iTunes YouTube Download .mp3 Download .ogg We talk about Mr Money Mustache from time to time. We like his attitude and philosophy towards making money and living life: save 25x your yearly expenses (approx $25k), invest it so it generates steady income, live frugally, and retire. He did this at 30. We especially love when mainstream media write stories about him because they seem to get frustrated that he and his family reject much of the assumptions about American retirement (work till your 65, save up millions of dollars, live way beyond your means). Go and read this article where he says that being retired isn't about living a life of doing nothing. "Financial independence isn't so much about freedom from work. It is more about freedom to do your best work, without money getting in the way."We totally understand this as Scavengers. We are now driven by a much different motivation than when we worked in an office for someone else. We're doing our best work when we're out treasure hunting. "The solution is to duck out the side door of this suffocating circus tent and seek out a completely different and better life. Instead of shopping for the easiest life you can afford, look for the most challenging one you can handle with your current level of ability. Instead of the closest elevator, find the highest staircase. Forgo the longest drive in the fanciest car for the most consistent walk in the most varied weather. As you produce more value for the world and increase your income, simultaneously increase your efficiency and decrease your material needs. As you buy fewer treats for yourself, your level of satisfaction and happiness with life will increase" Being frugal helps us keep the pressure to earn money to a manageable level. "This is both the recipe for financial independence, and the reason you'll never want to sit around and do nothing once you get there. Because work becomes better once you have the freedom to choose how and when you do it. And better work is worth working harder at."You know I hate the motivational speakers, but MMM (aka Pete) is really just sharing the simple math to this lifestyle. Read this blog post where he explains his method. I'm not sure if we'll ever save up that much cash that will earn dividends, but we're creating a similar life by investing our money in businesses that make us money. In this episode, we talk about the following links: --We started off mentioned the concept of Basic Income and the Alaska Permanent Fund. --Miriam from the eBay Life Blog (she's back) mentioned that eBay bought a website that was focused on selling second hand clothes. Probably buying new technology. This is good. More details here. --eBay is asking buyers if they got their packages on time --Catawiki is a new site to sell collectibles. Another site to try to poach eBay business. Problem is they don't make it easy for sellers to sell. Too many hoops. Want to see this farmhouse we keep talking about? Rent it. Fall is coming so it's really the best time of the year since the weather will be great and all the leaves turning. The Weekly Scavenger Numbers Our Store Week July 26-31, 2015 Store #1Total Items in Store: 3941 Items Sold: 19 Cost of Items Sold: $60Total Sales: $1,136.86 Highest Price Sold: $400 (antique bed)Average Price Sold: $59.78 International Sales: 1 (1 GSP)Returns: 1Money Spent on New Inventory This Week: $40Number of items listed this week: 0 Store #2Total Items in Store: 442 Items Sold: 7 Cost of Items Sold: $11Total Sales: $244.93 Highest Price Sold: $60 (vintage wooden tray)Average Price Sold: $34.99 International Sales: 0 (0 GSP)Returns: 0Number of items listed this week: 0
