I remember my times in college as a computer science student. For the better part of it, I lived with my family, making barely enough at my internship to buy a couple of games on steam and pay for my food at college. I was unmotivated, quickly gaining weight, underperforming in class, and whatever attempts I made to get fit ended in failure. I was depressed and I didn't even realize it, addicted to a cheap pay to win MMO I sank all my leftover money into.
That was my life a year ago. And for perspective, I have been lurking TRP for around two years now. I knew my life was shit, and probably the one thing that kept me going was knowing I was "redpilled". I knew why girls didn't want to talk to me despite my rather good looking face: bad hair, fat body, old clothes, no job, no car, no confidence, nothing. To think that at one point in my life, my idea of a good life was to work 9 to 5 and make just enough money to play my videogames. Hell, at least when I was a beta loser chasing some 6/10 chick that was banging college students back in highschool, I had dreams and aspirations. I had become jaded and empty.
Here's the thing I finally came to understand. When getting by is your most important goal, everything else just fades away. How can you follow any of your passions, dreams and hopes, if you can barely support yourself? That shit sucked the life out of me.
And then I graduated.
I was working 8 to 5 for some local company here in Brazil. I was making somewhere in the realm of $866 a month. I was at work when I suddenly felt this urge to browse Linked In. I found a guy I knew from California had just joined a startup a couple months ago.
A big risk, I'm sure. But what exactly had I to lose?
I didn't even have to think twice to contact this guy, and lo and behold I landed a $70k/year job just like that. Here in Brazil, that puts me in the top 10%. I thought I had lucked out back then, that I just landed jackpot to even have an opportunity like this, but when I went back next year to see if I could recruit some of my excolleages, none of them wanted in despite the 6x~ boost in salary. I asked why: they were afraid their english wouldn't be enough, that they wouldn't last long, that they would have to work harder, that it was risky. What if the company failed? I hadn't just been lucky, the market is flooded with companies looking to recruit globally. Our own company here has had a ton of trouble hiring people, not enough decent candidates. And for one, I finally understood why.
Yesterday, I finished my 6 month long project, my home office: http://i.imgur.com/bAeOhK6.jpg
Here's the exact same room last year: http://i.imgur.com/ecNni1S.jpg
Keep in mind all of this stuff costs exactly 2x in Brazil compared to the US. My coworkers are still in the same place, working on 5+ year old computers and 19 inch monitors. And today, I'm shifting to my next long term goal: a BMW X1.
And here's the part that's most surprising. This entire project had risen my motivation through the roof. Getting all the parts, assembling it, doing business with all these people, making new contacts to find someone who could get things done the way I wanted it to. I'm an entirely new person because of it, getting setup like this took more than just money.
It's reflecting in my everyday life too. I hired a personal trainer, and I've made incredible progress since the year began. I can lift 130 pounds, that's when I realized that shit, I can finally toss a girl around if I want to. Next goal: 220 pounds, my current weight.
I took dance classes, and I can finally feel confident when on my feet while music is playing. I'm taking singing lessons, my voice sounds deeper and clearer when I speak. I bought a hair cutter, so I can keep my hair at the same height as my stubble all year round. I bought nicer clothes, and a nice watch. I bougy a nice speed bycicle to exercise and move around in.
All this stuff took money to achieve. More than I'd like to admit, but my life is so much fucking better for it. I got so much stuff going on with my life right now that I don't have time to think about women, and that's only made it easier for me to deal with them. I still got much progress yet to make still, but I got a solid base of operations, a good amount of momentum and plenty of time. I'm considering moving to a different city in the next couple of years, a town where there's tons of german-descent women and low crime rates. Once I get the car, that's my number one goal, and getting it done is going to be a ton of fun.
Don't lose sight of your dreams guys, if you think they are impossible, then it's time to turn your life around. This isn't even TRP, it's the American Dream.
At the same time, beware the Hedonism Treadmill, where your happiness (based on material goods) will slowly adjust to equilibrium, and you will always need more to feel that "high" again.
You sound smart, so I assume you are putting money away for an emergency fund, investments, and retirement too. Feeling free and secure because you've built a nest egg for yourself--that's a good feeling to chase.
I have a $10000 fallback fund saved up to live for a year if things go south. I don't pay rent and my overall expenses are low, so I spend most of my earnings to progress through my goals. If my current job fails, I'll just get a new one.
I also made a point to have 0 debts. My credit card has a hard cap of $1300 which I can easily pay off. Any big purchases I pay in cash.
Don't tell ANYONE you know about that money. Suddenly everyone will have an emergency or you'll owe them for made up shit.
Exactly. I am nowhere close to rich (only 25 years old), but I make decent money, am able to save for retirement, while having money left over. I consider myself financially savvy. I could lose or quit my job and I probably have enough in cash or investments outside of retirement, to be able to survive for a year.
