job that pays more, you can always invest the rest to buy freedom or mail a check to charity.

I'd suggest just flipping this whole question upside down and ask "What service can I provide for society that is something people need and are willing to pay for?" You love helping others, but first you have to build a strong foundation before you can begin to assist others. If your boat is practically sinking, then what point is there in taking on more people? You'll both just end up sunk. The service you provide for society could be pool cleaning, but if it's making the world a better place and you are getting paid then you can use that to start building towards your dream career.

I'd recommend Cal Newport's series on making sense of career advancement - the books So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love and Deep Work apply to your situation and will help you get into the job you'd like faster than bouncing around quitting jobs because your coworkers are incompetent.

I think you have something there. I’m retired and full of regrets that I didn’t plan better. But I never thought I’d actually be this old! Anyway a very funny yet profound book on this is by Roz Chast called Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Basically her parents scrimped and saved all their lives so that they could get their diapers changed more frequently at the end. Is it really worth it? Their end care cost every bit of their savings and then some. I wish that suicide was more acceptable as an option. It would be nice if it was like deciding to put your dog down. https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Talk-about-Something-Pleasant/dp/1632861011

>In short, at the very moment information-age capitalism detaches many working-class men from stable careers, the autonomy ethos teaches that it’s right to be semidetached, that the best life is one lived in perpetual flux, with your options perpetually open.

​

There is a similarity in Wall Street's adventure to squeeze profit out of everything and then liquidate it before it becomes too unprofitable regardless of the consequences to whole regions of people and the lives they lead. For more, I'd refer to you a wonderful book called Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street.

i do not recommend steel straws. they're great and all, until you miss your mouth hold and accidentally bash it into your teeth. it hurts like hell, and can chip a tooth. i prefer plastic reusable.

source: had these for many years

https://www.amazon.com/Straws-Stirrer-Stainless-Cleaning-Drinking/dp/B013D2UFLU

now use these: https://www.amazon.com/Mason-Drinking-Jar-Straw-Sip/dp/B00QSDJIQA/ref=sr_1_10?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1538326666&sr=1-10&keywords=mason+jar+straw

This is it, self control.

I feel so many people get carried away, there is another option. What I have found to be very helpful (though it takes a bit of time) is to unfollow everyone, all family, friends and pages I have liked. You will end up with an empty News Feed. This solves half the problem. Then use something like Facebook Purity to clean up/ hide all the ads, birthday notices etc. Facebook for me now is basically just a messaging/ contact book, which is what I think it should be.

If you are in doubt I suggest trying this at least.

EDIT: Just to clarify, there is a difference between unfollowing and de-friending someone. You can unfollow them so nothing appears in your newsfeed (which they won't know about) and still be their friends.

I'm currently studying the relationship between career anchors, work environments, and employment outcomes. That's going to inform a lot of this answer, so, grain of salt.

Do you want to change your career, or do you want to change the way that this career works in your life? It sounds like you may not be pricing your services to take the totality of your work into account. Can you refocus yourself on a different facet of the law? Is there a part of law that you can study and practice that better aligns with your values? If you don't know your career values and you would like to try and find out, PM me and I'll send you some stuff you can read through.

It sounds like a lot of your stress is financial, and that bleeds into the way that you perceive your career and form your job satisfaction.

Is your per diem sufficient for paying off your debt, or are you living paycheck to paycheck?

If you're cash strapped because you aren't paid enough, that's one thing. If you're paid enough, how are you spending your money? r/personalfinance is a great place to get started with managing their debt, and people often recommend the book, "Your Money or Your Life." I've read it, and it's a good place to start if you don't have a great handle on your finances.

It may be that the right thing for you to do is torch your career, join Team Van Life, or go back to school. But I would hesitate to just walk away from your situation before you have a handle on it. I would start with some personal finance exercises, see if you have memberships/payments/money pits that you can acknowledge and eliminate from your budget, and get a lay of the land. It can give you a sense of control over your situation, and help you figure out how long it would take you to pay off your debt.

Simple living can mean a lot of different things, but if you're attracted to a life that has less financial stress, that's where I'd start.

You should check out the book Becoming Wild by Nikki van Schyndel. It's about the author's experiences living with one other person in the wilderness in the pacific northwest. I think it would give you a accurate picture of both the good and the bad of trying to really live without society.

Check out /r/stoicism, and in particular read the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and the Enchiridion by Epictetus.

There are things within your sphere of control, and there are things outside of your sphere of control. You can control your own actions and reactions. Beyond that are things you can't control. If you can't control something, yet you attempt to control it, it will lead to your own personal suffering.

You are here on Earth to live. You should do it the best way you know how. But you will die one day, along with everyone else. You cannot stop the damage that has been done to the Earth, and any attempted reversal by humanity will be slow or possibly have no affect. You're doing the best you can. That's all anyone can do.

The Earth will be fine. There have been mass extinctions before on this planet. If human beings go extinct, that'll be too bad but that's just how things go sometime. That doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to be better today, but worrying yourself sick over tomorrow is no way to live. If we ruin our habitat and we die out, the Earth will continue living... without us.

But you have today. You have right now. Do what you can. Have a nice life. Be happy. Help other people. Seek fulfillment and self-actualization. Put on your own mask before you put on the mask of someone sitting next to you. That's the only way you're going to do any of us any good. Start with yourself.

