I really admire all these cats that retire at age 30, age 35 with enough money saved from their good salaries and their wise decisions and their frugal ways. I’m not being facetious here.
But what I want to say is: Getting even some control over your finances can be a big win. I’m not financially free, but I’m free-er than I’ve been in 30 years. I didn’t retire at age 35—or even age 50, for that matter—but I’m moving in a direction of my choosing where I feel like I’m an actor and not simply acted upon.
Somehow, the pivot is what is most important here. At least for me. At least at this point.
Off the top of my head, here are three ways that moving in the direction of financial freedom has made me freer:
*Because I’ve accumulated a little bit of money this year, I don’t have to panic every time something breaks and needs repair. It’s a really different feeling to hear your car make a weird noise and feel that’s a pain in the neck but it can be dealt with instead of feeling like: “Oh no. Oh no. Oh God no.”
*I’m remembering the fine feeling of challenging myself to grow in a new and important way.
*I work a very particular muscle every time I interrogate a purchase and decide against making it. It feels good to watch that muscle become stronger.
But I’ve still got a long way to go. Nina Simone captures the sentiment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfQNdwgvJMw