MONEY OBEDIENCE

Why I Don’t Need to be Financially Independent

Maybe I should not be blogging about personal finance, because I am not really seeking to become “financially independent.” Is that really bad? It may sound like I am suffering from a lack of ambition, but the way I feel about it is, as long as I can feed my family, keep a warm roof over our heads, and as long as I’m able to work, things are good. Everything else I get or have is just gravy –  nice, but not essential. Of course, I thrive to do well at work, and this sometimes leads to a good income, and this, in turn makes life in today’s world a little easier. But again, thriving and having extra money is not essential. Having enough – well, that’s key. And that’s my goal.

The last weekend made me aware of all this and, moreover, taught me a very important lesson in personal finance. Even though I didn’t spend much time outside, I had an awesome weekend. (If you have read this blog for a while, you may know by now that I spend as much time outdoors as possible.) Come to think of it, not only was I indoors, I even did a bit of housework! But that too was pleasurable because it gave me a sense of accomplishment. I also got to cook a couple meals, and these dishes (if I may say so myself) were tasty, and suitable for a colder spring day.

What made this past weekend so great was quite simple. I spent such great times with my wife and our little boys. Everybody was pleasant, funny, and entertaining, and we enjoyed each other while the rain was coming down outside. The mood inside the house was quite different from the dreary day we saw through the windows. This joy was the real treasure of the past weekend.

What did I need to enjoy such a great weekend? Feeding my family and keeping a warm roof over our heads. That’s it. I did not need a flat-screen TV, a big car in the garage, nice clothes in the closet. Nor did I need to be financially independent.

So, let me ask you something. Why on earth would I ever want to sacrifice those precious times I can spend with loved ones? Why would I want to acquire things instead? Sure, I could work more hours, or decide I need more money (which would also mean I’d likely have to take a more demanding job). But how would I feel if I had a little bit more money in the bank instead of having such a fulfilled weekend?

Bookmark It

Posted in Uncategorized