That's a lot of platitudes in one paragraph. Good thing they're all true. But look... all we have is today, tomorrow has no guarantee. People are greedy and corrupt and sick, just as they've always been. We're just animals. Maybe we'll change one day, maybe we'll evolve. Not in your or my lifetime, though. Probably.

Concern yourself with what you can control, and let the rest go. You're never going to be perfect. Let's just both live, and try to be happy... all right?

Can you boil water? Can you scramble an egg? Can you make a frozen pizza?

If yes, you can make essentially any meal recipe.

I'd recommend google searching something like "5-ingredient recipes" or "5-ingredient crock pot recipe"

If you're the type who likes books, I recommend the "101 things to do with 'x'". Like this one about ramen noodles. There's 101 casseroles. 101 crock pot. 101 rice. 101 meatballs.... it just goes on and on, depending on what suits your tastes and equipment. These are cheap little books, or get them from the library. Can probably get a kindle version for $4 each or so (or download the kindle book for free from your library)

In a cloud service like Dropbox I have a folder for each of the four past years, and Current. If I find that I need the file 2016/ebooks/title.pdf, I move it to Current/ebooks/title.pdf.

On Jan 1, 2019, Current is renamed 2018, and I make a new empty Current folder. At that point anything in 2014 hasn’t been touched in 5 years, so delete the folder.

This was inspired by the physical filing system where unused files end up at one end of the shelf: Noguchi System

What I learned from both systems is that most stuff is not needed a year later. I like that the systems allow me to determine easily what I’m not using.

I use a capsule grocery list, and have a couple "open" spots for other items, but stick to the same things most of the time. It saves a lot of thinking and forgetting things. Like you, I buy quite a bit of bulk oats, beans, lentils, but also frozen vegetables. I've tried to build my diet based on these three factors, in this order:

1. It must be nutritionally complete.
   I have checked all of my recipes with Cronometer to ensure that I'm getting enough protein, fat, vitamins, and nutrients. I supplement based on what my diet is lacking that can't be added via food.

2. It must be locally sourceable, and preferably in season.
   Supporting local business is important to me, and I don't want to be shipping my food halfway around the world. I do have a few exceptions to this, but I'm working on getting away from them. The last one was bananas.

3. It must be affordable.
   Not cheap, but affordable. Cheaping out doesn't get good quality food, but good quality food can be found at a good price.

So, you're probably wonder what the heck I actually eat with all these restrictions. Here's my list:

Produce

Apples
Berries
Broccoli
Spinach
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Potatoes
Frozen peas
Frozen corn

Dry Goods

Flour
Sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda
Yeast
Flax meal
Chia seeds
Pasta
Oats
Chickpeas
Black beans
Lentils
Nutritional yeast

Refrigerated

Soy milk
Tofu
Daiya
Salsa

Other

Coffee
Tea
Coconut milk (for ice cream)

What's not on this list? Little things like spices, seasonings, oil, etc.

You might like this book:

How to Be Miserable: 40 Strategies You Already Use

It's written by a psychologist with a lot of practical experience treating emotional disorders.

The essence of the book is captured in CGP Grey's 7 Ways to Maximize Misery, but the video is obviously reductive.

Up in the Air inspired me to try out the One-Bag lifestyle. Even though I'm not exactly "One" bag, I'm pretty minimal in what I own.

If you wanna watch, Amazon and Hulu have it.

For writing about minimalism, you sure use a lot of words. Let me simplify the title for you:

> Two years ago I wrote a short book on simple living. It's free on Amazon (Kindle) from June 2-6 and free forever via direct download. I hope if can help some of you!

If you don't already have it, get a copy of The Elements of Style. Is has great tips on simplifying your writing.

Absolutely! As a primer, I was introduced to the depths of Stoicism through the book A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine.

Then after that, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.

The reason why I recommend Irvine's book first is because he translates Stoic text into modern day use cases — without you having to ponder what ancient verbiage means today.

Another modern-day author who breaks down stoicism very well is Ryan Holiday. He's more so the "bestselling author" of the stoicism books of today. His book The Daily Stoic is a good place to start.

Thus, as you begin to become more familiar with the core values of stoic practice, you can then burn through the other works of Stoic philosophy — such as Epictetus, Seneca, Chrysippus, Zeno, etc. You can even find them <strong>for free HERE</strong>.

Hope that helps!

Edit: grammatical

I'm not sure if I ever read a book that leads to making more money.

There are some books that I read that made me realize that I actually need less than I have: Walden by Henry David Thoreau, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and probably Kerouac (On the Road, Dharma Bums, etc). Such thoughts help me to save money

Here you go!

Quote from him: "I guess technically it has a browser. And I could set up the whole gps thing... but who has time for that shit?"

It also comes equipped with lovely construction sounds for ringtones/messages.

No. Just...no.

Learning how to weld will not necessarily get you a 120k/year job at age 20. There are so many other factors involved.

90% of welders in the U.S. make less than $25/hr, or about $50k/year.

The average salary is $31k/year

Now, perhaps you are a 20 y.o. welder who makes $120k/yr. That doesn't mean that every welder will make this much. If this was the case, the market would flood with welders - and the wage would sharply drop. That's how supply and demand works. The chances of O.P. landing a welding job that pays 4 times the industry average seem very slim.

> will benefit you more than a college degree.

One would think that taking that route would actually be the antithesis of what OP was intending as the benefit of your suggestion is monetary gain.

This is what getting a PHD means to society: http://www.openculture.com/2010/09/the_illustrated_guide_to_a_phd.html

It's about expanding on human knowledge. One could perceive simple living as the unfettered contribution to society.

Traveling In campgrounds with a camper might be a good start for you! Especially with a WiFi/cell extender both. You can choose campgrounds with WiFi. Before I left my job that is what we did, and I was essentially on call around the clock. In order to secure the WiFi we used a VPN- we liked IPVanish.

Wish you the best of luck on your simplifying adventures ✌️

From the console.log of the website:

>But how does it work?

>Check out https://github.com/chrisbolin/react-detect-offline (if you're online!)

>Spoiler: window.addEventListener with 'online' and 'offline', plus navigator.onLine

>If it isn't working for you, maybe your browser isn't supported - http://caniuse.com/#feat=online-status.

>If that's the case, run window.help() for the spoiler.

>Content is cached for offline use.

The Way of the Bodhisattva

I find this book is a brilliant thing to start my day with. It sets my motivation, it frames the way I want to view my day going forward, it reminds me of the person I want to be.

Have you considered a GPS navigation device for the car? This refurbished Garmin goes for $53. No monthly fees or data to worry about.

The ugly side of Christmas. We have completely downplayed gift giving. It's too bad people shop until they drop going into debt.

Gifts are nice for kids. We kept our giving like that while the kids were young. But for older kids...unless they really need something, always get something they need, and money/gift cards are appreciated there.

Some of our neighbors are retired and have been for quite awhile. They do not live fancy at all. They drive older cars and do not live outlandishly. They retired fairly young (50s) by living simple. It's like the book The Millionaire Next Door.

We do buy a tree and decorate each year, but we travel instead of give gifts. I did buy my kids one gift each for some things they needed (one had an old phone, the other had an old laptop, both long in the tooth).

We have such fond memories of traveling and being somewhere on Christmas. It's wonderful. And we go out for Chinese food for Christmas.

this post really speaks to me! I'm in the process of moving (wow how did I accumulate SO. MUCH. STUFF). I found the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo, particularly helpful in understanding the why behind our behaviors towards our possessions and thus how to change them to live a more simple, organized, stress free life. This book is a quick read, a few days tops.

Key takeaways are to only surround yourself with things that bring you joy/use. Simple, inexpensive, practical organization methods, and the mental/emotional connection with our physical/material world. For example,

• a cluttered home = a cluttered mind
• concept of attachment to items = attachment to _________ (usually emotion based, something/someone in the past, or hope for future use)
• letting go of items untethers us from our past, helps us live more in the present/future

Lastly, calling out that a lot of textiles/apparel ends up in landfills, and there are programs that do recycle these. The textiles/apparel industry is the 2nd largest polluter of our planet after petroleum.

Great story. There are lots of people making a lot of money and they are strapped. New car loans, McMansions they can't afford. Up to their necks in debt. Lifestyle inflation.

It's a lot about what you save/not spend, than what you make.

"Your Money or Your Life" is a great books I've been rereading over the years to remind me that my time is valuable and what would it cost, in work energy, my time, to buy something.

The Kon Mari method in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up really worked for me. Chipping at it bit by bit puts you in a long, painful process where you spend hours working at it and the results are difficult to see. She has you go through items by category, in a specific order, with a process that you get pretty quick at. Her method is incredibly prescriptive, but it's based on a lot of experience and it worked really well for me. The best part is that you can be done in a weekend and then you'll never have to do it again.

> Your Money or Your Life

Which author?

Assuming this one? Your money or your life : 9 steps to transforming your relationship with money and achieving financial independence Author Robin, Vicki.

Head down to the library and check out "So Good They Can't Ignore You" which addresses a lot of your concerns. Here's a video by the author: "http://99u.com/videos/22339/cal-newport-follow-your-passion-is-bad-advice"

The basic gist of it is that most people don't end up doing what the majored in or planned on doing. One of the keys to a rewarding career is being really good at something that's heavily in demand.

Just don't pick something that requires a ton of time and money to start because they you basically get stuck. If you are $120k in debt and spent 8 years in school to be a doctor, if you don't like it that's just too bad.

I don't have anything to add, but congrats - maybe read some Stoicism while you're on the road, like Irvine's "A Guide to the Good Life"?

Edit: I have an awesome summary of Irvine's book that was written by a pickup artist blogger but I can't find the link anymore. If anyone is familiar with this, it's about half quotes from Irvine's book and half explanation/emphasis by the blogger. Maybe 10 pages long when printed.

It's kinda reading, but...study a new language.

I'm studying Vietnamese so I can connect with more people in my new neighborhood.

You said you didn't want to always be online, but https://www.duolingo.com/ is a good start.

Lots of places that accept clothing donations will also accept donations of household items like appliances, decorative items, toys, linens... so you may be able to still donate them and get a tax receipt. Some of these places will even have a truck come by and pick it up for you, even if you are not home, free of charge, and leave a tax receipt for you to fill out. You just make an appointment and leave your stuff out on the porch/lawn/driveway/sidewalk and mark it for the driver to see.

I'm not sure but maybe you can sell them to your local thrift stores, or places like goodwill or the salvation army? Maybe call up your local salvation army stores and ask about wether or not they'll give you a tax receipt for these items. Call up local thrift stores and maybe ask them if they'll buy the sort of items you have.

Let your friends know - maybe some of them would like to have the things you don't want. Or, maybe have a garage sale?

