Many people have major problems with stereotypes, except when those stereotypes are positive. The question has to be asked: What is the difference? Are we so politically correct that we have trained ourselves to believe only positive descriptions can be applied to groups? And on the other hand, we believe that any negative stereotypes are purely irrational, with no basis in truth? For some reason, it is perfectly acceptable for me to say “Americans are hardworking, innovative and competitive.” Do those adjectives apply to all Americans? Of course not! We all know lazy, uncreative, unmotivated Americans, but nobody creates a fuss over the statement. Say something negative about any group, however, and inevitably the politically-correct police come out of the woodwork.

This Friday I fly to India and finally will experience in person the land of so many thoughts and stereotypes that have been swirling around in my brain for years. I’ve seen Bollywood movies and watched Westernized depictions of Indians. I’ve read India travel guides and National Geographic articles. I’ve seen live CNN news from Mumbai and listened to Indian music. I’ve met several Indians. After all this, I have visions of snake charmers, yogis, and bindi (forehead dots), spirituality, the Taj Mahal, Gandhi, fraternal polyandry, cities with millions of destitute and impoverished people, good food, cheap accommodations, big time construction, phone centers, and dozens of other things dancing in my head.

All of those things are little tiny pieces of a big multi-faceted cultural pie that no one can ever hope to fully comprehend. Visiting a country, engaging the people, eating the food, trying to live like them if only momentarily in spirit, starts to connect those tiny pieces in ways that a big-picture understanding emerges. That big picture will be full of holes and monstrous gaps, but it is infinitely better than little crumbs of information floating around.

What does all this have to do with stereotyping, you ask? Well, I have other perceptions of Indians as well, and not all are good. For instance, after talking to so many others who’ve visited India, some for months on end, I’m convinced that many Indians will try to deceive me, scam me, cheat me, and then lack any shame if caught. Obviously not all do this. Most likely, the percentage of scammers in India is extremely small and not much different from other countries. With a population of a billion people, and concentrated metropolitan hubs of several million, it stands to reason that, based on raw numbers, I have a greater chance of being robbed or cheated in India than elsewhere.

So, when I fly into India Friday and have my backpack tightly clutched, my pockets buttoned tight, and my eyes constantly roving, am I being paranoid or cautious? Am I buying into stereotypes with no basis in fact? Does it make you cringe to read about this stereotype? What if I were to say Indians are so spiritual I can’t wait to discover that aspect of the culture—now, is that an acceptable stereotype? Is it any closer to reality?

And these are the things I ask myself. And this is why I think stereotyping is okay, whether they are good or bad. As long as a person is grounded enough and thoughtful enough to realize stereotypes are group-wide generalizations—sometimes accurate and sometimes not, sometimes applicable to an individual and sometimes not—then I see nothing wrong with using stereotypes as one tool in a big cultural understanding toolbox. I see nothing wrong with entering a new place with a little more caution than the last place, based on stereotypes. Nor do I  see anything wrong with modifying my belief in a stereotype regularly as I gain more understanding.

That’s the real key in stereotypes: understanding. Without understanding or even the desire to understand, stereotypes can be very harmful. However, having the willingness to test stereotypes firsthand, having the intelligence to know that stereotypes might be totally wrong, and having the temperament to independently change opinions is beneficial to everyone. But yeah, my eyes will be scanning everyone for negative intentions when I arrive in India on Friday…it might save me from being robbed!

For 24 hours during Nyepi, the island is like a big ghost town, with even the airport closed. A few minutes before the start, and a few minutes near the end, I snuck outside to take in the silent black night, traffic-free roads, clear starry sky, and clean air—definitely a pleasant and unique memory I won’t soon forget. Without further ado, here are my reflections:

THE GRASS IS GREENER…

In Thailand’s convenience stores, you’d be challenged to find some regular skin cream. What you’ll find cartloads of, are containers of “whitening cream.” Yes, many Thai women want their beautifully toned skin to be light…In the US, you’ll find in every city many tanning salons. Many light skinned Americans, mostly women, are obsessed with having tanned skin, no matter what the longterm health ramifications.

I have an announcement for women all over the world: Be happy with your skin color! You will do more damage than good by trying to change it.

In Bali, my surf instructor’s “dream,” since he was a kid, has been to marry a Western woman and move to her country…Also in Bali, every Western restaurant (pizza places, hamburger shops, ice cream parlors) is owned by a Australian or European man married to a Balinese woman they preferred over their own countrywomen. Hmmm…

In Cambodia, Thailand, and most of SE Asia, many people seem totally content, but when I get into deeper conversations with them, they inevitably bring up money and how wonderful their lives would be, and all their problems solved, if only they had a little more money…In the US, I think of how wealthy people are, even the ones that think they are poor. I also consider how many Americans are depressed, on medications, overweight, etc. They also think that throwing money at their problems will solve them. Americans have the money to throw at problems, but it’s rare for the problems to permanently go away. When will we all learn that money isn’t the answer, and can do only so much for our emotional well being after basic needs are met?

Speaking financially, I continue to be perplexed at the complete ignorance, laziness, or dismissiveness of people around the world to plan for their futures. WHY DO PEOPLE NOT SAVE MONEY? In the US, our savings rate hovers around 0% as people keep buying on credit, taking out loans, and never living below their means. The Chinese seem to have it right. They save about 30% of their incomes. The rest of the world, like the US, also seems hell bent on spending every last penny earned. In Bali, one of the hostesses for a nightclub told me she’s a single mother and bragged about how she eats at fancy restaurants all the time. I asked why she doesn’t save that money. She said she has no savings, and asked why she would save? MAYBE FOR YOUR SON’S SECURITY! Unbelievable.

REEVALUATING OUR NOTIONS OF SAFETY

A few days ago I rode a motorcycle down to Kuta Beach, Bali. I wore swim trunks. No shoes, no helmet, no reflective vest. One arm was carrying the surfboard, while the other arm controlled the steering, accelerator, and braking. Somehow I lived.

I remember several years ago when a boss held a meeting and was very upset that he had seen a family driving down on the road and that a toddler in the car hadn’t been in a government-approved child’s seat. I have no kids, and wasn’t entirely sure why I had to listen to that message, but it struck me how passionate he was about those child safety seats.

Fast forward to 2010, and I see entire families of four (mom, dad, baby strapped to mom’s back, little kid) riding on one motorcycle. I see girls sending text messages while riding motorbikes, 10-year old kids driving around, even people smoking or eating while riding motorcycles. These are regular occurrences, not rare events. Right after finishing this post, I will walk down the street and see motorcyclists doing things that would shock the average American. They just aren’t safe! Right?

