Hi there, Mrs. 1500 today, asking about what inspires you.
But first, like always, we’re going to take a trip in the WABAC Machine and travel back to last Monday, where we asked How do you balance work and life?
Ironically, a few hours after this post was published, we got notification that Mr. 1500’s modified work schedule was approved for his next contract year, which starts December 1. He will be moving from 40 hours a week to 32 hours a week, effectively working four 8-hour days. This should free us up quite a bit.
We have been feeling overwhelmed in our house remodel, and we try to do small jobs here and there, but progress is slow. Having the day off will allow him to get a lot of things done on the house and also allow him to spend more time with the girls. Once the house is done, it’s easier to keep clean, because it is finished. I don’t know, some psychological thing…Anyway.
Mr. 1500 note: This has been the busiest year of my life. I made the mistake of taking a couple weeks off at the beginning of the year. My contract requires me to put in a certain amount of hours and I’ve been playing catch-up ever since. On top of that, stuff kept breaking including the dishwasher, sump-pump, two new faucets, a lawnmower, old plumbing in the crawlspace and a new shower fixture. I still haven’t had time to fix most of these things. Finally, in my wake is a long list of projects that are 90% complete. I still need to finish the backsplash tile in the kitchen. I also need to finish tile in the girls bathroom. I need to complete the trim and handrail for the stairs. I need to put in the new doors. I need to make the posts in front of the house look pretty. I hope 2016 is less hectic. The irony of my life is that by the time I leave my job and have loads of time, the house will be done.
Mr. and Mrs. SSC from Slowly Sipping Coffee have worked out a staggered schedule, where she goes in super early, and can pick up the kids after school. He takes the kids to school and starts later. Still not an ideal situation, because Mr. SSC only gets a short amount of time with the youngest before bed. They’ve added a bi-weekly visit from a housekeeper to help out, but it still isn’t an ideal situation. I have a friend who also uses this solution, and it’s working out OK for them right now.
Reader Shay says “I found the most help is meal planning, grocery shop once on Sunday. The kids do the dishes, laundry, and keep their rooms clean.” Meal planning is HUGE. I remember my mom giving me advice when my second child was born. ‘Know what you’re having for dinner by the end of breakfast every day.’ Of course, I don’t do that, and have grand plans… I am hoping to take care of that this week or next. Another problem is the oldest girl is a vegetarian who doesn’t like vegetables. Sigh… But we have vegetarian cookbooks and are trying to figure it out. Thanks, Shay!
Financial Velociraptor found balance by retiring early. AHEM, Mr. 1500!!! (We had dinner Saturday night with Denver E, who is planning his own early retirement, with a firm date set for the beginning of next year. Mr. 1500 is also seeing him tomorrow because a mutual friend will be in town. I’m hoping Denver E can rub off on Mr. 1500…)
Gen Y Finance Guy suggested a housekeeper too. The problem is, housekeepers don’t move things and put things away. They just clean around the piles. It’s the piles I need help with…
So with the happy news that Mr. 1500 can work a shorter week, I have renewed my efforts to declutter. Those of you who have actually been to my house will laugh, but I am getting things out of the house, slowly but surely. Having less to pick up will help keep it tidy. Don’t laugh!
So on to today’s question, What inspires you?
I’ve been feeling bogged down lately. Between the job, which I love, and my family, which I also love, I feel like there is little time left. Sleeping takes the majority of my “free time.”
So what inspires you? What makes you go, what keeps you going, what can you share that will also inspire me?
One comment from Route to Retire last week’s question was pretty spot on: “Haha, first-world early-retiree problems… I love it!!” I am priviledged to have a job that I don’t ‘need’ in order to feed my family. First world problems make me laugh. This is a super first-world problem if ever there was one… Thanks, Route to Retire.
So, back to today’s question: What inspires you?
Join the 10s who have signed up already!
Subscribing will improve your life in incredible ways*.
*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.
Meal planning has been the biggest thing for us. We may not always stick to what is on our list for that day but we then can just substitute a different day for that night. Has been huge at keeping our grocery bills down as well.
