why everyone keeps saying that I wont survive if I get payed quite low. really?

Question

people keep naggin me to get a better education, so I can be payed really good and live nicely. but I'm fine with small money. I love to live humble. so about the food. I always buy a bag of apples for 2€ and its a lot of apples. another thing is that I'm a vegeterian and I dont even eat a lot. I run and exercise quite a lot but I dont need to eat tons of food like other people. even after a hard working day. its been like this for years. and a garden provides quite a lot of food.

next thing is I dont even want a car. nothing. I can walk or take a bike. things arent far if you live in the city. so even my future kids can walk to school. but when I go somewhere, I take a train and that happens every two weeks. so I really dont spend that much money on transportation.

internet is cheap, I mean whats 20€ and I get everything? all the fun with games and movies and chating with my friends. I dont even use the phone and TV. and computers dont spend so much electricity.

so how much water and electricity I spend? not a lot, I mean I dont need water for some small pool or anything, except for garden but thats not much cause we also collect the rain.

and me and my girlfriend dont need any versacci clothes. we are both humble. we have pants, we have shirts, we have shoes, what else we need? of course jackets for winter. but clothes arent expensive for me, if I buy in specific shops.

so I already calculated and I can cover all the costs for me and my girlfriend with food, water, electricity, except without her clothes and I still have some money left. so if all the cost is covered, then my girlfriend will provide the money for our future children and there is even a social support. and a rent wont be much.

us two can cover all the costs and we even save money, so when the kids will want some toys or guitars, we can afford it. and a health insurance is good, so if something happens, for the treatments will be well cared.

and we can also afford holidays. its not that far from the sea. well I guess we are lucky that we dont need to fly to the sea.

I live humble and I love it. so if all the costs are covered and then I just live humble, why are people still nagging me to get a better job to live nicely, if I already live nicely?

I've been working for few months and I'm fine with this job. its not such a problem for me to be physically active all the time. I'm okay. except maybe I should still finish some school.

Answer 1

You can choose poverty if you like it is a personal choice. You might later find you want more money so you can make different choices. You might find you want more for your future children. What if you find your have a 6 year old child that wants to be an Olympic athlete maybe an ice skater or gymnast you might not be able to even get them basic lessons let alone an Olympic coach.
Or you might find what was a fun adventure at 20 is depressing at 55. Just because you earn twice as much doesn't mean you need to change lifestyle it just gives more choices.

Answer 2

Education can be useless without the right career mindset and real life skills. Just because one takes courses and earns a degree does not mean good paying jobs will automatically fly your way. I've been through that so I know. One good thing about finishing school is that it shows dedication on your part which some employers like, but it still depends on the job market and your abilities.

The reason those people would question you is because they assume you can't pay for all the things they want, which you don't necessarily want now. With different values, they do not easily understand or appreciate what it means to be frugal or live beneath one's means. As long as you don't go to sleep hungry, who is to say that you are poor? If you walk, run and bike while others drive everywhere, who dares say that you are not a healthier person as a result? Water, electricity, clothing, they are all easily paid for by a reasonable career. On the other hand, having more wealth will open up possibilities if one day you feel like trying out different things, some of which may be expensive. You never know.

Some of the richest people in the world live humble lives. Warren Buffett recently gave away tens of billions of dollars to charity (Bill Gates Foundation), and he still lives in the same house he bought for $31,500. He prefers coke and the same T-bone steak he's always had. However, being a billionaire means he can use a private jet to travel and not subject himself to be inspected like a terrorist at the airport these days. So you don't need money to be happy, but it helps sometimes.

And internet is the best, I agree. All forms of entertainment and communication for almost nothing for everyone.

Above all though, if you can keep a loving girlfriend or wife, I think you are infinitely richer than a lonely person who has money. I'd rather have real friendship and love than just lots of money -- but of course having everything would be best!

Answer 3

You are happy without having much material things and leading the simple life. That is ok. Just remember that at a certain young age you tend to lock yourself in so that even if you change your mind you won't necessarily be able to change your fate. Currently, you have enough and your health. If you or your family gets a serious illness you may wish you had some money to get the best treatment. The real purpose of education isn't for job training or income enhancement but to learn about the world and how it works. Life is short and eternity is long - you have the whole world before you and you are content with a bag of apples and some internet games. Sounds like you may be selling yourself short.

Answer 4

Money isn't everything but as we get older, people want to do different things e.g. travel around the world and that costs a lot of money.
Also, if you get paid low now, then it will be more difficult to save some money for your retirement and for your kids.

Answer 5

Well, okay then. Stop defending yourself and just go live humbly and don't worry about what anyone else thinks and stop posting questions about it.

Answer 6

you never know when you are going to need a nice bank account to fall back on EX: Bail, doctors, lawyers

Answer 7

if living in poverty is your way of living, then go for it. but making good money is the only way to survive in this ridicously expenive economy