Comments on: Wealth is not about the money http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html Financial independence, frugality, self-sufficiency, ecology, capitalism, and voluntary simplicity Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:30:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Kristin http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html#comment-268 Kristin Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:00:18 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html#comment-268 Becoming Financially independent has made a huge difference in my outlook. I am much more at ease and savor everyday, not just weekends. I still work full time at the same job that helped get me to independence, but now I have the "power". The job doesn't own me. I can walk out anytime. I actually enjoy work more now than ever. So yes, being Fin Indep and having the ability to choose is liberating, but the one thing that I also recognize now is that most of the job stress and pressure to perform was of my own making! Becoming Financially independent has made a huge difference in my outlook. I am much more at ease and savor everyday, not just weekends. I still work full time at the same job that helped get me to independence, but now I have the “power”. The job doesn’t own me. I can walk out anytime. I actually enjoy work more now than ever.

So yes, being Fin Indep and having the ability to choose is liberating, but the one thing that I also recognize now is that most of the job stress and pressure to perform was of my own making!

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html#comment-236 Jacob Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:22:31 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html#comment-236 Right on! Wealth is all about having options. Odd as it may sound, I would prefer to have the <a href="http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/on-how-car-dealerships-helped-me-save-money.html" rel="nofollow">option to buy a car</a>, for instance, rather than buying a car. I also prefer to have some financial backing to my freedom. It is certainly a possibility to live hand to mouth if one is not carrying around a lot of stuff. However, it is also hard to switch back to renting or owning without having saved any money. Right on! Wealth is all about having options. Odd as it may sound, I would prefer to have the option to buy a car, for instance, rather than buying a car. I also prefer to have some financial backing to my freedom. It is certainly a possibility to live hand to mouth if one is not carrying around a lot of stuff. However, it is also hard to switch back to renting or owning without having saved any money.

]]> By: Amanda @ Me vs Debt http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html#comment-233 Amanda @ Me vs Debt Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:56:11 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/01/wealth-is-not-about-the-money.html#comment-233 Jacob, you rock! I enjoy this post on many levels. Ownership of my time is one is my top priority. It just so happens that I enjoy things that make me money right now, but that could change any time. With my current obligations I'd be stuck taking whatever I could get. I'm definitely one of those people that couldn't afford to miss more than one paycheck because I am owned by visa, mastercard, and the federal government - chained down by credit and loans. This post summarizes my motivation for becoming debt free. I'll 'suffer' now to be free later. I'd rather live under my means forever than be risk becoming stagnant. Oh what I would give for a clean slate. You know, I have friends that choose to live an alternative lifestyle. They hitchhike around the country for months at a time -- 'couchsurfing', working on farms, sleeping in tents, carrying everything they own on their backs. Might sound crazy, but I've wanted nothing more than to join them. They own nothing and have nothing which truly allows them to be free. With tens of thousands of dollars of debt I couldn't even manage to take one trip without risking my future. Now that I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel I don't want to quit my job and hitchhike out to a farm, I just want the option :) Lastly I feel very lucky to have been brought up with a middle class mentality even though we were technically poor. That allowed me to escape a cycle that the friends I grew up with will never even realize they are a part of. I wouldn't give up my education for anything even though the whole experience set me back. However, now that I'm an adult I'm ready to put middle class behind me and live the rest of my life wealthy and free. Like you said, its all in the mind. Making the decision is as good as being there. The rest just takes time and commitment. Jacob, you rock! I enjoy this post on many levels. Ownership of my time is one is my top priority. It just so happens that I enjoy things that make me money right now, but that could change any time. With my current obligations I’d be stuck taking whatever I could get. I’m definitely one of those people that couldn’t afford to miss more than one paycheck because I am owned by visa, mastercard, and the federal government - chained down by credit and loans.

This post summarizes my motivation for becoming debt free. I’ll ’suffer’ now to be free later. I’d rather live under my means forever than be risk becoming stagnant.

Oh what I would give for a clean slate. You know, I have friends that choose to live an alternative lifestyle. They hitchhike around the country for months at a time — ‘couchsurfing’, working on farms, sleeping in tents, carrying everything they own on their backs. Might sound crazy, but I’ve wanted nothing more than to join them. They own nothing and have nothing which truly allows them to be free. With tens of thousands of dollars of debt I couldn’t even manage to take one trip without risking my future. Now that I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel I don’t want to quit my job and hitchhike out to a farm, I just want the option :)

Lastly I feel very lucky to have been brought up with a middle class mentality even though we were technically poor. That allowed me to escape a cycle that the friends I grew up with will never even realize they are a part of. I wouldn’t give up my education for anything even though the whole experience set me back. However, now that I’m an adult I’m ready to put middle class behind me and live the rest of my life wealthy and free. Like you said, its all in the mind. Making the decision is as good as being there. The rest just takes time and commitment.

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