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For those who want the short version:

GS' bonus system has a screwy bonus system that isn't very predictable, and most people live well above their salary, relying on the bonus.

So instead he thinks you should earn nothing, and that way you ... Wait, no, you'd still be living above your means.

Sheesh.

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Income: twenty pounds. Expenses: twenty pounds, one shilling. Result: Misery.

Income: twenty pounds Expenses: nineteen pounds, nineteen shillings. Result: Happiness.

If he can find a way to live on ramen, he may be happy.

Surely, ninety-nine shillings?

Nope, shillings were pre decimalisation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilling

That was informative, thank you.

And we're using shillings because...?

It's a quote from Dickens.

Well, apart from the ramen bit. :)

I think his point was that it's better to work for yourself, than be some nameless peon at GS.

If you believe working for yourself is better than having shelter, food and a life, the more power to you.

It's romantic to imagine hoofing it alone, but be realistic- living costs money. It always has, if you consider money to be a replacement for labor- even if you drop out of "the system", you still need to work to provide for yourself to see another day.

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