DISQUS

Great post!

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yes, my approach to this is "making it manageable." To me keeping my lifespace simple trumps saving money. It just so happens that the two overlap heavily.

I recently downgraded my wardrobe after taking stock of what I really needed. Of course this seems to be a lot easier for men than women. My entire seasonal wardrobe (both work and casual) can now be compressed into about two feet of closet space.

I do have to raise an eyebrow at your comment re: organic foods. Yes, organic versions of many foods (i.e. fruits with thick skins we don't eat) may not be much better than their conventional counterparts, but I don't think you can deny the evidence that suggests that foods like milk are much more healthful in their organic form.

How much/which funds are in retirement vs. taxable accounts? You mention dividends, so I'm just curious about your approach to a combination of taxable & tax-deferred accounts...