That’s the question I’ve been asking myself in my travels. I’ve driven a couple thousand miles on rented scooters in Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Bali. Seeing so many safety transgressions in so many countries among so many people has made me seriously reconsider just exactly what is “safe.” Granted, roads here are worse, vehicles have smaller engines, and traffic laws aren’t enforced (if there are laws). That creates a driving atmosphere in which people naturally drive quite a bit slower. I regularly find myself cruising through city streets at 10-20 mph, and pick it up to 30-45 mph when on the “highways.” Slower driving means much shorter stopping distances, and scrapes and bruises instead of deaths and paralyzations.

Are Americans too risk averse?

RELIGION

I’ve always been fascinated by religion. Having grown up in a highly religious community (of which I was not a member), raised by parents who had different religious backgrounds, but were non-practicing, gave me a close-up look with an outsider’s perspective. 

My travels have further cemented my longheld belief that religions and their associated beliefs have no supernatural foundations, that they consist of manmade creations for social organization, and are steeped in rituals, customs, and traditions that have little logical purpose. For whatever region, be it to organize society, fill time and bordeom, maybe to fill intellectual vacuum, someone started the various religions. Belief in a religion is not the same as belief in a God(s). I see religion like art:  some aspects are beautiful, and some aren’t. Like art, everyone interprets religious teachings, documents, and rituals differently.

Already evident to me, when traveling it becomes immensely more obvious that a person’s religion is nearly 100% based on parentage, and nearly 100% based on geography. Simply put, you are your parents’ religion. Your parents inherited the same religion from their parents. Most likely the majority of people in your nation, region of the world, and neighborhood share the exact same religion. If you had been born to pirates, you would believe in the Flying Spagehtti Monster.

What we have in the world are billions of people that are “religious,” practicing inherited beliefs, in nations and regions that are religiously segregated. Even in the US, perhaps the most diverse country on Earth, there are distinct pockets and regions with particular religious persuasions. Since such a very small percentage of people actually get to choose their religions, and since it is so obvious that one’s religion is a function of geography and parentage, why, then, are so many people all over the world so political, belligerent, and activist based on religious grounds? I see and hear more religious scripture cited in political discussions and am always baffled as to how such a stretch can be made.

Again, I’m a religious outsider who’s had some peeks at the inside, and I find it all fascinating, yet disturbing.

Just prior to Nyepi, here on Bali, there are many Hindu ceremonies. Additionally, there are always the ongoing customs, like respects for the dead. I was riding down the road last week and got stopped by a funeral procession of dozens of people walking down the middle of the road to a cremation ceremony. Every day, twice a day, people put rice on their foreheads, neck, and sometimes other spots for “good thoughts and feelings.” As the perspiration dries, the rice granules fall to the ground. Interesting.

In Mongolia, parents dress their baby boys as girls until two or three years old. The reason? To keep evil spirits from killing the baby boys. Males are seen as having higher value, so parents are very protective, dressing them as girls (we’re talking ponytails, hair clips, dresses, fingernail polish) until the toddlers are considered strong enough to live as boys. It sounds silly to us Westerners, but what about your own religious traditions…if an alien arrived on Earth and saw you practicing your religion, what would he think of it?

South Korea has some of the largest (and possibly the largest) Christian churches in the world. We’re talking a million members who take turns going to one building. It doesn’t take long to figure out that the majority of them are there for social purposes, and couldn’t tell you much at all about the bible. Is this bad? No, but it’s insightful to see what most religions are, that is, centuries-old social traditions sharing commonly-held, passed-down beliefs.

FAST FOOD WORLD

As a proud, yet somewhat cynical, American, one of my greatest fears is that in, say 200 years, civilization will look back on history and regard our most profound legacy (apart from the abstract ideas of: empowering and defending a big chunk of nations; apart from setting the bar for a free democracy and open society; apart from setting the bar for fighting from freedom of oppression; and apart from being that “shining light on a hill” to all people of all nations, showing that “all men are created equal”) as populating the planet with fast food and causing a worldwide obesity pandemic. This will be our brick-and-mortar legacy. There will be no pyramids for us, but fast food restaurants everywhere.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about all the great things the US has given the world. Believe me, I have a laundry list of negatives, too, but one of the most negative is fast food. I’m not just talking about particular fast/junk food restaurants like McDonalds or Pizza Hut, but the concept of fatty, low-cost, chemically-enhanced, obesity-producing convenience foods. I see American fast food joints, and a lot of attempted ripoffs, all over Asia. It makes me a little sick thinking that my country is responsible for spreading such filth and knowing that the locals will continue to expand outward, literally.

One Balinese restaurant owner told me about his vacation to the US. He went to Los Angeles, New York, and even Park City, Utah. He loved the diversity of food in NYC, but  said everywhere else he visited offered only fast food restaurants. Being a healthy American takes tremdous work when our cheapest, fastest, tastiest choices are fast food.

THERE IS NO BEST POLITICAL SYSTEM

The more countries I visit and learn about, the more I believe that particular political systems work best with certain peoples and times. There is no best system, despite what we think, and try to force on others. This idea is not new, but a longheld anthropological teaching, where strong civilizations automatically equate prosperity with superiority. It’s part of what keeps the US from succeeding in building democracies in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, where the cultures are simply not structured for our Western-style governments.

I have been especially impressed with China and Vietnam, two of the last remaining “Communist” countries. People get scared off by the “Communist” label, but I assure you that their people are capitalist to the bone. I dare you to visit Vietnam and get aggressively pursued by people selling things and then tell me they are Communists. You don’t need a taxi ride? Okay, maybe they can help you find a barber, or get your shoes shined. Everybody has twenty jobs and works like crazy for an extra buck. Communist? Hardly. Class free societies? Not even close. Take a picture of the Hanoi man on his imported Harly, or visit the new area in Saigon that will make you think you got kidnapped and space-warped to a nice Dallas, Texas neighborhood. China and Vietnam are single-party governments, but to write them off as being “Communist” countries shows a simple understanding of the governments, and a complete lack of knowledge of the people. As one Vietnamese man told me, “The people are years ahead of the government. The government is racing to keep up with the financial freedom, trade, and innovation of the people.”

Singapore has the most efficient, streamlined, wealthy, modernized system of anyplace I’ve ever visited. What was once the garbage can of Malaysia made itself into greatness, in the course of one generation. It’s beyond amazing what they created, particularly considering the third world, impoverished nations surrounding them. Read this National Geographic article for a better understanding of how they did it (mainly under the guidance of one man).

