We discuss why you should stop thinking about money in terms of being rich and instead think about ways it can grant you freedom.  USA USA!

Money isn’t about being rich.  Money is about choice and the freedom that goes along with being able to make decisions when money is not the only deciding factor.

What are You Working For?

You go to work five days (or more) a week for 40 hours (or more). Even if you love your job, it’s time away from the other things you love, your family, your friends, your hobbies. Most of us will spend decades of our lives working.

And for what? A house bigger than you really need or can afford full of stuff you never use and don’t even remember buying? To pay off credit cards that you charged that house full of stuff to? For the occasional vacation that you can’t really afford and your boss gives you a hard time about taking?

For the status that driving a BMW and wearing expensive clothing gives you? To impress people who don’t care and whom you don’t like? If any of this sounds like your life, you’ve imprisoned yourself. Maybe you realize it and maybe you don’t but you’re in debtor’s prison and you don’t have much freedom.

Take This Job

Have you ever had a job you hated so much that you were afraid to go to sleep at night because you know the next morning is coming fast and you’ll have to face it again? Or maybe you don’t hate your job but money is so tight that you have to go in no matter how sick you might be. Not everyone gets sick pay.

Ideally everyone would have a job that they love, doing what they want to do. That’s not realistic for everyone and I think most of us can be largely satisfied if our job is bearable; that the work has some meaning, we (mostly) get along with our collegues, the pay is enough to pay all of our bills and have some savings.

But that isn’t the reality for everyone. If you have a job that doesn’t provide any of that and is sucking the life out of you, you feel stuck. No one should spend a third of their day in completely misery. That feeling is the opposite of freedom.

What Money Can Buy

When people dream about having money, it’s often the things they would buy that they fantisize about. But material things are not the best part of having money, not even if you have a garage full of Lambos.

Money can buy choices and choices mean freedom. You hate your job? You can quit and take your time finding a better one. In an unhappy relationship? You don’t have to stay, you can take your money and leave. Hate the town you live in? Call the movers.

Money can buy convenience. You’re too tired to make dinner? Order out. You don’t have time to clean your house? Hire a cleaning service. You’ve been told to evacuate because of a hurricane? Woo! You’re not going to sit in a flooded house with no electricity for a week. You’re going to Destin to chill on the beach.(This one is specific to me because I live in New Orleans and it’s my plan but you get the point).

Money can buy time. You had a baby and you don’t want to go back to work? You’re a stay at home parent now. Your sister is having a destination wedding in Antigua? Excellent, pack your bags. Your mom had surgery and needs you to stay with her for a few weeks? Cancel your appointments, you’re going to be out of town.

All of these examples are examples of having control over your own life, not feeling trapped. When we feel like we’re trapped and we don’t have choices, we feel unhappy and anxious. So money can buy…

Money can buy happiness. We feel happy when we have control over our own lives. Money can also buy happiness if you know what to buy. Too many people think buying things brings happiness.