For the first time in my life, I've gotten really serious about my personal finance. I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Millionaire Next Door and it kind of clicked. For a little over a year, I've been strict about budgeting which also caused me to take my freelance earnings more seriously, inspiring me to make a pretty substantial income.
I obsessively watch what goes out and comes in. What I would've spent mindlessly a few years ago, I could never imagine spending now. This thinking allowed me to buy an investment property in the past year and I'll be down to two fully-owned properties and a paid-off car within 5 years—plus regular IRA contributions that put me near the limit of my contributions. Even after aggressively attacking debt, putting money aside for taxes and contributing to my IRA, I think I save 30-40% of my income each month.
It's been exciting to see what being more careful can do and I've enjoyed seeing my net worth rise, but I've absolutely lost the balance between being financially responsible and enjoying life.
I've always been deeply interested in my hobbies, which connected me to my friends and family. Cars and watches have always been my "thing" and, since I've gotten into being careful with money, I've just cut out anything that I enjoy. This weekend, I'm spoiling my car enthusiast side and buying the good wiper blades and dropping two bucks into a spray wash. That's my weekend car indulgence and, even then, I feel a bit guilty for splurging on the nice Bosch wiper blades.
Now, I'm not the poster child of /r/frugal. I've been on three budget-friendly vacations in the past year. I eat out twice a week. I try to spoil friends and family with gifts. I updated my wardrobe during the holiday sales since most of my stuff didn't fit quite right.
I'm not living bad, not by any means. I just don't seem to be able to indulge in spending on things that bring me joy day-to-day, like a hobby. I think about how buying a fun car in a few years would've been better invested in my IRA. I think about how a meal out could've been an extra bit of car payment.
I have no doubt that being careful and spending wisely will be a smart long-term move. I'm a little late to the game to be getting serious about finance at this point in life. But right now? Right now I feel incredibly bored and unstimulated. My hobbies always connected me to new and old friends, it got me excited about earning a big paycheck that I could enjoy. It made me work harder in my former sales career.
When I sell a new project, I really don't feel anything about it. It's just numbers that'll eventually make the numbers in my bank account grow larger.
I realize this is an incredible first world problem, but I feel it affecting my mood, relationships and business. I have to find some balance, enjoying the things that make up a large part of who I am without spending money stupidly.
Has anyone else encountered a similar mindset? What am I missing here? What can I change?
Submitted January 26, 2019 at 05:39AM by neverenough22 http://bit.ly/2UjnbG6
