Only freedom will do

edinburgher

I can't believe that tomorrow is Monday, where has the weekend gone?

We had a lovely relaxing one, apart from more cookery projects than I probably should have attempted. I think that I need to relax a little more with some of the household stuff.

It has been a very introspective few days for me, with good chats with Mrs E (and over on Earthgirl's thread, among others).

I was banned from taking part in a certain bookie promotion that was very generous (£800 or so in the last 6 months). While I initially felt rotten (losing a bookie is like losing a job!), I realised pretty soon afterwords that the promotion was eating up a couple of hours every weekend and was stressing me out quite a bit.

I am starting to realise that FI is about more than just having a big pile of money and then stepping back from the world. I need to take a look at some things that I can do to improve our quality of life in the here and now, because it's not enough to live life frazzled if it means getting out in 15 years (best case scenario). 15 years is a long time

Oddly enough, a solid think about the things that matter to me doesn't feature money, it's only a sticking plaster for things that annoy me about day-to-day life. Finding meaningful work, giving something back to the community and trying to recapture some of the more open and trusting nature that I had as a younger man are the areas that I'd like to focus on. I've also started trying to improve my health and ability to relax, but it's not an overnight fix.

To that end, I will be making a few changes. I have an embryonic career change in mind that could hopefully be achieved within a year (big pay drop, but much higher salary [STRIKE]if[/STRIKE] when I succeed), I will be starting to support some charities again and I will try to treat everyone I meet with openness, not cynicism.

A lot to be achieved :j

slowlyfading

Ooh I'm intrigued. What's your big career change? (I get it if you don't want to share, though!) 15 years is definitely a long time when you feel like you're just counting down the time to escape.

Perhaps the imminent arrival in your household has made you become somewhat more reflective about the future

choccielover

Wow Mr E that's some deep thinking you have been doing. Is it the prospect of becoming a new dad very imminantly that's brought this on or has it been brewing for a while?

There is more to life than money, and dare I say, paying off the mortgage.

Yes it means FI but at what cost in the short term. I absolutely focus on moving free cash to pay off my mortgage, and as money frees up from other areas (loans paid off etc) I transition the cash to OP's that way it's like I don't even notice. I appreciate its not as "easy" for everyone as this though.
What this does enable me to do is still enjoy a quality of life we can adhere too, we don't feel the pinch too much so we are more likely to stick to the plan.
That's not to say we don't budget, I try to save as much as possible, both towards our holidays and FI. Though I don't pressure myself too much as I want to enjoy my life with my only child, not scrimp and save to get the benefits just as she is set to leave home.
Life's about making memories, not money I guess.

Anyways....good luck with your refocusing is what this boils down to.

Chocs

edinburgher

What's your big career change? (I get it if you don't want to share, though!)

Suffice to say it plays to my FI strengths, that's all I'm sharing for now, more research to do and plenty of study etc. to enjoy

Anyways....good luck with your refocusing is what this boils down to.

Thanks Chocs. I think you are probably right about it being the imminent arrival that is making me think so much. I want to be a happy Dad, not a grumpy Dad!

On the other hand, it is very much down to my own hard work, I'll give myself some credit for once. A year ago, I sat with Mrs E, distressed because my job is pants and I had no idea how to change it. Like so many others, I'm lucky to be comfortably miserable, with more than enough money to pay the bills, but no real chance of job satisfaction or self respect at work. Back then there was no chance that we could have accepted jobs that pay any less than our current ones because a) we were afraid of change and b) couldn't afford to make any.

Fast forward a year and we've saved £15,000 and I finally have a sensible plan for making some positive changes. Worst case scenario is ending up back where I already am :T

It is amazing the difference in our lives since we started our MFW journey just over 3 years ago. I [STRIKE]blame[/STRIKE] thank this board for a lot of the changes.

Karmacat

Fascinating Ed - and a real step forward for you, definitely. Fifteen years is way too long to put your life on hold to achieve freedom mythically in the future ... you've got me intrigued as well as slowlyfading ... you know, if that bookie ban got you thinking about your real priorities, then thats great


Crossposted ... its good on here, isn't it

Off to find Earthgirl's thread now ...

AlexLK

Fifteen years is indeed an awfully long time, so I'm glad to hear you are looking at doing something else work wise.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Mr E, really enjoyed reading your post. Good luck with your thinking and planning.

It will be interesting to read more over the next few months.

Btw, when is little Toots due?

Very best wishes, Tilly

edinburgher

Two weeks yesterday Tilly :dance: :dance: :dance:

turtlemoose

which means she could be 5 weeks away ed, sorry

Karmacat

Very not-long-now! Exciting!