You can also post them up on your local https://www.freecycle.org and give them away.

Is there a Freecycle group where you live? I've seen people give away things like a carton of milk. Seriously, like "I accidentally bought 2% and I only drink skim." People go crazy for anything free, even shitty half-used art supplies and other junk.

https://www.freecycle.org

My partner and I are kind of a success story with this idea. We met at liberal arts college where I majored in Sociology and he studied Psychology--which is to say, neither of us had "traditional" programmer backgrounds. After graduating, I did Americorps for a year and learned some front-end web dev at that position, then decided I wanted to keep learning and completed a 3-month full time coding bootcamp where I learned front and back-end programming. While I was doing that, my partner completed "The Odin Project", which is a free online web dev course.

After that, I found a position at a web dev agency and he freelanced, then we basically switched and now he has a full time contract position for the next 4 months at a local software company and I'm freelancing. We just this week bought a small RV (you can see it in my comment history!) and are planning to hit the road full time in the fall and work remotely!

I'm a huge advocate for learning to code in order to have more control over your time/lifestyle. I guess my biggest piece of advice is that although it's possible to start freelancing right out of the gate, it is probably easier and more doable for most people to get an in-person programming job first. Having more experienced devs around to teach you things is SO valuable, and having some projects in your portfolio is the biggest asset when it comes to finding freelance positions or flexible remote work. I will say also that there are a lot of "full time" programming jobs that are remote, if freelancing is not your thing. Also if you do decide to freelance/do the remote thing right out of the gate, networking is huge and try to utilize resources like Meetup.com to connect with other devs in your area.

Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck!!

I feel the same way... I have a lot of illnesses that keep me from going too far and I tend to stay in a lot, I'm also a bit lazy, maybe? haha... I definitely feel like a hermit, but when I look at the things other people are doing, I don't really want to do them, you know? I think since I'm in my early thirties and am not following the baby route, I get left out a lot. My friends are also basically hermits because they need to be at home taking care of their kids and don't have free time, so we're all in the same boat, but I feel like they have an excuse for it, lol... the other people my age just go out to drink, which isn't really my bag, so I have just accepted being alone with my phone or youtube or whatever...

I think if you're on social media, this FOMO feeling can get out of control... people always posting about crazy things they're doing and blah-di-blah~ maybe take a break from that for a bit and just relax with yourself? I don't feel as bad now that I'm not trapped under all the constant updates from people I don't even talk to, lol. If you're happy, then that's what matters, but if you're not, why not try out some activities? Idk if there are any meetup.com groups where you are, but those usually have some things you can try (and they're usually free)~ If you like them, keep up with them, and if you don't, it was a one-time thing and there's no pressure to do it again.

Just remember, the only person you should compare yourself to is the person you were in the past. As long as you're happy and growing, then you're on the right path &lt;3

101 stovetop suppers

Maybe get a used crockpot, cost ~$10 from thrift shop, donate before moving?

ETA: thought you might want a book in case you couldn’t find a blog

The Gleaners, 1999 by French film directing legend Agnes Varda. She follows various people who live from what others discard. People gathering up potatoes, people who repair things, dumpster divers, all sorts. It's currently on mubi.com and I dare say available from other sources.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;url=https://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Parenting-Extraordinary-Calmer-Happier/dp/0345507983&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjql6L9uOPxAhXJR30KHRgZAYYQFnoECBoQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2NvKMYUgTDPqWoR3fBh1pA

Simplicity Parenting is a great book and well worth a read.

Ha, same.

I have to remind myself every day to be at ease, right now. I like the zen dudes' saying "if not now, when?"

I have tools that help me like this little app called toastr on my phone that you can set custom random reminders that pop up, currently mine says - Be at ease.

I also look at these poems from time to time

and I do metta. It works.

peace x

I've pretty much achieved a simple lifestyle that makes me happy:

Living in a small city apartment. Drawing weird comics. Crowdsourcing a page rate large enough to cover my bills and have some fun too, without having to kill myself cranking out comics 24/7. I haven't quite gotten that last - right now a productive month almost pays my rent; I'll feel like I'm there when a half-assed month completely pays my rent and a chunk of the other bills as well.

Requirements: many years of learning to draw, time to build a large enough audience to pay the bills. Not having a family to support helps too, as does having enough savings to coast for the years it takes to build that audience.

Reminds me of this quote from John Wooden: "Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life".

I have a couple of glass-lock containers I got off amazon, I can find a link if you want but there are lots with good reviews (sturdy/leakproof even for liquids). They can handle freezer, microwave, whatever; I just take the tops of to microwave.

I find that the ~3 cup version is my go-to for single meals, with the smaller one working for snacks or small sides. And then I have a large version, maybe 6 cup capacity, that I use for large portions of leftovers in the fridge to be portioned out later.

It seems like you want one single container to work for your lunch every day, which I applaud from a simplicity standpoint. Personally it would bother me to put a couple cups of soup in a container big enough to hold a couple slices of pizza! So I like the flexibility of multiple sizes like these.

I don't know if that's the kinda think you're looking for but I absolutely love them. I would never send a friend home with leftovers in one of these these, I'd have to follow them and get it back immediately,

How could a weekend of having fun and talking be a waste? No, it's not a waste of time.

Are you trying to change your habits? If so, I think you need to decide why you want to change. I enjoyed the book The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg. It's not a how-to book or a self-but help book, but might give you some insights.

