{"id":800,"date":"2016-02-25T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2016-02-25T13:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.investmentzen.com\/blog\/?p=800"},"modified":"2023-05-28T19:46:11","modified_gmt":"2023-05-28T23:46:11","slug":"how-a-million-dollars-bought-me-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investmentzen.com\/blog\/how-a-million-dollars-bought-me-happiness","title":{"rendered":"How A Million Dollars Bought Me Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"

People who say “money doesn’t buy happiness” are wrong. It does, they’re just thinking about it the wrong way…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A<\/span> couple weeks ago, something disturbing happened at work. One of my teammates (let’s call him Jon<\/strong>) had a bad day. Jon had to deal with someone else in the organization many levels above him\u00a0who\u00a0is known for being cranky and difficult. When Jon called Mr. Cranky\u00a0to ask a question, he was promptly hung up on. My first thought after I heard about this was:<\/p>\n

Screw this job, I quit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I don’t want to work with people like Mr. Cranky. Jon is smart, hard working and personable. No one deserves to be treated with such disrespect, but I was especially angry that someone as good as Jon had to deal with this nonsense.<\/p>\n

I decided not to leave my job. However, the really awesome part is that I have the financial means to do so.\u00a0I have $1,000,000 in savings and since my family\u00a0spends about $40,000 per year, the 4% rule<\/a> tells me that I have all of the money that I’ll ever need.<\/p>\n

Now, I’m working because I choose to; not because I have to. This is powerful.<\/p>\n

Before we get into that, let’s back up a bit.<\/p>\nPeople who say money doesn't buy happiness are WRONG. They're thinking about it the wrong way. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n

Becoming a Millionaire at 40<\/h2>\n

At the end of 2014, one day before my 41st birthday, my investment portfolio topped $1,000,000 for the first time. I remember the day like it was yesterday.<\/p>\n

I had taken the train into Chicago and knew the markets had had a good day. When I got off the train, I checked my Personal Capital account<\/a> and saw that I had joined the Double Comma Club. I was a millionaire!<\/p>\n

I had about an hour to burn before meeting up with a friend, so I wandered aimlessly around the city thinking about what this meant.<\/p>\n

\"Chicago\"<\/a>

Chicago<\/p><\/div>\n

But mostly, I was numb. I came out of college as the\u00a0not-so-proud owner of $60,000 in debt. Just 15 years later, I was financially independent.<\/p>\n

Work was now optional.<\/p>\n

Money WILL change your life – for the better<\/h2>\n

Some people will tell you that money won’t solve your problems or it won’t make you happy. I’m here to tell you the opposite; wealth is liberating and\u00a0wonderful.<\/p>\n

Money makes for a happy home\u00a0life<\/h3>\n

One of our favorite family activities is a walk after dinner. We discuss what we did during the day, observe our surroundings and chat with the neighbors. Sometimes, we walk for hours, meandering all over our little town.<\/p>\n

However, we avoid walking past a certain neighbor in the summer when windows are open. We stay away because of the fights we hear. In almost every case, the wife and husband are yelling at each other because the money has run out and bills are due.<\/p>\n

The husband is a small business owner and has good income, but the dollars flow\u00a0out faster than they come in. Our neighbors are by no means out of the ordinary. Couples fight over money more than anything<\/a> else.<\/p>\n

My wife and I have the luxury of never having to worry about where the money is going to come from to pay the next bill. We are open and honest about our finances. Like all healthy couples, we have our disagreements, but they are never about money.<\/p>\n

Money makes you a better person<\/h3>\n

People are programmed deep down inside to want what they can’t have. TV commercials show us all kinds of shiny\u00a0new stuff that we “need,” urging us to buy, buy, buy! It hurts a little when you don’t have the money for that new thing. And I was no different.<\/p>\n

When I was young and foolish, I wanted all kinds of stuff. A sports car was at the top of the list. I would lust after 400hp, bright red machines. Then, a funny thing happened:<\/p>\n

Now that I can have just about any car (or anything else) I want, my desire to own those things is gone.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’m happier and better adjusted than I’ve ever been. The security and peace that money\u00a0provides is incredible. My priorities are in order and allow me to\u00a0focus on what’s really important like relationships, raising my kids right, reading, travel and exercise. That fancy car just doesn’t mean as much now.<\/p>\n

Money sets you free<\/h3>\n

Most of us have to spend at least 40 hours per week doing what someone else wants us to do. We call this our job. Some of us are lucky enough to have meaningful work that we love. If you are one of them, realize what an incredible gift this is and give thanks.<\/p>\n

Even if you love your job, I have a question for you:<\/p>\n

Would you\u00a0still work the same job for the same number of hours if you came into 10 million dollars tomorrow?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I suspect that even those who truly love their job would eventually depart to follow their passions.<\/p>\n

One thought that I have about my own life is this:<\/p>\n

I have no idea what a typical day will be\u00a0like when I’m 50 or even 45.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is wonderful to consider. Since I won’t have to be working for someone else, my life will be mine to live how I<\/i> choose.<\/p>\n

My wife and I have discussed spending summers traveling when the kids are out of school. We’ve also talked about\u00a0small business ideas and fitness goals. We know\u00a0how great it will be to walk our children to school every day.<\/p>\n

Our future is an open book and that is exactly how I like it.<\/p>\nWould you still work the same job & same hours if you came into 10 million dollars tomorrow? <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n

$1,000,000 may not look like what you think it does<\/h2>\n

If you asked most\u00a0people what a millionaire looks like, they’d probably get it all wrong. The image that the TV sells us is that the wealthy drive\u00a0fancy cars and live in McMansions. This image couldn’t be more wrong.<\/p>\n

\"Top

House, Cars, Weekend
Top row: <\/strong>The perception of millionaires.
Bottom row<\/strong>: The truth.<\/p><\/div>\n

The average millionaire lives in a modest home and isn’t driving a European sedan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0too am a typical millionaire. I bought my home for $175,000 and my primary vehicle is 13 years old. I mow my own lawn and change my own oil. I’m not a doctor or lawyer with a high powered job, just a software developer who went to a cheap and mediocre state university.<\/p>\n

I just happened to save and invest my income instead of buying stuff. I still do. You don’t get the freedom without knowing how to invest a million dollars<\/a> to earn passive income.<\/p>\n

Money does buy happiness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Back to those people who tell you that money doesn’t buy happiness. This is\u00a0what they really meant to say:<\/p>\nMoney does buy happiness, but you won't get there buying stuff. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n

New cars are fun. So are shiny new gadgets. However, the happiness fades quickly and then you have to spend more money\u00a0to trigger the dopamine<\/a>. Repeat, repeat, repeat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This is not a recipe for a well lived life. This is a shallow exercise that leads to nothing but terrifying credit card bills at the end of the month.<\/p>\n

Instead, use money as a tool to fuel your passions. Forget the long, soul draining commute. Forget the cube farm. Get to work on your dreams.<\/p>\n

Money will\u00a0set you free. And that my friends, is priceless<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

People who say “money doesn’t buy happiness” are wrong. It does, they’re just thinking about it the wrong way… A couple weeks ago, something disturbing happened at work. One of my teammates (let’s call him Jon) had a bad day. 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