1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

Ask the Readers: Have you kept your Resolutions?

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This week, I’m asking you about your resolutions. I hate resolutions, but kind of made one anyway to get in better shape. So far, I haven’t fallen off the cart. Well, sort of. This made it into the cart for our Superbowl party and is not consistent with my goals:

You ever do something that you know is a bad idea, but you do it anyway? This is one of those times. I'll pay dearly for this decision in about 8-12 hours.
You ever do something that you know is a bad idea, but you do it anyway? This is one of those times. I’ll pay dearly for this decision in about 8-12 hours.

First, last talk about last week when I asked where you people buy all of your clothes. Most of the stuff I buy seems to last no longer than a year or two. However, some of you have clothes that have lasted decades. I need to know where to get decent quality clothes.

I concur with Reader Frankie’s Girl. I love thrift stores too, but not for certain items:

Shoes, socks and underwear are bought new from regular stores (like Target, but usually hit their clearance or wait for the big clothing sales); bras are from an online shop since I have a hard to find size.

I completely agree with Christina. I love pockets and I don’t care how nerdy I look. Give me pockets or give me disorganization!:

Also: I demand more pockets in my clothes. Fake out pants pockets are the bane of my existence.

Reader Beth explained what happened to all of my underwear:

Clothes that have stretch in them will eventually stretch out, especially if washed and dried with heat.

Alexander from Cash Flow Diaries lives dangerously:

I haven’t bought clothes in forever but my fiance buys me my clothes now. Ill just wear whatever she buys for me it doesnt really matter to me. If it makes her happy, it makes me happy!

Reader Barb has a suggestion that I’m going to take:

Duluth Trading Company for jeans, especially if you liked the old heavy-duty Levi’s that they just don’t make anymore. What’s up with tissue-paper thin jeans anyway?

Hannah has a question for me and then makes a good point:

The first question I have for you is: do you own any clothes that your wife really likes to see you wear? If not, maybe you’re asking the wrong questions. If so, buy clothes from that place again.

I’m fairly confident that Mrs. 1500 likes none of my clothes. Can’t really blame her either. Crappy t-shirts and stained pants send a statement.

Also, I know you’re setting out to get buff, but I think you are not naturally a big guy, so you really need to think about creating an appropriately intimidating wardrobe for 6-7 years from now when you have teenage daughters. You need something that signals to potential suitors, “I’m a pretty cool guy, but if you ever hurt my daughter, I have the means to buy many threatening weapons.” Maybe buy a motorcycle jacket.

You are correct in that I have the build of a skeleton wrapped in some skin. I do need to intimidate future boyfriends though. Since I’m not confident in my muscle building potential, do you think some strategic piercings, vulgar tattoos and firearms would do the trick?

Revanche said this:

I think the trick is a combination of getting the best fabrics and treating them as well as you can: wash in cold water, air-dry if possible.

…And it’s true, things from REI do tend to hold up well, so that’s a good place to look. I also buy from Nordstrom (mainly on sale) because they, like REI, stand by their products so I can take anything back if it falls apart. I wouldn’t do that if I’d worn it hard for ten years but I do expect things to last more than a year and a half!

Air dry and REI it is from here on out!!

The Roamer is right. I have few clothes which causes me wear the crap out of the ones that I have:

You know I was thinking about this and realized maybe you own a small quantity of clothes so it gets a lot more wear and tear.

Elizabeth had a suggestion that is probably correct, but I dread a bit:

I still wear Northface and Columbia brand clothes I bought at various places more than a decade ago.

For most of my life, I’ve avoided certain fancy brands, no matter what I thought of the quality. Here is why:

Screen Shot 2016-02-06 at 1.31.06 PM

And this:

Screen Shot 2016-02-06 at 1.34.04 PM

 

OK, just one more:

Screen Shot 2016-02-06 at 1.35.26 PM

 

Snarky, snarky, snark, right?

However, it’s true. Most of the people I see wearing $500 jackets never have an adventure beyond the grocery store or movie theater. Some questions come to mind:

  • Does the man who can’t bear to get into his car in the winter without warming it up for 10 minutes need this high-tech, winter clothing?
  • How about the woman I saw a couple weeks ago with the NorthFace jacket and flip flops? What the hell was going on there?
  • If NorthFace jackets didn’t say NorthFace on them, how many people would buy them?

Perhaps, I should just shut my snark up and buy one though. If it’s going to last me decades, it would be worth it (looking at you crappy winter jacket with the broken zipper). I could put a Pennzoil patch over the NorthFace logo so I don’t fit in.

Now, on to this week’s question:

Have you kept your resolutions and if so, how?

