The Cost of Fun

WEIGHING UP THE COST

Drinking for fun is a double edged sword. While it can feel relaxing having a drink or two - there has to be a payoff. 

If we add up all the money spent on alcohol - we can see how much of our hard-earned cash is blown on something that offers very little return other than a few hours of relaxation or abandon. Counting the real hours of work against tax, outgoings like shelter and food - we can see the real value of our hourly rate of spends. 

If we consider that a pint of beer purchased in a London bar costs as much as a meal, we start to see more clearly how the balance of our spends is massively warped in favour of turning off our thoughts rather than tangible, positive investments for bettering ourselves.

If we can better monitor our spending, and see how our budgets are being hit, surpassed and ultimately depleting our savings on a daily basis, we can make better decisions about impulse buys and do we really want that pint of beer...

That's where an app for budgeting money will really help us. I've just downloaded one called Goodbudget - and set myself a tight £1200 for January. Let's see if I can make it work!

From Ringside

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Watching the Heavyweight Championship of the World this weekend, a bout between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschenko, from pretty much ringside seats in Düsseldorf, I was amazed at how much money people will pay for a sporting spectacle and for what can be poor entertainment. It's intriguing to learn who gets what when the purse is so high and how boxing makes so much money for those involved.

I like the art of boxing and I like the idea of two evenly met gladiators fighting each other, as much as they fight themselves; to have courage for stepping into the ring, to test their strength of character and body and to deal with honour in victory and defeat.

The spectacle of a major boxing match itself is filled with tense energy, extravagent lighting and loud music, but if like me at this fight, you're in a football stadium but at the back of one of the higher seating tiers, you'll question what the point is in investing even £30 for a very poor viewing experience? Even the pay-per-view is ridiculously high these days. Yet even more people are prepared to pay around £500 for a ticket at a major boxing event and be barely in earshot of the ring which is mostly obscured by the heads in front of them. It's a true sign of the times that globalisation is making everything more accessible - but at an increased price to match the demand.

I remember watching the major boxing matches with my nan & granddad, mum & dad back in the 1990's - it was often a family affair that we enjoyed together, yet cost nothing more than the cumulative cost of the TV licence. Now everything has a high price much greater than the value it offers us these days. Looking at boxing in particular, we have to ask ourselves the questions; how can it justify paying such high prices? Is it just the point of being present at the time of the event that we want, or are we really interested in the skills of the fighters?

The way the bouts are locked down to the networks, we are having to pay the money just to be part of the event and that means going in person or paying a premium elsewhere at little guarantee of any value - especially with the risk of a no-show, early knock-out or just a poorly matched contest.

It's one thing to give sportsmen the chance of glory - but now such excessive payouts must severely corrupt the sport's promotors and all those that stand to make so much from these bouts that we really need to go back to boxing roots - and that's possibly where Premier Boxing comes in. The matches are broadcast on major US TV/cable networks or highlights can be watched on Youtube - something the current boxing fraternity ensure is securely locked down to the likes of Sky and the other cable companies only.

Marketing Madness

THE LATE SHIFT TEAM

There's a lot of low-brow, manual jobs out there if there's a need to earn some extra cash. However, a lot of them are requiring messy, unsociable hours for very low income. Somebody has to do it, but I earned more money per hour on my paper round at 14 years old than these adults do per hour 23 years later on.

Since the summer, I've looked at multiple ways to earn some cash to keep me from getting into debt. It seems there's no shortage of work, but the type of work that everyone is expected to do, is often poorly briefed/managed with little concern for safety and personal wellbeing, plus it's physically demanding. 

I took on a role last night starting at 7.30 for 4hrs, on a role I expected to be really easy...stocking merchandise in a department store. I'm familiar with marketing roles from my time working at a marketing agency 10 years ago, so I already had some expectations going into this job. Evidently, as I discovered, quite a few things have changed in the time since I last worked in this field...

Management

The person organising and briefing us was late. She was also exhausted. In the 30 minutes while we waited, the rest of the crew filled us in on the shenanigans from the previous night's work. Unorganised, with no information about what was required and no food or refreshments given for 12-15 hour shifts, it was a wonder why these people were coming back.