My family is what inspires me – Working hard and savings has given us the opportunity for my wife to quit her job and stay home with our 6 month old daughter (already one week in!). This option alone makes everything worth it because the dynamic around the house has already been better now that we are raising her instead of a day care. I also know that if we keep working hard and putting money away, we inch closer to where we are in control of our future. If I want to take a summer or year off with my wife and daughter, I all of a sudden will have the power to do it and not have to worry about our living expenses.
Thias @It Pays Dividends recently posted…Dividend Payout #14 – Planning a Trip?!
That’s fantastic! Joining a mom’s group can help your wife keep her sanity during the sometimes monotonous days at home with the baby. I loved staying home with our girls.
I am inspired/motivated by achievable challenges. Our biggest, right now, revolve around building a balanced life and increasing our flexibility. We know there is a better way, and we’re working on it!
-Bryan
Income Surfer recently posted…Union Pacific: My Review
I like those achieveable challenges!
What keeps me going is my kids and my dream of living near the mountains. My kids, because they are toddlers and still see the world as a place of wonder and possibility. They help me realize that I often have a case of ‘jaded adult-brainitis’, and hanging out and talking with them kind of helps reset my perspectives.
Also, I have, since childhood, wanted to live by the mountains, or in the mountains. So this keeps me plugging along, knowing that in a couple years we should be able to make this dream come true and move away from the Gulf Coast. Heck, even just looking at houses for sale that having amazing views from the porch helps inspire me!
Mrs SSC recently posted…“Our Next Life” Series – The SSC’s
What mountains do you want to live in? We are out here in the Rockies, or near them, anyway, and waking up every morning and seeing them is so wonderful.
Like Income Surfer, I’m motivated by achievable challenges. Right now I’m doing a challenge for the month of October in which I’m not allowed to buy any restaurant or takeout food. As someone whose normal routine for a while has been to get takeout pretty much every evening and go out to eat in restaurants several times a week, this has been quite a change! But it IS doable, with some extra planning, and it’s actually been really fun and motivating trying to stick to the challenge. I’m really hoping that I can continue some of the habits I’m forming now, even beyond this month!
Sarah Noelle @ The Yachtless recently posted…October Challenge: Travel Edition!
Dito on the challenges. Completing one really does rev me up too. Plus if its a well defined challenge it can push you and you know there is a time limit.
Mrs. 1500 congrats on getting the clutter an excess out of the house. It will help for sure.
Maybe you want to give the minsgame a try.
The Roamer recently posted…Weekly Pain & Gain: Halloween and Dancing
Roamer, what’s the minsgame?
http://www.theminimalists.com/game/
But I edited the rules a bit just to make sure I gave myself time to sell stuff
The Roamer recently posted…Capsule Wardrobe Lessons: Love yourself
Great challenge. When we made the conscious decision to go out to eat less, we realized just how frequently we were going out before.
With the new job, there have been more dinners out than I would hope, but once I sit down and plan those meals, it should lessen.
I know what you mean about sleep time taking the majority of my “free time.” Work and Life balance seems like it’s a challenge for many people so we’re not alone. What inspires me is similar to what others say…my wife and son. I want to build a solid future for them. But reading 1500 days as well as others in the pf community who are on the journey to financial independence or are already there inspires me. It shows me that it can be done and there is a blueprint for how to get there.
Andrew@LivingRichCheaply recently posted…Life Insurance and Credit Card Debt Discussion with Co-Workers
We were similarly inspired by Mr. Money Mustache. The fact that it IS possible to do is pretty amazing.
Inspiration comes from my parents. Both were able to retire early when work circumstances came to that. I want to be financially ok enough to do that, or choose to retire even sooner. Otherwise in life: having amazing friends who have found their passion and watching them go for it! 🙂
Thanks for reading, Jacq!
I don’t want to always be working when my kids want to spend time with me. My father worked a lot, and we had a good life because of that. We also spent a lot of money though, so he’s still working now. He’s getting closer and closer to retirement and has a side hobby that makes about what he’s doing in his regular job, but I want to be done a lot earlier than he is. Right now, it’s retire by 40. I just hit my 30th birthday earlier this month so I’m on pace at our current savings rate.