I also just finished it. Great book. Somehow it was relaxing and thought-provoking at the same time. And like /u/gravybones says, the main character is very relatable to any seeker.
It's available for free at Project Gutenberg.

Start by daily meditation. Realise that looking after your mind is as important as looking after your body. I recommend an App such as calm.com or headspace. Calm works better for me, Headspace better for others. With meditation, consistency is key.

Depends what you want to do. There are a lot of little niches in the security industry.

If you want to do what the above poster is describing you could get your feet wet by looking at public malware submissions on a site like AnyRun (https://app.any.run/submissions) and trying to identify trends of what malware commonly does. That site is a public sandbox where researchers will submit suspected malware samples for analysis so that you don't have to download and run the samples on your own computer. I think you have to sign up with your email to use it though.

It can be kind of a pain in the ass to get used to the interface but it's essentially just telling you what the malware process is doing and providing details on specific actions it's taking.

I'd recommend paying more attention to the "processes" view presented on the right side of the screen rather than the Windows view. There's a cool "ATT&CK matrix" button on the there that will give context on general behavior the sandbox identifies in the malware and why it's important. It's not 100% accurate but it'll be a good resource starting out. You can also click on the different process boxes for a "more info" popup that gives a lot of information about specific activity.

If the terminology of the site is confusing, a lot of it is just general IT knowledge so you should be able to google your way out of stuff like "what is the process lsass.exe" or "what is a registry value".

Anyway, I'd just mess around on that site and eventually you'll do enough random googling that you find other cool resources to use and sort of branch out and follow your curiosities wherever they take you.

https://freedom.to/ is pretty good. It installs a local VPN which responds to rules you set for yourself as to what sites you want access to, and at what times the rules should be enforced. It generally works, except for some standouts (Facebook cannot be blocked because its app bypasses DNS altogether, instead relying on IP addresses). The interface is good, and the rules can work across mobile and desktop.

Yes. I used to have it much worse, but I got rid of my smartphone and just have an old nokia now. I got rid of my social media, so my internet usage is basically reddit and nothing else. That's a habit I still need to break. I actually have paid for Cold Turkey - https://getcoldturkey.com/ which works really really well (I recommend it), but I'll find any workaround to read Reddit, including using the internet broswer on the xbox or PS4

What you're describing is out there. I work for a remote company that places high value on work life balance. We even work less than full-time for a good chunk of the year. There's a growing number of companies like this.

Here's a list with some companies I've heard good things about in terms of remote working.

https://zapier.com/blog/companies-hiring-remote-workers/

I've worked remotely for three different tech companies so feel free to let me know if you have questions.

Also, my job does not involve programming if that matters.

I use CherryTree. For me, it's the perfect balance between whiz-bang cloud solutions and a legal pad. I put my high-level task as the top-level bullet, then add subtasks underneath. In the notes section for each bullet, I add actions taken with dates so I can keep loose track of things.

Example (for a greywater system I'm looking at installing):

• Greywater system

  • AQUS greywater for sinks

    • Figure out where to connect pumps

  • PVC + 55 gal drum greywater for washer

    • Determine piping color (code compliance?)
    • Determine storage tank location

Can't confirm it's the exact one I got (deleted my Amazon account) but I think it was this one: https://www.amazon.ca/ACE2ACE-Remover-Reusable-Removal-Furniture/dp/B088ZL9M9F/ref=pd\_di\_sccai\_2/142-4154142-6912454?pd\_rd\_w=ZKkEt&amp;pf\_rd\_p=e92f388e-b766-4f7f-aac1-ee1d0056e8fb&amp;pf\_rd\_r=234BN58482Y71PTKWMT5&amp;pd\_rd\_r=b6db5c54-79...

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-M7-Resolution-Lossless-Bluetooth/dp/B07D7Z67F5

They dont list my old faithful, but the reviews on the newer one are on par with the old. People love it :) side note, i make playlists by literally making a folder on my SD card and dragging songs there

You know you are the right balance when - you feel content - you can amuse yourself and you don't care what others think

Read Tim Ferriss's book The 4-Hour Workweek and implement his Low Information Diet. It is seriously life changing. I love it.

First, I'd suggest reading Your Money or Your Life. That book has a whole system for doing just this.

Second, start tracking your expenses. You can't reduce what you can't count. I write down my purchases in a small notebook and total them into a spreadsheet at the end of the month. Then if I notice that I am spending too much on food, I'll be more mindful when grocery shopping.

The Circle of Simplicity - Cecile Andrews Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez Voluntary Simplicity - Duane Elgin Walden - Henry David Thoreau Buying Time and Getting By - Mary Grigsby

Outside of Walden, "Choosing Simplicity" was one of the first books on simple living that I read long ago. I also like the title of "choosing" a simple lifestyle....as that is what it is, my choice.

Also while not a simple living book directly, "Your Money or Your Life" was also important in helping me see things from that point of view.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Also, many libraries let you borrow digital books for kindle. You can get the kindle app for a computer, phone, tablet, etc... and read from whatever device you use for Reddit as well.

I quit my miserable corporate day job long ago after reading "Your Money or Your Life".