I invest my money in the stock market and recently getting into options to leverage returns. The thing is, I don't tell people how much money I have. I budget month to month on my salary from my job. If I tell anyone how much money I have saved up, they will either have resentment or start talking about "financial issues."
My ex girlfriend quit her job when she found out I had twice as much money in the bank as she makes in a year. She then got upset when her christmas present wasn't expensive enough. Quiting her job and expecting me to take care of her was the last straw. From now on I'm just going to keep that information to myself.
Exactly. Keep that information to yourself. I think due to different reasons, I have a pretty/really good net worth for my age, although it should be higher. I have always been good about saving and investing money. I have a good amount saved for investments and I have a portfolio that has been performing nicely and will keep doing great if I learn how to trade long term call options and pick great growth stocks.
I don't tell anyone, even my parents how much money I make or how much I saved. If you make more or have more money than someone, either they resent you or try to take advantage of you. If you make less, they will act like they are better or "superior" to you. It's why I find it funny when guys talk about how their receive a bonus. It's like putting a target on your back. Nothing good comes from telling people how much you make or have.
http://www.financialsamurai.com/never-tell-anyone-how-much-money-you-make/
My ex expected me to just give her money to pay for a car she did not need. I made a mistake of telling her about my investments before that.
When we went to see an accountant to do taxes and he mentioned her salary out loud ( I didn't know it prior) she looked at me like she gave up Coke's secret recipe. The look like I am onto her and her leverage of "but I am a womyyyn and you must pay me" has gone out the window.
She made more than I did, I have a pretty minimalistic lifestyle but the whole narrative switched after that.
Bottom line is: keep your finances private from people, do not brag.
I set up automatic contribution to my investment accounts with every paycheque. Money goes into index funds.
I barely even check it. That is probably one of the most important financial tips I heard and I am happy I started applying it at a relatively young age.
Reason I'm single for life! No bullshit, no drama, no divorce, no kids, just a life for me!
Have you done your research? You're very unlikely to outperform low cost index funds in the long term. Check out the great wiki over at the personalfinance subreddit.
I do my research. Most of my portfolio does consist of ETFs through Vanguard or Charles Schwab. I only pick stocks that I believe will beat the market and have some kind of competitive advantage. It could also have to do with future trends. I recently bought a long term call option for Visa and Facebook. It's my way of leveraging returns. I also own shares of Visa, which are up 19% since buying it in December 2016.
It's possible to beat the market, if you know what you are doing. It's about finding great growth stocks and only investing in what you know. I picked Visa because I believe they will benefit from less transactions being done through cash. Facebook is getting involved in so many things. Domino's has really been growing, up 12% since buying shares of it in the middle of February.
Smart. I hate the social games we have to play.
This article I posted in a different article perfectly lays out why disclosing your salary does you no good. http://www.financialsamurai.com/never-tell-anyone-how-much-money-you-make/
Better for people to think you aren't rolling in dough, if you are.
One of my exes was the same way. Unfortunately just visiting my place is enough for most girls to get that vibe.
Thankfully, I put on a much stronger "I don't share" vibe, so it usually balances just fine. I also don't let people live with me, never for more than 24hrs.
Which is fucking ridiculous. If you have less than 100k net worth you are in a decent position but by no means wealthy so they can fuck off.
Exactly. My net worth and I don't usually tell people, (but whatever it's anonymous) is close to $50K. I was lucky and fortunate that my parents paid for my college education, which allowed me to save money on jobs and internships I have done. Also investing my money has helped a bit.
While I'm in a decent position, I'm definitely not wealthy and don't have enough that's not in retirement accounts, to put a 20% down payment in buying home or apartment where I live, given the fact that even a home that costs $150,000 would need about $30K as a downpayment.
I am looking to increase my net worth substantial and maybe have a $100K net worth by 30 years old or around that age. Luckily for me, I don't really have a desire for kids or marriage, both of which can be really expensive. Even with a $100K net worth, I won't really feel like I'm rich.
10k isn't really the kind of money that will cause people to start hitting you up. Maybe it's different because he's Brazilian
or you don't give a shit and drop any leeching bitch that ask for money?
Brazilians here have a reputation for being dumb, but dude, your smarts put you in like the 0.1% of Brazil.
I don't know, my grades in college were pretty shit LOL.
In the U.S. We have a saying, C's get degrees. Are you a software engineer now?
School does not make people smart, people are smart despite it. In fact, school is designed to make you a dumb zombie drone.
I broke my foot and haven't worked since march 4th. I CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH how important savings are. It's good for "fuck you" if your job is Chapping you and even better for "unforeseen occurrences". I would have lost my fucking mind worrying about all of this without a safety net to caught me.
God damned. $10k is a pittance here(SF) my wife and I spend more a month on bullshit that probably doesn't matter. Very much looking forward to bailing to a country where $5m will have is set for life.
Yeah, that's why I like working remotely.
