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My partner enjoys reading reddit and had mentioned that I should read the blog of Mr. Money Mustache. I went to his site and read a random article about him being sued, decided this blog wasn’t for me and moved on. I had such patience back then 🙂 . A few months later I returned randomly, saw the site had undergone a complete overhaul and was welcomed by a giant Start Here. Instead of reading about him being sued I was taken on a step-by-step journey of how he retired at 31. This began a month long obsession of reading everything MMM has ever written.I started with the basics: His journey to financial independence, how his family did it and his recommendations for a fulfilling life. I didn’t realize it at the time, but his blog was the turning point that got me really interested in F.I. and believing I could easily accomplish it. My partner and a few people in my life had mentioned it in passing and even shown me the steps to take to achieve financial independence and retire early, but somehow it wasn’t until MMM’s blog that I got the kick in the pants that I needed.
Other blogs that discuss the specifics of the Stock Market (JLCollinsNH.com) and how to plan for long term home expenses (RootofGood.com) were all fascinating, but it was MMM that laid the foundation to let me know I could do this. He says it quite well in his About Me page, which I shockingly hadn’t read until a few days ago, many months after my obsession began. He says that his goal is to create a lifestyle blog that shows through example that this lifestyle is not only possible, but extremely enjoyable. And he is completely right. His brash style and no nonsense words were what finally made me realize I could do this.
Since I started implementing a few changes in my life that involve optimizing every experience and making sure my happiness and effort/spending are properly correlated, I’ve become almost ecstatic. I’ve eliminated all the activities I used to perform because I was expected to: fancy dinners with lackluster service accompanied by unnecessary bar tabs and taxis home because that’s just what you do in New York City. Instead I’ve become much more involved with my investments: maxing out my retirement accounts and learning everything I can so I understand the market and how to play in it. Instead of telling myself I should be excited to visit an exclusive restaurant or bar, for the first time I actually look forward to each of my paychecks — not to spend the money, but to watch my investments grow.
And I have Mr. Money Mustache’s wisdom and brash style to thank for all of that. His “face punching” was somehow exactly what I needed to wake up, re-evaluate the advice my partner and others had been giving me and take control of my life. Without this awakening I would probably still be planning to live in the expensive wasteland that is New York City indefinitely, attending fancy dinners I’m not looking forward to and in the future buying a car and house on credit because that’s just what everyone else does. Now I have discovered what makes me happy: making home cooked meals with my partner, walking instead of putting my life in a crazy taxi driver’s hands and having friends over for drinks instead of meeting them at a loud bar full of strangers. I always had a preference, but never had the courage or as MMM says “badassity,” to do what I want. And the fact that I’m saving a majority of my salary is just icing on the cake.
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After a whirlwind month including the choice to move in order to triple my income (how easy!), I am finally ready to settle down and fully binge your site.
I first came across FIRE in 2011 and even met Pete through friends in Vegas who FIRE’d early. I had some shit to work through, though, and for about five years, nights out and getting involved in the spirits industry is what kept me sane.
Thankfully, I am in a new, wonderful phase, assisted by therapy and a lot of better choices, in which I prefer to stay home, cook and (hopefully soon!) spend time with my as-yet-unpurchased dog. (While I’ve read MMM’s view on pets, I am 36 and this will be a huge step forward for me in terms of mental health and focusing my energy on another living being instead of spending to assuage boredom, or out of poor coping skills).
Phew! That was a LOT, but my point is that I am excited to follow your journey, and you are certainly not the first to ignore FIRE until it aligned with your goals and values. That might be a weird way to look at it, but the truth is, I don’t really regret my spendy years. I had a fulfilling career, visited many countries, and did what I needed to survive some emotional disasters.
Now, though, it suddenly feels so obvious and achievable–even with debt! Now that I’m in a place where housing is paid for and and I am firm on and excited by my values, the future is laid out for me in a beautiful way.
Thanks for leaving behind this written record for those of who may be older, but are financially younger, than you!
Congratulations on making the move and tripling your income – that’s so impressive! And I’m happy to have you here 🙂 .
I’m binging your blog the way you binged MMM. My scenario is different as I live in a low cost area, and have high interest debt. But hopefully in 15 years I can join FIRE.
WOW. That is SUCH high praise – thank you for telling me that!!! Every incremental positive change to finances is an improvement. You’ve got this!