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By world and historic standards, I’ve lived a charmed life. Great family, Norman Rockwell community, material comfort, plenty of opportunity, and plenty of freedom. I wasn’t an evil One-Percenter, mind you. Not by a long shot. My dad was a cop and my mom was a medical records clerk. But I never wanted for anything. So my story isn’t a miraculous story of overcoming severe deprivation—of living in a car one year and buying a McMansion the following year with cash. No, my story is just a story of a financial slug who finally woke up.

And looking back, as I transitioned from financial slug to financial rockstar, there was clear evidence that something wonderful was afoot. My emergency fund kept getting bigger. And so did the balances in my brokerage account and 401(k). And every year, the difference between my portfolio’s value and the Valhalla of financial independence—accumulating twenty-five times one’s annual living expenses—grew smaller.

But beyond the telltale signs of financial competence, there were subtle signs. As I finally cast aside the yoke of financial sluggary, I began to think and act differently. Here, then, are ten unusual signs you’re kicking butt financially.

Ten Unusual Signs You’re Kicking Butt Financially

1. You lose track of payday. When I was living paycheck to paycheck, payday was huge. But once I had a sizable emergency fund, payday just became another workday. On most occasions, a co-worker’s comment was the only thing that alerted me to its arrival. “Hey, it’s payday! Let’s go out for lunch.”

2. Your crummy car doesn’t hurt your ego. My first car out of college was a 1972 Buick Riviera. It was a clanking monstrosity. And one day, my fireman friend’s friend, who was also a fireman, referred to my wheels as an ADV. My fireman friend later told me that “ADV” was fireman shorthand for Abandoned Derelict Vehicle. I was mortified. Not only did my bank account say I was a loser, but so did my car.

Fast forward to today. I drive a 2004 Toyota Camry. And while it’s not exactly a clanking monstrosity, it’s easily the worst car on the block. AND I LOVE IT! I don’t want people to think I have money. I want people to look at my car and say to themselves, “There goes another poor schlub.”

3. You want to boast about your net worth but your spouse won’t let you. Ego is a fickle beast. I don’t care what strangers think about me, but I care what family and friends think. And I want the latter to admire me. So as I marched toward financial independence, I felt a constant urge to regale my family and friends with my financial achievements. “Hey, my lithium stock is really taking off. And, you know what, my net worth went up by over $100K last year. Aren’t I awesome?” But thankfully Mrs. G was there to quell this unseemly impulse. No one likes a braggart. But more importantly, having your family and friends admire you because you’re a good egg is infinitely more rewarding than having them admire you because you have money.

4. You’re itching to give unsolicited financial advice to family and friends. I guess this is part ego too. Who doesn’t want to be a hero and help a relation or friend overcome some financial woe? But thankfully, Mrs. G was always there to corral this dangerous impulse as well. I may think I know how to fix someone’s finances, but unless I have intimate knowledge of said someone’s income, expenses, debts, needs, and wants, that assumption is very, very presumptuous. Besides, most of my family and friends know the unflattering aspects of my life. They were there when adolescent Mr. Groovy used to sing ditties that incorporated his own farts. They were also there when college Mr. Groovy was found sleeping in some hallway or vestibule atop half-eaten burritos or his own vomit. And once you have such an inglorious history, you can’t expect those who know that history to be very receptive to your advice—financial or otherwise.

5. You become less partisan politically. Haha! I know that sounds rich coming from me. But hear me out. When I was a financial slug, I voted Republican because I thought the GOP was going to save me. But as soon as I got my financial act together, and my net worth began to grow, I realized that I didn’t need the stinking Republicans to better myself. My growing financial competence made me realize that the most important variable in my quest for comfort, happiness, and meaning was yours truly, not some political party. It also made me more objective. I now see right through Republican and Democratic bullshit. So if you prefer to be enslaved by Wall Street and the military-industrial complex, vote Republican. If you prefer to be enslaved by ANTIFA and the compassion-industrial complex, vote Democrat. I prefer to take my chances with freedom, so the below clip perfectly reflects my feelings toward both parties.

6. You’re annoyed that you haven’t had to use your emergency fund. When I was teetering on the edge of financial solvency, Mr. Murphy was a frequent visitor. But as soon as I got my financial act together, he decided to shun me. In fact, the last time I saw him, the financial consequences were so minor, it was the social equivalent of a wave from a passing motorist. C’mon, Mr. Murphy. Stop by for a real visit. I got a formidable emergency fund that’s sitting in a savings account doing squat—and I’m itching to use it.

