Bliss, Freedom, and parachutes

[plural]

Today I quit my job...

had a feeling it was coming, but it does feel nice now. I have some business deals to close early this week, then it is off to eastern washington for a week of bliss.

My boss took me out for cocktails at 3pm, I was blitzed by 4pm.

I highly recommend employement contracts, see this is the beauty of it, I quit today, and they still have to pay me for the next two months. Of course, I have another job offer in the works, after my required month off between jobs of course.

I refuse to work more than 9 months a year, it is too great a waste of life.

I am not sure exactly what I am going to do with the time yet, maybe take up pottery again or something similarly zen like.

I have decided to put off chasing women for a while as well. I realized that I am a very different person from the last time I was single and should probably explore it and figure out what works for me.

I went wine shopping yesterday, bought over 13 cases of wine, spent far too much money but it was worth it. I am thinking of opening the bottle of '63 Rothchild sitting back on my porch with a two hundred dollar cuban cigar and getting sloshed.

There is a delightful point of excess in life, where you are no longer enjoying something particulary fine, but enjoying the simple freedom to burn cash.

I have exquisite tastes, but to be completely honest I cant tell the difference better a hundred dollar cigar and a two hundred dollar cigar. so why do I smoke the two hundred dollar cigar? Granted I am not bill gates so I dont do it often, but there are two reasons, the first because I can, and the second because I enjoy the fact that I can.

I think I almost enjoy spending money for its sake alone, more so that for what it buys me.

Being able to drop a few grand on wine because I got excited and felt like it, is quite refreshing, almost theraputic even.

I highly recommend it.

Comments

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[plural.livejournal.com]

It always interests me which posts garner responses, as well as peoples response to them.

Those who disparage money don't have enough....

Money is a delightful thing, of course one must not allow it to become overly important, but to strive to make more money in ones career does not make one money-hungry or obsessed. It is simple economics, I work to live, not for the sheer pleasure of it. While I enjoy my work and that's very nice, the fact is, if I didn't need to pay my mortgage, I wouldn't be there at 10am on Monday morning.

Work to Live

It is not righteous to work at McDonalds for 5 bucks an hour when you could work somewhere else for $20. It is stupid.

The reality is that we are never paid what we are worth, even that job you are taking which provides a delightful raise, could offer you more money.
Part of the responsibilities of a manager is to acquire the necessary labor at the lowest possible cost.
Which is why often they decide to outsource when it can be proven less expensive.
Your manager will never be your friend when it comes to salary or raises, after all their compensation is generally tied to keep their costs low, as an employee that's what you are a cost.
When a manager tells you, that he tried but was unable to get you a raise, what he is saying is "I don't think you are worth the extra money" or "I don't think I have to pay you that extra money because I don't think you will leave if you don't get it"

I never ask for a raise without having a drafted and unsigned resignation letter sitting on my desk at home.

As for finding yourself broke, that is a serious issue, chances are if you are getting an 18k raise then you already make at least 30K give or take a few. The people who live life at their means will never go beyond just barely making it. You have a fantastic opportunity here. When you start your new job, Max out your 401k, Employee stock purchase plans, or any similar option they give you. If they don't have these plans in place, make one of your own. an 18k raise means a minimum of $990 additional income per month. Take $500 of that a month and put it into a mutual fund. Life lavishly with the other $490 and enjoy the raise. If you can do that you will be independently wealthy in 10-15 years, and at our age that's not a bad solution.

There is only one true way to build wealth: Compound Interest

What this means is that your money is working for you making more money. At a certain point you money will make enough money that you can live quite comfortably on less money than your investments earn, at which point you are independently wealthy and life becomes much less stressful. It is very important to never spend your capital or more than 75% of the earnings from your investments. Why? Spending your capital is tantamount to financial suicide and saving a minimum of 25% of your earnings means that each year your money will continue to make more and more money giving you an ever increasing amount of money to live on.

How can that be bad?