Now I make much less, but also work on my own terms (self-employed) and enjoy daily life much more as well. I don't think I could ever go back.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki and Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder. A book that explains Zen in a context that is very easy understand coming from the West and Japhy Ryder was based off of Gary Snyder in The Dharma Bums (he was actually very upset at Kerouac for the way he portrayed him in that novel) but this book is a collection of essays that dig very deep into social ecology and really get at the core of a lot of social issues that pertain to nature and how humans have disassociated themselves from nature. It's a really good read, you should check it out!

TinFoil for Facebook is another good option https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.danvelazco.fbwrapper

I have Facebook Messenger installed on my phone too so I don't need to log in to message anybody, and I can just use the chat part of Facebook. I'm leaving myself logged out of Facebook on my phone and computer, other than Messenger, which also helps, because then I have to think if there's an actual reason to go on Facebook, other than wasting time. Then I don't go on Facebook, and go back to wasting time on Reddit.

I second reading as much as you can. I'm also a fan of learning as a hobby. Duolingo and Khan Academy are fun and game-like, which is nice for the casual learner. Also for an unlimited supply of enriching and free ways to spend your time: http://www.openculture.com/

I use Facebook Purity which is pretty similar but I do like to switch on seeing only stuff from my friends and clearing all the adds and junk. I guess I should quit at some point but it's easier for me having a centralised contact base I can use no matter where I am in the world.

Try Cold Turkey. I also try to make it a hassle to turn on the computer in the morning. I have a laptop so I either unplug and put the charger away somewhere or put away the laptop itself.

in spain there was one called ¿Tienes Sal? and I've been on others to borrow tools from your neighbours, also services and general help. it's from a German company so I'm guessing it's international https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.nebenan.app

I would recommend William Irvine's books on Stoicism, including "A Guide to the Good Life" - they're similar in thought to the Zen Buddhism mentioned below, and can help you achieve contentment in any circumstances.

Great advice in comments. You might also try a productivity app such as Forest which discouraged you from touching your phone (or your tree dies, oh noes).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cc.forestapp

As an alternative, perhaps consider changing your phone to grayscale. This will allow you to keep all of the features you need, but should remove the appeal of mindless browsing.

I’ve replaced the News Feed with lists. With lists, you can:

• Choose what kinds of updates to show. I block updates about games, comments, likes — the automated stuff — and only show status updates and photos from friends.

• Organize friends into different lists. I have one for my closest friends and another for acquaintances.

• Avoid the ads shown in the News Feed.

• Get updates only from your friends, excluding posts from pages that you’ve Liked. I get updates about my favorite musicians mainly through Facebook, which is why I haven’t mass-unliked my Liked pages, but most of the time I use Facebook just to get updates from friends.

In addition to lists, I’ve also:

• Set up Google Chrome to redirect “facebook.com” from going to the News Feed to my closest-friends list, with a Chrome search engine hack. You can follow this MakeUseOf tutorial to see what I mean.

• Downsized my friends’ list, from over 200 to around 50 people. Facebook is a digital bonsai plant of old friends that you have trim every once in a while.

• Blocked cookies, so that Facebook doesn’t remember that I’ve already logged in. This way, I have to log in every time I visit Facebook, which makes me think before doing so.

• Not installed Facebook on my phone.

I wouldn't say full on addicted, but I do use something with a screen for just about everything I do, so the temptation to get lost on Reddit or YouTube or whatever can be strong.

https://getcoldturkey.com/ has been helpful to me. I have it set up to just shut off most of the things I don't need when I don't need them. It makes accidentally getting caught up in digital time wasting quite a bit more difficult.

Maybe not exactly what you are looking for, but I did read the book The gentle art of swedish death cleaning which I would recommend.

The wall mounted baking soda things are also great for a litter box enclosure: https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-Fridge-Refrigerator-Filter/dp/B005N7FI9I

I purchased what's called a "Worry stone" from Amazon. Whenever I get the itch to check my phone or computer, I pull the stone out of my pocket and rub it. It's gives me a bit of focus, and it cures the fidget that was probably making me want to check my phone in the first place.

I'm pretty crummy with links, but here's the one I bought from Amazon. You can make your own... I just like the divot and the uniqueness of the marble. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AKFIVYW/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_5SHkyb8JDPQ36

If you just want a fan, it looks like this fan would fit.

If it's not humid, then a swamp cooler would probably work. They cool the air by evaporating water so they don't need an outside vent. I'm not sure how well it would work in a small area as it might humidify the air until it can't cool, but maybe with just the right air flow from the windows you could get a reasonable solution. I saw one on Amazon for $100.

Otherwise, a portable air conditioning unit would be the way to go. You could buy one used on Craigslist, use it while you need it and then probably sell it for the same price when you are done.

still stings like anti-septic spray on open cuts, but does stop most cuts in about 10 seconds. With the safety razor + this i never have a red and blochy neck from irritation.

Been using it for about 2 years now, maybe lost 2mm off the bar? will definitely last. Also after rubbing your neck just dry it, then chuck it in your wash bag, no case needed. Came across it recommended on a forum post relating to shaving related acne or something a few years back?

(this is the one i've been using, you get two, gave one to a friend, if your not uk just change the .uk to your amazon address. It should show up: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004NEHR28/)

Finally if anyone needs a razor recommendation this is the razor i use; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001NIYT1Y.

(For beard care I brought a Wahl compact trimmer, depend on your beard needs thought)

ReadEra app for Android shows PDFs and ebooks, so I could uninstall the heavy Adobe PDF reader. It also has nice UI and is customizable.

