"**** you" money

If all bosses thought the same way - life would be better without needing the F* You position.

 

You could also add in various overseas cycles that are really easy to make money on. Cycles in Hong Kong and Singapore have been awesome for making money. Especially due to low transaction costs and no capital gains tax. And the boom cycle just getting underway on the Gold Coast.

 

Yes, more than one way to skin a cat.

 

I found there are different FU stages.

There's the FU where you go from school to Uni and at that point it's irrelevant what any teacher at school thought of you.

There's the FU where you are no longer reliant on parents in any way financially meaning they cannot dictate, at least through money (or threats of curing you from any inheritance etc) anything you chose to do (be it what you wear, who you choose as a partner or any other lifestyle choices).

There's the FU employer which is a great stage as it means any fear or power an employer may have over you (in terms of having you "fired") is eliminated, which can be a great burden eliminated from your life.

Then there's the FU money that makes things in life a little easier - eg a long line at a club and you walk right to front and slip the bouncer a $100 in you go straight to the VIP section. Or wanting to book concert tickets but only the expensive seats are left. Or you are at dinner and you can order any meal or bottle of wine without having to even contemplate the price.

In all these areas, as others have pointed out, the key is being humble and enjoying the knowledge that you are in this postition, rather than being a prick about it per se.

Also, worries are not eliminated as you move towards worrying about things like preserving capital, obtaining the best return vs risk on your assets, diversification of assets to protect against worst case scenarios etc.

As for continuing to work, for many, work provides structure for the day, socialisation, mental challenges, travel with a non-hedonistic purpose, perhaps for some a sense of identity. It also provides a growing buffer of money/assets that can help secure your current FU financial position and way of life.

I actually know a few people who retired in their early 40s. Some I think are not the better for it. They sleep in to 2pm, drink and party a little more than they should, and start to lose connections to friends that had in work related context, and ironically with all that extra time exercise less that that would be doing if still in busy working mode.

 

I agree with the rest of your post but, that's actually the type of FU money that I don't ever aspire to having.
I don't want to wave around money to flaunt the rules and get preferential treatment. Plus I know in my heart of hearts that I'll always remain being a cheapskate and while I do treat myself on occasion, I will continue to compare prices, even if it's for things like a packet of tissues.

 

Yes, agree, and don't get me wrong, its not, at least for me about being a ****** about it a flaunting it, but rather about having the option to be able to do so. (So with the nightclub bouncer example, it was a spontaneous, and quite subtle maneuver, which saved us half an hour of lining up - but yes, lets face it the whole standing in line at a club and VIP entry is all BS anyhow)

Reminds me of being in a bar, some years ago now, with one of Australia's richest men (in a city/environment where he was not recognized), and getting bad service from the waitress. He didn't make a scene, BUT, had he wanted to, he could have literally bought the place a click of his fingers and had the waitress fired. Not that one would ever do that, but simply having the knowledge that one could do this would feel nice I reckon But again, being in the position to do it, and actually do it are two very separate things.

 

Let me elaborate on the 3rd FU category. It could also be used in a very positive way. For example, putting you in a position where you could give someone a massive tip and really make them feel special and appreciated. (eg the immigrant cleaner in your condo who works long hours cleans up the toilets and takes out the condo rubbish each day, and who you know is doing it tough).

Or another occasion where knowing you have FU money might be, where you are involved in a minor "tiff" - lets say over who got to a parking spot first. You can simply smile, walk away gracefully, and enjoy the sweet comfort of knowing that you have a much better life than the person who "fought for the carpark" or whatever the minor issue is... (No flaunting needed - simply internal FU self-assurance helping you put a happy perspective on daily social interactions

 

Again, not something that's for me. In my mind, money shouldn't set you apart from other people, it should merely take some burdens off you.

 

Lol. Again I agree with you to some extent. At a certain fundamental level "people are all equal" yet the reality is that in our country and even more so on a global level, money is a huge distinguisher among people (think access to housing, food, education, healthcare, clean water, safe working conditions etc). That's the reality.

From my perspective the 3rd category is not that money inherently makes you a better person, or that you should be smug about it. Rather it's that it gives you perspective that your life is more comfortable and "better off" or that you may not have the same financial burdens, and far more options and choices, than others. This is the reality of why many people accumulate wealth and retain it (rather than freely distribute all they have). And the "happiness" comes not because you are happy for others that they are worse off, but rather happy for yourself that you are better off.

 

I lol-ed!

This comment is so true. Every single day I have to wake up 2 hours earlier than my peers for this unreasonable early start time demanded by my employer, and still I have to hear their demands for wanting more more MORE. To be honest, pay is average (if not slightly under market), workload and deadline is just crazy.

So why am I still with them, and shut my pathetic self up every time I feel it's unreasonable? Because I don't have that privilege of shouting '**** you money!' yet.

One can hope.

 

This is actually one of my biggest concerns

But what is one to do if one hates their job with a passion and will be in a position to retire early? You could say self descipline and maintaining a structured lifestyle but that's hard when you have no friends in the same situation and the social isolation that comes with it. It's sort of human nature to self destruct when purpose is removed.

 

Lol it is not a choice between working in a job because you are forced by financial constraints vs boozing it up all day with no other meaning in life when you have financial freedom.

You do actually have the option of choice once you have financial freedom. You can do some contract work but choose only the ones that you enjoy doing and are with good people. You can go on extended holidays (go and live in a different country/culture for 3 months and see if you enjoy it enough to stay a year or more and even maybe find some work there if you enjoy your work). You can go to the gym a few times a week. There are lots and lots of hobbies out there but you may not have had the time or energy to look because you wake up at 6am and arrive home from work at 7pm every day and no time to do anything else except wind down in front of TV zonked out.

I guess if someone has worked like this for 20+ years and has had their structure forced upon them, then yea I can see why you would not realise that you have to make some sort of plan with your free time when that structure is removed, but I would pick making my own structured lifestyle the way I want it over being forced into the rat race where 10 hours of my day is taken from me until I am 65. I actually think choosing the other option is pretty much the definitely of insanity.

 

I usually enjoy work but this week I could have really used some FU money. Had someone senior speak to me in an appalling way for no other reason other than he was probably taking out his frustration out on me. I was that shocked that I lost my cool and apparently fired back at him like a naughty child. My colleague who unfortunately had to witness the whole incident said it's the angriest she's ever seen me in 14 years. Needless to say he won't be doing it again and hasn't said a raised word to me since. Just not called for though!

 

I think this is right. And for me it would work. But there are some people who literally don't know what to do with themselves when they leave a salaried job. Sad really but no hobbies, no real other passion - nothing to give their lives structure.

 

Sounds like you didn't need the money anyway.

 

My wife recently had the pleasure of being able to quit her job through the power of FU money. She had previously loved her work, but staff cuts over the last year had become so severe that she was having more bad days than good. Many other staff are suffering and have indicated that they would love to quit too, but none of them could wear the financial implications of such a move. I am so glad we are in a position to be able to do this. That's what financial independence can buy.

 

Maybe not

 

Wow, this thread wasn't what I thought it was about

"**** you" money

 

Why wait till then, you can do that now without breaking the bank or need FU money if you really want to

 

That's a very nice looking pole