Online (Dis-)Connection

There appeared to be very little interaction with any of the staff working from the many cheap labour online agencies prior to the event. So, everyone had expectations, but nobody seemed to know what was required of them until they actually arrived at the venue. There was a huge disconnect with the agencies booking the staff on to these jobs. And this was clearly a problem for everyone who'd been hired from their various (online) employers. None of them had spoken before - let alone met any of the agency staff that employed and managed our bookings. 

Low Income Expectations

I was not expecting there to be anyone older than myself at this job. I also thought to see more uneducated and a high percentage of non-nationals. This is where the biggest surprise came. There were a couple of older white middle class women and post grad students, making for a split closer to 70-30 against all the stereotypes I had for those who are willing to take on hard, long, unsociable hours doing low-paid/low-brow work. 

It appears that more people are either intent on leaving the office & abandoning corporate life like myself, or more likely just financially desperate and having to take on additional jobs to pay their escalating bills. 

Back In The Rat Race

THE LURE OF MONEY

Today marks the first day back in the race for me in 7 months. While I never wanted to get back on the corporate wheel,I just can't earn enough money from doing manual work and odd jobs on the side. As much as it pains me, I have to get back on the hamster wheel to earn more money. I wonder now how the majority of low income earners can actually survive in this town, let alone have a good time with what's left of their meagre earnings?

So, my bank account and credit cards are all looking pretty dire at the moment. My mental and physical state has been benefitting from the rest I've had away from the grind, but needs are a must.

So how did my first day go? It was a real eye opener. First of all, the London Underground at 8am is hell and I'd forgotten how bad travel is at that time. It's a terrible way to start anyone's day. Stressed, tired and generally fed up Monday morning commuters all trying to squeeze on to the train at the same time is no fun. How do we do this five days a week? The early starts are much better. 6.30am tube travel is a lot my relaxing, so I'm glad that's going to be my journey time tomorrow and likely for ever more.

The real eye opener was at the place I worked today. I had a similar job back in February. I spent five years at the same place and today highlighted just how bad that other place was in comparison. I felt like I was operating at a snail's pace compared to the speed worked at in the previous establishment. So, although I'd made a decision to opt out of the commercial rat race, I now know it's possible to stay in it. I just need to work at the right places, with the right amount of money and less responsibility. The money that I earned today will be more than I earned all last week. I'm amazed to say this: I'm actually looking forward to working again tomorrow and taking the money.

Which Way? The Work - Life Balance

REWARDING WORK & GOOD MONEY

There are many different ways to live out our lives. We either choose the way we wish to live, or we drift along trying to make the best of a bad deal. We need to work, to earn money and live. How we work, the money we earn and how we choose to spend it will give us a measure on our work / life balance.

High Earners & Low Lifers
A friend of mine is a nanny for a family living near us in SW London. This part of town has become increasingly more affluent over the last few years, with a lot of the town houses, that used to be lived in by fairly poor immigrants from India and the Caribbean, taken over by rich middle class families who make their money in well paid corporate jobs.

Getting to know some of the original West Indian contingent from this area, I can see that, although they don't have much money, they do seem to have good quality lifestyles - with lots of free time. The family my friend nannies for, has two children that she looks after 5 days a week while the two parents work their long days at their respective finance/IT jobs in the city.

Quite often she'll have the children 'til after 7pm, which is around the time when the children have gone to bed. The parents will juggle the children around whatever it is they like to do on the weekends. This is their only free time in the week where they get to appreciate their kids, each other and have their own 'me' time.

What's The Pay-Off?
It's difficult to get a high paid job without also having the long hours, responsibility and stress that it brings too. So what's more important? I believe there's now so much competition between the high-earners, to get a decent property in the right part of town and immense pressure to retain the style of living that they have become accustomed to, that they surely cannot keep up with the intensity without severely compromising quality of life in the long term. So a lower-paid job that allows more time & freedom to enjoy family and life in general - rather than being stuck in an office etc. is surely going to be the better option for quality of life - providing the pennies are watched. The middle ground is surely going to involve having a well-paid role but just means spending less days doing it per week but there aren't many available full-time positions that allow for a 3 day week - and this is something we should be offering a lot more in the work-place.

Easy Money

MOVING MONEY

I'm meeting so many new people recently, who have decided to drop out of the corporate rat race. They've chosen to delve into the darker unknown waters of self employment where one's quest to find the means of obtaining enough money to pay the bills are part and parcel of day to day living.