$10k here is 33k BRL. That's just 1k short of what I made a year back when I worked at a local company. And that's still good money by Brazilian standards.
What's your profession? Remote work interests me in the long term.
That's dumb. Get as big a limit as you can. Helps your credit score. Every 6 months or so on each credit card ask for a limit increase.
Pay for big purchases with visas money. If it sucks you aren't on the hook.
I definitely agree. Buying some nice things here and there is good, but you don't want to be caught in the "Keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. While there is so much I would do if I was rich, I want it for the freedom. Not to just have a crazy glamourous lifestyle.
Investing your money in IRAs, brokerage accounts and having an emergency fund of sorts is what I want to make more money for. It gives you options. I want money for myself and the things I want to do. Not necessarily to buy a bunch of tangible goods that take up more space.
Yeah. Getting the liquid cooled computer was probably when it first came to me that some shit is just expensive for the sake of it and it's not worth it. (Well, now I got all the liquid cooling equipment, might as well use it, but if I could go back on that purchase, I would).
So from then on I wisened up on my purchases. The furniture was definitely important, it made my room a comfortable, productive office. Wasn't that expensive either. Now that my next goal is a BMW, I need to look into how I'll be investing my money to get there. That's the next roadblock.
Nothing wrong with buying something for yourself if you have the money, as long as it's something you would use and it enhances your life. Just don't buy things only to impress other people.
There's only one purchase I made to impress: a tissot watch, 50% off.
The BMW that I'll get sometime in the future too, but that's the cheapest "luxury" suv I can get. I want something that's fancy to make pulls easier, but I'm also buying used, so there's that.
Bah, waste of money. I drive a junker and have made over 100k trading crypto in the last 4 weeks. Still not getting a new car.
P.S. women still follow me in that car. They could care less. It's the face and the tude, not the ride my friend. Be Chad not Billy.
When you realize that a luxury vehicle does not make pulls easier, you are gonna have a bad case of buyer's regret.
Eh. I got an Audi S4 to keep up with everyone because everyone at my job was buying cool shit.
Got it on a steal from some dude moving to Scotland.
But still. It was cool for like the first week. After that who gives a shit. I've Ubered to every date. I'm not sure a chick ive hooked up with has ever seen my car.
Nice call on the watch though. I got a speedmaster. I actually like that purchase. But still unnecessary.
foreal this, you can think about the things you'd like to have, like a lambo or take expensive vacations. IMO I'd spend the most on a very nice house and have a decent cheap cool car.
you spend most of your time in your house and bed, why not have something you will love for life
I love it when people bring up the Hedonism Treadmill. Such a great biological drive but also makes life depressing because you can never get enough. This is also why shooting for material things in life is never the key to happiness. Happiness is an internal state. The OP should realize he is happier because he proved to himself that he can accomplish goals.
I try to trick my brain into thinking life is moving in a positive/upward direction.
One of the best ways I've found of doing that is by reading self-help books and constantly trying to learn new skills.
Tricking your brain is pointless, it knows better than you do, it's millions of years worth of survival of the fittest after all.
Don't spin the hamster will, get your life together.
Our brains didn't evolve to see objective reality. They evolved just enough to be able to survive and pass on genes to the next generation.
Moreover the brain didn't evolve to make you happy.
It evolved to keep you alive.
Nature doesn't give a fuck if you are constantly stressed about the future if it means you live long enough to have children.
Being aware of the mechanisms and psychological traps your brain is susceptible to gives you more power over it and the ability to move your life in a more positive direction.
Happiness is a skill. And like any skill, you can practice it, hone it, to take advantage of the biology and pitfalls that our long and harsh evolutionary heritage brings with it.
Yep that equilibrium effects everything in life. Once a year every man should head off into the wilderness for one week. Alone and living off minimal. This readjust your equilibrium nice and low.
Yep, you need to know your inner place of peace if you don't want to get caught, really well explained here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u9nuSf9g1g
But really I'd argue the emergency fund is the single most important thing. Having 10-20k liquid right there allows younger guys to make legit life choices.
Such as leaving a shitty job, moving for a new one, etc.
Thing is...... it's a tiny risk. The benefits are big, but the failure is tiny. Guy doesn't answer... says no... doesn't work out... it's a tiny tiny risk compared to the massive upside.
Your friends who say "what if my English isn't good enough"... that's just guaranteeing failure. Who the fuck cares if it doesn't work out? Will you die? No... of course not... the gains outweigh the costs 20:1.
Men can be incredibly risk-averse sometimes, without rationally thinking "actually failure here doesn't even matter, but success is a big deal".
If I apply for 10 companies, 9 say no, and I get a kick ass job at the end of it...... who cares about the 9 who said no? Hell half of them will change their mind and try and hire you later.
This so much. I was perplexed, that people value a supposed safety (big companies go under all the time) for growth opportunities. Not to mention curriculum growth since we work with some pretty cutting edge stuff.