7. You lick your chops when there’s a stock market correction. When the 2008 recession visited ruin upon the stock market, I did what any self-professed FIRE enthusiast would do. I increased my 401(k) contributions. My reaction to the Brexit and Trump election hiccups was the same. The market dipped, and I upped my stock purchases. Now, I’m not hoping for another massive buying opportunity. Another 2008-like recession would bring financial calamity to millions of Americans. But should such a massive buying opportunity arrive, I’m ready for it.

8. You spend a lot of time reading personal finance blogs. CNBC? Wall Street Journal? Broadcast television? Cable news? Reality TV? It’s all the same, boring crap. Personal finance blogs, however, are another matter. After all, where can you read about a petite lady who goes salmon fishing with a gigunda butterfly net? Or read about a guy who sees eerie parallels between the quest for FIRE and the quest for finding bigfoot? Or better yet, read about a guy who used a tragic death and a 10-year prison sentence to redeem his soul and his finances? Blogs are where it’s at, baby. Nothing staid and boring there. Real people with real stories and real wisdom.

9. You become less enamored with watching sports. Sorry face-painters, but professional sports are nothing more than adults in costumes chasing a ball or a puck. When I was broke and living paycheck to paycheck, this sobering reality escaped me. I actually allowed my happiness and identity to be partially determined by what happened on a football field, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, and a hockey rink. When my team lost, I experienced a sudden loss of contentment. I was no longer “number one.”

Ah, but with a growing net worth comes wisdom. Perhaps it has something to do with the extreme sense of ownership that many FIRE enthusiasts develop. In other words, FIRE enthusiasts don’t wait for others to improve their financial situation. They get off their asses and do it themselves. How likely, then, are FIRE enthusiasts—people who have been conditioned to get jacked up by their own actions and achievements—to get jacked up watching others do things and fight for glory? If you said “very little,” go straight to the head of class. I for one don’t want to revel in someone else’s glory. I want to revel in my own glory. Now, granted, devising a suitable drawdown strategy or getting one of my posts featured on Rockstar Finance isn’t nearly as impressive as throwing the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. But it’s MY glory, however pathetic either achievement may be.

10. You appreciate the simple joys of life more. Mrs. G and I spent the last 11 days of September out west in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. It was one of the best vacations we ever had. And while Glacier National Park was surely the highlight of the trip (see the picture below), my fondest recollection was spending time with Ms. Montana and her family.

Now call me pathetic, but the best time I had with Jillian, Adam, and their remarkable tribe was the time after we supped on Billy Bob’s famous BBQ. We all went to Super 1 Foods for dessert. A huge box of donuts was $3. Soft serve ice cream cones were $0.25 a piece. The kids had their table. And the adults had theirs. Were they the best donuts I ever ate? No. Was it the best ice cream cone I ever had? Of course not. But for a mere five bucks, 9 people had a fabulous sugar rush and a rollicking good time. And a little ol’ country blogger from North Carolina got a memory he’ll cherish forever.

a picture of Saint Mary's Lake in Glacier National Park

Final Thoughts

Okay, groovy freedomists, that’s all I got. Or is it? You didn’t think I’d leave Montana without roping Ms. Montana into an episode of Talking Trash, did you? Have a great weekend. Grease for peace.

99 thoughts on “Ten Unusual Signs You’re Kicking Butt Financially

  1. Just found your blog, thanks to a post at YNAB. Love your list. I feel like I’m still struggling but all 10 on your list hit home. Maybe it’s time to start struggling less?
    Thank you for this post

    1. Thanks, TJ! Didn’t know YNAB picked up any of our content (maybe it’s time we figured out how to pay attention to all of that?) If you have any questions during your struggle send us an email. We’re not pros but sometimes it helps to get perspective from someone who doesn’t know you.

      1. Thank you. I will get familiar with your site then send you any questions I come up with. Thank you for the offer. It does help to get new eyes on a situation sometimes.

  2. Don’t taunt the universe with number 6…. The best insurance is the one that doesn’t need to be used (but allows you to go to sleep comforted that you are covered…).

  3. I love this list. Nothing is better than the feeling of “oh yeah, it is payday” rather than waiting by my computer waiting to see the funds hit my bank account. I would like to propose expanding #2 to more than just cars. If you can live comfortably without worrying about the value, the brand, or the status of your purchases, than your are DEFINITELY kicking butt financially.

    Although I disagree with the sports point because lets face it, I am never going to stop being a die hard fan of my teams, I love how the list crescendos to the point about how much more you are going to enjoy your time together and the trips you may take.

    Thanks for putting this list together!