I focus a lot on China because I see them as a global threat and as, inevitably, the next big (biggest?) superpower. Based on recent rhetoric, they are regressing to more government control, buying out private companies and cracking down on free speech. That said, I much admire the consistent, high growth of their economy, and the laserlike single party focus of their government to continue that growth. Say what you will about their piss poor civil rights record, and respect for individual rights, but don’t ignore China’s ability to rapidly shake and bake whatever needs shaking and baking in their power growth.

In the US, we are bogged down with two major parties, both of which are heavily influenced by special interest groups, and which regularly alternate power, and bicker incessantly. Yes, I’m complaining (what good citizen doesn’t?). Our country’s ability to seriously focus on real problems (the economy?) is highly limited by all the wedge issues.

All that said, I’d rather have our gridlocked representatives than oppression and threats from a single party government. At least as an American I have a voice to vote them all out next election.

AMERICANS HAVE IT GOOD.

Really good. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: we are the luckiest people on the planet to have been born in the USA. It’s a golden ticket to make of our lives whatever we want or to waste away. Even Noam Chomsky, the famous MIT professor who is a strong critic of our system, admits that the US is about as close as any country has ever come to being a class free society—that is, an average kid born into poverty or middle class can grow up to be a general, a CEO, or the President of the United States. Some have it easier, no doubt, but the doors are there waiting to be found and opened.

One quick example of the advantages we enjoy as Americans is our ability to travel freely. My toughest places to visit so far have been China and Vietnam. Both required me to get Visas prior to arrival. You know what I had to do? I had to mail my passport to the Chinese and Vietnamese offices in Washington, D.C. (or some other city), include a check, and wait. A week or two later I got my passport back, stamped with visas, ready to visit. Many Americans, by the way, think that process is “difficult.” As far as I know, Americans are welcome to visit every country in the world. The only ones we legally can’t visit are ones restricted by our own government (e.g. Cuba)! In other words, an American passport is a ticket to travel the world!

By comparison, most of the people I meet in SE Asia have no chance at ever visiting the US or other Western nations. For one, it’s just too expensive for them. While we’re complaining about our $20,000 jobs or $50,000 jobs, they are lucky to make $2,000 in a year. Sure they live at home and get by on hardly anything at all (they have to), but once they leave the region, how far do you think that income gets them?

Just to get a visa to visit the US on vacation is near impossible unless they can prove they have a lot of money in the bank (one Chinese person told me she must have $30,000 in her bank account, which is then locked up by the government until she returns), pass interviews, and show proof of job, etc.! I’ve spoken with several people who have been denied visas after meeting all the requirements.

HAPPINESS IS PERPLEXING

What is happiness? Is it momentary ecstasy or prolonged contentment? Can it be sustained indefinitely? Is happiness in memories or in dreams of the future? Is happiness being warm and dry, in clean clothes, on cool sheets, chatting with friends, making jokes with strangers, petting dogs, having hunger satisfied with met cravings? Does religion, marriage, or money correlate with happiness?

One of my goals since I quit my job last year and started traveling has been to learn more about people, to see what makes them tick, what makes them happy, and improve aspects of my own life.

Well, psychologists (and other professionals) have actually researched some of these things. As it turns out, except at extremely low levels of wealth (people who can’t afford shelter and clothes are nearly unanimously unhappy) there is very little correlation between money and happiness. With marriage and religion it gets trickier, but there is a lot of support to show that married and religious people are indeed marginally happier.

What about freedom? It might surprise you to learn that more freedom doesn’t necessarily mean more happiness. Every time I meet Russian girls being silly in hostels or Chinese people cracking jokes on the beach, I feel like shaking them violently and yelling “You are supposed to be unhappy and oppressed!” But they aren’t unhappy! Mongolians living in gers, eating the same foods everyday are not unhappy! People adapt to their conditions. If they are born into harsh conditions, there is little adapting required when moved into other harsh conditions.

I skimmed a book several months ago, The Paradox Of Choice, about this very idea of choice and happiness. It used an example of shopping for pants, and how the clothing store had literally dozens of types of jeans of different washes, different cuts and styles. It becomes overwhelming to have too many choices. Most of us would just as soon have someone throw a pair of jeans at us and then we could be on our way to a basketball game or something enjoyable. According to the book, research shows that having too much freedom and too many choices leads to inefficiency and lack of happiness. Who would have thought?

A married man who goes to steady work all day, comes home and eats with the family, watches sports with his friends on Saturdays, and goes to church on Sundays is in a strict routine. His choices are gone. There is no stress in worrying about finding a woman to build a family with, no worries about what to do on the weekend, etc. He just has to keep doing what he’s doing, which gives him the mind space, if you will, to truly enjoy those things.

As a more relevant example of how too many choices leads to unhappiness, I’ve read a couple articles (maybe they referenced the same study(ies)) about women. Despite the massive gains made by the feminist movement, despite the overwhelmingly open educational and occupational opportunities available to American women now, they are unhappier now than in decades past. Men, on the other hand, have shown fairly steady happiness levels over time. Why? Could it be that in the ambitiousness of “having it all”—a high salaried, highly respected job, high education, lots of friends, great social life, finding the perfect Mr. Right, having a full house of kids, living in a big, beautiful house, driving a stylish car, dressing well—that some of those things are forced, or impossible to have without losing out on some of another? Maybe it’s time for people to reevaluate what “having it all” means, or should mean…

Some of the key components of living I’ve learned, that increase the odds of endured happiness are keeping negative stress levels as low as possible and always manageable, having healthy, strong, and long lasting relationships, and taking care of the body through a good diet and exercise regime. Easy, right? If your “having it all” doesn’t allow for these three big components to exist, then maybe your “having it all” isn’t a road to happiness? And isn’t that what “having it all” is really all about, happiness?

GOOD STRESS IS GOOD FOR THE BRAIN

I miss work. I feel like I need a job, a mission, some goal to shoot for, a team to work with, something to complain about! having some stress is important and necessary to keep the brain tip top.

When older folks stop working, their brains slow down. They get sick sooner, and die earlier. Because of this, I want to work forever, but I want to choose where I live and what I’m doing and be able to control my exertion better.

I’m going on 10 months without a job, and am as relaxed as I can be. Too relaxed. I have never in my life had this much time to do whatever I want to do. I want someone or something to limit my choices! Yes, I’m saying it’s time for me to get a job.