Snapseed is a super straightforward photo editor for Android from Google. No accounts, ads or other bullshit from Adobe and others. Just open a pic, apply effects, rotation, crop, etc. and save or share. Elegance and simplicity.

The book "Your Money or Your Life" has some exercises for people to track their expenses and calculate their life energy spent on obtaining those things. Pretty interesting stuff.

We need to include things like preparing for work and commuting to work. We have clothing to buy for work as well.

MMM writes about this book/philosophy: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/12/18/your-money-or-your-life/

As a person who wants to get more into writing (not in English as it's not my native language), I'll definitely check out The Elements of Style. Thanks for mentioning it!

(also great simplification of the title)

You should read the book So Good They Can't Ignore You as it's basically about this. The thing is that flexibility, self-direction and mastery of the subject tends to lead to jobs that people are passionate about, not the reverse. The ability to set your work terms goes to the people that are really good at doing something the world needs. If you were one of the world's leading network engineers, you could probably negotiate basically whatever kind of work life you wanted, and you'd enjoy showing up to work on interesting problems.

Now that's not the path you are looking for, and that's OK too, but in there are all sorts of tips about how to get really good at your job in a lot less time than you'd expect. Most people just kinda show up, get through the day and go home. If you deliberately work on hard problems and spend time learning at your job, in a few years you'll be dancing circles around the guys that just showed up.

That idea of being really good at something is what opens up the possibilities you are looking for. Also, a giant investment account tends to give you the brass balls you need to negotiate unreasonable deals.

In your personal shoes, I'd get really, really good at networking and then use that to land contracts where you continue to build your skill. You'll probably need to work 40 hours a week during those, but you can take downtime in between contracts to just hang out or travel and they tend to pay more than permanent jobs.

When I was your age, I felt about the same. Today, I feel much differently. The difference is that I have a direction now that interests me. Video games were quite enjoyable but ultimately the enjoyment was quite temporary so I cut them out along the way as I needed the time for more meaningful pursuits.

I suggest attending a multi-week workshop to give you some motivation to commit to a practice. Also helps to have community support. Anyway, any of the following will get you started:

A mindfulness/insight meditation workshop in your area

Books: "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana "The mind illuminated" by Culadasa/John Yates

Headspace (smartphone app) - only thing is, after the first 10 days you have to subscribe for around $10/month. Meditation should be free... what I did is subscribed for a few months until I got my practice off the ground. Then took off the training wheels and started doing silent/unguided meditations.

I'd like to recommend a book. It isn't the end-all-be-all of financial books, but it's a short, pleasant read that deals with the "laws that govern wealth." It's my favorite book on the matter because it is simple, practical, and fun to read.

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

If it pays you 1/10th the dividends it has paid me, it will have been well worth the read. Good luck, my friend.

I would call that lifestyle "wage slavery" because while you are free to switch jobs, you don't have the option to stop working without suffering devastating changes to your lifestyle.

The lifestyle you are searching for is called Financial Independence and you can find all sorts of information about it in books and online. I'd recommend "Your Money or Your Life," "The Boglehead's Guide to Investing" and then "Early Retirement Extreme." The Mr. Money Mustache blog is also a good resource. Those three books cover just about everything you need to know. The general concept is to be more self-sufficient, spend much less than average and save the rest until you have enough invested to cover your needs.

It's tough to tell if your tone is a result of you venting here or if you attitude comes across at work too. Being "blunt and honest" may seem like a good idea to you, but really it's shorthand for "disrespectful and inconsiderate." That sort of attitude will make you enemies at work and will make it more difficult for you to reach your goals. You don't need to kiss ass, but you do need to learn to temper your words so that they are received well.

You should be doing fulfilling, enjoyable things outside of work. I don't think any of your coworkers think that showing up for work and paying the bills is the point of their life. The job is just a means for them to obtain the money they need to fulfill their other goals.

Spending less than 1/4 of your income on rent is a good start, so I believe you have a good chance.

I would recommend the advice in the book "Your Money or Your Life". Basically, track every cent you spend for at least a month. Even better, three months. You will make many amazing discoveries about where your money is going. I did this last year, and it was a great help.

Maybe what you are looking for is not retirement, but more control and autonomy in your work/career? Is there a way you can use your current financial state to inspire some risk-taking on the job front to get you what you're after without quitting? Have you read Cal Newport's "So Good They Can't Ignore You"?

I always forget to switch the email on/off but I've found an app to do it automatically on a schedule. You can give it a try if you are on android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sgarcia.quiet_for_gmail

Best Buy stores accept all kinds of electronics for recycling. Their policies about what happens to them at the point of recycling seem quite sound to me.

It sounds like you are just getting started?

I didn't have a recommendation but looked around a bit and found one that might be good https://www.freecodecamp.org (not meant to be advertising - I'm not associated to them in any way)

They claim to be free and I was surprised by how much content they have. I'm thinking about going through some too. I haven't seen any paywalls so far - no idea how they make money.

Resources like this can be found just searching around and once you get started and have picked a project and language, you can search for more specific guides.

I have a couple of resources that might help (Great! More things for the list!):

• WNYC's Note to Self Podcast has had a number of shows focusing on digital clutter.

• The Minimalists also have some thought on digital clutter - including a portion of their new book.

Here is what I would say. Archive it all. Save your lists by printing them out. Stuff them in an envelope and tuck that envelope in the back of your sock drawer. If you require it, that information is available. Chances are -- is that you won't.

