Looking back at how my parents spent their past decades of retired life (i.e., mostly sitting in front of the TV), my biggest fear is that one day I will get out of the workforce so old and decrepit that all I can do is park my body in front of a TV set, and quietly and unobtrusively wait for the end of my life. This fear, and my more recent disenchantment with the work I am paid for, propelled me into the world of Financial Independence (FI) blogs. First I stumbled upon the Mr. Money Mustache blog, then little by little, I discovered a whole alternative universe of websites and blogs that preach early retirement through financial independence. What did I learn?
1. I learned that I should have found these websites earlier in life and saved more. It would have been nice to be ahead in the game; however, I had made the huge mistake of obtaining a graduate degree and start working at 32, age at which several of the admired by me young retirees were already enjoying their FI (check out Mr. Money Mustache and Brave New Life).
- Lesson 1: Although I have “lost” many years in the race to FI, I can still aim at retiring before 65 :).
2. Mostly men (almost superhumans) embark on the path of extreme early retirement. If they are married, they have to tread a thin line to bring their wives on board. I did find a few women blogging about their way of achieving financial stability, but none as successful as the male counterparts.
- Lesson 2: Hmm, I am a woman, the transgender process is expensive; therefore, I may try to adopt a more male-like attitude without the male physique :).
3. In stark contrast to my new idols, the male FI superhumans, I have to shout, “Long Live the Consumerism!” And so should all early retiree-wannabes do, if they want to achieve their goal of FI. If there were no rampant consumerism around us, our investments would spiral in the void. In fact, there would be nothing to blog about on achieving early FI, since everyone would be doing it. I used to watch House Hunters International, and how people would buy million-dollar mansions for vacation homes on Barbados, or somewhere else sunny and dreamy. Well, I must say, continue buying! And by the way, there are so-o-o many other things you can buy, buy, buy!
- Lesson 3: Encourage the consumerism of others :).
4. Curiously, the FI superhuman retirees can be categorized broadly into two categories of cancer cells. First, let me emphasize that I do not imply that the behavior of young FI people resembles this of cancer cells (in fact they are more like useful immune cells). Anyway, I was recently reading how cancer cells exhibit two mutually exclusive ways of existence: the proliferation mode or the invasion mode. That is, cells that divide (propagate) cannot invade and metastasize, and vice versa. Listening to the YouTube podcasts of Mad FIentist brought me to the realization that the FI people are either traveling the world (migrating) or having children. Hmm, I think I must forgo the migration for now – my child is still growing.
- Lesson 4: I am teasing you…it is a personal choice whether to have children or just roam the world. I love my child, and I actually learn from this young person! I liked the Script of Life post by Brave New Life: we all have a default life script, but we can re-write it.
On a serious note, now I know that increased awareness about spending and saving is the way to go. I no longer care about being pampered or looking that great (as long as I look decent). What I care however, is not to end up working from 9 to 5 at age, when my bodily functions will be compromised…
Also, to the FI websites/blogs and their creators: thank you, you inspired me, and I am your devoted apprentice! The quest for FI is frequently a road of self-improvement and growth, and you gentlemen (and a few ladies) are almost superhuman! I am starting my road of self-improvement today, and I know that this is a road of a creator, builder, fixer, and less of a consumer.
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