I saw this mentality in the early days of Ebay... "But what if they don't send your stuff???" to which I'd say "10% of them will rip me off for sure, but I'm getting 50% off everything, why would I care?"
"But what if they don't pay you after 6 months???" / "Then I'll have received double pay for 5 months, so I'll still be well up on the deal".
People's fear of loss is irrational.
Tell me more about this start up and the industry! I'm a gringo programmer in Brazil, I have only worked remotely for US companies, haven't really looked into what's happening in Brazil itself.
But my Portuguese is probably good enough now to be in a Brazilian company... Recommendations?
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Are you working remotely, or are you in the US?
Others didn't read your comment...clearly you're working remotely
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Right.
Point is though... some of the risks are TINY compared to the upside, but people still don't take them.
Then the followup question is: why not?
Probably because the short-term risks are high if you see it wrong. "Oh my god, my ego can't take rejection and it would be a big problem for me so I won't try". I mean... the rejection would happen today, the job would happen next month. Maybe. Don't know.
Same reason guys don't tell they wife to shut the fuck up when shes harping on them.
People are scared of conflict, and very scared of risk. The idea of rocking the boat may have made sense when you were on spear away from death, and you only had 3 women you could fuck to have kids.
Nowadays, you're only asking to keep being another drop in the sea of thudfucks
A good thing to remember is that other people will tell you what they think you can't do. Don't join them and tell yourself you can't do something.
Also, and something I struggled with for a bit... when someone offers you work outside of your comfort zone, shut up and go with it. They decided you're a viable choice, trust that they have their reasons.
My success is by doing EXACTLY this. I've pushed myself and gone for the next rung up every time. It's not easy, but it can be done. It's the only way to get the value out of life that you deserve.
Gets easier as you get older. I see so many thudfucks in so many higher positions, how the fuck could you not succeed in these things?
Or what, you'll get fired? Throw on your resume that you were great at whatever task it was, and you still gain the value from it, even if you sucked horribly.
Having said that, it's better if you work your ass off to get better at it, and avoid the rest, win win really
Probably.
Thing is.... I had this attitude about my career since I was 21. I worked hard, took risks, said risky things in interviews. I got almost every job I ever went for... and I went for a LOT more than most do. This left me with abundance mentality and an IDGAF attitude to my job, coupled with talent and hard work made my career invincible.
Same applies to women.... but I always found that much tougher psychologically for some reason. Probably because I was (like us all) utterly misled about the rules and the nature of women. The rules of business are obvious, because men don't lie to you like women do. You can ask for a favour and they'll have your back rather than trying to exploit absolutely everything they can.
I mean... I could be penniless and homeless, land a job in my dirty clothes, and ask for my salary in advance so I can afford to get to work, and I've got a good chance of getting it.
With women you've got to be on top of your game from the start and you can't expect her to forgive or overlook a single god damned thing.
Ah, I had to build it over time. Started when I missed out on promotions, and being the dependable hard worker wasn't the armour I thought it was.
TBH, I found women easier to have that with, only because the sailing schedule was 180 days a year, I literally had no time to play safe.
I've had my game where it was, and the quality of women that tended to come around was a decent divining rod on how good my game was.
I honestly wish I had it in the order you did. Money is much more useful than chicks
I've been told my whole life that money can't buy happiness, yet here I was broke and unable to do virtually everything that develops confidence and makes you feel good... so..
Kind of blew that viewpoint out of my head ASAP. I'll still say that money can lead to worse depression if you spend your life chasing it, kind of like spending your life chasing pussy.
I think the problem with the whole money can't buy happiness stigma is there's a big factor that's largely ignored: you have to know what to spend your money on.
And there's no simple answer to that. I found investing in my personal office has drastically improved my productivity and morale. I couldn't think of long term goals before, that just seemed so far away.
I decided from the outset that I'd start bottom up. From the cheapest life goals to the more expensive ones. I got to the point now where I have to think longer term to achieve my next objectives. That leads me to investments. I'm far more budget conscious now than when I started, because each new goal is more expensive than the last.
Being able to invest wisely. And being financially secure creates happiness.
You could make 400k a year and be living paycheck to paycheck and be stressed out of your mind.
Or you can make 70k a year and live within your means.
I would say being financially secure is more benifical for a men then making a lot of money.
Money may not buy happiness, but being broke is depressing as fuck.
I'm in this zone right now. No uni education, no real job, im on welfare that barely squeezes me by. I actually can't remember the feeling of being indepdenent and secure knowing I had at least $1000 of disposable income in the account. I recently started to self learn java programming but its hard, haven't opened it in a few days now while my main priority is just finding some sort of part time job which is tough.
My confidence has never been lower and I feel like a complete hopeless failure on a daily basis. Even getting that part time job for 1000 extra dollars per month will literally change my life.