So far in my new bob-a-job career, I've painted the front of a house. This week I'll be putting in some time DJing whilst also learning how to make cocktails in my local bar. And next week, I'll be a removal man with a van, plus a garden clearer and also a builder's assistant. If I can get some graphics work via advertising with local businesses, that should go some way to help pay the bills. I also have my experience as a personal trainer to make up some extra money too.

My list of jobs that I'm capable of doing well is steadily getting longer and I look forward to adding even more skill sets to the list as I go on. Although these early jobs seem low-paid and beneath my experience capabilities, they are all rewarding. Providing I always put my best efforts in and keep the variety going, they won't get boring either. I can always add more taxing roles to the list, but only if they offer the right balance of money gains against stress levels.

The first moments after leaving the security of having a regular 9-5 (although the hours were always longer) were daunting. But now the prospect of making money last longer by being frugal and careful with my spends, are allowing me to have more free time. This exchange of time against a bigger salary, should help me to find even more alternative ways to make a living.

A lot of the new alternative modes of making money have been localised. So, by finding ways to connect with local businesses, I'll be making money without the expense of travelling on public transport or travelling along the congestion-filled and potentially dangerous roads. This exchange could also benefit me in having even more time and freedom to explore other avenues for work and enjoyment.

Working The Benefits
We all have benefits in everything we do. It's how and why we make the decisions we do. For example: If we chose to live in closer to the city where we work, the benefits will be access to all the fun, culture and amenities that the city have to offer. Travel will potentially be faster, cheaper and possibly free. We'll be spending less money on travel, less time and having more fun - but our living costs may be considerably more and access to green areas, the coast or activities outside the city restricted. So, we have to weigh up the benefits and maximise on them.

Therefore, if a non-corporate life beckons, we should consider the benefits we currently have and weigh them up against the pitfalls of location and costs for living. Having a clearer picture of the reasons why we do the things we do, what we'd like to do more of and maximise on the live & work balance, will help to achieve our goals.

Corporate Reins

REINING THEM IN

Large corporations are taking over the world and our lives. More and more stories are popping up in the media where these conglomerates are being shown up for being the out of control, soulless organisations they are. They need to be restrained.

Reading Noam Chomsky's book 'Understanding Power', I've learned how we've allowed these organisations to control government, media & education. It feels hopeless to be able to change the balance of power but many still continue to conform. However, there comes a point where enough is enough, so a revolution is sure to happen as this tipping point is reached in the not too distant future.

As I look for new books on Amazon - I find it increasingly harder to support this organisation now I see how they are treating their workers. This information on how workers are being treated, is readily available on the internet. It's clear that Amazon is not alone in failing to uphold it's bogus 'principles' as a moral leader in the corporate arena.

The truth, taken from this extensive piece in the NYT is that everyone is so caught up in the corporate push to deliver more and more, that it's of little wonder that anyone has time to consider/assess their health or even have the time & energy to get out from a harmful work environment. Workers likely continue through fear that the grass will be no greener on the other side of the fence.

The following excerpt taken from the NYT report, rings true for me after witnessing similar treatment working at another large corporation, News International (News UK) - "The NYT article prominently features anecdotes describing shockingly callous management practises, including people being treated without empathy while enduring family tragedies and serious health problems."  Thankfully, some people are now coming forward at Amazon Anonymous to let the world know how they are being unfairly treated.

It won't be too long before other large organisations are flagged up and held responsible for callous behaviour to their employees and measures taken to curb shareholder pressure for growth in exchange for worker's health. The tide is turning as more focus on supporting our workers will follow the investigations into tax evasion and other unethical practises going on in the UK, I'm sure.

Job Satisfaction

WE CAN'T GET NO...

Satisfaction in the work place. Job love is beyond reach for the majority of us these days. Work hard, play hard is the old saying. You put the effort in at your job and enjoy the benefits the money brings you doing all the things you like in your free time. And if the work was fun and rewarding too, it was an added bonus. Unfortunately in the modern workplace, a lot of the fun has been sucked out, the 'work hard play hard' saying has been replaced with 'work harder for less money or we'll find someone else'. We are left with little time and energy to play with and worn out at the end of another long day and week to really enjoy what little is left anyway.

To thrive in a job, we need motivation in order for us to put the effort and time in. You'd think it would be money that increases motivation, but it's not. Having a rewarding job means we receive appreciation and recognition for doing something well as a number one factor - money comes way down the list.