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH

Let’s face it, the world can be split into two groups: the haves and the have nots. If you’re reading this, you are one of the haves. Happiness is an uphill better for us, the haves, in my opinion. What I mean, is that we have been so fortunate to have done so much and had so many opportunities. Whether or not we took advantage of them, we know we can have them, and being satisfied means obtaining at least that level.

I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Though I think I live and conduct myself fairly conservatively, I enjoy being terrified and shocked occasionally. However, since I’ve had a good number of shocks, it takes something even more shocking or incredible to get my adrenaline going now. It’s very, very difficult for something to “Wow!” me. Maybe I’m a little jaded, but I think many, perhaps most of my generation in America, is the same.

This is the reason why I’m getting pickier and pickier about where I travel now. I’m not so sure I want to see every country anymore. I want to see only the most incredible places, and do only the things that I think will be unforgettable. After seeing Angkor, I really have little desire to see the temples anywhere else in SE Asia. They simply won’t impress me.

TRAVELING MAKES THE WORLD BETTER

If everyone were required and able to travel the world for a year, especially to those areas most unlike our homes, and to really attempt to understand other cultures, our world would be better and more peaceful.

The most understanding, compassionate, and tolerant people I’ve met, in the US and overseas, have tended to be the most well read and well traveled. I can’t say I’ve ever met a serious traveler with righteous, intolerant views. Is it the traveling and reading that makes people this way, or is there a certain type of people who flock to travel and higher education? Maybe both.

REFLECTION

So what have I learned this past year of unemployed traveling? That I’ve changed. I know I have changed. I feel like more than I was. I feel smarter, but question more of what I was taught in formal education. I’m unconvinced there is a “right” political system, or a “right” way of living, or a “right” religion. I know I have changed. I think I already had a healthy respect and appreciation for other cultures. That has only grown. With the growing respect, however, has grown a frustration of the inefficiencies in the world, mistakes that should have been corrected, processes that should have been improved, etc. I have to remind myself of those college anthropology lessons to mitigate my desires to “fix” the world. I know I want to work again. I know I have a big list of adventures I want to do. I know I want a big family. I know I want it all, but that it’s nearly impossible to have it all AND be happy at the same time. Less is more—that much I knew when I started.

Everyday I spent hours reading the news online—cnn.com, foxnews.com, msn.com, yahoo.com, etc. I read “intellectual” and pop culture articles from aldaily.com. If a newspaper is near, I’ll skim it cover to cover, reading at least the headlines and a paragraph or two. If I’m in a waiting room, I look through magazines in search of the most compelling articles. I often go to book stores and spend a couple hours, browsing through several chapters of several books. Economics, sports, traveling, personal finance, biographies, hobbies, history, science—nothing is off limits. It’s all brain food and I crave it, but much of the information, namely current events, simply ticks me off.

Every injustice making the news, every instance of corruption, and every game-changing officiating error makes me want to track the violators down and kick them in the shins. Hard. Unfortunately, that is illegal and impractical. Thus, I am mired in this situation of believing that I know how to fix so much of what is wrong with the world, yet powerless to change anything significantly. In other words, I’m like almost everybody else out there.

Well, I’m finally doing something about it. Since there are two parts of the equation—news and powerlessness—I have to alter one or both. There is no way I’m going to be in a position of power anytime soon, so the powerlessness will have to remain unchanged. Only one option is left: Eliminate (or significantly reduce) my interest in news. That’s exactly what I’ve done in the past two and a half weeks.

I put my laptop in storage (last year I traveled with it), am deliberately avoiding reading or watching news, slashed and burned my facebook/social media activity, and have been reading a lot. It feels great. Instead of tracking the horrendous decisions of federal judges, analyzing the lies of politicians, and following the world’s most recent tragic events, all of which I am powerless to affect, I worry only about my immediate surroundings.

I’ve nearly isolated myself into an awareness bubble of things that directly impact me, or over which I have some level of influence. Amazingly, I feel more energetic and carefree. My little personal experiment is still in the early stages, so the results are definitely inconclusive. I’ll continue ignoring the rest of the world as best I can (I admit, I find myself subconsciously typing in news websites still) and see if this is worth making a permanent change.

Maybe those happy, yet self-centered people we all know—you know, the ones who haven’t the slightest clue about global current events, are onto something beneficial to healthy living? Maybe the impoverished, who lack the means to follow news, are unknowingly avoiding an information vortex that sucks their energy and drive for them to act locally? Maybe ignorant bliss is better than informed frustration?

If you haven’t heard of the Law of Diminishing Returns, you’ve surely experienced it and been a victim of it. Quite simply, it means the more you work on a project, after a certain point, the less results you notice. At least that’s how I’m defining it for this post. Ultimately, we want our economy of effort to remain high, while still meeting the objectives of the task. We want to be prolific producers. As we near excellence or perfection, our returns are diminished while the effort is increasingly enormous, which becomes demoralizing, boring, and unsatisfying.

Though originally an economic principle, I see diminishing returns everywhere. As a stock increases in price and nears its true value, the margin of safety decreases and the chance of further gains decreases—the stock holder is simply not getting the same level of value in exchange for his risk that he had when the stock was severely underpriced. When giving a lecture to any group, the majority of listeners will comprehend, but there is always a minority that needs special help—the lecturer has to spend an inordinate amount of time with that select few, diminishing the volume of information he shares per unit of time. On practically every test I’ve ever taken, I can breeze through most questions very quickly, and then spend the majority of my time on a few very difficult questions—my ratio of questions answered per unit of time is drastically reduced during the end of a test. Last Sunday when I plowed the snow off the driveway and spread salt over the concrete to lower the freezing temperature, I noticed on the instructions that a certain amount of salt per unit area was recommended—above a certain coverage density of salt, the effort becomes cost prohibitive because the ice won’t melt any faster, or does so at a much lower rate. Every time I see a traffic accident with a couple dozen people standing around, I think how inefficient that is—a single person can address 90% of any immediate concerns like a 911 call, removing the victims from harm’s way, giving basic first aid; a second responder could cover the other 10% of desired immediate actions. Beyond the first two or three people, there is little to no value gained from others.

Let’s use truck washing as an example.  I can wash my truck in 10 minutes and have it looking great. If I spend two hours, however, I’ll be able to wash it again to catch spots I missed, scrape off any tough spots, wax it, and dry it with ShamWow. Which is a more efficient use of my time? It depends on my desired outcome, but in this case it’s easy—the 10 minute wash gives me what I need and more efficiently. Why would I put in 12 times the amount of time in order to get a finished product that barely looks any different? I wouldn’t, unless I were entering the vehicle in some car show, where details matter. What’s even more efficient? Driving through a 3-minute automatic wash at the gas station. In all three scenarios, my truck probably looks the same to a bystander. In all three scenarios, my truck will look dirty again within a few days.

