MF.net

Rebooting Some Momentum

How to Escape the "Rat Race" Without Quitting Your 9-5

I'm not dependent on any one thing or person. I'm not trapped, and there are other options.
I need to find my flow state. When I am under-challenged, I'm more likely to be depressed, frustrated, or disappointed. When I am under-challenged, I'm more likely to be lethargic, complacent, and prone to procrastination. Do I need to improve my challenges or my skill set.
I should consider filling my free time with work. I should plan life activities, including blocking for down time, first, then allow work to fill the remaining gaps.
I should diversify my identity. I am not my job title, and thinking of myself exclusively in that capacity will cause me to limit my own opportunities.
I should set boundaries and prioritize myself. While I should be considerate of others, I should limit the weight given to other's opinions and do what's best for me.

Why Looking Poor is Important

Keeping my financial visibility profile low is more beneficial in the long run because:

... it helps keep me clear of the permanent cycle of dissatisfaction. Whether I'm making more money or if I've acquired new stuff, beyond covering basic needs and baseline operational expenditures, due to the environmental or perceptual shift that accompanies those changes, my relative happiness will remain mostly unchanged.
... it helps maintain freedom of choice. Chasing lifestyle indicators (above baseline) will often result in decisions that lead to unnecessary strain and a lower realized quality of life.
... it encourages the embrace of simplicity and steers my course away from living in survival mode.
... it encourages 'authentic living'; I don't have to misrepresent my financial status to achieve milestones in life. I should show the 'inside of the house' versus the 'outside of the house', metaphorically speaking.

ACCOUNTANT EXPLAINS: Money Habits Keeping You Poor

I should consider paying myself first. When income arrives, I need to make a percentage payment to Me, Inc. into my savings. Save first, spend last.
I need to get back in the habit immediately paying credit sources in full immediately, and I should reduce the quantity and refine the quality my available credit sources until I reach the point where they are no longer necessary.
I need to build a liquid monetary reserve. If I have one, I become my own creditor, and the interest rates in those transactions are unbeatable.
I need to have an updated insight into my income and expenses. This cannot be completely delegated away and will always require regular, active engagement. In addition, I need to build and maintain reasonable financial goals.
Expensive hobbies, where they exist, need to be carefully restricted. There's nothing wrong with an expensive hobby, but I have to stay realistic about how much I can engage that hobby. This also applies to collecting less expensive hobbies ... as a hobby.
Focusing purely on saving is unhealthy. This doesn't mean constantly engaging in frivolous spending, but instead means that I have to learn to invest in meaningful ventures to make my money work for me.
While it's important to pay my taxes, it's likewise important not to overpay my taxes. If I'm receiving a refund at tax time, that means I gave the government too much money that could have been working for my values, interests, and goals.
The earlier I can begin investing, the better my situation will be. Investment should always be diversified, and engaging someone who understands how to do that is usually worth the money.