I keep doing eBay re-selling because it lets me save up for home improvements while putting money into my retirement accounts! Plus I have a lot of fun doing it.
Chris @ Flipping A Dollar recently posted…No Noise November Challenge
eBay reselling is one of the best ways to go to garage sales and thrift stores, without being bogged down by junk in your house. Right now, I have to stay away. Trying to declutter… But living vicariously through you!
I think the thing that inspires me the most is hanging out with people who are where I want to be (like the 1500s). Seeing you guys always makes me look for more ways to save money or grow my income so that I can wipe the last of my debt and retire even earlier.
Growing income is an awesome path to early retirement. Throw it all to debt, then throw it all to savings.
Right now what inspires me is my FI goals. I know working hard now will pay off in ~10 years when I’m FI. But I have to balance these long-term goals with my short-term goals of enjoying now. It’s not the easiest but I think I’ve found a nice balance.
Fervent Finance recently posted…Moved to Manhattan to Make More, Save More, and Speed Up FI
Those FI goals are very inspiring!
In terms of FI I get inspired by reading success stories. I spent part of the day yesterday reading early mortgage payoff stories. I also get inspired by colleagues of mine who finish their work or my students who overcome great odds. They have so much more to overcome than I do and it keeps it in perspective and gives me the juice I need to keep going on a larger project.
Jason recently posted…My Car Buying Philosophy
I do like reading about successes. I also like reading about failures. Well, maybe LIKE isn’t the right word. But I learn just as much from other people’s mistakes as I do from their successes. If I can learn from them, rather than the School of Hard Knocks, I’m all the better for it.
What inspires me? It seems obvious but, setting goals and actually doing them inspires me. Like for my own house remodel. There are times where I am organized and will set up an Evernote reminder in my phone of to do lists. I want to finish x, y, and z by the end of the week. Even if I only get x accomplished, it feels good to finally scratch that off the list. It has a snowball effect too. I notice when I get a few items checked off, I get even more inspired and motivated and can really get into a groove.
Unfortunately it works both ways, there are times where I don’t make a weekly list of to do items and even though I may have gotten a few things done, it was kinda sporadic, and I tend to have an unsatisfied feeling. That can (and often does) snowball into me being lazy and apathetic. That happened this weekend as a matter of fact. I had “planned” (emphasis on the quotes because it was more of a passing thought), to finish insulating the walls in the kitchen and actually start putting up sheetrock. I was feeling uninspired and all I did was purchase the sheetrock. So now it is waiting for me this week.
I often will give myself a couple of easy gimme items on my to do list to kinda kickstart myself. It really is a satisfying and inspiring feeling though to finally finish something.
The first thing on your list should always be “Make a List”. That way, you can cross something off as soon as you are done making the list!
I jest, but it does feel so good to cross things off the list. I like to do the easiest things first, so I can have something crossed off.
Also, I was looking at the kitchen remodel posts. It looks real good. Be sure to share photos when you are finished 100%. Tiling. Ugh. I am going to tile our kitchen, but I think it is one job I am going to outsource to a contractor. My wife and I tiled our bathroom, a tiny 6X8 room and it was a royal pain. It may cost a little more but I think it will be worth just to save the potential frustrations of installing ourselves.
I will argue that it will cost significantly more than doing it yourself, but it is so nice to have it finished that sometimes the money you spend to get it done is just worth it.
We will share final pics, when they are done… We are looking at tackling trim right now, and need to get at least one piece up before we can finish the tile anyway… So many little projects. I think we’re going to sit down and write them all down so we can start working toward crossing them off.
Another way to have ‘successes’ is to break the jobs up into smaller parts. Instead of just writing down Trim. Write down Trim kitchen. Trim dining room. Trim living room, etc. Whatever works.
