5 Steps to Embrace Lifestyle Deflation Without Deprivation
5 Steps to Embrace Lifestyle Deflation Without Deprivation
The Minimal Investor
Written by Adam on March 28, 2021.
Are you one of the millions of Americans who are currently rethinking their finances? If you want to reset and reevaluate not only your money but what your life will be after the pandemic, there are ways to bring it all into balance without feeling deprived.
Let me know if this sounds familiar. When you were younger, you had less money than you have now. You worked hard, and every dollar you earned was a new opportunity to support yourself, buy something fun or have an exciting experience.
As you progressed in your career, perhaps you upgraded different parts of your life. You worked hard, and every dollar you earned was a new opportunity to support yourself, buy something fun, or have exciting experiences with new people. As you made more money, you probably bought more things. Maybe you upgraded from an apartment to a house. Or from an inexpensive area to the center of a city. Or from a cheap used car to buying your dream car.
The path to lifestyle deflation goes at your own pace
How far down this path you go depends on when you pause to reflect. Some people never do and end up with piles of debt, cluttered houses, and empty hearts.
There’s a name for this: hedonic adaptation (also called the hedonic treadmill). Over time you add more luxuries to your life. You start using a dishwasher. Each adult gets their own car. You buy an Instant Pot. As time goes on, this life becomes your new baseline. The cost to support your lifestyle climbs ever higher, but it’s hard to figure out what you could cut out.
Did you know that you can change the speed of your treadmill? You can choose to slow it down and to live a more simple life. You can even lower the speed and bring the life you love with you. Let’s look at a few thought-exercises you can do today (or at any time) to nudge your mindset in a new direction.
1. Find What “Enough” Means To You
For everything in life – from money to possessions to relationships – there’s a sweet spot. Too many relationships, and you’ll be overwhelmed. Too few, and you’ll yearn for more connection to the world (just ask 2020). The trick is finding the sweet spot where you have enough.
Yet most of us, myself included, don’t think about how much enough truly is. If you never reevaluate what enough means to you, how will you ever know when you’re there? You might even have reached enough already but don’t even know it. You could slow down the treadmill while maintaining the same level of happiness you have today.
The concept of enough spans many aspects of your life:
Enough relationships – Does that mean one life partner? 5 close friends? 5,000 Instagram followers? A group that goes to brunch every week? What do enough relationships look like to you?
Enough money – Is it being able to pay bills and support your family? To afford an education? To create a better future for those you love? Is it enough to become financially independent and retire early?
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
Coffee with MarkZ, joined by Bob Lock. 08/31//2026
MarkZ Disclaimer: Please consider everything on this call as my opinion. Be sure to consult a professional for any financial decisions
MZ: US strikes on Iran over the weekend, fuel lines, and progress in Iraq. Bob Lock joins us at around the 30minute mark. Dr. Max will join around 1 hour in to talk about the mushroom farm event September 12th.
THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS FOR GENERAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY&NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN MARKZ’S OPINION ONLY
Note: All intel should be considered as "Rumors" until we receive official announcements ...and “Rates and Dates” could change anytime until we get to the banks/redemption centers.
RV Excerpts from the Restored Republic via a GCR Update as of Mon. 31 Aug. 2026
Compiled Mon. 31 Aug. 2026 12:01 am EST by Judy Byington
Judy Note:As of Mon. 31 Aug. 2026 the new gold/asset-backed Quantum Financial System Global Currency Reset (GCR) was set to activate.
The Rising Dollar Is Testing Banking Reforms; The Central Bank Is Changing Rules, But The Parallel Market Is Resisting.
August 30, 2026Last updated: August 30, 2026 Al-Mustaqilla/Baghdad/- The dollar is still being sold in the Iraqi parallel market at a significant difference from the price announced by the Central Bank, despite a series of banking and regulatory measures implemented by the authorities during the past months in an attempt to restructure the financial sector and expand official channels for obtaining foreign currency.
Good Morning Dinar Recaps,
Global Bond Markets Flash Warning Signals: Oil Shock Forces Investors to Reprice Debt and Rates
Rising energy prices and renewed rate-hike expectations are pushing global borrowing costs higher, exposing growing pressure across sovereign debt markets.
TNT:
Tishwash: Companies at the Erbil Exhibition: The Iraqi market is promising for attracting new investments.
Local and foreign companies participating in the Erbil International Construction and Infrastructure Exhibition, currently being held in Erbil, are looking for opportunities for new partnerships and investments in the Iraqi market, with a focus on modern construction technologies, sustainable energy and infrastructure solutions.
Abdul Malik Qasim, the director of one of the Iraqi companies, told Shafaq News Agency that "participation this year goes beyond just displaying products; it is a real opportunity to conclude strategic contracts," noting that the Iraqi market is witnessing a boom in infrastructure projects, and that the presence of local companies reflects the ability of the Iraqi private sector to compete with and integrate with foreign partnerships.
MilitiaMan & Crew: The Dinar Value Shift: What You Need to Know
8-30-2026
The Crew: Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man
No drama. No intrigue. No songs and dances. Just straight, factual news that I read and interpret to the best of my ability after being an avid Dinar investor and insanely obsessed Dinarian for over 15 years.
