secondly, about Balance. i think it’s a very hard state to obtain. i think rhythm would be more achievable. what is your life’s rhythm? do this for a while, do that for a while. we all have tons of responsibilities –wife, kids, parents, in-laws, church, work, 2nd jobs, community, etc, etc, etc. that’s a lot to balance.
i think the average person has given up the right to seek balance in their life. if you’re in debt, you’re already totally turned upside and knocked off balance. i would recommend waiting till you at least get out of debt before even thinking about balance.

Your comment brought back a lot of memories for me. I’m sitting here feeling nostalgic and grinning from ear to ear. Those were tough times, but good nevertheless!

Firstly, you are absolutely right. I was a freak! I really did take it to the next level, and way beyond what I’d recommend to most people.

I was so focussed on achieving my financial goals, that to an extent I even neglected to take care of the most important things in life.

However, there are two things I should say here:

1. It’s not 10 or more years of no fun. Really, it’s not.

For the average Joe, to become financially free, it does NOT have to be an “arduous struggle for 10 or more years”, as you put it.

Most of the sacrifices one needs to make are during the initial stages, while you have to work hard to get out of debt, and save up a buffer. For the average person this period will last approximately two to three years.

Even if you only manage to get out of debt, save up a buffer, and then resume your previous life-style, being out of debt should allow you to now maintain your previous living standard without having to make debt again (you’re now just working one month ahead instead of one month behind).

I also wouldn’t expect anyone to go to the extremes that I went to. Most people also have families, and you need to take care of your family.

2. About sleeping on the floor…

I’m chuckling about this. Yes, for six months I did refuse to buy a bed and even a mattress.

However, I did not only do this because I was saving up to be able to quit my job to do freelance work.

I had some other reasons too. It was reminder to myself that many things we regard as necessities, and that we insist we can’t live without, are not really so necessary.

I figured if I can survive sleeping on the floor, I can survive a lot of other stuff too.

I was also intrigued by the fact that some cultures (e.g. traditional Japanese samurai) slept on the floor. I found this to be a strange act of discipline and self-denial, but at the same time somehow purifying.

Lastly, sleeping on the floor all that time helped me to look at little luxuries in a different way, and have a true appreciation for the small things in life.

I can’t help but feel, that so, far your emphasis on financial freedom may give people images of a somewhat extreme path ahead. A arduous struggle for 10 or more years until they reach the magical milestone of 100% financial freedom.

I know how committed you are to this goal. To share just one example with everyone: When Francois and I shared a flat, he refused to buy a bed. Instead he chose to sleep on a rolled up blanket on the floor (occasionally he slept on the futon in the lounge). On the other hand, I bought (with my first few months paycheck and some savings) some new but reasonably priced furniture and appliances (obviously, without incurring additional debt). Even though I still had substantial study debt, I felt that it was important for me to have a comfortable place to live that felt like a home.

So here are some warnings against placing too strong a value on financial freedom. I’m not saying this is what you do, I’m just wary too much of a good thing.

Firstly, I can remember your reference to living ones life according to ones values and (if I may add) to ones dreams. To subjugate a dream (e.g. backpacking through Peru) or ones values (e.g. missing the first words of ones child) to the ideal of financial freedom seems like a misplaced value system. One would effectively be missing out on a life that may be lived now and that cannot be reclaimed.

Secondly, I’ve always thought of money as a tool or resource. Working hard for years without any tangible reward is not a great motivator. I have chosen to work hard (even if sometimes I do not enjoy it) so that I can earn money. Money that enabled me to do things in the present that bring me happiness and enrich my life.

After that really long post I guess my entire point could be summed up in one word: Balance.

To continue the metaphor, I view financial freedom as just one weight on the scale of my personal fulfillment.

(My apologies if this is a future Quick Tip)