I am inspired by my past, by my present circumstances and by my dreams of what future might look like. My parents weren’t great with money, they made a decent living wage but they are terrible at saving, so when my dad had his 3 heart attacks in one day, I think it hit both, me and my brother, pretty damn hard that 1) we are on our own to figure out the whole college/future situation financially 2) I don’t wanna be my dad, working my whole life for things that money can buy. That brings me to my present situation: working hard and saving like crazy so that I can buy a house, throw a big chunk in investments and start my dog walking/training/grooming business. I am dreaming that me and my fiancé will be able to have a simple life, focusing on experiences and learning in order to improve ourselves. The whole idea behind me starting a home based business is so that I can hopefully be a stay at home mom when we will be blessed with children. 1500 days to freedom, the Frugalwoods and Mr Money Mustache are an immense inspiration and proof that it can be done !!! Quick question how did you learn all the DYI skills you have?!We are looking into buying most likely a house that needs at least cosmetic work (that’s all we can afford without taking a mortgage), and even though we are hard working people and we are very motivated to learn I do wonder if the Internet and Home Depot classes will help us achieve results like yours in our future projects. Thanks!
Sorry about your Dad. I don’t wanna steal Mr. 1500’s thunder but I have figured out how to do a lot of our home repairs/remodeling with the following (in no particular order):
– Trial and error (the crap-iest method by far)
– Library books
– Youtube
– Various online forums (learned some good tiling tips from a tiling forum)
– Home depot classes (learned good tips on how to replace a toilet)
– Word of mouth (we have hired a contractor to do some major work and I always pick his brain, also my father and grandfather-inlaws are handymen and have bestowed valuable knowledge)
It is kinda scary to get started but once you actually dive in, you kinda just get it done (for me a least). Just be patient and understand your limitations. But don’t be afraid to test those limitations too, you’d be surprised what you’ll learn how to do.
I second the suggestion of youtube (there’s a video for everything!) and just googling the problem. I figured out how to caulk our bathroom and kitchen by reading several guides I found online. I’m not especially good at DIY, but with enough research and sometimes a little practice, everything gets easier. Also, look into borrowing or renting more expensive tools, but don’t skimp on the less expensive ones you’ll use frequently.
Thank you Mattattack and Anne! I am more reserved on how much we can accomplish by DYI, my fiancé thinks the sky is the limit 🙂 Your advice will come in handy !!
I’ll third the suggestion of YouTube & Google! 🙂 I just fixed the broken handle on our dishwasher thanks to Google and a YouTube video that showed how simple the disassembly, part replacement, and reassembly of the door was. I would never have thought to attempt that repair myself if not for that video. But because I did, the whole repair cost less than $35 for the part (bought from a local parts store), and less than 30 minutes of my time.
Aurelia, ditto what everyone said.
Youtube is by far the best way to learn, although eventually you have to get in there and just do it.
Home Depot and Lowe’s have great hands on classes, including tiling, which is an excellent skill to have.
I am inspired to keep on hitting my goals by doing my best every day. I also enjoy growing my site, and that inspires me to keep on going. But the biggest inspiration is family for sure.
EL @ Moneywatch101 recently posted…7 Useful Tips to Help You Save for Retirement
Awesome, EL. Thanks for reading!
I am inspired by HUSTLE!
I am inspired by Possibilities!
I am inspired by What Could Be!
I am inspired by the Under Dog that comes out Victorious!
I am inspired by those that choose to be the Victor and not the Victim!
I am inspired the power we have over the direction of our lives!
I am inspired by the endless opportunity ripe for the taking for those willing to pay the price!
I am inspired by challenge!
There are so many things in the world that inspire me. You can find inspiration all around if you just look.
It’s a lot like when you buy a new car. You never noticed the new car anywhere and now you see it everywhere.
Dominic @ Gen Y Finance Guy recently posted…Rant #6 – The Kirby Salesman Got Me in 2010 (for $2,200)
You sound fired up, GenY!
Congrats Mr.1500 on getting the new work schedule! I’m jealous 🙂 I need that schedule.
Let’s see what inspires me. I get inspired by reading about people doing big things and realizing that I can too. That’s why I really enjoy reading pat Flynn. But on a day to day basis its the hope of some quiet time. Yesterday Mr.Roamer took the kids to target for 45 min while I cooked dinner. I was still doing “chores” but I turned on the radio and danced while I made dinner. It was AMAZING. I think rejuvenating is more necessary then inspiration.