One more example is in learning a foreign language. Before I moved to Italy, I purchased a set of Italian language CDs. There were 90 lessons meant to be listened to over 90 days. Well, the first lessons were easy, but around lesson 30 became more difficult for me to understand 100% of what was being taught. So, what would have been the best use of my time? To continue on to the next lesson, even though I had mastered only 80% of the prior lesson’s material…or should I repeat the lesson 2, 3, 4, maybe even 5 times until I reach 100% comprehension and understanding? The answer depends on several factors, but with limited time to study, the best course of action is probably to move ahead. If listening to a lesson once gives me 80% mastery, then listening to it again will give me far less (no more than 20%) additional mastery. This is a substantially diminished return with each subsequent listen of a repeated lesson. My reasoning in continuing to the next lesson is that in 90 days, I would much rather have completed the entire language set and mastered 80% of it, than completed, say, 60 lessons for which I had 100% mastery.

People have written books and essays on this topic. I remember reading an article in college, written by some military general, about the final 1%. He wanted to know how to get that final 1% of excellence out of a person or project, that maybe the final 1% would be the difference between someone living or getting killed in combat. I’ve heard Colin Powell talk about some of his decisions and how he’d rather make a decision now based on 80% of available information, rather than delay a decision a week to get 100% of available information. I’ve heard other leaders talk about even lower percentages, that the most important thing is to make a decision and take action now even if they understand only 30% of a situation. In other instances, I’ve heard leaders say that nothing short of perfection is the standard.

This leaves a thinking person like myself with lots of questions. Just what is quality, what is acceptable? Can I turn in a product that is based on 30% understanding of the problem as long as I turn it in now? Do I have to delay a project until I believe it to be perfect? I don’t know. It depends. And therein lies the dilemma of a professional.

One of my biggest faults, if you want to call it that, is my determination to produce quality, excellent work no matter how much effort is involved. I know I’m not alone in this fault, and yes, it is a fault. I have spent countless hours doing mundane work only because I wanted perfection. Because I put in so much time, I had quality products, but where did that leave my other projects? Looking back, I would have been better served had I put less time and effort in some projects and instead focused that leftover energy on new projects or personal goals.

We have to give ourselves room for imperfection, for error, and for “good enough.” To insist that every project and task is equal and that they are all of the highest priority and that anything less than perfect is unacceptable is an invitation to failure, and a recipe for poor morale. Don’t take my word for it. Here is what others say:

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.  ~Harriet Braiker

A commander who sets a standard of “zero defects, no mistakes” is also saying “Don’t take any chances. Don’t try anything you can’t already do perfectly, and for heaven’s sake, don’t try anything new.” That organization will not improve; in fact, its ability to perform the mission will deteriorate rapidly. Effective leadership requires leaders who are imaginative, flexible, and daring. Improving the USAF for future missions requires leaders who are thoughtful and reflective. These qualities are incompatible with a “zero defects” attitude.   ~Army Field Manual

Today, I gave this topic a lot of thought. I considered how much my production is lessened due to my strong desire to produce perfect masterpieces. Thinking more about it, I believe the root cause of many people’s procrastination can be narrowed down to a need for perfection. It isn’t that all procrastinators are lazy. On the contrary, I think that many procrastinators are wholeheartedly devoted to their projects, but so obsessed with building a perfect game plan and having all the right pieces fall into place on a project, that time flies by until they are forced to produce.

Limited time is a catalyst for intense focus among productive procrastinators. I am a procrastinator when I have the time, but I am also extremely punctual. Very rarely in my entire life have I been late to a meeting, an appointment, or a deadline. Give me a time and I will be there. How does procrastination factor into diminishing returns? I think if we can create real or even artificial deadlines that we must meet, then we make ourselves much more productive during that limited time and then leave  the issue closed, even if the product isn’t perfect. I know I’m at my most productive when under intense deadlines and workloads. The ability and perceived need to focus is incredible when under the gun. Maybe this is why people say “if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” That busy person takes care of it right then and there, with little regard for perfection and a high regard for production, so that he can move on to his next task.

To answer the profound questions that started this post, I created a simple question set that should enable anybody to gauge the amount of time and effort a given project deserves:

1. What is the priority of this project over other things?

2. What is the desired outcome of the project?

3. What level of effort is needed to reach the desired outcome?

4. How nearly complete should the project be to reach the desired outcome?

When we ask ourselves these questions, usually answers become glaringly obvious. Back to the truck washing example, I know that 1. Washing my truck, while not urgent or high priority, might need to be washed soon, so that the paint doesn’t corrode; 2. My outcome is to have a truck that looks clean (at least temporarily) and has no tar, bird droppings, bug guts, or other gunk that could ruin the paint; 3. The effort required is probably 10-20 minutes to give the truck a good soapy scrubdown, followed by a walk around to make sure I knocked off all the sticky bugs and tree sap; 4. To reach my desired outcome, I don’t even necessarily have to wash the truck properly, and could get away with using the window squeegee at the gas pump to scrub off bug guts.

Are you a procrastinator? Do you think it’s because you are just plain lazy or do you perform better under pressure? Have you noticed this law of diminishing returns with specific areas of your life?

Full disclosure: I wash my truck every month or two and only because I don’t want bird droppings and smashed bugs to corrode the paint. Learning a foreign language is incredibly difficult and definitely can’t be done by CD lessons alone.

A Dunkin' Donuts in Seoul has mostly Western patrons. We are addicted to this stuff! When I visited Japan in 2001, I couldn't find a decent donut, just an unsweetened poor attempt at one. This year, however, I found my favorite, Krispy Kreme. American fast food is spreading around the world, setting the human race up for failure.

Lose inches FAST! Drop pounds NOW! Eat anything available including a daily dose of Oreos®! For a limited time only, this diet is available COMPLETELY FREE! Willing subjects are needed to validate this revolutionary diet! Here are the steps:

1. Travel to SE Asia², finding accomodation² in rural areas.
2. Get a good night’s sleep every night.
3. Walk everywhere—to the laundry, grocery store, tourist sites, etc—covering at least 5-10km every day.
4. Enjoy local cuisine when hungry. Snack on one unhealthy treat per day³.
5. Report your success!