The top 10 factors are:1 Appreciation for your work
2 Good relationships with colleagues
3 Good work-life balance
4 Good relationships with superiors
5 Company’s financial stability
6 Learning and career development
7 Job security
8 Attractive fixed salary
9 Interesting job content
10 Company values

Penniless Living

THE MONEY MERRY GO ROUND

Money makes the world go round - or so they say. Yet the ride's not much fun for those with no money and no means of getting any. However, there are alternative ways to sustain a free lifestyle by gifting, charity and off the land without requiring any money at all - you just have to learn how.

Thankfully, there's brave people out there like Mark Boyle, who have shown us that it is possible to live frugally and away from the 9-5 grind and they've helpfully written blogs and books on their experiences that offer us manageable solutions for getting free from the rat race.

The Gift Economy
Acquiring stuff for free is a lot easier these days through channels like Freecycle, Craigslist and through many other barter websites - and even Gumtree has the odd freebie on their site too. Streetbank is a great new service for offering time and services for free and reciprocated in turn with gifts through other members. The idea being that it is the act of giving that forms stronger bonds with strangers from within your local community, who then become your friends.

For specifics like getting around or places to stay, there are also sites for sharing transport and letting people stay in your home or for volunteering in exchange for getting 'thanks' credits that in turn can be exchanged for receiving other items and services that you may need.

Community is key
Connecting with localised communities to form groups and to help build sustainable living in city centres as well as the rural areas has already taken off in the UK with LILAC. This is very encouraging for others who are struggling to keep up in an increasingly unaffordable climate as the powerful corporations take over the buying up of land mass and property in our cities - and show us how we can make this possible in our communities too.

Penniless

A WORLD WITHOUT MONEY

Imagine having a different currency other than £$€¥ etc. A monetary value or credit based on your output and value of that contribution in relation to the whole it represents. A fair and just system with little disparity. Hard to imagine how that works in today's society, isn't it?

If the importance is placed on the things that really matter and an hour of my time is relative to an hour of your time providing we benefit each other. So, how much would my pretty marketing leaflet I've produced be worth to the person who grows the food? Nothing...unless he wants to promote his farm maybe...

A World Obsession

Money makes the world go round, so the saying goes and without it there will be pandemonium. Look at what's happening in Greece - and soon Spain and Ireland? There's a crises going on and money is at the root of it. And just because the situation is over there, doesn't mean it won't affects things over here too - as we're all completely caught up in it. Money buys food and puts a roof over our heads. So without it, there's a real dilemma on our hands. But maybe there's another way?

Questioning the value of money
in 2000, Daniel Suelo quit his job, left the last of his money in a phone box and started to live life in the wilderness. Foraging for food, eating roadkill and picking up everything else he could need from dumpsters or collected through donations, he has since been writing a regular blog on the virtues of being free from money and living a more meaningful existence. 

The Hadza people of Tanzania have been living a simple nomadic hunter/gatherer life for millennia and while this type of existence is very extreme, they have immense freedom from the worries that weigh on us in our western society.

Self-sufficient living
Many communities are now turning to permaculture as a way to substantiate a life of self-sufficiency. By understanding the natural ecosystems and working closely together within these communities, people are discovering better ways to live harmonious and holistic lives at one with nature. And this isn't just restricted to isolated hippy groups any more either, but seems to have taken off in traditionally working class communities in run down areas of northern England - as they can now provide for themselves by growing their own food, build ecological housing and harness renewable energy instead of having to rely upon the state to provide their means.

Better Call Saul!

LEGAL EAGLES

I've never had much use for our UK legal professionals before now - and now that I need some advice, I kinda wish there were more legal mavericks like Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad, to advise me on anything from parking infringements to tax law... as It's some good solid advice from someone straight-talking that I need at the moment. There's been quite a bit of hoo-ha in the British media lately about UK banks favouring the rich - HSBC apparently have been helping their wealthier members to hide money in Swiss bank accounts in order to help them avoid paying their taxes - yet the tax man has been on my back for two years over a paltry figure of money they initially gave me in a rebate - only to ask for it back a year later....after I'd spent it. So I'm going to spend a good bit of my day finding someone with the backbone to stand up to large organisations on behalf of the small man - to help get some of this weight off my back! And I'm also going to watch episode one of "Better Call Saul" tonight on Netflix...

Porter Steps

TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE BIG GOALS

On first reading, this statement may seem a little odd. Hear me out first, with a little story....