So sit back, enjoy that $200 dollar cigar even if its a little pricey for you now, and make sure you are doing the things that will put you in a position to enjoy them whenever you wish.

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[firelegend.livejournal.com]

I apprechaite every little bit you said and will take those reccomendations! I make 37 now, im not actauly broke. But i tend to spend it all as soon as a iget it, mainly on college loans. That sucks up alot.. and the cell phone and cable.. so i figure once i get this rais i can pay of the damn loans. THEN i will have money to save and that will be so nice, i have my savings set to take 50$ out of my checking every month, that is a good start for someone who has never had a savings before. Im trying to learn to managae my money. I can do it i know i can! My first goal is to resist the urge to buy and expensive car, instead to get a nice civic with a cd player, more then enough for a 21 year old. *sigh* self control... lol I am trying!

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[budhaboy.livejournal.com]

people who disparage money don't have enough of it?!

When I was 25, I blew through money in ways similar to you. If you are lucky, you will become bored by such silliness, and move on to things that matter.

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[plural.livejournal.com]

My friend,
I save over 40% of my salary for investments, the rest is split almost evenly between my expenses and frivolity.. While I admit I enjoy burning cash, on somewhat frequent occasions, I am not neglecting my future in anyway.

I may have my eccentricities and my whims, but I am not so careless to let instant gratification overwhelm my long term best interests.

And yes, those who disparage money and those of us who prefer to make larger amounts of it, or spend it as we enjoy, generally do so out of jealousy.
I look around me, and see people my age who make a 1/4 of what I make, not that it is doing poorly by any means, but I see only one difference between them and myself...

They are willing to accept making less money.

I cant say I know anyone who doesn't have enough money and wouldn't prefer to have enough, yet these same people disparage those of us who take action in our lives to ensure that we have the salaries and freedoms to accommodate our lifestyles.

As for moving on to things which matter, I said quite clearly and I have always held, that money is of very little overall importance, if anything I liken it to vaseline, it just makes everything go a little smoother.

In many ways I am an arrogant, materialistic, elitist son of a bitch.
(no disrespect meant to my wonderful mother)
but I am only a fool
when it comes to love...

with fondest regard...

p

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[budhaboy.livejournal.com]

>>I cant say I know anyone who doesn't have enough money and wouldn't prefer to have enough, yet these same people disparage those of us who take action in our lives to ensure that we have the salaries and freedoms to accommodate our lifestyles.

I am utterly serious when I say this:

I have enough money.

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[plural.livejournal.com]

My dear friend,

I can in all earnestness say..

I believe you..

However, as I was saying, it is most often those who dont have enough who disparage money.

And to be frank (I like his wardrobe) I would hardly classify you as one who disparages money, I think you fall into the more philosophic catagory of those who understand that money is not the defining goal of life.

To which I agree completely.

Re: and 200 dollar I'll take a cigar as well

[budhaboy.livejournal.com]

ahh, but you feel compelled to buy $200 cigars instead of $100 cigars, not for the increase in quality, but because of the thrill at being one of those who can afford to do so.

Since this thrill (it seems to me) comes from the rush of having a physical manefestation of the superiority you feel from your station in life, aren't you using money to not only define your "self" but those around you?

What is life if not the pursuit of these fundamental understandings (ie your place as well as the place of others)?

$200 cigars, $10 whores, et al

[plural.livejournal.com]

compelled no? enjoy yes? and you are correct...

The thrill of being one who can afford to do so? perhaps, I think it is more they joy at wasting something which other hold in such high regard.
The general audacity of it.
There are people who work an entire week and make less than I just burned.
I think that is why I like the symbolism of the cigar, for you are quite literally burning cash.
Flaunting the weakness and internalized inferiority of people in their faces.

BTW I decided to movethe bulk of my comments in response to your delightful points to a standard journal entry. I invite you to join me in continuing this there. As always, I greatly enjoy matching ideas and perceptions with you...