Ok, so here’s the deal: I need a belt. Two months ago, I purchased a pair of shorts in Saigon, Vietnam. I found a heavy duty camouflage pair I really liked, and tried on the XL size. Too small. I tried the 2XL. Too small. I asked for the 3XL. Not available. 2XL was the biggest size stocked in Vietnam. They were too tight around the belly and I was worried about the button either breaking or bruising my stomach. I really needed some quality shorts with secure, button-down pockets (for my camera and wallet), so I took the undersized 2XL pair, hoping that the cotton wouldn’t shrink much when laundered. Today, about 9 weeks later, those shorts are too loose and I find myself constantly pulling them up, only to have them fall right back down, nearly passing over my hips. Yesterday, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I weighed myself on two scales: 74 Kilograms⁴ (163 pounds), a full 10 kilograms (22 pounds) less than when I left home.

I left the United States in mid-June, weighing 185 pounds plus or minus a couple. In Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, I continued my “American diet.” That diet included regular fast food and limited exercise. During those early travels, I spent a week in the Mongolian wild. That week I dined on bone marrow and sheep tail (both delicious, by the way) and could feel myself losing weight and  getting fit. That feeling disappeared when I returned to South Korea and Japan and their ubiquitous American fast food chains. There I was, in early August, as pudgy as when I left the US. In my last days in Japan, early August, I weighed in the low 180s. That was the last I would see a scale for over a month.

I didn’t even recognize it (weight loss) was happening until I stepped on a scale at a 7-11 in Chiang Mai, Thailand and saw that I was 81 kilograms (178 pounds). Without shoes and gear, I was probably just under 175 pounds. That was a month ago. Having lost about 10 pounds since leaving home, and mostly since leaving Japan, got my attention.

How did I lose so much weight so fast, most of it in the last two months, without even trying? I don’t know exactly, but I suspect my body adjusted to a lower caloric intake even while my daily exercise, walking, was increasing. During my remaining weeks in Thailand, I weighed myself every other day or so and was much more conscious of the weight loss. My diet was a nearly daily meal of my favorite Thai dish, curry soup with pork or chicken, flanked by rice. My “dinner” would be a package of Oreos or another bowl of curry or Pad Thai. Every few days, I would eat a pizza, but my typical daily diet remained one or two bowls of curry with rice and one pack of Oreos. Now that I’m in Cambodia, I’ve replaced Oreos, which I can’t find anywhere, for ice cream⁵, and the weight has continued to melt away. It’s almost as if my body decided recently it should weigh significantly less and is in a race to reach that new set weight. I’m not exercising vigorously, starving myself, or otherwise putting much effort into losing weight. It’s just happening.

For whatever reason, Oreos, rice, and chicken are enough to sustain me. I don’t experience the hunger pangs I experienced in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Obviously, the Southeast Asia Oreo Diet isn’t a seriously recommended diet⁶. Replacing Oreos with several daily servings of fruits and vegetables would be far healthier. Nonetheless, I have quickly lost significant weight without doing anything extreme, simply walking around and eating Asian-sized meals, with a daily sugar fix.

These last couple months I have become even more of a believer that chemically-enhanced, technologically engineered food, i.e., American fast food, is the primary culprit in weight gain. I warn some of the locals I meet in these countries that once they start getting saturated with McDonald’s and the like, it is only a matter of time before weight gain becomes a serious national problem for them. I don’t believe in big government and think it would be a big mistake to regulate food products, but maybe something should be done to regulate how that food is produced. Fast food has properties that are creating longterm destructive results for people. Fast food is the new cigarettes, but worse. How many years will pass before we do something about it?

I’m all for personal responsibility and think most able-bodied, able-minded people are responsible for their conditions. That said, there is something about the processed, pre-packaged, chemically-manipulated fast food and soft drinks that makes it extremely difficult for many people to ignore. Like alcohol, gambling, and other addictions, some of us have extreme difficulty controlling our fast food and soft drink intake. With fast food, however, I think a much, much larger percentage of the population is predisposed to the addiction. Most Americans I know are overweight. We’ve all seen the statistics.

Fast food has become the default meal in the United States. My American friends and family who eat well take much more effort and planning to be healthy. They have to maneuver around our so-called Fast Food Nation in order to make nutritious meals. They go to special grocery stores, look for “free range” products, spend time preparing meals, carry homemade meals to work, avoid dining out with other friends, etc. In Thailand and many of these neighboring countries, eating healthily is the default. I can’t find much fast food. Even finding ice cream for me takes a lot of walking. I have to earn it! Though a significant effort to find a Burger King or McDonald’s, it’s a piece of cake to walk outside and find street vendors selling meats and eggs and fruits. Restaurant menus are chockfull of rice and vegetable dishes. This has been my secret to losing weight—I’m losing weight by eating what’s available. The available food is natural and healthy.

I’ve been down this weight loss road before. One of the reasons for leaving my career, in fact, was because I was literally getting sick more often, getting fat, and in a cycle that seemed like it wouldn’t end without drastic action. In 2006 I ballooned to 190-195 pounds. In 2007, with a New Year’s resolution to drop weight, I muscled my way to 162 pounds with a lot of running and lifting. In 2008, once again, I ballooned to the 185-190 pound range. Here I am in 2009 back in the 160s. This time, though, was almost effortless. I’m not trying to lose weight here. I’m just living, going about my travels, walking where I need to go, eating the food available, and not eating unless I have an appetite. Yes, there is something broken in American (and, increasingly, other Westernized nations) society where being fit requires such an effort to exercise and eat well, when in other countries being fit is effortless, part of the natural lifestyle.

Asian women are known for their slight builds, and it is quite obvious to anyone that they are shorter and overall smaller in stature than average Europeans and North Americans. I ask many of them their weights, out of curiosity. The smaller women are about 40 kilograms (88 pounds) and the “heavy” end of the scale is about 50-55 kilograms (110-121 pounds)! They complain about having to lose one or two kilograms. Their perspective on weight and exercise is so much different. Not many struggle the way we do.

Walking around in the evening is one of my favorite things to do here. People congregate in parks to socialize with physical activity, doing calisthenics and playing soccer and other games. Working out casually with each other is part of the national social fabric. In Gifu, Japan, I witnessed this while at a water park. A whistle blew and everyone stopped playing in the water to do 10 minutes of calisthenics! I’ve seen similar things in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. Between the healthy food easily found on every street and the commitment to exercising for fun, the citizens in SE Asia have got it nailed.

