Money is Freedom

Welcome to Millennial Money. To me this is more than blog, it’s my pursuit to make enough money, save enough money, and manage money well enough so work is optional for the rest of my life. I don’t want to spend all of my time making money or thinking about money and I’m sure you don’t either – I just want to have enough of it so I can do the things I love, like traveling to random places on a whim with my wife, upgrading to first class, eating the best food in the world, drinking the best wine, jamming with my friends, and exploring insane outdoor places.

I want to live the good life.

It’s best you get to know me if you are down to take this journey with me. So I brought you here to my first post. It’s got some real feels in it. Here we go. Ever since I was a little kid I have wanted to make money. I think a lot of kids are like this, but I tended to take it to the extreme. For example, I didn’t just set up lemonade stands, I mowed yards, shoveled snow, watched dogs, watched cats, and even started a weekly newsletter that I sold a subscription to for $10/year. I did it all, but where did this drive to make money come from? I think it came from my Dad, who when I was growing up often would tell me “money is freedom”. I am pretty sure that’s where I got my deep drive and interest in money. I remember thinking that if I had enough money I could do anything I wanted.

“Money is Freedom” to means having the ability to do whatever you want when you wake up in the morning. Freedom is where work is optional. It also means you can spend your time pursuing your passion and living the life you want to live. So many people spend their lives living without passion. I see them everyday – they have that blank look in their eyes on the subway or on the street as you pass them. They are the “get up go to work… come home go to sleep….wake up repeat people.” Those people freak me out. They just have the deadness to them. Of course I don’t know their story or where they came from, but I can tell that work is killing them. It’s wearing them down. I worry about becoming one those people. I am only 30 and I have been working 70+ hour weeks for the past 5 years and I don’t want to do it forever. In fact I think I have about 5 more years left, but that means I have to get focused and figure all this investing stuff out.

So how can I “make work optional “and live the life I want to live? It’s a simple equation:

Money = Time = Freedom

So the goal is to have enough money so I don’t need to work for it. I essentially need to make enough money so I can buy my own time or be your own boss. I want to wake up in the morning and be like….uh… I’m not waking up yet and have the whole day ahead of me. I want to wake up somewhere beautiful and hang out with my wife and kids (kids hopefully soon!), take them school, drink insanely good coffee, and get involved in projects I am excited about. I want to be able to chase my whims and be present in my relationships. I want time to breathe.

One of the reasons I am writing this blog is so I force myself to slow down a little bit and try to collect my thoughts. Writing also helps me make sense of things – it forces me to think slower and I need that. I always thought it was crazy that people pay you for your time. That whatever you are making per hour is what you are being paid for an hour of your life. Have you ever stepped back and thought about what an hour of your life is worth? But unless you happen to inherit some crazy sum of money or you get really really lucky, then this is what you have to do – sell your time so you can make money to live.

So how do you make enough money so work is optional? You just need solid plan. This involves simple saving, investing, and wealth management. For most people there are no magic pathways to wealth, but there are tried and true principles that will give you a pretty good shot at having enough money so you can do whatever you want to do. So we can live the good life.

To learn more checkout my Financial Freedom book.

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  • Comment Author image blank
    Hi Grant, I was curious to see what was discussed online regarding time freedom. I did a search and a few clicks later stumbled upon your site. I have way too much time freedom to be leaving you a post but I feel compelled to do it as a "pay it forward" thing. I achieved true time freedom through the stock market thanks to a stranger I met over a conversation about finance. He told me about a podcast called investingfromthebeach. Prior to that, I quit my job to start an online business, only to find myself working at least twice the amount of hours I worked before. Thanks to that stranger (now friend), I tuned into the podcast as I have long drives for my business. The light switch came on and my mindset completely changed. Keep enjoying your journey to time freedom!
  • Comment Author image blank
    Nice introduction! After reading several posts, I'm noticing we have a scary amount in common when it comes to money, goals and attitude! Lol. I have begun to share my story and knowledge as well. Your success in this field is impressive, my friend. Cheers.
  • Comment Author image blank
    ... I was in my late 30's and I tried retirement. I liquidated Real Estate investments in Orange County, California and moved to a cheaper area - St. Augustine, Florida. My daughter and I, traveled all over the State, Eastern Seaboard, all over United States and many countries in Europe. When she was in school, I got bored. I went back to work and became a Federal employee in the last 28 years. My daughter is grown and has her own family. Her family also travels all over the world. With the rest of my investments still intact, Federal pay and cheaper style of living, I am all set for another retirement and life is good. No prescription drugs, still in the best of health and my Federal retirement, I have no right to complain. You are right about money giving you the freedom to do what you want. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
  • Comment Author image blank
    Hi grant! I am a frequent stalker of Personal Finance blogs and generally like diving into the first post that the blogger has made. To me, it tells a ton about the blog, maybe more than anything else on it. This is a beautiful first post. What will probably remain with me is the way you articulated the freedom that you desire from money: I want to wake up somewhere beautiful and hang out with my wife and kids (kids hopefully soon!), take them school, drink insanely good coffee, and get involved in projects I am excited about. I want to be able to chase my whims and be present in my relationships. I want time to breathe. This could well become a reason for anyone to be better with their money :) Looking forward to stalking this site more.
    • Grant Sabatier
      Sweet. Thanks and welcome to the Millennial Money blog.
  • Comment Author image blank
    Hi Grant, Jeffrey here, on my way to achieve financial independence, fed with working live and being 'an office zombie". thnx Jeffrey
  • Comment Author image blank
    I've gotten hooked on your blog! I love reading about personal finance. I am also working on a blog. You are very motivating. I can't wait to continue to read more from you. Keep it up!
    • Grant Sabatier
      Thanks Kristin.
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    I can definitely relate to where you're coming from. I've found the writing process helpful in clarifying my thoughts and goals. Best of luck on your journey!
    • Comment Author image blank
      Thanks. I just checked out your blog. Best of luck in yours as well.