When I began saving money, the goal was simply to escape the paycheck to paycheck life. I wanted a cushion and a plan for the future. Over time, as my security grew, I realized that saving money offered even bigger benefits. Not only could I set myself up for a decent retirement and not have to worry about day to day life as much, but I could get to a place where I could deal with the world on my terms. If I didn’t like the garbage the world was handing me, I had the ability to change it.
That was a wonderful realization. Fresh out of school and working my first couple of jobs, I realized that the working world (and life in general) was full of horrible things. Sure, some people might have dream careers, but most of us are going to spend our lives in crappy jobs in boring cities while working for terrible people. People are going to bleed you dry and take advantage of you and, if you need the money, there isn’t a whole lot you can do about it. Worse, some people will actively take advantage of your desperation by being even more horrible to you. That’s life, unfortunately, and it was a depressing wake up call for me.
However, I found a lifeline. If you can save enough money, you can escape that life and deal with the world on your terms. Maybe you can’t bend the world to your wishes every single day, but you can eliminate a lot of the garbage that we all have to deal with. It won’t happen overnight, unfortunately. It takes a while to save that kind of money, so you won’t enjoy total freedom tomorrow. But every dollar banked is a step closer, and you can buy a little more freedom every day. Maybe you can’t fully quit working and move today, but perhaps in a few months you can at least move and get an okay job in the new location. You can start to make choices and changes that meet your needs.
Some people call this place financial independence, others call it early retirement. (I don’t think retirement really fits because working on your own terms can be rewarding, but for some people total retirement gives them the control they need.) Whatever you call it, it’s the place where you don’t have to meekly accept all of the garbage the world throws at you. It may be true that money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy you some control.
What kind of terms can you set for yourself if you save enough money? Here are a few:
You can choose your work environment
If you want to work but don’t want to work in an overcrowded cube farm (as an introvert I can’t stand that), a windowless room, or a dangerous environment, you can shop around for a suitable workplace, start your own business, or negotiate to work from home. If an employer cannot meet your requirements, you can move on. You aren’t stranded in the horrible place forever.
You can do work that aligns with your values
It’s hard to do work that misaligns with your values. Unfortunately, we often end up in this situation because we need a job and the open job is a poor fit. It’s soul sucking to believe in or care about something but work for a company that actively works against those values. When you’ve saved money, you can be pickier. You can find a workplace that aligns with your values, or you can start your own business. And if you reach the point where you no longer have to work at all, you can volunteer for something meaningful to you.
You can choose work and a workplace that supports your health concerns
If you have health issues (physical or mental), work can be painful, hinder your recovery, or make you sicker. The limited (or non-existent) sick leave offered y many employers doesn’t give you much wiggle room, either. Many employers will only bend so far before they tell you that your health concerns aren’t their problem and you need to get it together or be fired. When you’ve saved money, you have the ability to find (or create) a job that doesn’t make your health worse. Or you can take time off to fully recover (if that’s possible) or simply not work at all and devote your time to managing your health.
You can free yourself from terrible people
Should there be bullies, harassers, and passive-aggressive idiots in the workplace? Absolutely not, but unfortunately it’s still all too common. If you find yourself surrounded by terrible people, saving money can help you get away from them. You can walk away from that job and find another with people you respect. Or you can take a hiatus for a while and then start your own business(es). You can surround yourself with people you like and respect. Or at least tolerate. And if your personal life is a mess, saving money can help you get that divorce, or move away from horrible family members.
You can live where you want or need to
If you need to move closer to family, you have both the money to move and the freedom to find a new job (or not work at all) once you do. You can move to a city that better matches your lifestyle or politics, one that has fewer natural disasters, or you can become a nomad and skip having a home base altogether. Saving money gives you the freedom to live in a place that makes you happy, not a place you’ve settled for.
Your work can suit your circadian rhythm
It’s hard working days when you’re a night owl, and vice versa. Dragging yourself to work the nightshift is terrible if you’re not a night person. When you’ve saved money, you have more room to find a job that suits you. You have leverage to negotiate a change in shifts, or better hours. Working with your body is so much easier than forcing yourself to work against your natural tendencies.
You can offload the things you hate
If you hate cleaning or yard work, you can pay someone else to deal with them. If you’re ill or injured, you don’t have to do tasks that make it all worse. When you’re dealing with family problems, deaths, or illnesses, you don’t have to add chores to the list of things to do and can focus on your family or health.
You can craft a life that suits your personality
If you’re an introvert, saving money can help you escape the loud, extroverted jobs and find your peace in a quieter setting. And if you’re an extrovert struggling in a small, quiet place, you can find a job better suited to your need for people. And it isn’t just work. If you have enough money, you can dump the roommates and have your house all to your introverted self. An extrovert can have more money to spend on activities that get them out and about more often. You can buy your way out of situations that don’t match your personality type.
Basically, saving money frees you to meet the world on your terms. This can make life a much more enjoyable experience. When you’re not shackled to work or a situation that makes you angry, ill, or upset, you can find some peace in life. You can focus on things that make you happy. Will every day be sunshine and roses? Of course not. There are some things you simply cannot escape no matter how much money you have. However, any little bit of peace and happiness you can grab is well worth it. Life’s too short to go through it miserable. Saving money can be a way to make it more bearable.
Read More:
- Are We Having Fun Yet?
- 7 Simple Steps to Financial Independence
- A Life Without Debt: Work Doesn’t Have To Be A Drag
- Crafting a Healthier Approach to Work
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