This might sound like a "woo-woo" manifesting exercise, but it is an essential step in determining your professional goals and boundaries. If you skip it, you will build a prison for yourself.
I love this! It feels like the next step in my financial thinking journey. I started using YNAB (this is not an ad I’m just a fan) as my budgeting tool several years ago and it shifted me from a mindset of “I need to spend less and save more period” to a mindset of “I need to spend on, and save for, the things I prioritize.” Sitting with myself and figuring out what I care about. I don’t care about new clothes that often, but I do care about books. I don’t cook as much as I think I “should” and my eating out budget should reflect that priority.
This feels like the long-term version of that—all about the life you want and what you need to make that happen. And it’s so good for variable income careers to have those larger goals in mind.
yes yes yes 1000% to all of this! Ramit Seti I think has a similar recommendation: Instead of slashing your expenses everywhere or inflating all your expenses to match your income, you should pick 1-2 categories that you are obsessed with to over index on. There is no wrong answer here, but your quality of life will be so higher if you're honest about "oh, I don't prioritize X so I'll put all that money towards Y."
This newsletter truly speaks to who I want to be as a writer. The "rich and famous" doesn't appeal to me. I would rather be valued and offer a helpful voice occasionally than to be on the more, more, more treadmill.
This is really great. I realize how much I really like my life now and how much it would take to live with the few extra comforts that I would like to have as givens. My career may not be where i hoped at this point but the only regret I have had was the one job I took for money-other than that I am proud of everything I have worked on and this exercise definitely confirmed that's it's own kind of major success. The money is coming...appreciate your newsletter!
Thanks for sharing. As someone who has made millions (granted through a home sale) and lost millions, I was once $1.2M in debt too...lol Yes I can laugh about it, it's just numbers. Anyway, I have experienced life, that is for sure and I have been lucky enough to see the world. My Children are self sustaining adults, I have lived large with an expensive house, expensive cars and expensive meals and I have lived modestly, in a rented room, counting the cost of my groceries as I shop. Personally I like the modest lifestyle, the stress is much lower. It's easier to make $4k a month than $12k after taxes of course, don't get me wrong, I prefer to make the $12k and live on a $4k budget. So what is my take away? Love conquers all, find a partner in life who completes and compliments you and you complete and compliment them, DON'T SETTLE. True love feeds the soul, mind and body more than anything ever! Good friends are invaluable, living where you want to live is of utmost importance, from personal experience that has changed 15 times. Know your limitations: having awareness of those limitations is essential. Having multiple creative outlets is necessary. Enjoy the small things in life and moments that bring you joy, one of my favorite simple pleasures is sitting in a cafe in a place where I don't speak the language and just enjoying the atmosphere. On that, find out what brings YOU joy, and share it with others. Constantly learn, adventure and explore, this you can do for next to no expense. Believe in manifesting luck and make it your mantra. Volunteer somewhere, help others, share your passions and knowledge. I could go on... But all of this will help you understand the budget you need to be happy.
I love this! It feels like the next step in my financial thinking journey. I started using YNAB (this is not an ad I’m just a fan) as my budgeting tool several years ago and it shifted me from a mindset of “I need to spend less and save more period” to a mindset of “I need to spend on, and save for, the things I prioritize.” Sitting with myself and figuring out what I care about. I don’t care about new clothes that often, but I do care about books. I don’t cook as much as I think I “should” and my eating out budget should reflect that priority.
This feels like the long-term version of that—all about the life you want and what you need to make that happen. And it’s so good for variable income careers to have those larger goals in mind.
yes yes yes 1000% to all of this! Ramit Seti I think has a similar recommendation: Instead of slashing your expenses everywhere or inflating all your expenses to match your income, you should pick 1-2 categories that you are obsessed with to over index on. There is no wrong answer here, but your quality of life will be so higher if you're honest about "oh, I don't prioritize X so I'll put all that money towards Y."
This newsletter truly speaks to who I want to be as a writer. The "rich and famous" doesn't appeal to me. I would rather be valued and offer a helpful voice occasionally than to be on the more, more, more treadmill.
Luckily, I think this will result in a happier, healthier longterm lifestyle for you!
This is really great. I realize how much I really like my life now and how much it would take to live with the few extra comforts that I would like to have as givens. My career may not be where i hoped at this point but the only regret I have had was the one job I took for money-other than that I am proud of everything I have worked on and this exercise definitely confirmed that's it's own kind of major success. The money is coming...appreciate your newsletter!
Thanks, Carmen! I appreciate you reading.
Thanks for sharing. As someone who has made millions (granted through a home sale) and lost millions, I was once $1.2M in debt too...lol Yes I can laugh about it, it's just numbers. Anyway, I have experienced life, that is for sure and I have been lucky enough to see the world. My Children are self sustaining adults, I have lived large with an expensive house, expensive cars and expensive meals and I have lived modestly, in a rented room, counting the cost of my groceries as I shop. Personally I like the modest lifestyle, the stress is much lower. It's easier to make $4k a month than $12k after taxes of course, don't get me wrong, I prefer to make the $12k and live on a $4k budget. So what is my take away? Love conquers all, find a partner in life who completes and compliments you and you complete and compliment them, DON'T SETTLE. True love feeds the soul, mind and body more than anything ever! Good friends are invaluable, living where you want to live is of utmost importance, from personal experience that has changed 15 times. Know your limitations: having awareness of those limitations is essential. Having multiple creative outlets is necessary. Enjoy the small things in life and moments that bring you joy, one of my favorite simple pleasures is sitting in a cafe in a place where I don't speak the language and just enjoying the atmosphere. On that, find out what brings YOU joy, and share it with others. Constantly learn, adventure and explore, this you can do for next to no expense. Believe in manifesting luck and make it your mantra. Volunteer somewhere, help others, share your passions and knowledge. I could go on... But all of this will help you understand the budget you need to be happy.