    Bert

    1. Hey, Bert. Here’s one for you. When I was in college, I stopped buying expensive sneakers and started buying Converse All-Stars. At the time, they were about one-quarter of the cost of fashionable sneakers. And when people asked me why I bought such “cheap” sneakers, I would retort: “Well, I’m not playing against Magic Johnson or Larry Byrd anytime soon. So I don’t see the need for anything more expensive.” But for some reason, this sensible attitude toward stuff didn’t guide the rest of my purchases until I was almost 40. Meh. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. I really appreciate what you had to say.

    1. LOL! You’ve warmed the cockles of my heart, Mrs. FF. Nothing gets my “spidey senses” tingling like emergency fund and Roth IRA talk.

  4. Nice list. I identify with #2 for sure. I’m a teacher by day and when I roll into the parking lot I’m shocked by the number of expensive cars around me. I drive a 2004 Alero with no hubcaps…and I like it! Cheap to insure and drive, plus the heat and air work. What more could I want?

    1. Haha! A 2004 Alero with no hubcaps? And the heat and air work? I’m so freakin’ jealous. Bravo, my friend. I know this is may sound odd, but once you’ve found your significant other and you’re married, your car should only be about practicality. The impulse to show off or impress others should be long gone. But sadly, too many of our fellow Americans don’t mind going into debt for a hunk of metal that loses value faster than Hollywood mogul who has been outed as a sexual predator. Thanks for stopping by, OSC. There’s a lot of wisdom in your comment.

  5. Great post and perspective does really change when you can break away from the conventional way. #1 – yup that was nice to not be living paycheque to paycheque anymore. #2 – this is a huge one, in my lifetime that probably ate most of my money. Finally getting an old used vehicle and having no car loan was awesome. #4 – I want to try and help everyone, hard part is having them believe what we know we are talking about or not willing to give up what they have and of course not coming of like you are bragging.

    1. Thanks, Chris. So true. Escaping that paycheck to paycheck dread is such a huge relief. And also not giving a crap what other people think of your clothes, car, or house is also huge. Here’s another one we can add to the list: you don’t have a knot in your stomach on Sunday night because you saved enough money and you don’t need the job you’re going to on Monday morning. And this one gets even better when your finally FIRE. Mrs. G and I have been retired for a year now, and every Sunday night we still celebrate it with a glass of wine. Thanks for stopping by, Chris. I really appreciate it.

  6. I was just scrolling through my facebook feed before bed, and I ran into this article. After all the crap I’ve been through in life: 10 years in prison, a couple of years clawing my way back up in freedom, and the last few years finally realizing my potential, it means the world to me that my story was mentioned in an article about the “10 Unusual Signs Your Kicking Butt Financially.” I am one of the most confident men you will ever meet, but even I was a little scared the day I got out of prison. If I would have known this would be my life five short years later, I would have been so excited I couldn’t sleep for a week. I will continue to do my best to share the “real wisdom” I have learned as you call it.

    1. I’m truly humbled, Billy. Your story is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever read. If any post should go viral in this crazy world, it’s the one you penned for J#. I’ve always said that sound financial habits don’t discriminate. They don’t care what color you are, what religion if any you practice, or how often you’ve screwed up in the past. As soon as you befriend them, they’ll befriend you. And you’re living proof of that. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Billy. And thanks for sharing your thoughts on my post. You made my week, my friend. Cheers.

  7. Ha! I love the one about being eager to give financial advice to others. I’m really not trying to be THAT person, but I just can’t help but want to share tips all the time and teach everyone the best ways to budget/save and all that fun stuff.

    Great article, thanks for posting!

    1. I hear ya, Kong. It is tough to hold your tongue. What Mrs. G and I do now is just tell a little bit about our financial lives if it’s germane to the conversation. “We bought a three-year old car for cash.” “Our investments are with Vanguard. We have a total stock market index fund and a total bond market index fund.” “Have you ever heard of the Stacking Benjamins podcast? We listen to it all the time.” Most of the time, most people don’t give a rat’s ass what we’re doing. There are those, however, who do. And when they ask questions about our financial choices, we elaborate. I guess this is our subtle way of giving unsolicited advice. It’s doesn’t work very well, but it’s a nice compromise. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. I really appreciate your input.

  8. how about – You forget that other people have debt.

    I am always a bit shocked in casual conversation when someone tells me about their credit car debt, car loans, or student loans. I haven’t had any debt in 6 years and have forgotten that it is the norm.

    1. Ooooo, good one! I’ll have to add that one to the list. And how about, “You forget that other people can’t come up with $400 cash without borrowing.” It’s amazing what you take for granted once you get your financial act together. Thanks for stopping by, Conrad. I love the cut of your jib.