Follow MM on X == https://x.com/Slashn
KTFA
Sunday Night Video
FRANK26….8-30-26….ANNOUNCEMENT
This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only
Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie and Omar in Iraq and guests
Playback Number: 605-313-5163 PIN: 156996#
Rob Cunningham: Ripple Turning SWIFT’s 14-Month Window into a Trojan Horse
8-29-2026
Oopsie, Mr. SWIFT.
“Ring-Ring”
“Hello?”
“I’m Ripple.”
“Glad you called! What’s up?”
Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Sunday Afternoon8-30-26
Al-Amiri: I Assure Everyone There Will Be No Confrontation Between The State And The Resistance - 8/30/2026
Baghdad - INA - 8/30/2026 The Secretary-General of the Badr Organization Hadi al-Amiri said there would be no confrontation whatsoever between the state and the IRI resistance, stressing that the Coordination Framework had agreed on a decision to combat corruption and those responsible for it.
Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,
The Fed's Rate Warning Meets America's Debt Problem: The Dollar Enters a New Phase
The Federal Reserve's renewed willingness to raise interest rates is colliding with a very different problem: a U.S. government carrying more than $40 trillion in debt while long-term Treasury yields remain elevated. The result is a new tension between defending the dollar's purchasing power and managing the cost of America's debt.
Fed vs. Treasury: The $1 Trillion Gold Revaluation Plan? | Mario Innecco
Liberty and Finance: 8-29-2026
Mario Innecco warns that the Federal Reserve may be far less capable of fighting inflation than its rhetoric suggests, arguing that changing CPI methodology masks the true erosion of purchasing power.
He discusses the possibility of the Treasury revaluing U.S. gold to generate roughly $1 trillion that could potentially be used for Treasury buybacks and yield-curve control.
TNT:
Tishwash: Venezuela is considering leaving OPEC.
Informed sources reported on Friday that Venezuela is seriously considering withdrawing from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). They revealed that this issue was the focus of recent discussions between Venezuelan and American officials, though no official decision has yet been reached.
These developments come at a time when Venezuela's oil influence in global energy markets has clearly diminished, following years of economic sanctions and internal turmoil that have reduced its production to less than half of the levels recorded a decade ago.
Note: All intel should be considered as "Rumors" until we receive official announcements ...and “Rates and Dates” could change anytime until we get to the banks/redemption centers.
RV Excerpts from the Restored Republic via a GCR Update as of Sun. 30 Aug. 2026
Compiled Sun. 30 Aug. 2026 12:01 am EST by Judy Byington
Judy Note: As a World we have been connected by a Global Financial System – that since at least 1871 has been ruled by Deep state Elites who have kept us in debt to do their bidding.
The Rising Dollar Is Testing Banking Reforms; The Central Bank Is Changing Rules, But The Parallel Market Is Resisting
Last updated: August 30, 2026 Al-Mustaqilla/Baghdad/- The dollar is still being sold in the Iraqi parallel market at a significant difference from the price announced by the Central Bank, despite a series of banking and regulatory measures implemented by the authorities during the past months in an attempt to restructure the financial sector and expand official channels for obtaining foreign currency.
Good Morning Dinar Recaps,
The G20 Financial Test: U.S. Debt, Iran and Trade Reshape the Global Economic Order
As the world's major economies gather for a G20 finance meeting, the financial system is being tested on several fronts at once: rising U.S. debt and bond yields, the economic consequences of the Iran war, trade tensions and Washington's attempt to use the dollar-centered financial system as leverage.
KTFA
Saturday Night Video
FRANK26…8-29-26…AKI TALKS
This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only
Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie and Omar in Iraq and guests
Iraq Is Running Short On Dinar…Why NOW ?
The Dinar Den: 8-28-2026
In a recent detailed analysis, Stephen, the host of The Dinar Den and an entrepreneur who has tracked the Iraqi dinar market since 2011, provided an in-depth breakdown of the ongoing monetary shifts within the country.
Rather than relying on online rumors or speculative hype, Stephen approaches the situation with the grounded pragmatism of a seasoned investor, prioritizing verified data, on-the-ground reports, and economic fundamentals to explain what is happening behind the scenes in Baghdad.
Texas Digital Gold: Sound Money or a New Gatekeeper?
Lynette Zang: 8-29-2026
Texas is taking a major step toward sound money by recognizing qualifying gold and silver specie as legal tender—and preparing for an electronic currency backed by bullion held in the Texas Bullion Depository.
Lynette Zang breaks down why the real questions are about redemption, ownership, auditing, competition, and whether this new digital rail ultimately strengthens individual sovereignty or creates another gatekeeper.
Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,
BRICS Moves Beyond De-Dollarization: The Push for Digital Currency and Cross-Border Settlement
India is preparing to put cross-border digital payments, central-bank digital currencies and local-currency trade at the center of the upcoming BRICS summit — signaling that the next stage of financial diversification may be about building new payment infrastructure rather than simply abandoning the dollar.
Ariel: Venezuela Lopped 14 Zeroes off its Currency
8-31-2026
Hypothetically Speaking:
Venezuela has lopped 14 zeroes off its currency since 2008. The “Soberano” series itself was redenominated into the “Digital” Bolivar in 2021 at a 1:1,000,000 ratio.
Venezuela pegs VES to XRP/XLM/ADA infrastructure and backs it with oil+gold reserves at a fixed rate. Ex-Reval- triggers globally — $300 (VES-Digitales Soberano) million on 1B notes at 30 cents is your number.