You already sound like it's over man. But it's the beginning when you fucking say it is and start taking action to change your life. I moved to LA last year and got a job as a little stock dude at a normal little home goods store. Busted my ass through the holiday season while jerk off on the stock shift would try to weasel out work or try to mess up each other's work to show the manager each other incompetency. I picked up everyone's slack with a fucking smile on my face and said "I'd love to do it, it's gives me a reason to work my muscles". At first it was because I was scared shitless of the possibility of having to move back home as a failure that I wanted to make sure I never get fired, then it was to try to get raises and promotions. The store was on the cheaper end of the scale of wages so after a year I applied at other retail stores, BOOM two months later I landed a job in a high end department store in Beverly hills already earning two extra dollars an hour, but I kept my first job as a part time because I knew that a promotion may yield me higher income if the opportunity arose. 6 months after that they cut my hours at the second and I used the opportunity to ask for a promotion at my first job and fucking landed it! Withing two months of that I found a job working at a super high end clothing brand on Rodeo Drive, the richest shopping area in Beverly Hills. Now I am making hundred of dollars more by strategically keeping two part time jobs at a time.
My growth in this case was in the field of stock work. In just a year and a half I have gone from working minimum in Cali at one job to earning almost 5 extra dollars through applying and being a great employee to earn a promotion (company's usually hire out of company for positions because they realize most people are unmotivated fucking morons that don't deserve promotions)
ALL THE WHILE, this isnt even my career path! I am currently a student in studying IT and I am currently in the midst of trying to become a rapper. In just a year and a half I went from hearing all my family tell me all this bullshit about how I'm gonna move back home etcetcetc and I kept my eye on the fucking ball and made a career out of a field that I don't even give a shit about. Do you know how good all of this stuff looks on a Resume? Get your ass to hard work, work the bottom rung of any field if you have to, always work your hardest and cater to your managers, and as soon as you feel you have enough experience to find work somewhere higher end, do it. I believe in you man.
Money is a resource. The ultimate resource, second only to time.
Anyone who makes an argument against having more of either of these resources is either ignorant or trying to manipulate you into getting these resources out of you.
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I won't pay for it in installments. So that means while I'm saving up for it I'll have plenty of cash sitting there. So that's money I'll invest. I also have the new home to worry about. So realistically I won't buy the car until I have 150% of its value in cash. Likewise for the home, and so on.
I don't know the real estate market in Brazil, but here in the PNW in the US, a "good/decent" house is 280k-350k. It doesn't seem that a 150% goal is realistic in that context. Is housing that much cheaper in South America?
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Makes far more sense, thanks for the information!
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Except if you have the cash (or most of it), it's still a horrible idea to spend it. Whether a house, car, etc...., you are ALWAYS better off spending the banks money than your own.
Do the math, any debt you pay is simple interest, declining balance. In contrast, your cash invested enjoys compounding returns (esp with interest & dividend paying investment) on an increasing balance. At the end of a loan term, unless your investments tanked, you're always better off.
He seems to be burning through his new salary. He's only been at this for a few months but OP should stop living large and start saving.
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Exactly what I was thinking. I haven't done the math in a while, but a low interest loan on a car is better than owning it outright. If you own an expensive car, the entire value of the car is sitting there slowly depreciating. But if you are paying 1% interest on a loan and investing the equivalent amount of cash in something that makes more than 1%, you are net positive.
The reason I don't go to a car dealership right now and get it is three fold:
1- I don't need it yet. 2- I work for a startup as a contractor. There's 0 job security, so regardless of how I decide to pay for it, I have to have the money on me before I go with it. Or at least most of it. 3- USD -> BRL rates are better at the end of the year when there's a surge in tourism. I'll make a significant profit by waiting until rates hit around 3.5
You don't have your own house and you want a BMW?
You mean, investing his new salary? Losing fat and gaining muscle will surve him much better in his adulthood and old age than a retirement account.
Lol a BMW will cost tons op. In maintince
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You want to make what they call "fuck you" money...enough to where you do what you want with your time, and have the freedom to tell anyone who tries to infringe "fuck you" because you don't need them to survive
Money = freedom and freedom is time...and time is the most valuable and precious thing any of us own
Money won't make you truly happy. I spent my late teens and most of my 20's accomplishing goals that were mainly financial. - House, starting and expanding my business and little things like trucks, jewelry and eating fucking good. At 28 I had everything I wanted but wasn't happy. More money wouldn't make me happy. Giving back, mentoring and volunteering is what makes me fulfilled. Everyone is different so I suggest everyone take the time to realize what makes them truly happy. People who claim money makes you happy either never had it or are your every day douchebag.
But can you give back without having the freedom of money? No you can't.
Yea definitely. It can be as simple as helping someone with their groceries or organizing a charity event.
With which time? There's only so much hours in a day, and if you're broke this time is used to get food on the table or get a better education etc.