  9. This is sooooooooooo everything!!!! I love love loveeeeee this post. I’ve got 9.5/10 booyah! I don’t want to use my emergency fund but it is annoying it’s sitting there doing chump.

    Definitely agree on the politics one, you’re not sugar coating it. It’s like choosing turd pie or turd sandwich. Either way it’s gonna be smelly.

    1. “Definitely agree on the politics one, you’re not sugar coating it. It’s like choosing turd pie or turd sandwich. Either way it’s gonna be smelly.”

      Made my day, Lily. You have an exquisite way of distilling the essence of a complicated subject. I love it. Oh, and if you get a chance, read my Friday post when it comes out. You’re the star of it!

  10. Wow your comment on politics was interesting. I notice I’ve also become less politically partisan. I never connected it to my rising net worth, but I suspect there’s something to that. I fit about 6 of the 10 signs that you listed.

    1. You’re making my think, Mysticaltyger. Yes, my political partisanship waned as my net worth grew. But my jaundiced view of both parties may have just as easily been the result of getting older and acquiring more wisdom. The plot thickens, my friend. Thanks for stopping by.

  11. #9 – I didn’t really watch sports but I had my how’s that I used to watch. Not anymore, I don’t really watch any tv anymore because reading and especially reading about finances is much more rewarding. Great list, I laughed the whole way through because it so true!

    1. Haha! I’m with you, Lena. If someone would have told a young Mr. Groovy that one day he would find reading much more compelling than watching television, a young Mr. Groovy would have accused that someone of being a blithering idiot.

  12. This post is so well written! I can relate to all of these, but especially 4, 7, and 10.

    I don’t usuall give others financial advice in person (unless they ask), but I think it in my head a lot! And while I too don’t wish another recession on the economy at all, I’d love the chance to buy into my 401k when the market is not at record highs.

    1. “I don’t usuall give others financial advice in person (unless they ask), but I think it in my head a lot!”

      Very sage, Cody. Very sage. It took me a while to reach that degree of wisdom, but I finally made it. And I hear you about the stock market right now. It seems very overpriced to me. I think your chance to buy into your 401k is rapidly approaching. Best of luck. Cheers.

    1. Welcome to the team, Hi-Tech. You’re going to love it. The FIRE community is really salt of the earth. Couldn’t find a more knowledgeable and supportive bunch.

  13. #9 definitely rings true for me. When I was transitioning out of a crappy career and not making much money, sports became everything. I remember a year the World Cup was on and I would sneak out of the office to go watch soccer at 10am . Like most americans , I knew the big names in soccer but not much else. I watched soccer exactly 4 times before that. But I latched on to those games like they were the end all. It provided a brief escape from the reality of my cubicle and meager paycheck. Dont get me wrong…Mark Cuban is not hurting for cash…but he owns the team…

    1. So true, my friend. When I was a laborer for the highway department picking up dead animals, my world revolved around the New York Islanders and the Dallas Cowboys. When either of them failed to make the playoffs or were eliminated from the playoffs, my life was ruined. Looking back, I was pretty pathetic. But I guess sports were kind of a defense mechanism. When your own life sucks, you need something to give your life meaning. Meh. Thanks for stopping by, TFF. I really appreciate what you had to add to our conversation. Cheers.

  14. Hi,

    Really interesting post, thanks 🙂

    Just got questions regarding #7 if you don’t mind. I get that you are ready to buy more stocks, but with what money ? Are you going to sell bonds to buy more stocks ? Or you have more cash than you should ? And aren’t you afraid of the current value of your stocks going downhill and maybe not going up to where it is now again ?

    Thanks

    1. Hey, Baptiste. Excellent question. Right now, about 13% of our portfolio is in cash. That’s probably a little too high. But we’re looking to buy land and build a house over the next year. So being a little cash heavy is probably wise. Right now are portfolio is 35% equities and 65% bonds/cash. If we do experience another 2008-like crash, we’ll probably jump to a 50/50 portfolio by selling a portion of the bond indexes in our tax-advantaged accounts and buying stock indexes. This way we rebalance with no tax consequences. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. I really appreciate it.

    1. Isn’t amazing how frequently Mr. Murphy visits when you’re broke? I’m still catching flack from Mrs. G for tempting fate and goading Mr. Murphy for a visit. Not exactly wise on my part. But what’s the point of being a little ol’ country blogger if you can’t do something stupid every now and then? Thanks for stopping by, Ms99to1. I really appreciate it.

