Very interesting article about consuming less!

My favorite quote: "Instead of growing the economy, maybe we need to recalibrate society to make everyone happier and successful with less."

well if someone was willing to paid us twice as much!   unless we are willing to live in a cheap 2bedroom with no cars and not do much, then we can afford to live on half off what we earn here.    now when the kids are out on their own plus the mortage is paid off then we can live on half the salary. 

of course that assumes that taxes etc will not go up because lately it seems every January, the govts on all levels tax us more then we get in raises!

For many folks I know ... the norm is now a 50 or 60 hour week, or they're tethered to a BlackBerry 24/7.    Not because they want to consume more, but because they're doing the work of 2, 3, or 4 folks ...

The author of the article seems to forget the origin of the 40-hour workweek. That was sought by unions in the 1920's and '30's when 6 days a week, 12 hours a day was the industrial norm. So the 40-hour week was a dramatic improvement in the quality of life for millions of people.

There will always be those who are not only willing, but eager, to work 50 or 60 hour or more weeks to build a better life for themselves and their families. Whether that is a wise course to take is another issue, but such will always be the case.

I'm good with my current 40 hour work week.  What I wish we had in the U.S. is a vacation allotment more similar to most European countries.  The average is around 30 days a year.  I was talking to my co-worker about this today and employment stuff is her speciality and when was studying for her masters she read several research articles showing a higher level of productivity in countries with higher levels of vacation days. 

MarthaMFI:

well if someone was willing to paid us twice as much!   unless we are willing to live in a cheap 2bedroom with no cars and not do much, then we can afford to live on half off what we earn here.    now when the kids are out on their own plus the mortage is paid off then we can live on half the salary. 

of course that assumes that taxes etc will not go up because lately it seems every January, the govts on all levels tax us more then we get in raises!

huh?? 21 hours no way I will work 40 I work 21 on my secound job willing to quit that one and keep the 40 hour one but I will not go anylower then I should this year Im paying off the last year of dh medical bills the last of it took me 3 years this is the 3rd we got dumped from his insurance Im now covered with a good one just not wanting to be caught with so called bloomers down again not for this usa but it does have a good side to it but don't want it ...

I wish I can say sign me up maybe in 2 years time I say ok do me now.

 I find this fascinating. My family opted to live in the city, rather than in the suburbs, because the cost of housing is so much lower. We opt to drive ten-year-old (or older) vehicles rather than the new and flashy ones. I buy my clothes secondhand, I walk to work... We could have the bigger house in the suburbs, we could have new vehicles, I could drive to work every day -- but then I would be worried about money, worried about getting a promotion so I could afford more nice things, worried about keeping my job when the economy sours.

I love the quote Treva picked out of the article. "Instead of growing the economy, maybe we need to recalibrate society to make everyone happier and successful with less." It makes me think of FDR's Second Bill of Rights. He wanted Americans to have the right to "adequate food and clothing and recreation," a "decent home," "adequate medical care," and a "good education."

I for one am okay with "adequate," with "decent," with "good." I don't need a Cadillac. I don't need a mansion. I think that many people today want the best of everything, and people are no longer content with "adequate," "decent," or "good." A lot of people seem to be looking for more -- and don't seem to have any understanding of the concept of "enough."

It just depends where you live.  We drive old cars, mine is 15 yrs old.  buy thrift store clothes, shop sales...my property assessment this year for a 1945 old small house $591,000.  even if  I moved to where it was cheaper maybe $350,000 a house...would be up north and a small town..and dh wouldn't have a job.  we bought before prices doubled by the way. 

and my house is not an expensive one. 

but we are willing to work for what we have.  rather have the house then live in a cramped two bedroom for the difference.