My journey to SE Asia is quickly coming to an end. I’ll be home in the United States at the end of the month. I fear my lost weight will quickly return. What scares me? This: Burger King® chicken sandwich plus cheese, large chocolate shake and fries. A&W Rootbeer® float. Arby’s® large roast beef sandwich with chocolate swirl shake and curly fries. Buffalo Wild Wings® 18 traditional Parmesan Garlic™ wings with potato wedges. Wendy’s® 1/4lb single patty cheeseburger combo with chocolate Frosty™ and medium fry. McDonald’s vanilla reduced fat ice cream cone. Fuddrucker’s® 1/2 lb bacon cheddar burger with large chocolate shake and fries. Dairy Queen® Oreo® Blizzard®. Pizza Hut™ New! Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pan Pizza. Krispy Kreme® Original Glazed Hot Doughnuts.

I know weight is such a sensitive issue, particularly with Americans and, really, anyone who struggles. What do you think? Is fast food to blame? Should we be holding ourselves totally accountable? Should government get involved by regulating or heavily taxing fast food, like what has been done with cigarettes? Is fast food proliferation the #1 threat to civilization?

1.Registration Pending.

2. To be paid by subject.

3. Oreos® have been effective in limited trials.

4. Though the metric system (used by 190+ countries) is clearly inferior to the American system and possibly inferior to the systems of the two only other nations in the world not using the metric system (Liberia and Burma), I use it here in deference to local standards.

5. Chill, an ice cream parlor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia makes its own ice cream in-store and is the best I’ve tasted anywhere in Asia, bar none.

6. If you have success with this diet, feel free to send me a check or money order for an amount you feel is appropriate.

Left: On the subway in Tokyo, Japan, wishing I had a travel buddy sitting next to me, rather than this tired student who decided to use my shoulder as a pillow. Right: At Doi Inthanon, Thailand, taking a blurry picture of myself. There are downsides to traveling alone. Not having a full time picture taker is one of them.

Have you ever had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, something so funny or profound that it could never be repeated, and immediately afterward wished a friend were there to share it? Me, too. Traveling with another has to be the best way to build a better friendship, share interesting memories, and look out for the safety and welfare of each other.. That said, I have had many experiences that never would have been possible were I with a group. Going solo brings a level of speed and flexibility that is simply impossible with a group.

I’ve had some really good times in the couple instances I’ve journeyed with other travelers these last four months, and find fascinating the dynamic others have with their travel buddies. It has been insightful to me to see how their decision making works and how time consuming it can be. As a “lone wolf” type person, however, I value my independence above all. These are some of the reasons why traveling alone is so great.

-Complete independence. Nobody relies on me and I don’t have to rely on others. After years of work requiring reliance, which could be very rewarding but often frustrating, this new independence is refreshing.

-I go where I want. Rather than having to deliberate with someone about where we should visit, I go to all the places I wish. Furthermore, I can change my mind instantly with no consultation. My original itinerary has changed wildly and it simply doesn’t matter! I’m accountable to no one but myself. Eventually, in the months or years ahead, I will visit all the planned countries, but if I’m particularly enjoying myself somewhere then I stay longer, feeling no pressure to stick to my bar napkin plan.

-I eat what I want. If I want to walk off a Nha Trang, Vietnam street and into the busiest locals-only phở’ restaurant I’ve ever seen, I do it, not worried about someone telling me how unsafe the food could be, or worried that people are throwing pork bones and napkins on the floor. If I have a craving for pizza, I get a pizza then and there.

-I make new friends easily. Being alone makes it especially easy to meet new people. I like talking with others and, since I have no travel buddy, I talk with strangers. It’s not uncommon for that talk to lead to a new travel idea, knowledge of the best local spots, dinner with a local family, or a night out with locals. Other travelers I meet are usually somewhat confused or surprised that I would make friends with locals at airports, bus stations, hotels, restaurants, etc. It’s almost as if it isn’t in the realm of possibility that a person could do that. When I have all the time in the world and travel at my own pace, engaging in conversation is effortless and agenda-less.

-I never have to worry about making a poor decision. Because I’m alone, I’m 100% responsible for my situation, and have no one to blame and no one to blame me. Surprisingly, this has a remarkable impact on my thinking. I am constantly looking ahead to what’s next and rarely ever questioning myself about what I could have done, should have done, or would have done.

-Logistics are very easy. I can’t count the times I’ve booked transportation minutes or hours in advance. I can decide I want to go elsewhere and then do it as soon as possible. Limiting my planning to a matter of a few minutes per day makes it no harder than getting dressed.

-I spend time where I want. My interests are vast, but undoubtedly differ from others’ in degree and type. Whereas I might want to make a quick visit to a crowded market to watch people or meet merchants, another person might want to spend all day there buying inexpensive brand name clothing.

-It’s easy to find an opening. Being a single traveler, I can easily be moved around to accommodate myself or others. I routinely move from my assigned seats on buses and planes to give myself more room. On my Halong Bay, Vietnam tour package, I opted for a shared room to cut costs. I ended up, however, with my own private room on the boat and in the island bungalow because of circumstances with other groups. This, paying for cheaper shared accommodation and ending up with my own room, happens often enough that I almost expect it. On one occasion, I even got the only seat remaining on a space-available flight, skipping ahead of 30 other people traveling as friends or families unwilling to split. I was enjoying the beaches of Hawaii while they were still stuck on the mainland hoping for better luck in the days ahead.

-I get the “he’s cool”  treatment from people trying to make side deals. I mean, when interacting alone with some local merchant or security person, I am seen as less of a risk to them getting caught making special deals with me. Couples and groups are too clunky and loud, but a single person is quiet and very flexible. Recently, I gained private access to a “no entrance” portion of a world famous site, something that I doubt would have happened were I with others.

-There is a never-ending sense of adventure. When I step off the plane in Cambodia, I have no idea what to expect and have nobody there as a security blanket or to provide comfort. Being the only foreigner on a bus or in a restaurant can be very thrilling. For anyone who likes an adrenaline fix, traveling alone is an easy way to get a steady diet.

Have you ever traveled solo? What were some of the benefits? Do you think traveling alone is different for a woman or makes more sense in certain locations?

There is no other country that infuses its citizens with such creative and entrepreneurial thoughts as the United States. Those with new ideas, willing to put in the intelligent effort, can become wildly successful in the US.

People around the globe recognize us for our enterprising nature. Last year, on a flight overseas, I sat next to a Scandinavian woman. During our conversation, I mentioned one of my so-called “Million Dollar Ideas.” She said “That’s what I like about Americans. No one in my country would ever dream of such a thing. You guys think so differently.” Seeing new possibilities is in our blood.

This past week, I had dinner with a Canadian expatriate living in South Korea. He has aspirations to live in the United States and make a name for himself. The US, he says, is a place where people really can go from “rags to riches.” Even our next door neighbors recognize what a special place we are.