    1. You’re welcome! It was one of the best pictures you ever posted on your blog. And I’m so freakin’ jealous. Perhaps I can convince Mrs. Groovy to time our Alaska vacation with the dipnet season. I’m sure she would look adorable with the gigunda butterfly net. Thanks again, Maggie. It stories like dipnetting that help me forget all the rotten stuff that goes on in this world.

      1. Unfortunately, it’s against the law for non-Alaskans to even handle dipnetting equipment, but you can sure come watch (and we can feed you some of the catch!). My parents came to witness one year because it’s nuts. And I’ll pass along that you love the pic. It’s one of Mr. T’s favorites too. 🙂

    1. Hey, Half-Penny comes first. All these blogging duties can wait. And Mrs. G loved your comment. She’s very repulsed by Mr. Murphy and wants him to stay away as well. Thanks for stopping by, Penny. And have a great time at FinCon! I’m sure you’ll have a blast.

    2. Oh, my bad. I forgot to mention that you’re spot on about Jillian. She and her entire family are awesome. And they’re very gracious hosts. It took us all of five minutes to feel like we were childhood friends.

  15. It was astounding to me how accurate this list has been. Over the last 5 years, I’ve seen *every single one of these* grow in my own life. It’s almost eerie how well you captured this!

    By the way, Wisconsin may not have quite as much to offer as Montana, but if you’re ever in the area, let me know – would love to do some fun hiking and talk some trash 🙂

    1. Excellent point about Wisconsin, Chris. I went to a Packer game last year and stayed in Milwaukee. Milwaukee was a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be. Green Bay was nice too. And its residents were some of the nicest people I have ever met. Can’t wait to get to your corner of the Badger state so we can talk some trash. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Cheers.

  16. Right on! I don’t know why I don’t watch as much basketball on TV anymore. It just doesn’t hold that much appeal anymore. I might get excited if our team make a deep playoff run, though. Not holding my breath.
    You’re spot on with the rest.

    1. I hear ya, my friend. I grew up a monster football fan. But last year, I only watched 1.5 games the entire season. One game I watched because I went to it. My friends and I made a bucket-list trip to Lambeau Field to see a Packer game. I then watched the first half of the Super Bowl but turned it off at half time since the Falcons were killing the Patriots. Was I upset the following day when I learned I missed the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history? Hardly. My sports addiction in general, and football addiction in particular, has been cured. Yay!

  17. I have to say that I am only at 2, 4, 7, 8, and possibly 10. The political item, for better or worse, probably won’t ever happen to me because it is part of my job and my research. However, the fact that I have 5 out of 10 is an accomplishment. I certainly would like to hit a couple more in the next few years. Excellent post.

    1. I love it, Jason. Five out of 10 is pretty damn good. Perhaps I got to come up with a subtle-sign score. Thanks for stopping by, my friend.

  18. Well shucks! For a li’l old country blogger, you shore pack a wallop in them four-dollar words, Mr. G!

    Great post and video! Montana is one of my favorite places, and Glacier is the best National Park I’ve been to by far.

    1. Thanks, Mr. G. I don’t know where them four-dollar words come from. They just enter my head. I don’t read a thesaurus for fun. And I hear you about Glacier. It was definitely a sight to behold.

  19. It’s great that you’ve written about signs that you’re kicking butt financially instead of a specific value. I’m still in negative net worth so comparing myself to others my age who are much closer to FIRE can be quite diminishing so these 10 signs are a more positive indication of progress towards FIRE!

    No.1 Payday is still something I look forward to as I don’t yet have a fully funded emergency fund. I can’t WAIT to have this checked off my list.

    No.4 I’ve stopped giving unsolicited advice (budgeting or not) to friends and family unless explicitly asked for. Simply put, I learned this the hard way!

    No.5 The more I become aware and responsible for my money and spending, I’ve actually become more right wing! I find the left wing parties are constantly pointing the finger at others instead of taking full responsibility of their situation and taking actions to fix it.

    xx Miss Piggy

    1. Too funny. I was a liberal New Yorker until I moved in with Mr. G on Long Island and paid property taxes. Holy cow did I sing another tune quickly!

    2. Hey Miss Piggy. Great comment. If we used tolerance for excuses as a measure, I definitively got more right wing as I gained control of finances. I just can’t take excuses anymore. It costs next to nothing to learn how to code or learn how to create and manage a database. And there’s no law saying you have to live paycheck to paycheck and use most of your free time to play video games and smoke pot. But I guess I’m the bad guy because I don’t want to give a corrupt and inefficient government more money so it can fix all the self-destructive souls out there. Meh.