I remembered when I got my first proper job (some time ago now) and how I used to write down all the things I wanted to buy with my hard earned cash. Little things mostly but important to me at the time. Aahh, how much simpler life was back then! I started off by making a list, then working out how much I could save over time and how many pay cheques it would take to get these things. I realised that I could get the first thing on my list - those Nike Air max - sooner, if I made some changes to how I spent money through implementing improvements in my routine. Things like making my own sandwiches every day, cutting out buying snacks and alcohol and maybe doing the odd job on the side. I had no credit card back then or overdraft - in fact, ATM's weren't so readily available either, so no access to quick cash either. The only option was to earn the money and plan out my goals for when I could spend it. 

This first item on the list wasn't particularly life-changing but something special that I'd really wanted since getting my job. Sticking to a routine day after day for a month had still been tough but I'd managed to acquire my new shoes with the money from my first pay cheque - it was a real boost in confidence. This method worked because I knew what my goal was and what I had to do for a month. It felt like a special achievement and very gratifying when I rewarded myself. After pay day, I could have gone back to the old routine but I'd made a wish-list and some of these items were going to take a lot more than a month to get. 

The next month was a lot easier to stick to because I'd gotten used to the routine of making my own food for lunch - I also started to focus on improving the lunches, mixing it up a bit. So the second month flew by and I bought my Leather Filofax (I actually may dig my old one out again!). This was the place I could write my lists in, organise my schedule and write down the goal dates in my diary.

The 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th months were all rewarding in small but significant ways. Rewarding in stuff I'd bought myself, but also as I'd discovered newer ways to save and make money, became a master at sandwich making and saw great changes in my health, wealth & productivity. And after 9 months of putting away £100, I reached my big goal and bought myself a second hand Korg-M1 Keyboard - acquired 6 months quicker than I'd originally planned. It was (and still is) the very same keyboard that my favourite band, Depeche Mode used in producing their songs! These keyboards cost £1500 new - more than double what my salary was back then in 1992 and not something I thought I could afford on the money I was being paid. 

The moral of this story can be summed up like this:

- Make goals: big and small

- Make realistic time-lines

- Work out a routine

- Start working on what's in front of you right now: ie. the smaller goals

- Reward yourself regularly: it'll make the tasks more enjoyable

- Regularly assess what you need to get to the next goal

- Keep your focus on what's immediately ahead: the small incremental stuff

- The big goals will come sooner than you think 

Another story springs to mind when we walked the Inca trail. 88km over 4 days of walking 6-8 hours a day up and down steps through mountain passes. The going was fairly tough and some of us who were suffering stomach cramps and not adjusting to the altitude well, were not having a great time. But when we climbed the sun gate at 5am on the morning of the 4th day and saw the sunrise over the temple ruins at Machu Piccu - the reason for taking the arduous pilgrimage became clear. I'll never forget the feeling and this memory will always be there to remind me - namely, that doing the things which are the hardest, will give us the greatest rewards. 

27,000+ Porter Steps

When we do something tough - it's based on our perspectives, measured by comparisons to what we've accomplished before. Life can feel like an up-hill struggle but we're all capable of so much more than we think we are. The impossible is being made possible all the time (check out these climbers on El Capitan for a reminder). The thing with making big goals, is that we get caught up with how difficult they seem from the perspective we hold at the time. Doing the inca trail was tough at the time, but I've had far tougher challenges since - because my measures have changed as my perspectives have changed. The porters on the Inca trail walk those thousands of steps day after day, week after week - some with the weight of a person on their backs and wearing shoes made of car tires! Others run the inca trail in under a day. If we keep giving ourselves challenges, we can all reach our goals.....one step at a time.

Final note and acknowledgement:

I try not to just copy and paste but I do keep referencing from blogs, insights and wisdom gained from others. It's because they've taught me, re-affirmed what I already knew plus inspired, encouraged and reminded me to keep on the path I've chosen since since starting Jan 1st 2015. I'm putting the effort in and using the learnings to embark on a steady rise UP on my new chosen path rather than down. If I haven't done so already, I will pass on and continue to show my gratitude to these teachers.

You should find the following links (and many more great blog posts held on their sites) useful.

This is what James Clear clarifies about marginal gains referencing the British Olympic Team & British Tour de France winners and he makes a good point on setting schedules which are tougher to stick to than goals.