{"id":50091,"date":"2017-05-11T00:54:12","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T07:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=50091"},"modified":"2017-05-11T01:07:35","modified_gmt":"2017-05-11T08:07:35","slug":"how-much-money-is-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/11\/how-much-money-is-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Money is Enough?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"STREET<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

A philosophical idea I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been mulling on for a long (ever since I was a kid is this): How much money is enough?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I. What is money?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

First of all, let us think about this literally.<\/p>\n

What is money?<\/p>\n

Money is trust<\/strong>. Money is faith<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For example, if I have an American dollar, I am saying that I trust<\/em> the US Government to ascribe \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcvalue\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 to it.<\/p>\n

And also it is to have faith<\/em> in the dollar. To have faith<\/em> that the US Government will not suddenly burn all the money.<\/p>\n

Similarly\u00e2\u20ac\u201d this concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccredit\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is very strange. A credit card or taking out a loan, or borrowing money is once again \u00e2\u20ac\u201d trust<\/em> that you will pay back the company.<\/p>\n

II. What do we need money for?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So I know for myself, I need money for the following:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Not freezing to death.<\/li>\n
  2. Not staving to death.<\/li>\n
  3. Not dying of thirst.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is what my Stoic<\/a> buddies have taught me.<\/p>\n

    These three things are what we need to not<\/em> die.<\/p>\n

    Of course, these are just basic animal needs. But for me, this is what I spiritually<\/em> need:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. I need freedom.<\/li>\n
    2. I need love.<\/li>\n
    3. I need to have the ability to create art.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      To me, I see freedom as freedom over time, freedom over my energy, and freedom what to do and what not<\/em> t do.<\/p>\n

      I see love as sharing my heart with my fellow human beings\u00e2\u20ac\u201d either with my family, friends, or strangers or people in my local community (or online).<\/p>\n

      Above all, I feel the purpose of staying alive as a human is to have the opportunity to create art<\/a>. To me, making art is the purpose of being alive. Because art (photos, poems, theater, movies, film, blog posts, books, articles, etc) empower our fellow human beings. And it gives us a chance for self-expression. And I think it is a human need to feel the need to express our souls<\/a> with others.<\/p>\n

      III. We need enough money to not die<\/h3>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      So given my theory above\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I just need enough money to pay the rent, to feed myself, and for coffee and water. Wifi is essentially \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfree\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 because I do most of my work at the coffee shop.<\/p>\n

      In order to not freeze to death, I already have clothes to keep me warm. I literally wear the same all-black outfit everyday (black shoes, black socks, black boxers, black pants, black undershirt, black dress shirt). Of course I switch the socks, boxers, and shirts everyday. But \u00e2\u20ac\u201d for me, I see clothing as armor<\/strong> from the elements, rather than fashion. And all my clothes are bought at UNIQLO \u00e2\u20ac\u201d so I spend very little money on clothes.<\/p>\n

      IV. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like having a car<\/h3>\n

      In terms of transportation, I actually prefer not<\/em> owning a car. If I ever need to go on a road trip, I usually rent a car for a few days.<\/p>\n

      I prefer not<\/em> owning a car because it is stressful. I have to maintain it. Cars break. I waste time taking my car in to get the oil changed. I waste time washing my car. I waste time contemplating what new car I want to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcupgrade.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 I waste time trying to mod my car.<\/p>\n

      Also, I love UBER\/LYFT. I can take naps while I get transported (thank you to the drivers). I would still prefer to take ride-sharing instead of owning my own self-driving TESLA, because I like to talk to the drivers. I often surprise UBER drivers by sitting in the front seat with them, and asking them about their life story, their dreams, etc. I feel a part of being \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchappier\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 as a human is to have more social contact \u00e2\u20ac\u201d so having the chance to make small-talk (and sometimes deep philosophical talks) with UBER drivers are awesome. Also I like the idea that I am giving money to UBER drivers\u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather than not contributing to the economy.<\/p>\n

      Also I have realized\u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is actually cooler not<\/em> to own a car. I like the scene in FIGHT CLUB when Edward Norton asks Brad Pitt, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWhere is your car?\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 And Brad Pitt says, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcI don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t own a car.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Pretty badass.<\/p>\n

      And if I were to own a car, it would probably be a blacked-out Lamborghini. Either Lambo or no car (Nassim Taleb\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcBARBELL\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 strategy).<\/p>\n

      V. I prefer renting over owning a home<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      In terms of living, I actually prefer to rent instead of own a house. Because I can pour coffee grounds down the sink, and not stress out. It ain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t my problem.<\/p>\n

      I can accidentally put holes in the walls or spill coffee on the white walls, and not worry too much.<\/p>\n

      I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to stress about maintenance. If shit breaks, the owner will have to take care of it.<\/p>\n

      I also have more freedom. I can choose when to leave, and am not locked into a 30-year mortgage.<\/p>\n

      Who knows, Cindy and I might buy a house one day, but for my life now \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I prefer living mobile, with no strings to hold me down.<\/p>\n

      VI. I like small apartments<\/h2>\n