I don’t make resolutions. At least I like to say that. However, I’ve been working out since the start of January. If it smells like a resolution; if it looks like a resolution…

Anyway, I’ve managed to keep my non-resolution so far. One of the ways I’ve done this is by setting some long term goals that depend on the success of the non-resolution. In April, I’m going to see Mr. and Mrs. PoP at the Berkshire Hathaway meeting*. Mrs PoP is a runner and I told her that I’d do the 5K with her at the meeting. For Mrs. PoP, running a 5K is like a walk to get the mail. For me, it is a hell worse than climbing Mt. Everest in flip-flops without a NorthFace jacket. If I don’t get my ass in shape, I’ll be humiliated even more than normal. So, I must run now.

A "Huffie" of me plodding around the running track at the gym last weekend. A "Huffie" is like a "Selfie," but when you're huffing and puffing your way around the gym track.
A Huffie of me plodding around the running track at the gym last weekend. A Huffie is like a Selfie, but taken when you’re huffing and puffing your way around the gym track.

That’s my sorry story. Tell me about your resolutions or non-resolutions if you prefer.

 

*Even Stevie, another Steve and an UnSteve (Income Surfer) are also coming to the Berkshire party! If you’re going, look us up**!

**And don’t laugh at me when I run struggle past at the 5K.

Join the 10s who have signed up already!

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*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.

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  2. You raise an interesting question regarding North Face…”If NorthFace jackets didn’t say NorthFace on them, how many people would buy them?”…Kind of a “if a tree falls in a forest, does it make a noise sort of thing?”.

    As far as resolutions go, I’ve been working on my lose weight resolution for the last few years. So far I am…up 5 since that time…So I think I’m getting close to sticking to it!
    Thias @It Pays Dividends recently posted…Dividend Payout #28 – Your Own Definition of SuccessMy Profile

  3. Great job on keeping up with your 2016 goal. I have also enjoyed success with my own non-resolution. I prefer to make cultural improvement projects for myself. This year, I’ve set out to broaden my musical palate to include the great talents of the 60s and 70s. Unfortunately, as a kid, I was too busy listening to pop crap like Poison to notice there are awesome bands like Pink Floyd. That is changing this year. I have a plethora of good music to choose from in my car for commuting purposes. I’m killing two birds with one stone. A non-resolution of the past included incorporating beer (mostly craft) into my routine experiences. I have learned to really enjoy the beginning of a new year. And, it’s easy to success when my goal is a cultural experience, rather than a chore. 🙂
    Mrs. Mad Money Monster // @madmoneymonster recently posted…Lavish Luxury & Lean TimesMy Profile

    • Poison! Pop crap indeed, but catchy all the same. Pink Floyd is pretty great! So is craft beer.

  5. If you feel that way about North Face, you obviously haven’t seen people in $700-$2,000 Moncler jackets or the $700-$1,200 Canadian Goose jackets. These are the ones I see and just wonder why. (Also, another reason not to own: those jackets are targets of robberies as at least in big cities like NYC, thieves know their pricey brands)

  6. You probably notice the north face a lot in Colorado, but they’re not that big around me in Wisconsin. There’s an old saying though: People from Illinois will brag about how much money they spent on an item while people from Wisconsin will brag about how much they saved. I’d bet Colorado is very similar to Illinois in that way. My new

    I don’t do new year resolutions mainly because it’s almost setting yourself up for failure. The turn of a new year shouldn’t spark a drive, that should happen at any time of the year. It’s the difference of wishing you were different vs really wanting to change yourself.
    That said, I too happened to get serious about working out after the new year, I worked out previously too, but I just amped it up more. It was mostly a logical choice when I couldn’t really do much else with my free time I figured it was something positive that I could. I would like to start a Web Development project of some sort, I had started a custom programmed site for home brewers over a year ago. I’m also considering joining my friends mountain biking this year, and I’d like to get back to studying physics and mathematics – see if I can remember any quantum mechanics and dirac notation mathematics, I probably need a refresher on a lot.

    • Ha yeah, every other person has a NorthFace jacket on. Colorado people are pretty good, but it depends on where you’re at.

      Quantum mechanics! That is a lofty goal. Perhaps a backyard fusion reactor is next? I’ll fund your Kickstarter project for Mr. Fusion.

      • lol, funny you brought up Fusion, that was actually one of the area’s I really wanted to work in if I would’ve went to graduate school. I actually worked on the Ice Cube Project – neutrino telescope a little bit, was really cool, I would’ve liked to have been a bigger part of that.
        As a backyard project, I was thinking about working with super capacitors. For years I’ve been convinced once we switch from battery electric cars to pure capacitor electric cars, electric vehicles will really take off. Cheaper, less impact on the environment, last longer and charge way faster.

        • What is holding capacitors back? I thought that the technology wasn’t quite there yet.

          We need a Manhattan Project for energy storage. I don’t think science is that far now, but it still seems like it will be at least a decade before a major breakthrough makes it to market.

  7. So far, I’m on track with my resolutions, both financial and personal. (I am very type A). One of my goals is doing a different challenge on the blog each month. Last month’s was a Pantry Raid, and February’s is to dump 100 things. (Gotten rid of 13 so far–I have a ways to go by month’s end.)
    Lady FruFru recently posted…I cut the cord on cableMy Profile

    • I read “Pantry Raid” as “Panty Raid” the first time. I was about to ask you some questions, but never mind.

