What does freedom mean when fortunate enough to live in a relatively free and peaceful society? For those of us lucky enough to not be worrying about Physiological or Safety Needs as in Maslow’s Hierarchy; For those of us interested in realizing Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self-actualization. What does freedom mean to you?

To me, it means the ability to say no to things I don’t want to do (better have enough “f*ck you money”), the freedom of mental space and time to create, and to make this world a better place.

Money enables all this, but money is not the destination. The destination is also the journey, which is to live your ideal life.

Our lives here can be short and unpredictable. I decided against the idea of deprivation and penny-pinching, and am trying to live the best life possible while reaching financial independence. Finding that balance has been and continues to be a challenge. The answer? Know where you are willing to spend money. What brings value to your life? Joy? Satisfaction? As I share, remember that everyone has different income levels and ways in which to spend money. Read for the thought process.

I decide what to spend on based on the value it brings:

• Food: what we put into our bodies matter – health is priceless.  In addition, I derive great pleasure from having tasty food. I can always go back to the basics when have other priorities.
• Shelter: a safe and relaxing home helps me reenergize every day. I splurged on a two-bedroom place (yes, I know, in San Francisco. During working-from-home in 2020 due to COVID19, this has proven to be a sanity saver.
• Experiences: including travel, and a variety of experiences with people I care about.
• Learning: to gain new skills and to elevate my worldview. See the post on getting an MBA.
• Items that conserve time and energy, or to increase joy in life. For example:
  • Spending ~$300 plus tax on a Dyson vacuum cleaner was 100% worth it. Three years of weekly vacuuming, totaling approximately 150 vacuums, results in ~$2 per clean plus electricity. For the quickness and ease of use, this has been a great purchase – vacuuming no longer feels like a chore! A clean space also brings me mental peace, that that is priceless.

Achieving FIRE is a journey. A journey to live the life that you want. That is the meaning of FIRE for me. I hope in this process, you will find what matters the most.