If you ask a random 40-year-old in the corporate world what time of their life they had the most fun in, chances are they’ll tell you about the shenanigans they and their friends would get into during college. Their eyes will glaze over imagining the fun and freedom of their early 20’s.
Funny thing is they were probably all broke during college. Those successful 40-year-olds were working part-time jobs, driving crappy cars (or walking in my dad’s case) and eating ramen in their 20’s. All while possibly spending more than they earned, and paying for their education by going into debt.
Yet they were happy! (Read: money doesn’t buy happiness)
And I’m happy as a clam right now. Sure I don’t own any actual property or a car, and I spend well under $10,000 per year. But I love my life! I think a lot of people expect their lives to greatly improve once they make a solid salary, drive a new BMW, and live in a huge luxury apartment.
If you search for happiness in material things or showing off to other people, you’re going to always need more or nicer things. And you’re not gonna find meaningful, long-lasting happiness.
We find happiness in relationships, doing work we are passionate about, helping other people, and being healthy. None of these necessarily require money. Or a BMW.
What is required for these things that make us happy is time. That is why even when I start making a solid yearly salary, I will be saving as much money as I can to be able to have as much time as I need to engage in as many activities as I want to that make me happy.
Money = Time = Freedom to Do Things That Make You Happy
Conversely, if you spend all your money on silly things like cars, restaurant meals, the newest iPhone, or that 12th pair of shoes, then your equation will looks more like this:
Money = Things = Need for More Things = Need for More Money = More Work = Less Time
And less time means less relationships, hobbies, helpfulness, and health. And less happiness. #MoneyGoals
(Pictured: A tree yoga pose where a tree should be. Richardson, Texas, November 2015)