  8. First off, I really should lock down evensteviemoney.com before someone takes over the blogosphere. I also love the “huffie” I hope that becomes a phrase and you are the picture they use. Northface jackets in the Loop are worn by 22-29 year olds at about a 75% clip down here, I’m sure they are good jackets but I really doubt that’s why they bought them. There were so many people wearing them when I first got down here that once I was on the train and saw a large group with one of the logos on the jacket sleeve I thought was a peacecore logo and they were helping in the city.

  9. So far, I’m working on my goal of owning a duplex and becoming a landlord. I’ve looked at several different properties (see also: close to 20). Even though I haven’t yet made an offer, I get one step closer every time I go see a property. (no matter if the ceiling is bowing in and the wall bowing out).
    Gwen recently posted…Rant and Rave: Baby, It’s Cold OutsideMy Profile

  10. I love my Northface jacket, it is amazing quality! Ok, it’s just a softshell, but still. One of the best buys I’ve ever done (as far as clothing goes, and yes, it was on sale!). Great for a large variaty of outdoor activities (which we actually do).

    As for new years resolutions? Did not have any 😉
    Mr CF recently posted…January 2016 Dividend UpdateMy Profile

  11. Good brands are worth it. I wear Lands End, Eddie Bauer, Patagonia and North Face. I buy when things are on sale or in their outlet stores. I bought a wonderful NF jacket, windbreaker, waterproof, proof from bombs through the roof (to quote Ms. Plath) for $35.00. My Patagonia wear is easily 10-20 years old. My Lands End pants I have worn for nearly 10. Eddie Bauer socks and blouses about the same. Watching for prices makes all the difference in the world.

  12. No resolutions made so… yeah I guess I have kept them. I had like a month layoff from the gym and have been eating like crap so when I went back to the gym last week, I found out I put on like 8 lbs. So I made a resolution to lose those 8 lbs. Or at least convert some of it to muscle. I’ll let you know how that goes…

    Also not sure if this is a resolution or not, but had planned to roll over my wife’s old 403b’s into an IRA by the end of January. That didn’t happen. Hopefully, by the end of February….
    Mattattack recently posted…Welcome and HelloMy Profile

  14. Let me give myself a big applause: my main resolution was to run at least twice a week… I am well above that till now! A non expressed resolution was to drink less canned sugary soda’s… Let’s not talk about this one…

    No North Face Jacket for me…
    amber tree recently posted…playmoney – progressMy Profile

  15. I’ve never owned anything NorthFace, but I remember them being all the rage in high school. Personally, when I wasn’t wearing my school uniform, I was in unisex t-shirts, basketball shorts and a baggy hoodie, a phase my mom was very glad I eventually grew out of. I was so comfortable back then …

    As I commented in an earlier post, my main resolution for the year is to get my damn mind right. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve been pleasure reading a lot more, working out consistently twice a week, and indulging in some relatively affordable self-care. So I would say, yes, I’m sticking with it, but there’s still plenty to be done. My damn mind is not yet right 🙂

    Financially, I wanted to finish off my student loans in 2016. So far this year, they’re down over $6k, so I’m confident in my ability to absolutely kill this goal. $22k-ish to go …

  16. I’m on week 2/block 2 of P90X3 and missed 0 workouts so that’s one resolution/goal kept.

    That’s hilarious on the North Face jackets. I just sold my wife’s 20+ year old North Face Jacket on Ebay for $150 and was wondering who’s buying these.
    Scott recently posted…Build a website or start a blog in 5 minutesMy Profile

  17. I didn’t make a resolution until January 30th when I came up with the idea for my blog. My goal is to eliminate 2,016 items from my life during the year 2016 and publish it for the world to see on my blog. I’m at 224 and counting!

  18. The worst part about that White Castle box is that it’s totally one serving. And don’t you dare tell me otherwise!!!

    I have a bad-ass plaid ll bean flannel which I can sell on eBay for $50 but can’t give up since it is so awesome! And I’ve sold some north face for profits too. Never bought it myself!
    Chris @ Flipping A Dollar recently posted…Life Changing Events and eBayMy Profile

  20. My REI side-hustle has taught me the hierarchy of brands: house brand, columbia, north face, marmot, mammut, mt hardwear, Patagonia, arcteryx. You could argue the positions in the middle (esp. based on the garment) but north face is definitely toward the bottom, and arc is super overpriced.

  21. Aww man I thought you were going to reveal the before pictures for your non resolution…. Or did you and I missed that post?

    This year I am just making monthly goals . so like taking a 30 day challenge every month.

    Also they have a 5 k at the meeting… That’s so funny and great… The huffie was also funny but hey if you have energy to take a huffie you aren’t running hard enough!!!!

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