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Archive for March, 2011

Swopping one False God for another ?

March 13th, 2011 at 10:25 pm

So we're all agreed here that:

1. Buying "stuff" unnecessarily only harms your financial future but also does nothing for your long-term happiness.

2. Debt should be avoided if at all possible.

3. Live below your means and you'll generally be ok.

Since I've become debt-free, I've acquired a new long-term Goal - to be Financial Independent - that is to say to not have to work for a living - to be able to live off the interests of my investments.

Given that my total financial worth (including retirement fund) at the moment is about 19,000 - that day is a LONG way away.

But today I've been wondering - isn't squirrelling away most of one's money now - postponement of living ? Do I want to be a rich 65 year old and to look back on 33 years of self-enforced deprivation ? What is the point ?

Isn't accumulation of 500,000 in a Savings account another type of "stuff". Yes it's more beneficial stuff but still the point is the same. I'm saying to myself "my life will be so much better and I will be free when I have X amount in the bank".

I don't know - recently I've came to believe again that this moment is all there is. The Future is only THIS moment later on - if you follow me.

I'm come across a bible quotation that doesn't receive much attention - probably mainly because it isn't guilt-ridden or prohibitive !!

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," MAT 6:34.

What do you think ?

I know Monkey Mama believes in striking a balance between now and then. But shouldn't NOW be primary as it is all there is and all there will ever be.

I'm not saying spend every cent you have now, I'm just saying denying the present moment in favour of a super-duper future is denying life itself.

Sorry if I'm rambling again ! :-)