Also with lots of money you could pay people in financial need and help those with other needs, so that would multiply.
this is seriously why I get upset with people that talk about how their money didn't make them happy. No, the money wasn't at fault, it was YOU. The money IS necessary to allow you to have the leeway to figure out what it is that does make you happy however. Good luck figuring that out when you're working shit jobs and scraping by. The acquisition of money by itself isn't enough, no, but you need that security in order to comfortably figure shit out. Not always but a lot of the fucking time.
I know what makes me happy, but i'm too poor right now to do shit about it.
Yea definitely. It can be as simple as helping someone with their groceries or organizing a charity event.
It makes you happy up until a certain point and then diminishing returns kick in. There's a recent article about how much you need to make in each state to reach that point. I'm in CT and it's around 90 to 100k iirc
Money lets me pursue my hobbies more efficiently, which makes me happier
Money doesn't buy happiness, but it'll buy you a yacht that'll let you pull up right along side it. Can't remember who said that but it's one of those quotes that stuck with me.
While it is true that money can't buy you happiness,
it is also true that rich people are generally happier than poor people
The only people who think money doesn't buy happiness are those without money and those who don't know how to spend it right.
I read the most inspiring life shit in here. This place is literally saving lives. It's a godsend. Keep settings new goals and smashing them. Thanks for the inspiration.
Money doesnt buy happiness but have you ever seen a sad person on a jet-ski?
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Money is Freedom
Freedom is Happiness
Money is Happiness
Checks out.
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This is the issue with wealth, fame, and power. People want to be with you because of what you have and not who you are. Being around you gives them more fame and power by association. This means that the average person who wants to be your friend is actually faking it. You start getting used to this and after being burned a few times, you stop trusting people. This leads to feeling lonely even if you are surrounded by people.
Then there is the lack of motivation. If you do not have to work for a living anymore, then your threshold for quitting something becomes low. If you don't feel like doing something, you can just stop. Imagine doing that at work as a regular guy. Just don't come to work on Wednesdays anymore. Don't feel like working more than two days in a row. Meh. How long will that last?
But a man's mind demands a challenge. If you do not indulge it in one for a long enough time you will start feeling depressed and not even know why. This is usually how drug habits and reckless behaviors start.
In other words, a man needs a challenge and some form of companionship to be happy and mentally healthy. Being rich, famous, and powerful usually robs you of all these things.
I forget who said it, but I've read somewhere that to be happy and passionate in life, a man needs to set a goal that is just out of reach. Something not so impossible to do that he gives up on it, but not so easy that he can blow past it at any time. The perfect goal is something that he might just die right before making it.
I think this is why Musk wants to go to Mars. It is theoretically possible that man will step foot on Mars in his lifetime. But it is a very difficult and expensive venture. It would certainly be the achievement of a lifetime for anyone alive today.
1) Sounds like the issue is he has TOO much money. That is an issue we all would love to have.
2) "This is why rich people pretend to be poor." There are many reasons as to why you shouldn't share details of your wealth other than "gotta find real friends"
3) Money is happiness just as how drugs, alcohol and sex is happiness. Money sticks with those who make productive use of that.
Rather be an unhappy idiot in a mansion than unhappy idiot in a shithole.
If money is happiness, why do so many rich men kill themselves?
Chris Cornell was not broke. Nor did he lack fame/status. Robin Williams the same. Hunter S. Thompson, Junior Seau, Kurt Cobain - money did not buy these men happiness.
Money buys lots of drugs for a kid that had been despondent long before he got money.
He was broke, drained by women and family. He was being forced to to movies he hated after that retarded tv show failed.
Drugs. Lots of drugs
Jury is out on that one.
Well, the simple answer to your question is mental illness. No one is claiming that having money somehow cures a chemical imbalance.
I think people confuse happiness and comfort. Money buys comfort and gives you options up to a point. Is a billionaire a billionaire a billion times more happy than a millionaire? Doubt it.
Greed, attachment, and desire for new and shiny things only temporarily give you some happiness, but it quickly plateaus.
Family, love, and wholesome experiences I find are a more sturdy foundation for happiness. Those people you talk about were possibly lacking in one of these departments... Or mental illness.
Depression doesn't give a shit how much your net worth may be. It is an equal opportunity disabler. Clinical depression is something altogether different
Kill myself at the age of 50 with loads of money or die from lack of healthcare, poverty, starvation and weakness at the age of 30?
Listen, I know what happened, it's terrible. You gotta look at the poor people who committed suicide, the news don't report on them. Look at the rich people who are still alive, passing the age of 70.
When presented with hard evidence contrary to your opinion, you start talking about age.
Age has nothing to do with your "Money = Happiness" equation.
You're basically saying being well off is bad because billionaires are unhappy with billions of dollars net worth. That's not evidence, that's the slippery slope fallacy.
