← Back to context

Comment by VikingCoder

2 days ago

FIYNTBOM

Financial Independence, You're Not The Boss Of Me.

Once you're financially independent, at a level that you're comfortable with, you don't have to put up with crappy bosses.

If you're Sergey Brin, you kind of don't really have a boss, do you?

If you "retire" into working at a hardware store, or volunteering at the Humane Society, or just shifting into a lower-stress job...

Well, that's the dream, isn't it?

I was so happy when I realized that, unless there were dramatic shifts in the markets, I would always be able to find "decent" work for great wages. And maybe I could be patient and find "good" work for "pretty great" wages.

Once I had that level of comfort, I was way, way more brave at work. I thought, "Well, they could fire me for their own reasons, any day. So, I might as well do The Right Thing™. If they fire me for doing The Right Thing™, well, I didn't really want to work there anyway, did I?"

And then there were dramatic shifts in the markets, lol. But fortunately for me, I had built up a nest egg, and now I've shifted into a lower-stress job.

I honestly don't know what advice I'd give to younger folks. Move to Norway?

5 comments

VikingCoder

Reply
pkos98  2 days ago

I think this is just an extension of "Fuck you money"

  • VikingCoder  2 days ago

    I think you're very close to being right...

    But I think "Fuck you money" implies, "I honestly don't have to worry about money, ever again."

    Now, we all have different definitions for that, but the kind of thing I was talking about is definitely not "Fuck you money," to me.

    I think if I had "Fuck you money," my best friends and close family would all have their medical debts paid off. I think my parents and in-laws would have their mortgages paid off.

    • jayd16  2 days ago

      That is what they call "fuck me money". As in, fuck me I'll just pay it.

      FUM is the freedom to walk away. FMM is the power make your own terms.

  • CoffeeOnWrite  2 days ago

    It’s more than just money, it’s how you set up your life to be resilient to contingencies. For example finding a compatible life partner. For example finding happiness without lifestyle inflation and breaking free from the hedonic treadmill. Or perhaps having a good lifestyle business for some people. Or having extended family support nearby. I call these things unfuckwithability. Money is a big part of it, but may not be the biggest missing piece for many people.