Climbing Mt. Financial Freedom

Who doesn’t love spending money?

When I was a 18 with a subpar beard, I thought I had to have the nicest watch, hottest clothes on the market and the newest cell phone in order to look & feel “cool.”

And boy did I think I was some hot stuff.

I was even nominated and selected as “Best Dressed of Class of 2012”

Yeah, yeah… laugh it up! Back then dressing up & looking good is all that really mattered to me because that was the little bubble I was living in within Chicopee, MA.

I had been working since the age of 13. All the dough that I made went straight into my pocket. Back then If I had $60, I was loaded.

Who wants a double cheese from Mickey D’s? I gotchu!

There was one year I played baseball in 6th grade. You would hope my best story / takeaway is about me hitting a ball deep center to win the game. I got some news for ya… not a chance. 

To be honest, I’m not sure if I even hit the ball into the outfield that year once. #NoShame.

The biggest takeaway was when our coach told us - “Listen up fellas! Make sure your uniforms are ironed & tucked in for the game today. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good!”

Roger that coach!

The idea of looking good and feeling confident is still something I strongly believe in today. The difference is I don’t think you need or have to have the designer clothes to feel that type of energy. Actually, I know for fact you don’t need it.

What I’ve actually realized is having less “things” provides me more happiness.

Did he just say less buys him more happiness? Yeeeuuup.

Interesting concept, isn’t it?

I have 5-6 pairs of shoes I’ve been rotating for the past 6+ months. I have 10 shirts I wear - shouts to CUTS! I have the the same 6-7 gym outfits that make their rounds throughout the week.

So what’s the benefit?

I spend less time thinking about what I’m going to wear because I don’t have many options! I spend more time, energy and most importantly money, on the things that actually matter to ME. 

I’m no longer trying to keep up with the joneses like I did when I was 18 because that truthfully no longer matters to me.

That’s not just for clothes, that’s for everything I spend my money on.

Is it something I need or is it something I want? Big biiiiig difference ladies & gentlemen.

Of course we gotta splurge from time to time & treat ourselves but like anything else… balance is the key.

What I found brings me the most happiness pre-corona is not a new pair of shoes or the nicest car or any of that jazz… it’s experiences and so that’s where I choose to spend my money.

Drake at the Staples Center? Sign me up. Little brunch action out at Nobu in Malibu? Now we’re talking. I’m here for a good time not a long time baby! Let’s kick it back & smell the roses while we can.

What transformed my mindset and perspective to become a minimalist is a documentary called The Minimalists.

It’s one of the most important documentaries that changed the way I look at “things.”

If you have yet to watch it, I double dare you to warm up a bag of popcorn, get cozy on the couch & fire this bad boy up on Netflix. It’s excellent! Bearded man approved 110%.

So what am I trying to say? That’s a great question cause I’m not all entirely sure.

I scroll on social media for .2 seconds and I see people flexing everything they got on the outside. What I really want to know, how’s that inside looking?

Let’s pop the hood of the car and get a look.

Are you healthy? Are you happy? Are you living in the present moment?

Or are you insecure trying to impress people with what ya got? How you actually doin’?

I’m not here to tell any of you how to spend ya money. I just hope people are aware of what they’re committing to when they pull out that credit card to swipe away on that next purchase. 

Once again, let me remind you - it’s important to treat ourselves BUT it’s all about B-A-L-A-N-C-E! Very important word here peeps, write it down & stick it to your fridge.

The last thing any of us want / need is credit card debt. No bueno.

So how do we avoid it? We tip toe the line and think twice before we purchase something.

Financial freedom is something I strive for. The ability to live my life within my means and not having to worry about “Do I have enough money?” That’s what I’m looking for.

Coming from someone who is still $100k+ in college debt, I’ve got a long way to go BUT the good news is I WILL figure it out. It’s always a work in progress. I’m focused on digging myself out of debt and climbing to the peaks of Mt. Financial Freedom baby!

All are welcome so please feel free to join me.

The Bearded Man