For me at least.
The Roamer recently posted…Weekly Pain & Gain: Halloween and Dancing
45 whole minutes to yourself?!? I love the commute, because I get an hour each way to myself. I can listen to music that isn’t kid friendly, the radio, the podcasts the kids hate, etc. Or, I can listen to nothing and just enjoy the silence.
My wife and kids inspire me. I want to make sure my children have a great start to their lives, and looking forward to watching them take flight in the years to come. As well as helping others. I want everyone to know just how easy it is to get you finances together if you can just stick to a plan and add a little discipline.
Nicely done cutting the workweek back to 32 hours. Baby steps.
Brian @DebtDiscipline recently posted…Steps for Preparing your Children for Adulthood
The ‘helping others’ is a huge inspiration! Seeing someone take the information you have and put it to use in a positive way is so rewarding.
I’m inspired by all the other awesome bloggers out there who have achieved FIRE or are tracking well to reach it soon! It shows me that this is indeed a reachable goal and by learning form one another, and inspiring one another, we are all more likely to succeed! Climb!
Freedom 40 recently posted…Mrs. Freedom 40’s New Job
We were inspired by the same thing. I love seeing so many people figuring it all out.
“Kids” is an obvious answer… but I found that learning with my kids is the most inspiring thing. I’ve been wanting to learn Cambodian forever. It’s slow progress, but my kids and I are learning it together. And it’s hilarious to hear them yell “toilet” in public really loudly in Cambodian!
PS – I’m the exact same way when it comes to keeping the house clean during a project. If the project is messy, I just figure what’s the point of cleaning everything else up? When it’s done, it feels great to do a real clean and keep it that way (at least try…)!
Maggie @ Northern Expenditure recently posted…The Story of My 33% Raise
And how do you yell toilet in Cambodian?
My inspiration comes from the fact that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Woohoo!
MarciaB recently posted…When Less Is More But Still Not Enough
The closer you are, the more you want to get there. Go Marcia!
I am always inspired by hard workers regardless what they do. We have a junior staff accountant working 9-6 in our company then go to another company starting from 19-23 everyday. Crazy. but he loves to work like that and that inspires me.
BSR
BeSmartRich recently posted…7 extremely easy tips to save 20-50% on flight tickets
I’m not really inspired by anything. I just don’t want to fail.
So, I guess I’m inspired by fear.
Eric
Go back and read all these responses!
I’m inspired by the outside. During my workday I try to find time to walk near a window to see what nature is up to as I hustle around the facility. Weather and seasons change with or without me and I try to pay attention and appreciate it. Right now it’s the time to watch the leaves in their autumn regalia as they’re falling down into colorful drifts. It’s time to feel the nip of a chilly morning as I tuck my hands into my jacket pockets. It’s the time to smell the damp leaves.
I have the ability to capture some of the magic out on my balcony by sprouting little seedlings and watching them grow. It gives me the opportunity to watch the miracle of nature unfolding. Taking photos every week and seeing how fast things change is pretty amazing. It’s an apartment balcony-sized slice of happy in my life.
I’m inspired to make more time to be outside. This means preparing myself financially to be able to eventually take part time (unusual in my field) or to have the freedom to leave. My love of nature is a big driver in my desire to be financially independent. I set medium term net worth savings goals for myself as well as monthly spending goals that are easier to track and be excited about regardless of the market performance. They’re challenging but it’s motivating to see my climbing net worth once I reach another big 10K marker. Progress to freedom!
Christina recently posted…Back from Hawaii
This is an inspiring answer!
