Hi, Charlie. I finally have a steady income and some earnings from other sources, that still come to just under $2K a month. I am happier than I have ever been! No "Comfort Creep" will be going on with me. I have cut my expenses to less than $500/month, so I have a lot of surplus funds to tackle that pesky VISA bill that ran out of control while I had a wildly fluctuating income. I'm going on a holiday and attending a convention this summer. Instead of staying in a hotel, I'll be in a 1-bedroom apartment in a condo building for five days, at about half the cost of the convention hotel. I'm going to get some essential groceries before I "check in" so I can always have 2 meals a day in my temporary home. The last two days I'll be visiting friends, so no real accommodation cost there. But I'll do my bit by cooking and washing the dishes. Including airfare, the whole cost of my week's holiday comes to about $1700. I expect to enjoy it thoroughly.
Not a word here I can disagree with . We, too, have put up with a lot of less than pleasant things. The insanely loud bar underneath our apartment in Istanbul. Kneeling on my knees to wash dishes in the bathtub for six weeks in Keszthely, Hungary, because the kitchen sink was broken. And just a couple of months ago freezing in the Netherlands because the Airbnb host wouldn't turn up the heat.
Yet, when I got a hot water bottle to keep warm with I was so grateful. No, I wouldn't choose to be cold enough again to need a hot water bottle, but being that cold was a reminder of how nice it is to be warm, which I take much less for granted now.
I'm not sure how one avoids comfort creep or to convince other people that corporations are constantly scamming them.
It wasn't fun. But then you remind yourself there are still people washing their clothes in rivers -- often dirty rivers -- and that it's only six weeks and that you are insanely lucky to be traveling the world, and you get over it. With a little whining! LOL.
Hi Charlie. I can totally resonate with this! My husband and I are currently travelling Europe in a campervan where we have to think about things we would normally take for granted such as where are we going to be able to get our next hot shower, or where we can top up our water or figuring out where we are going to park to sleep. We are used to living so comfortably and this lifestyle has given us a new found appreciation of life and the little things, something we never really did when living in our house in the UK. I'm very happy to have stumbled across your newsletter 😊
We are in Spain. We left the Malaga area on Sunday and we are currently making our way to Valencia and eventually Barcelona by the end of the month! How about you?
Oh yes. Winter brings new challenges, we are using a fair bit of LPG due to needing the heater and the prospect of a shower is more of a dream than reality 😂
Brilliant. We were down in Jerez late last year, I love Andalucia. And Barcelona is my favourite city in the world! We're in a very chilly but beautiful Romania at the moment.
We might have been there at the same time! We were there during December. We had a central flat where we could watch all the Zambombas and Christmas festivities. Pretty magical. Also, the sherry! I pushed Sherry so hard back in my wine store ownership days, I love it so much.
I love your articles! The one on Ted Lasso and interested, curious people was great as you come across these non ones all the time, and just want to get out of there. You find your own tribe eventually, and you may not be particularly interesting to some people, but there are always those out there that will click with you, and you with them. Note...they are not to be found on social media, an egotistical and toxic place at the best of times, people sadly trying more to boost their own fragility. I'd love someone to do a study on influencers and the rate of divorced or busted or dysfunctional and broken homes they have come from. I think there is a correlation, if not for that then, then for a destructive and narcissistic desire to be wanted or make money. It is a worldwide thing, from the US where it is the worst, to 3rd world corrupt countries where it is more about making cash from their desperate lives ... these ones want in on fame from social media sadly, and use it to validate their identities, or make some cash from their impoverished lives. Neither works long term though!
Hi, Charlie. I finally have a steady income and some earnings from other sources, that still come to just under $2K a month. I am happier than I have ever been! No "Comfort Creep" will be going on with me. I have cut my expenses to less than $500/month, so I have a lot of surplus funds to tackle that pesky VISA bill that ran out of control while I had a wildly fluctuating income. I'm going on a holiday and attending a convention this summer. Instead of staying in a hotel, I'll be in a 1-bedroom apartment in a condo building for five days, at about half the cost of the convention hotel. I'm going to get some essential groceries before I "check in" so I can always have 2 meals a day in my temporary home. The last two days I'll be visiting friends, so no real accommodation cost there. But I'll do my bit by cooking and washing the dishes. Including airfare, the whole cost of my week's holiday comes to about $1700. I expect to enjoy it thoroughly.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot! I much prefer staying in apartments anyway, they feel more homely.