  20. These are really fun Mr. G! Most of them I readily identify with, but there are a few that I don’t… I still anticipate pay day as I have to divide it immediately between bills and savings… I’m also not sure how I feel about market corrections… when the next one hits it’ll be our first with our own money … maybe down the road I’ll share a similar perspective… I think #3 is my “trigger point” right now… I have a HARD time not announcing my financial successes on facebook, especially since we’re living frugally in a glitzy part of town. Sometimes I feel that I get dismissed because I don’t share in the same hobbies/behaviors/addictions. And YES to enjoying life and reading personal finance blogs! Someone should consider starting a support group for rockstar finance feed addicts.

    1. Haha! I hear about #7. I talk a good game about buying more stocks when there’s “blood in the streets,” but we’ll see what happens when the day comes. In 2008, we had a small chunk of money in the market and were years from retirement. So it was easy to be a tough guy. And I completely agree with you about the need for a Rockstar support group. There are so many great posts and bloggers it’s easy to get lost. Thanks for stopping by, SJ. Love your style. “Choke on my frugality, Facebookers!”

  21. I have almost all these signs crossed off, I am kicking butt. It probably was no coincidence that I didn’t know I was getting a paycheck until I saw it on my desk this morning. That’s how much of an afterthought I think about it nowadays.
    With #4, now I have read so many PF blogs and having my own financial experience I am so eager to give advice to anyone who brings up anything that relates to retirement accounts, student loans, and opening a college fund.

    1. Hey, Kris. I certainly understand your eagerness to spread the word, so to speak. It’s the natural consequence of wanting good things for others. And I’m right there with you. That’s the main reason why I blog. But when it comes to family and friends, I stopped giving unsolicited advice. I can’t exactly articulate a reason why. I just felt uncomfortable afterwords. Do I suffer from imposter syndrome? Perhaps. The good news is that now that Mrs. G and I have come out of the blogging closet, we do get personal finance questions from family and friends every now and then. And those questions we answer. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. It’s always great to hear from another FIRE enthusiast who’s kicking butt.

    1. Thanks, Jillian. I can’t say enough about Montana or the way you and Adam welcomed us into your home. You guys are truly wonderful people. Heck, I want to fly back next week just so I can hug Cheesy.

    1. Agreed, Gary. I think it may be time for another Chain Gang challenge: how the personal finance community makes awesome memories for a buck or less. Have a great weekend, my friend.

  22. Great post! I can relate to a few of the things you mentioned, especially when it comes to my 2002 Subaru. I still know when payday comes around, but I think that’s more of a conditioned response from living paycheck to paycheck for the majority of my adult life.

    One other thing that I don’t sweat too much is my budget. I did at first, but now that my financial situation (and literacy) is much improved, I haven’t kept tabs it for a while.

    1. “Whoop dee do for my Subaru.” That was the tagline from an 80s advertising campaign. Always like Subaru. I’m sure your 2002 one is a peach. And I hear you about the budget. When I first started getting my financial act together–way back in 2003–I created a monthly budget. But a short time after I relocated to Charlotte in 2006, I shifted to the lazy man’s budget. I saved 50% of my income and spent the rest. As long as my savings were that high, and automated, I figured budgeting was pointless. Anyway, concentrating on my savings rate and living on whatever was left over worked for me. Thanks for stopping by, SRGO. I really appreciate what you added to our conversation.

    1. Of course! Beat me up for #6. You got to give Mrs. G more ammunition, right? All kidding aside, I think you’re on to something, Amy. Wishing for a visit from Mr. Murphy is a rather dumb thing to wish for. But I did augment this post with Jillian. And I should get some major kudos for that. Thanks for stopping by, Amy. I always love hearing from one of my buds from the Wolverine State. Cheers

    1. You are kicking butt. And not just in finances. We were listening to you on Stacking Benjamins while we were hiking in Glacier one day, and we loved the way you put Penzo in his place. Great freakin’ job! And, yes, we were so happy we got a chance to meet Jillian and her family. She’s the 6th blogger we’ve met now. She joins Fritz (Retirement Manifesto), JW and Lucy (Green Swan), and Claudia and Garrett (Two Cup House). And like all the others, she’s even better in person. Very genuine, and very warm. Just an all-around terrific person. If you’re going to FinCon, and haven’t met her yet, make a point of doing so. You won’t be disappointed.

  23. I’m ranking pretty high on this scale! Granted, I do still know when payday is but that’s because it’s only once a month and I LOVE to update my spreadsheets. 🙂 The rest is pretty on par. Oh, except sports. I never understood the pleasure of watching other people play a game. It’s weird. What’s weirder is that they get payed a TON of money to do it. In my opinion, it’s shit that we pay them so much and most teachers are just scrapping by…but that’s a whole other post!