No, I am saying the statement "money is happiness" is simplistic and not encompassing the many factors which determine happiness.
My Opinion? Omni, these are the "opinions" many across the world share. These men were filthy rich, if they wanted, they could've donated all their money to me and live the poor life.
Ah yes, an appeal to popularity. Do you think feminism is legit because a multitude of people share that idea too?
Dude i know plenty of miserable rich people.
Congratulations! You made real changes in your life, thanks to your willingness to assess risk and work hard. Your story is inspirational. Way to go!
The only problem I see wth money = happiness is when people hoard shit. On the other hand, if you spend wisely and know which things really make you happy without accumulating too much junk, that's definitely a big part of living the good life. Also I agree with the idea that motivation to make money = increased happiness since it means you're a go getter.
Did you meet the guy in Linked In or did you know him before?
I'm not familiar with Linked In. Is it that good? If thats the case I should open me a Linked In account right now.
I knew him beforehand.
My uncle is big in the IT business in California. So getting that first contact was pretty trivial. I admit I did have that advantage.
It does not matter. Many people have advantages that are left unutilised. Godspeed hustling.
Say "Linked In" one more time
Not true: Money = Happiness
True: Money = Freedom = Happiness
Agreed. My grandfather always says, "a man without money is a miserable creature."
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Glad to see you coming up, brother.
No risk, no reward.
Enjoy life :)
To me anyway, stuff and having things is overrated. What money buys is actually freedom, if you dont just spend it on useless shit.
A lot and i mean a lot of people start to earn more and become more wealthy, only to spend more and cry poor.
Keep it in your minds, money buys you freedom, dont buy into too much consumerism, its just there to trap you to get back into that cubicle. Use money as a conduit to live a life where you can wake up when you want and work towards what you want.
Having things is freedom for me:
List goes on.
I think there's a lot of shaming going on about consumerism, when in fact the term usually applies to women who spend a ton of money on useless shit like accessories and purses. None of that stuff has any appreciable difference in lifestyle.
Hell, I really didn't want to go from S7 Edge to the S8. I went with it to give my phone to my mom for mother's day. She had a crappy old kit kat phone without something as basic as a GPS. Now I know she can call Uber if needed. That peace of mind was worth the upgrade.
Ofcourse, these types of things are great. Im talking about the type of spending that just keeps your more trapped in things you hate, like you may hate your job, but you stay in it, because you ran up a higher debt to spend more.
Im not talking about sustainable spending, thats great. Im talking about people getting wealthier and become almost asset/debt rich and cash poor.
I like the S7 edge better. The lack of a hardware home button annoys me.
I'm conflicted. On one hand I hate the fingertip reader on the back. On the other my phone is unlocked automatically at home where I spend most of the day so I don't really mind that much.
Fingerprint reader on the back isn't bad, especially once you put a legit case on it. I've been rocking the charcoal grey Alcantara case and love it.
I fucking despise the finger print reader location. All I do is wipe my fingers on the camera lens
You should invest in Ethereum and get a lambo. You can buy a couple of X1's later.
Did you not see the "Brazil" part?
Having a Lamborghini would bring a gun pointing at your face about 10 times per day.
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But a lambo has doors that open like this ^ ^ , not like this <>
Choose carefully.
One of my favorite lines from that show.
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Damn man nice set up. I came to a realization like that recently. I thought about why I wasn't happy and what I could do to make myself happy. I thought about a drum set and a boxing membership and then I remembered I'm a broke college student.
I need to get off indeed and zip recruiter. I'm trying LinkedIn
"Years ago we hardly had anything to eat. Now I earn more money and I see every opponent as a man that tries to put me back to that poorer period. *That man has to be eliminated." * -Fedor Emelianenko
Just to put in perspective how important money is, how how you must use that to fuel your rampage.
Great story, what sort of IT work do you do?
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Definitely in high demand set of skills, good for you
I guarantee a few months after op gets his BMW he feels the need for a better car. It never ends...
Good stuff, just remember fancy clothes, fast computers and expensive cars will not bring you happiness and fulfillment - flashy shit also makes you a target.
But hey, you work for your money, do what you want with it. I prefer to invest and save mine.
I view money as less useful for material happiness and more useful for buying me security/capital to enjoy my time and therfore be happy and self actualized.
Security is the need directly after food and water. Money can do alot for both literally and figuratively buying security
Man, your post is some seriously inspiring shiz. good on you...
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How does this remote work thing works in practice?
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Thanks man, this sounds awesome. Congrats on your achievements and please keep us posted.
Just PM'd OP. You guys have no idea the odds he's overcome.
As a fellow Brazilian, I am crazy proud of him and inspired by this. Seriously.
So how does one get a job like yours without bullshit college degrees?
"Money doesn't buy you happiness" is just a thing that poor people say to make themselves feel better about being poor.
