I like the idea that when you become really rich and successful, you no longer need to flex in order to impress others. I have this notion of a “reverse flex“, that in which you actually choose more basic options, much lower than what you could afford, in order to be different.

For example, typically only poor or low class people go to McDonald’s. Maybe it is a better statement to just probably tell others that you love McDonald’s coffee, rather than trying to be a pretentious snobby espresso expert.

Also, typically Walmart is he as the low of the low. But truth be told, what is the difference between Amazon and Walmart? I think Amazon is just Walmart 2.0, with a good conscience. Because you don’t actually see poor people having to labor for you, you actually feel better about yourself. Amazon and Walmart is essentially the same thing. So perhaps, instead of just ordering everything on Amazon, it’s not a bad idea to just stop by Walmart to pick up something quick.

Or with cars, rather than trying to flex by how expensive your car is, but it is a more interesting reversed flex to show others how cheap your car is. in fact, I had more pride and joy and bragging about how I was able to buy my old Subaru for only $800 in cash, instead of bragging that I bought a new Tesla, or even a new Lamborghini.

What’s the quickest way to become rich?

By moving to a more poor neighborhood. And the quickest way to become poor is to move to a rich neighborhood.

I’m always very impressed whenever I see rich and successful people using cheaper iPhones

For example, I was very impressed when I saw my friend Don Dillon, who is very successful, just using a basic iPhone SE even though he could probably afford 1 trillion iPhone pros. He told me he just prefers the smaller design.

If anything, I see this funny thing in which when people have the brand new iPhone Pro, it is just a tryhard flex. That in fact, a lot of poor working class people will waste all their money buying the brand newest iPhone, in order to try to assert that they’re richer than they actually are. Similar how aspiring rich people wear Louis Vuitton, whereas the really rich people wear unbranded yet very expensive goods. Also I’ve noticed in very very rich neighborhoods, where people live in $10 million homes, they just drive super basic cars, either Subarus, or drive some old Honda Odyssey minivan. If you are really really rich, you don’t want others to know that you’re rich, out of fear that you might be robbed.

Why I prefer shopping at Aldi instead of Whole Foods

I like this notion of Spartan luxury, that is, true luxury is having fewer options, more simple, more direct. Whenever I buy groceries, I actually prefer the local Aldi, why? Because there are fewer options, and it is just much faster and more efficient. I don’t like Whole Foods because there are too many options, and often the lines are way too long. Even at this point going to Costco is a funny luxury, I just like to go to Costco to take pictures.