    1. HOW DARE YOU! You want to pay teachers more than guys who can throw a ball through a hoop or hit a ball with a piece of wood? You definitely have your priorities screwed up.

      P.S. The other day I heard you on the Fire Drill Podcast (you were great, BTW), and today I heard you on the Martinis and Your Money Podcast (the Lola retreat episode). Have you been cloned?

  24. From what I’m reading here, it sounds like the signs are what you DON’T do any more. 🙂 We used to obsess over payday and our budget sheets. Nowadays it’s barely a passing concern. I used to feel like we would never reach this point, but somewhere along the way, we did. 🙂

    1. “…[I]t sounds like the signs are what you DON’T do any more.”

      Whoa! I never looked at it that way until now. Great freakin’ observation, me lady. You got a very keen mind there.

  25. LOL @ #6, I am the same way sadly. I mean I’m glad it’s not doing anything, but at the same time…the longer it’s not used, the easier it is to think “why do I even have this?? You know what that money could be doing?!”

    I’ve had a few friends come to me for financial advice lately. I never seek it out, but I do give my opinions when they ask me. I’ve always got to make it clear that it’s what I’d do, but they should figure out what’s best for them and talk to a professional if they need to, since I’m not one. Hasn’t caused any problems as of yet!

    And that vacation sounds awesome. 🙂

    1. Haha! I hear ya, Dave. An unused emergency fund does play havoc on an optimization-seeking mind. I’ve even written a post in which I aver that a $5K emergency fund is good enough for most people. But I’m such a wuss, I can’t take my own advice on this matter. Sigh. On a brighter note, it’s great to hear that some of your friends have sought your counsel. And you certainly played it right. Once someone asks, it’s perfectly acceptable to give your opinion. And I’m sure your advice was sound and will prove helpful to your friends (providing they follow it, course). Thanks for stopping by, my friend. It’s always a pleasure hearing from you.

      P.S. Our vacation really was awesome. And Jillian was even more impressive in real life than in her blogging persona. I hoping to do a post on it next week.

  26. Another great post! I am hitting a lot of these, though I was never much into sports. I think the interesting thing here is that as you become wealthier, you also can become freer from the confines of society (Drive this car! Pick this political party!!!). It is liberating.

    Priorities also change. We have an old burger joint in town and I love taking my son for $1 ice cream cone. There is something fun and magical about it every time. Cheap sugar rushes rock!

    1. “Liberating.” That’s the perfect way of describing the societal ramifications of financial independence. Thank you, DDD. You have a very perceptive mind, my friend. And I love how you’re bonding with your son at the old burger joint. One day that’s going to be a cherished memory for him. Isn’t it wonderful that something so momentous can be had for a buck?

  27. The insight about politics is dead-on! Everyone is looking for someone to save them from whatever their situation is, and it’s surprising to see how many people think the government is their savior. A little less surprising? Seeing how many people are willing to play along with that belief in order to get elected.

    1. If you have a prime culture (i.e., you have your act together in all key areas of life), all the government you’ll ever need was in place by 1970. And that’s likely an exaggeration. Most prime culture people would thrive even if our government had no more responsibilities than it had in 1940. But if you have a subprime culture (i.e., you’re an undisciplined mess), it’s a different story. There’s no amount of government that can save you. I wish this weren’t the case. But forty years of watching the dependency class grow right along with the size of government says otherwise. Sigh. Thanks for stopping by, Kyle. It’s always great hearing from someone who decided to be his own “savior.”

  28. I scored a 9/10 on this list. Call me crazy, but I have no desire to meet Mr. Murphy and pick up his tab. (That Murphy is a deadbeat loser!) I went back and forth about revealing our net worth. I finally decided that it might make more of an impact with my readers. It is awkward writing about your net worth because it always feels like you’re taking a victory lap, especially in a hot market. Ultimately, I just wanted educators (and people with other normal jobs) to realize that it is possible to build wealth via an everyday regular job. I also confess that I hate the narrative of “how bad teachers have it in the U.S.”

    Your point #5 made me laugh. You can count me among the skeptical too. No one can do more for my life here on Earth than me! I always try to teach my students the value of intrinsic motivation; if you want something, GO GET IT! I’m not waiting for a politician to right my ship.

    I’m amazed at how little interest I take in sports; I never anticipated that. I hardly even watch basketball these days. Finally, I also notice the little joys with much greater frequency: beach road trips, jogs in the park, cookouts, paletas de mamey, and a glass of red wine. It’s fun being happy…

    Great post Mr. Groovy; keep’m coming! Ed

    p.s. whoever wrote that Bigfoot post is an idiot!

