I wanted to add something to the help for the unemployed article as well – this one had lots of good information, but left out the Self Employment Assistance Program. I’ve recently been accepted into it and it basically allows you to continue receiving the unemployment benefits you qualify for while starting your own business. I’ve written more about it on Redefining Unemployment.

As for the real world – I basically agree with the author as that’s how I’ve been living all along. But I don’t like the dichotomy Chris sets up about the “real” world and the “living” world. Some people like the way it works in the real world – and that’s fine for them. Some of us make other choices, and that’s fine for us. Rather than accusing someone of being a “sleepwalker” I think it’s better to make our own nonconformist choices, thus subtly changing the world we ALL live in. Then, we can show by example that it’s possible to have a good life without “taking the blue pill.”

I’ve learned the hard way that just because someone has seen more moons than you doesn’t automatically give them enlightenment. Their advice can suck as much as the next person. The point of the piece, that “reality” is largely shaped by individual perception, explains why so many people succeed at remaining clueless as they age.

In a similar vein, anyone who demands respect based on age is circumspect. Respect is earned.

I loosely follow that blog, and I can’t recall a time when Chris has advised being irresponsible. He has advised considering your priorities and going after what you REALLY want.

Would you trade a $30,000 SUV to travel the world/start a band/write a book instead? Would you be willing to find alternate income streams to keep a roof over your head while you’re at it?

Furthermore, in that post he isn’t telling people to disregard reality. He’s not telling people to disregard hard-won widsom. He is telling people to disregard naysayers who are really just raining on your parade.

Seth Godin (who has probably been told once or twice his ideas wouldn’t work in the real world) says “Shun the unbelievers.” Chris’s post says the same thing in a different way.

I think The Real World is, in fact, different for everyone. J.D., your friend spent his life traveling the world; had he waited until retirement, he would never have traveled at all, because his life ended suddenly. My mother waited patiently through her marriage for the time when my father would retire, and they would finally have time together. He died before he reached sixty, and they never had that time. On the other hand, if I took the next few paychecks and went traveling, I’d be living in a shipping container when I got back. I’ve spent my life applying the pertinent parts of the Eight Tips, not because I’m frugal, but because I’m poor, and it’s the only way to make ends meet. It is, in fact, my version of The Real World, and it doesn’t seem to match up with Chris’s version. And that’s okay; I’m sticking with “The Real World is different for everyone.”

I’ve been living this way for YEARS. Cash-only. No credit cards. Considering ALL of my odd skills as job possibilities while seeking a new job, ANY job, because I’ve been unemployed for a few years now–long story, but there has no job and it’s been “all savings all the time” during the hunt.

There is not one thing on there I am not already doing.

And the eighth tip, “sell your extra stuff”?

Sure. But it only works when people BUY the stuff you’re selling. Worthless tip, IMHO, since the ENTIRE PROBLEM WITH THE ECONOMY is that people have stopped spending altogether and killed the flow cycle!!!

People need to wake up and realize, it is NOT about conserving money, withholding money, and prohibiting oneself from spending it–it is about releasing MORE money back INTO the economy so that we have more to spread around!!!!! Be mindful, yes, but know that frugality stemming from scarcity leads to stinginess and that leads to constipating the money cycle–and that leads to where our country is today.

And just as the author complains about people making fun of those they consider idealistic, he does the same in return. Seems smug to me.

I found it very narrow-minded and arrogant. I doubt it’s even occurred to him that many of the people lecturing on the “Real World” may have had similarly idealistic notions about the world when they were young too, but through time, gained a better understanding of the economics and social interactions that govern our lives. He is frighteningly quick to dismiss the possibility that there is any wisdom at all to be gleaned from elders proffering explanations of how certain things world in the “Real World.”

I’d be very interested to see if his tune changes in 10 years. Of course, by then, some other naive, leftist academic will have picked up the “your old rules don’t apply to me” torch, and the cycle will continue.

Again, thank you for the link. I agree it is a great topic and would look forward to a full blog post in the future.

Jake | Revive Your Life