> When you are young spend at least 6 months to one year living as poor as you can, owning as little as you possibly can, eating beans and rice in a tiny room or tent, to experience what your “worst” lifestyle might be. That way any time you have to risk something in the future you won’t be afraid of the worst case scenario.<p>Done it around my 24, I lived 2 years without spending any money, except for my room rent (I was paying by cheques, since you don't really need a credit-card anymore in my case). I ate from student restaurants bread leftovers, markets ends (lots of fruits/vegs), and sometimes supermarket bins with other persons<p>You change dramatically after that, it's like a new life, with new values, minimalism, endurance, you know much more yourself. Why I did so? I don't know, I started for a few days, a week, then I didn't stop, there was some intent to save money, but the benefit was of course different, you actually risk to lose money, by losing your job, luckily it didn't happen, but I wasn't very productive