    1. You’re not helping! Mrs. G has been hammering me all day about #6. But, hey, when I’m wrong, I’m wrong. (No one said this blogging thing was going to be easy.) And, man, do I love the cut of your jib. Stop whining, stop waiting for an R or a D to save you, and get off your ass and take action. Intrinsic motivation will do far more for your physical, spiritual, and financial well-being than any politician alive. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. You made my day.

      P.S. I hear you about that bigfoot guy. He’s definitely out there. But his website has such a fantastic design.

  29. It’s amazing how your views change on so many things once you get your money in order. I found the discipline we used for our money trickled down to other areas of our life.

    Gloves didn’t fit in your suitcase? 🙂

    1. So true. As Jocko Willink said, “Discipline equals freedom.” I took the discipline I honed in righting my financial ship and applied it to health. I got into bodyweight training, and then I began removing the evil from my diet. I started first with sugary drinks. I haven’t had a sugary drink in close to three years now. Then I mostly eliminated bread. I’ll now eat a hamburger with a bun only on special occasions. Finally, I tackled everyday sugar. No more candy, cookies, cereal, and ice cream during the week. I give myself one cheat day–Saturday. But even then I don’t go mashugana. Usually just a bowl of ice cream after dinner. Anyway, by building on my financial discipline and applying it to health, I lost 30 pounds and I’m in better shape now than when I was in my 30s. Not too shabby for a Long Island boy who grew up with no stomach for sacrifice. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. And you’re absolutely right about the gloves. We have plenty of pairs of garden gloves in our garage. We just didn’t think about it.

  30. Awesome post! Not only does it resonate with me, it also gives people a sense of accomplishment now. This is so important because that freedom number can seem so far away. But the truth is that when you get your house in order the rest is easy! Just sit back and wait, it will come.

    1. Nailed it, HM. I had a professor in college who would often say, “If you want to make your life easier, just do what you’re supposed to do.” It’s a simple as that. Sadly, I didn’t figure it out until I was almost 40. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. There was a lot of wisdom in your comment.

  31. I liked #6. Sometimes I just fantasize about my my emergency fund and all the awesome things I could do with it. Alas, its an emergency fund for a reason.

    1. My sentiments exactly, Christine. It just kills me sometimes to watch a big hunk of money languish. But like you said, when Mr. Murphy decides to visit, and that visit is going to be a long one, you’ll be mighty glad you have that big hunk of money. Thanks for stopping by.

  32. Ha I’ll be glad if I never have another emergency again! I’m not sure it “happens” to people not as well off, but I think it’s a more dramatic event in their lives! I still have co-workers who either do a countdown to payday or ask me when it is again…starting to panic.

    1. LOL! I hear ya, Tonya. Mrs. G is ragging on me for saying that I look forward to a visit from Mr. Murphy. Not especially bright on my part. One should never tempt the financial gods. Hope your Friday is as marvelous as you are. Is it payday, BTW?

  33. Amazing how many of those 10 I could relate to, tho most of them I’d never realized. THAT’S a sign of a powerful post!

    And Poor Ms. Montana – NO PICKER, and NO GLOVES? Cruel, Mr G, cruel. Had a blast seeing her doing the Trash Talk, glad to hear you had a great visit!

    1. Believe, me. I was mortified. I wanted to go to the hardware store just down the block and get Jillian some gloves, but she insisted on going barehanded. She’s a real frontier woman. And a super good sport.

      1. Haha! You know we’re jealous of you, Jillian. Montana: where the cows roam free and the people are super hardy–and super friendly. Best state in the union.

  34. Wow, those 10 signs describe me almost perfectly. I guess #1 about losing track of payday is technically true since I’m FIREd and don’t have a payday. 🙂

    The unsolicited advice thing is really hard for me to control. It’s difficult to stop myself when I think the solution to a friend’s financial problem is so obvious to me. I finally found an outlet by starting my own blog that has rapidly grown to at least 3 readers.

    1. I hear ya, my friend. I have a dear friend who works hard and has a heart of gold. But bad luck seems to follow him and he has a bad case of ATES (answer-to-everything syndrome). His two biggest vices are politics and sports. He’s consumed by them. I’ve suggested to him on numerous occasions that he give politics and sports a break. I even pointed out the financial, motivational, travel, and food podcasts I listen to. And podcasts would be perfect for him. He’s a salesperson who is in his car a lot. But all my suggestions have been ignored. Sigh. I guess it’s human nature to cling to one’s familiar routine. Thanks for stopping by, Mr. FF. It’s always great hearing from those who lack a payday by choice.

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