Not a word here I can disagree with . We, too, have put up with a lot of less than pleasant things. The insanely loud bar underneath our apartment in Istanbul. Kneeling on my knees to wash dishes in the bathtub for six weeks in Keszthely, Hungary, because the kitchen sink was broken. And just a couple of months ago freezing in the Netherlands because the Airbnb host wouldn't turn up the heat.
Yet, when I got a hot water bottle to keep warm with I was so grateful. No, I wouldn't choose to be cold enough again to need a hot water bottle, but being that cold was a reminder of how nice it is to be warm, which I take much less for granted now.
I'm not sure how one avoids comfort creep or to convince other people that corporations are constantly scamming them.
6 weeks washing up in a bathtub - oof that must have gotten so annoying!!
It wasn't fun. But then you remind yourself there are still people washing their clothes in rivers -- often dirty rivers -- and that it's only six weeks and that you are insanely lucky to be traveling the world, and you get over it. With a little whining! LOL.
First time hearing of the term 'comfort creep' and I understand the concept. I loved reading your article and the way we shift goals has me thinking.
Thanks Wambui! Pleased to have you here
This article is needed! Well said. I started simplifying my life last year in little ways and it’s made all the difference.
So pleased to hear that Heather!
Hi Charlie. I can totally resonate with this! My husband and I are currently travelling Europe in a campervan where we have to think about things we would normally take for granted such as where are we going to be able to get our next hot shower, or where we can top up our water or figuring out where we are going to park to sleep. We are used to living so comfortably and this lifestyle has given us a new found appreciation of life and the little things, something we never really did when living in our house in the UK. I'm very happy to have stumbled across your newsletter 😊
Oh the dream! We are planning on getting one this year for the four of us! I am so excited but also I hear you on the comforts of home!
How exciting!! It's such a fabulous experience and opens up places you wouldn't have thought of exploring 😊
It's funny how quick you adapt to not having those comforts, and you learn so much about yourself whilst doing so.
That's very cool indeed! Whereabouts are you now? There must be extra challenges during the winter as well, I suppose?
We are in Spain. We left the Malaga area on Sunday and we are currently making our way to Valencia and eventually Barcelona by the end of the month! How about you?
Oh yes. Winter brings new challenges, we are using a fair bit of LPG due to needing the heater and the prospect of a shower is more of a dream than reality 😂
Brilliant. We were down in Jerez late last year, I love Andalucia. And Barcelona is my favourite city in the world! We're in a very chilly but beautiful Romania at the moment.
Jerez is fab and we were there late last year too! Andalucia is the best. Such an amazing area of Spain.
I'm pretty excited to see Barcelona!
Lovely, the cold is worth it if you are somewhere that beautiful 😊
We might have been there at the same time! We were there during December. We had a central flat where we could watch all the Zambombas and Christmas festivities. Pretty magical. Also, the sherry! I pushed Sherry so hard back in my wine store ownership days, I love it so much.
BCN is the best, hopefully you'll love it
Did you see Substack is profiling your newsletter this week?!! 🥰
I did! I'm beyond happy😍
So well deserved! I always check there so hope you get lots of new subs Cx
It's been great for subs so far! And thank you! I really appreciate it
I love your articles! The one on Ted Lasso and interested, curious people was great as you come across these non ones all the time, and just want to get out of there. You find your own tribe eventually, and you may not be particularly interesting to some people, but there are always those out there that will click with you, and you with them. Note...they are not to be found on social media, an egotistical and toxic place at the best of times, people sadly trying more to boost their own fragility. I'd love someone to do a study on influencers and the rate of divorced or busted or dysfunctional and broken homes they have come from. I think there is a correlation, if not for that then, then for a destructive and narcissistic desire to be wanted or make money. It is a worldwide thing, from the US where it is the worst, to 3rd world corrupt countries where it is more about making cash from their desperate lives ... these ones want in on fame from social media sadly, and use it to validate their identities, or make some cash from their impoverished lives. Neither works long term though!
Thanks Khuneelle! Really pleased you're enjoying the articles.