I agree with this, but would add that two or three large dishes can be prepared at once, so that the week's food isn't as monotonous.

Not sure how simple it is, but Costco publishes a free cookbook every year.

Some places only accept a certain credit card (e.g. Costco only takes AMEX; not VISA or MasterCard but I guess that is almost over in 2016). Other services give you a debit card such as an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) to use to pay for medical related expenses. For the FSA case it's easier to use it that to file a claim for reimbursement.

Thank you for all this information! Just curious - do you know if the program F.lux accomplishes the same blue light effect as what you described with the glasses? The program essentially changes the color temperature of your monitor throughout the day so it's not as harsh at night. Of course, this is just for computers and not for all artificial lights

> Ask yourself how you can add value to your fellow hobbyists in the hobby that you selected.

I've been wondering if there's anyone on YouTube making video guides to / reviews of hiking trails.

For example, if you want to hike the Pine Ridge Trail to Sykes Hot Springs, near Big Sur, there's an online guide to it (probably even several).

I know nothing about hiking, but I would have thought there are people who'd enjoy a 10 or 15 minute video guide to this trail, you can show where to park their car, where the trailhead starts, and then have a voiceover "after about an hour's hiking, you come to this fork in the path - follow it to the left".

Some inspirational views and scenic music, and I think you could have something quite watchable. On a per-view basis you don't make much from YouTube, but these are videos which would have some longevity.

It's also the sort of thing that people seem to be happy to sponsor on Patreon - there are long-distance sailors earning $15,000 per video on there, just documenting their voyages. Pro-tip: take a pretty girl as hiking partner and employ click-baity thumbnails. Pateron has like "stretch goals", so you can tell sponsors "throw in $1000 and you can decide which trail we hike next!" ^([video to be posted within 12 months])

> operating systems as I understand them are the updateable software enhancements like windows 7/8/9 etc.

That's pretty much right - Windows 7 and 8 are operating systems, are Mac OS X and Linux.

Apps run inside or on top of operating systems.

The point that /u/LawHelmet is making is that one app can't do everything, and that's why we have general purpose computers which allow you to install apps.

You get to choose what your needs are, and thus which apps you want to install.

Backing up to the cloud is a different proposition - you could save all your files into Google Drive and they'd all automatically be uploaded into your Google storage space. I doubt if all the apps you use, however, allow you to choose where things are stored.

If you were a Mac user who was concerned about his hard-drive getting fried, then I would just advise buying a cheap USB external drive (or two, depending upon how paranoid you are) and allowing your computer to use it as for Time Machine when requested.

Apple's Mac Time Machine is very simple and robust protection against hard-drive failure, but it doesn't allow notes and appointments to be shared concurrently between two or more computers (your laptop and your work PC, for example).

The theme song to The Detectorists by Johnny Flynn. Also, the entirety of the tv show, it’s the most calming comedy I’ve ever watched.

....

Will you search through the loamy earth for me Climb through the briar and bramble I'll be your treasure

I felt the touch of the kings and the breath of the wind I knew the call of all the song birds They sang all the wrong words I'm waiting for you, I'm waiting for you (Mmmmmm)

Will you swim through the briny sea for me Roll along the ocean's floor I'll be your treasure I'm with the ghosts of the men who can never sing again There's a place follow me Where a love lost at sea Is waiting for you Is waiting for you

I've never heard of folding@home but there's also BOINC which does the same thing but has more variety in causes it goes towards (and you can choose which ones you want). Definitely encourage people to run either of these as they support science when you arent using your computer

It is not nostalgia at all. There is absolutely something to this. There are apps and programmes that can help you to control your usage of specific sites e.g. https://freedom.to. You are right to be concerned about this. Internet addiction is a real thing, and the issues you describe can absolutely be a result of changes to the brain that occur with internet addiction. The endless scroll behaviour? the frequent automatic refreshing? This is your brain's reward system trying to get more dopamine. It's the same thing as gambling addiction, or any number of other behavioural addictions.

Really interesting! I was thinking something along the lines of the temperature of the light around you, and how does this affect to your brain https://buffer.com/resources/the-science-of-how-room-temperature-and-lighting-affects-our-productivity/

But indeed firing multiple colors at your face every now and then must not be good for your mental health in any ways.

Do both. Take a small contract and manage your new business. Find out how much hands on you need to run the bakery. Can you be the manager ? or do you gotta be the janitor and baker too

Before you buy the bakery go read

The E-myth. It will teach you to avoid the pitfalls of being a small owner operator business

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0887307280/

dual purpose furniture! ottoman with built in storage, sofa bed, coffee table with storage cabinets, one of these things that is a table and a work surface combined, and tall shelves if you have books/knick knacks because you should utilize your vertical space as well

Ever since I've tried to simply live in the moment. I started reading about minimalism and simple living not long after, and learned to appreciate every day for what it was.

I realised that life isn't supposed to be an exciting journey day in, day out, because then we never learn to appreciate the great times.

I started focusing on uni again, and now I'm studying at 150%, heading on exchange studies across the globe early next year, and on pace to graduate with an MSc in 4.5 years instead of 5 (I've heard average for a swedish student is ~6 years).

I still have no idea what to do with my life, but at least I'm doing something, and I'm enjoying it. If you're in the search of your true purpose in life, I really recommend the book So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport (recommended to me by Derek Sivers). Completely changed my mindset, and now I finally feel free.