This isn't true, it's the dream of Brazillians, Danes, Belgians, Dutch, Britons, Japanese as well.
people that say money doesn't buy happiness are seriously deluded. I've been poor for too much of my life to listen to assholes talk about that
I second this motion.
I've posted before about living in Peru, but I haven't really gone into the economics of it too much.
The top quintile in Peru earns around $500 a month take home. I'm pulling in around $2k. No solid data on where that puts me, but I'm willing to wager it's at the threshold of the top 10%.
Like you said, stuff is more expensive here. Computer parts are a goal of mine, and it would take me a year or so too.
At the same time, I'd caution someone against focusing on material possessions entirely in South America. I don't know how safe your area of Brazil is, but an X1 is a target. I'd never own that in Peru because it's just going to get damaged, vandalized, or stolen. I'm sure there's better areas, and Peru is probably worse on average on that front, but it's something to keep in mind.
I'd much rather save up a few grand and travel somewhere interesting every year.
Congrats, making dollars in a third world country is great, so much savings, like thousands monthly
I remember this saying by my friend who getting a six figure salary," money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does feel better to cry on a mercedes than crying in a civic hondai"
Correct me if I am wrong here.
Money does make you happy. Cause one cannot be happy until their needs are met. Being well off means that those needs are handled and you can now focus one what makes you feel fulfilled (be it work or leisure)
When people say money doesn't by happiness, the truth is that beyond a certain dollar amount, happiness from wealth has deminishing returns. If you ( a single man) go from 10k a year to 70k, then of course it's gonna be a boost.
But that boost will be less significant going for 70k a year to 200k or 200m.
Just trying to break it down a bit. Plus I'm bored
TLDR.
Without wealth (money, gold cows or whatever) chances of you being happy are far lower than with wealth.
Reading this post and your comments here, I wonder if you get what TRP if about. Because I think you don't. You value your life based on material things, on something you can lose easily. It's a good thing to have your personal finance in check, but buying stuff becomes addictive. When you buy stuff, your brain releases dopamine so you feel good. But when that dopamine is gone, you're stuck with a product you probably don't even need nor really care for. I've been there, don't fall in that trap and continue your journey instead, because TRP is not about getting rich.
Can confirm - the salary jump from 50k -> 80k has opened up a lot of new doors and opportunities for me to invest in myself.
I agree with you fully. Purchasing material goods inflates my ego. It is a humane flaw I share with over 7 billion people.
Have to leave it here.
This kind of spending is not smart unless you have a huge excess of cash. Better to spend this shit on assets. This is just preaching consumerism. Not a fan of this post at all.
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I'm taking a trip to California in August, baby steps. I've no interest in actually living there since I work remotely, but definitely looking for better opportunities whenever they arise.
My choice for the X1 over other cars is very unique to Brazil. A used X1 with less than 12k miles costs just twice what a brand new Fiat Uno goes for here. Let that sink in for a moment. Also, cheapest, most practical "status" car I can get. It'll turn heads and won't break bank to do so :)
I don't really care about fancy stuff like that. I don't want to leave a mark or a legacy, just want to live the way I want to live.
The car is a long term goal, for that I gotta start investment to get to at least 150% the car's value to purchase it without regrets. So it's a bit more complicated than going into a dealership and getting in debt.
Yea I got money now, but no time. I see my career as a stepping stone to the end goal - revenue that isn't directly related to hours spent in the office. Shit I need it soon as well, 32.
It is only increasing happiness when escaping actual poverty.
As long as you have enough to pay your bills and afford some small comforts (which could be considered lower middle class) any extra money won't make you any happier.
You are investing your money in rapidly depreciating assets (computers and cars). Bad idea.
I have a decent job and a little saved for my retirement (yeah right ill be dead by then) anyways I'm about getting very durable goods..my china is bone, my glasses are crystal, my silverware is heavyweight steel, couches are built for 20 some years of use, pots and pans are cast iron and allclad stainless, basically everything I own I have only need to pay for once! Saves a boat load in the long-run!
Nice thing to read, keep it up man. Thanks for sharing!
Sorry but getting rich is not an option, its not something you choose to be, some people work hard and take risks their whole lives but they never make it.
Everyones knows money is good, that doesn't change anything, especially in a socialist shithole like the one I live.
Almost curious, but startup = Rocket Chat?
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Sure, was just curious since that's what immediately came to mind is all.
Great post. I'm trying to break into IT myself. I don't worry much though, because I've got a knack for stocks. My point is - risk tolerance is the key to all good things in life. Warren Buffet calls it "patience".
I want to get into stocks myself. I'm gonna start saving up from next month onwards and I need something to do with the cash that'd be just sitting there otherwise.
My other option is real state I guess, but that's like a whole tier higher and I don't yet have that kind of money.
I'd love to get into real estate eventually as well.
Brainwashed by capitalism. What a sad life.
Lol dude you're making 70k in California, that's really not a large amount. You should probably be saving more.