Today, Independence Day, as I continue to dwell on my future, I want to take a moment to remember all the world’s possibilities. As Americans, we have the ability to make those possibilities into reality, more so than any other country’s citizens. Let us not take that for granted. Cash in your lottery ticket by taking a chance on one of your ideas!

Do you think Americans can go from rags to riches or is this a fantasy? Why do so many Americans take their citizenship for granted? Do they not see the possibilities? Why do so many immigrants seem to understand the potential of Americans better than those of us born here? Have we become too wealthy a nation for our own good, to where so many Americans have so may comforts handed to them that they don’t strive for more? Do you have any ideas or dreams you haven’t acted upon yet? What are you waiting for?

Robert, my 64 year old host, said “People think money is the only pathway to their objectives, but ingenuity can be a pathway.” From buying a new house to learning a new trade to finding happiness, I think he is right.

Robert knows he is right. He bought his house at a bargain price just a few years ago as a fixer-upper. It is now worth nearly three times as much after putting in a year of his time. By finding an underpriced property and putting in some serious labor he made a huge return on investment, providing himself a more secure retirement.

Next, Robert found himself a nice little Geo Metro for $600, the third in his collection. Rated at nearly 50 miles per gallon, these ancient relics have found a second wind on the mainland and are selling for a $2-3K. He never intends to own another car unless he finds another bargain Metro.

While in Hilo, I was fortunate enough to attend a party where I was the youngest attendee by probably 20 years or more. A woman in her early 80s, with a reputation as a “party girl,” hosted the party. Many of the elderly party-goers had interesting things to say, but one line in particular caught my attention.

A woman told me “Eat well, stay physically active, have good friends, and keep your stress level low. That’s how to live a long, healthy life!” She mentioned Hawaii as being the perfect place to find all the pieces of the longevity puzzle. This idea, while not groundbreaking, is nice to hear again.

Do you keep your ears open for little gems like these? I’m going to keep mine open, hoping I get some amazing insights along my voyage.

A leader would not identify the group when asked, but it was obviously a drug-free, socially well-adjusted gang. She said they were part of a group trying to get people to be “happy.” Ugh. She refused to say they were staging a formal protest. When pressured, however, she admitted they were “boycotting depression.” Reluctantly, the group also was cajoled into saying they were “protesting unhappiness.” The scene was downright sickening by this time.

At one point one of the infectiously energetic boycotters , a middle-aged woman, name and age unknown, smiled tirelessly as she ran into the street to throw candy at happy, cooperating motorists driving by. Obviously, the group had been trained in guerilla tactics, disarming people by throwing “fun sized” Milky Ways and getting them to laugh. It was chaos.

The woman put herself and traffic in great harm when she ran into the street, violating city ordnance in the process. Finally, law enforcement took notice and threatened to cuff them all if they didn’t stand down. The police officer on scene  had only two sets of cuffs, though, so it was an impossible threat. Once he realized he had told them his limited capabilities, he laughingly threatened to call for backup. Sadly, the police officer refused a mini Baby Ruth from a small child trying in his own right to be as happy as the adults.

Despite the group’s clear violation of the law, and their nonstop positivity, even when approached by the police, they were let off with a stern, yet friendly warning and told to dissipate.Once again, justice failed. Where are the tasers when you need them? What is this country coming to when we let happy-go-lucky people off the hook like this? Only in the happiest state in America.

Here are pictures of the crime scene.

Happy Group Protesting Unhappiness

Radical Group Busted by Cop for Unsafe Happiness Strike

Somewhere along the way, society has put  in our minds that we require an ever-increasing income and ever-growing list of assets to be happy. That’s why it seems inconceivable to most of middle America that someone could live comfortably off $1100 a month.

We all have different incomes, comfort levels, and expenses. Most people in most occupations have the ability to influence these. How we spend our money depends on our values. Some folks buy nice homes, while others buy nice cars. Some donate everything to charity and others yet enjoy the local nightlife every night. I’m not going to assert that any of these is better than any other. To each his own. We spend on what we want, hopefully for smart reasons and hopefully within a budget.

What I practice and advocate is living below your means (LBYM). You can search the internet and find hundreds of tips and techniques about LBYM. They range from the practical (coupon cutting) to the extreme  (living in an RV) to the absurd (cleaning, drying, and re-use of paper towels). Living below your means is as easy as keeping your expenditures less than your income. Obviosuly, LBYM is a very broad topic with wide strategies depending on income, location, and a host of other variables. To keep this article short, I’m going to avoid delving into specific tips and focus on what I consider to be a reasonable and low-expense single person’s budget.

My only objective in this article is to demonstrate that it is possible to live comfortably on a very modest income. Whether or not you ultimately agree with my $1100/month contention depends on your definition of “comfort” and your idea of what these things actually cost where you live.

These rounded dollar figures are for a single person and based closely on real expenses. For bigger cities which generally are more expensive, rent might be higher, but you can offset that increased expense by relying on public transportation, thus lowering your automobile expenses substantially.

NOTE: This budget is for a person on maintenance status, meaning he already owns a working vehicle and household goods.

MONTHLY EXPENSES

Rent: $500 This will pay for an older, yet well-maintained apartment, or cover a decent home shared with a friend

Food: $200 This is an average of $6-7/day which is enough to cover healthy grocery store food as well as eating out once a week

Renter’s insurance: $10

Auto insurance: $50

Medical/dental coverage: $150 This number is highly variable, ranging from $0 to nearly $1000

Gasoline: $60 Based on 500 miles per month (ride a bike and carpool half the time), 20 miles/gallon and $2.40/gallon

Auto maintenance: $20 Average based on a carwash every month and an oil and lube every three months

Personal Supplies: $15 Includes hygienic items like soap, toothpaste, and shaving cream

Household Supplies: $15 Includes cleaning products, and light maintenance

Clothes: $40 This is enough to buy a decent pair of shoes, a pair of pants or two, or some shirts each month

Entertainment: $40 A little something to treat yourself to some movies, a concert, or a professional sports game every month

What do you think? Are these estimates way off the mark? Is this level of spending too low to be considered “comfortable”? Do you believe the title of the article—that someone can live comfortably off $1100/month—or do you think it’s sensationalistic and a stretch? Did I miss any typical expenses? Leave a comment!

By the way, $1100 per month means $13200 per year. Working 40 hours per week for all 52 weeks of the year, this breaks down to $6.35 per hour. In other words, a fulltime worker can live this budget if he makes $6.35/hour. As of this writing, the federal minimum wage is $6.55/hour.