Financial Philosophy:

Right around high school was when I knew I was really interested in the “business” world in general. I didn’t quite know what specifically I wanted to do (what high school student does?), but I knew the concept of using money to make more money really peaked my interest. This mindset was solidified when I found a copy of a battered up book in my house called, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kioysaki. While I believe he has become very commercial and deviated from his true message for personal gain, there was one key point that stood out to me.

Make your money work for you!

Everyone’s heard that phrase before but not everyone lives their life in a way to position their money to work for them. Why? It’s what separates the bottom from the top, the poor from the rich, the unsuccessful from the successful. It takes a mindset shift to change your lifestyle and start budgeting so you can get to a point where money starts working for you.

Make More, Spend Less!

Most financial blogs and advice revolve around reducing your expenses and cutting any excess expenditures out of your life. This is great advice, however, I believe what is even more important is increasing your cash flow, whether it’s through getting a higher paying job frequently, investing in real estate, starting a side business, or taking on a second job, your monthly cash flow has to increase for you to retire early and have your money start working for you.

Buy your happiness!

The biggest lie ever told in the history of mankind if that you can’t buy happiness. This is just silly. Would retiring decades before the average American retires make you happy? Would having all of your basic financial expenses covered through passive income make you happy? Would being able to spend more time with your kids, family, or friends rather than a cubicle for 8 hours a day make you happy?

Most of us aren’t happy working in a cubicle for 8-12 hours a day for a company that will drop you given the chance to “increase labor efficiencies.” Striving for the FIRE lifestyle isn’t about not working another day of your life, it’s about having the choice to spend your day however you would like to spend it. Maybe you have a dream job you’ve always wanted to explore but it doesn’t pay a lot of money. Maybe you want to take time off work completely for a few years to raise your kids and not miss some of their formative years like millions of Americans every year do. Money doesn’t buy those experiences, it allows you to “buy” the time to have those experiences which results in a happy you!

What do you guys think? Comment below!