Dear Reader,

Yeah, yeah, I'm supposed to grade papers right now. I've graded half already, so I can allow myself some procrastination. But this is on my mind and I want to share:

Cost of Living

I'm getting super annoyed with everyone complaining about the cost of living. I know that might be you and I understand. But I'm still very annoyed. Interestingly, I, as a low-income earner living in just a room, don't complain. Of course, this is a happiness thing and I'd therefore like to unpack that.

First of all, I don't really believe much has changed. Cost of living is just rising much quicker because nowadays workers get salary and wage increases faster... and there's a whole lot of striking to support that. Once the salaries go up, people can afford more, so food prices and everything else goes up. Then the salaries go up again and so on.

I believe that subsidising investment property (in Australia it's called negative gearing which means you can deduct the investment from your tax) is a real problem. Most property investors outsource the property renting to agencies. They have no relationship with the people living on that property and therefore don't care about them. So, when the interest rate increases because salaries and all prices have gone up - and it does every few years - they increase the rent. But they don't reduce the rent when the interest rate drops - which it also does every few years. So, rent is going up to benefit people who don't live in those places and then salaries need to go up again - no end of this trend in sight. The root cause is - and I repeat that I'm a (pacifist) anarchist - the system but that's for another day to write about.

So, I don't deny that things get more expensive. I just think that people who complain have lost perspective. Interestingly, all people who complain in discussions with me earn much much much more than me.

Luxury Goods

If you look at what they complain about specifically is that they can't buy property, food is more expensive and they expect to be able to buy all kinds of gadgets. I'm sorry but there's a lot of entitlement in there as if they all have a right to these things. I think everyone should have a place to live in but don't we? I certainly live in a house (where I rent one room) - so I can't complain. Of course, I'd like a 3 to 4-bedroom house but that's not in the cards right now and I have safe shelter - so all good.

Food is not that much more expensive. It's takeaway, restaurant and processed food which is more expensive. Chickpeas, lentils, potatoes, onions and seasonal fruit and vegetables are still quite affordable. I'm currently not a big meat eater but cheaper cuts and organs like liver are also not that expensive. If people are really struggling that much it might be a good idea to look at traditional unprocessed foods - they are healthier AND cheaper. Yeah, yeah, I know that's not what people want. That's because they want luxury items that are more expensive and made at the expense of low-income workers and the environment (processed food requires at least energy and packaging if not also a lot of chemicals). By the way, coffee, sugary treats and alcohol are also luxury goods. Indeed, they are not good for you when you treat them as everyday must-have.

Why is that important

By now, you're probably getting annoyed with me and I understand. While I do believe that this entitlement to luxury goods leads to over-consumption with which we destroy our habitat (don't worry, nature will keep existing, we are just destroying human living space), there is a happiness lesson. Since this newsletter is about exploring happiness, let's get there:

If we believe that we are entitled to luxury goods (everything that isn't basic needs such as food & clean water, safe shelter and social connection), we keep being unhappy. We want more. We believe it's ours and we are denied that right to have new technology, a big house, everyday coffee/alcohol/restaurant foods etc. That's a recipe for unhappiness, isn't it?

But if we'd appreciate that we can afford to meet our basic needs, it puts us in a much better position. We are not denied anything. Our lives are great and we can thrive. Yes, we dream of a bigger house or want to buy a book/phone/car/trip but we will figure out how to get there. It's not our right to have those but on us to find a way to get them. When we achieve those goals, we can celebrate and value them. That feels good and makes us... HAPPY. Yay.

Have a happy week!

Anja