BTW, a housekeeper CAN move piles and put things away for you, if you hire the right housekeeper. 🙂
Thanks, Rich. I’m hoping to make it through November with a clean house. We just had a birthday party, which got the whole house clean. We kept it clean for two whole days, which is a record for us. Baby steps…
Something that’s inspiring us in a big way right now is the idea that, once we’re retired, we can actually do the things that we think sound super cool when others do them. “Wow, you wrote a book? That would be so cool to do.” Well now we can! “Wow, you took a painting class? We’d love to do something like that.” Now there’s no holding us back. “Wow, you took six months and volunteered at a scientific outpost in Antarctica?” You guessed it — we can do that as well. We have pretty much no idea what adventures we’ll get ourselves into once we have total flexibility, but we know it will be good. 🙂
Our Next Life recently posted…This Is Not My Beautiful House // This Is Not My Beautiful Wife
I love the painting class and write a book thing. I will not be joining you in Antarctica – enjoy that! Your retirement (except the cold thing) sounds amazing!
What inspires me? The resilience, affection and joy shown by rescued animals and heroic work of the people who help them. Over the past couple of years, I’ve become involved with animal rescue (as a photographer and a caregiver) and my involvement in these activities has completely transformed my life. There is a lot of joy, a fair bit of poop, and a certain amount of heartbreak (but that’s the price of love).
On a related note, I’ve been converting to a vegan diet, which has presented some challenges because, like your daughter, I’m vegan-ish but picky about my vegetables. One of my strategies might be helpful in your family – I call it the “library” approach to new foods. I explore new foods (or recipes) by branching out either by ingedient (i.e., author) or cuisine (i.e. genre). For example, I like the mystery novels written by PD James (British, female). So when I go to the library, I look for more mystery novels written by British women. Then when I find an author I like, I read all of her novels.
Similarly, with vegetables, I made lists for myself (and my husband) of the vegetables I love, like, tolerate and detest (not all at once, of course). So when I work on expanding the range of what I’ll eat, I try “related” veggies (author). For example, I love (or like) must leafy greens (at least the sweeter ones, plus raw spinach), so recently I added baby bok choy and mustard greens to my repertoire. I also cooked them (genre) using techniques and a cuisine I like (e.g. Asian stir-fry). Gradually, my range of “like” or “love” veggies has increased. And I figure that, as long as I eat all my colors, I’m getting enough nutrients.
I also include some dishes in regular rotation that have a mix of vegetables where it is fairly easy for each individual to select mainly the veggies s/he likes and try only a bit (or none) of the ones s/he detests. Stir-fries are good for this. Another dish I make frequently is Mediterranean-style roasted vegetables. You just cut up (into fairly large chunks) about 6-8 kinds of vegetables (e.g., carrots, potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini or squash, fennel), toss them with a bit of olive oil, garlic, herbes de provence and balsamic vinegar) and then roast them in the oven (covered in foil, except for the last five minutes) for about 30-60 minutes on medium heat. Each person can select the vegetables s/he likes (and maybe try a piece of something s/he has doubts about). Serve on rice with a side of beans for the vegetarian – or serve with meat or fish (for the omnivores). It’s also a great recipe for using up left over bits of veggies.
And for vegan cooking inspiration, check out Issa Chandra Moskowitz’s blog (Post Punk Kitchen), with lots of recipes, and/or her books.
I really like that vegetable idea. I have a great veggie-heavy market in my town, I’m going to take her there and have her choose some veggies, and try that roasted veggie recipe. Thanks!
I’m inspired by my future trips.
I’ve been able to utilize travel hacking skills to plan trips all over the world for almost nothing. (That way we can still keep up our ~70% savings rate)
Next month I’m doing a 9 day backpacking trip in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine NP. Next July my wife and I are visiting Vienna and I’m still working on 2 more trips.
Mr. 1500 like you, when I first got my job offer I locked in every other Monday off and started with 20 vacation days (rather than the usual 10). This has allowed me to stay motivated for what’s to come when I do retire and it has given me the opportunity to take 3+ international trips per year. The important thing is to realize what makes you alive and spend time doing that. My wife have a wedding planning/honeymoon planning business we do together on the side, when we retire we’d like to do a few weddings a year for fun to keep us entertained.
Every time I travel and return to work, its like I start fresh and it gives me energy for the next 3 months or until I leave again.
Lastly, everyone’s stories and getting ideas/encouragement/support from this community of FIers motivates me :).
These comments are super motivating. Thanks for reading! Have fun backpacking in Patagonia!