Save the Earth by Quitting the Job you hate!
A simple life has less strain on you for sure, but it also has a big impact on the Earth! Think back to my earlier post on the two parts of your budget (Letting go of Overspending): core and discretionary expenses. Your discretionary budget is the problem child of personal finance and, if I may, global warming. Yes I know it at first seems like a stretch, but follow me here. After your shelter, food, medical, basic clothing and reasonable entertainment is met then your core requirements are complete. It is after this that destructive spending happens.
Let’s say that 80% of your income is on core requirements. You may feel that the remaining 20% is something extra to spend freely because your core is covered. You spend on clothes, gadgets, vacations. However each of these items come with a supply chain that uses up the earth’s resources in order to make or deliver the product or service. In addition each of these items have disposable aspects of them, be it packaging, cups on a plane, even throwing the actual product away when you have used it. This trash for the most part is not being reused and ends up in landfills and oceans. This is a cycle that cannot sustain itself.
Instead of spending this extra 20%, save it and keep saving it week after week, year after year. Then when it is at an amount, that when invested can yield you a return that covers your core requirements, you can quit your day job. And here is where you save the earth - all that time that you did not spend on things you don’t need, you cut down on the energy and trash. You did your passive part to live within the bounds of what the earth can provide. If you are really passionate about leaving a better world for the next generation, you can now spend your time actively saving the world, like working for a project that is making real change.
Summary: By focusing on your core spending and cutting back on the discretionary, you can stop working your 9-5 earlier than 65 and also make a positive impact on our earth.
Research: Here is a cool site (especially if your are single) to get you thinking: www.worldpackers.com. Here is a site that is more targeted to families: www.volunteerhq.org. Do you want to know where your energy consumption should be? Check out this article. Stop Climate Change
Hi! Welcome to my blog. This is an account of our journey to FIWO (financially independent, work optional) and tips and hacks we have learned to get us there faster. If you just joined us, please start from the first post on this journey: Is A Life Without a 9-5 Job Possible for Me
Photo by Bobby Johnson on Unsplash
