Finances
I’ve had a lot of opportunity and support over the course of
my life. I’m lucky to have parents who
guided me, built my moral compass, and taught me the value of a hard day’s
work. I’ve got an education (formal and
otherwise), that few are fortunate enough to have received. All of these things have put me on a path
towards happiness and financial stability.
I’ve done my best to capitalize on all of these advantages and here I
am: happy and financially stable.
When opportunities for more responsibility and pay presented themselves at work, I busted my ass to deserve them. When I realized I could live with three people instead of two in the house I was renting, I got rid of a bunch of stuff and moved into a smaller room. When I bought clothes, I went to the thrift store first. In short, I’ve worked hard and lived frugally for the past few years. In doing this, I was able to put away a small nest egg.
Many of my peers, at this point in their lives, are buying new cars or purchasing their first home. This would seem to be the typical route of the young professional and most folks walk down it without questioning why. But when you stop to think, it becomes clear that these societal norms come at very high costs. Is that shiny new car with the heated steering wheel and the satellite radio going to make you happier? Do you really need it? Because you could trade it for a small sailboat and still have enough money to sail down to Mexico and live like a king for a year.
That sounds pretty damn good to me. I don’t need that heated steering wheel.
When opportunities for more responsibility and pay presented themselves at work, I busted my ass to deserve them. When I realized I could live with three people instead of two in the house I was renting, I got rid of a bunch of stuff and moved into a smaller room. When I bought clothes, I went to the thrift store first. In short, I’ve worked hard and lived frugally for the past few years. In doing this, I was able to put away a small nest egg.
Many of my peers, at this point in their lives, are buying new cars or purchasing their first home. This would seem to be the typical route of the young professional and most folks walk down it without questioning why. But when you stop to think, it becomes clear that these societal norms come at very high costs. Is that shiny new car with the heated steering wheel and the satellite radio going to make you happier? Do you really need it? Because you could trade it for a small sailboat and still have enough money to sail down to Mexico and live like a king for a year.
That sounds pretty damn good to me. I don’t need that heated steering wheel.
