Finance Is More Than Just Money Blog #2

What exactly is finance? It can be money. It can be what is saved, spent, or invested. It can even be a lifestyle or a career. When it comes down to its DNA of it, finance means purchasing power. 

Purchasing power is what we as humans use money in exchange for value back to us. Common examples can be to buy or sell goods, save or invest to build up the greater pot, or use it as an exchange for value. 

Thus that being said purchasing power can be used for more than just money. The most important one is knowledge with your brain as the bank account. As we grow up we are given purchasing power based on the knowledge we have consumed, skills we have done, experiences we have witnessed, etc. While it's a little more complicated than what I am saying we use our purchasing power for specific areas in our lives eventually shaping our unique personalities. The more purchasing power one has does not mean they are smarter. It just means we are able to focus specific energy in whatever sector in life we want or be able to diverse it if that's what we choose. 

I choose to use my purchasing power to think about the future. Many of my friends are okay with their current lifestyle and while that's okay, it would be interesting to see what they can do with the same hunger that consumes me. Driving an hour commute, during the workday I am listening to podcasts about finance, business, or lifestyle. I have dreams to build my home from the ground up and live a nice happy family with my person. I have ambitions to make a lot of money. 

At the end of the day, it's not about the money. I could honestly care less for it. But we live in a society that to not work a day and live even an average lifestyle of $60k salary a year would require a $1.5 million dollar to be able to pull 4% a year for 25 years or if invested can gain 4% return from dividends so it doesn't run out. It's ridiculous. I want to use my purchasing power to make memories, be happy with my person, and maybe travel the world to gain new experiences. 

Our life is very short. As of next month, it will be 6 years since I've begun college. Another 13 years since I've gone through school from kindergarten to 12th grade. Out of 24 years, I have lived 19 have been in school. Our average life expectancy is 75. Don't get me wrong. The school was worth it. It gave me experience and purchasing power to shape my personality as it is today. I honestly don't want to work for 50 years. Some may complain saying "too lazy to work" but I really am not. My drive is just to make our short lives worth living with the ones we love and if that requires money to do so for the lifestyle I want then so be it. Life is not perfect. I won't achieve it all. But at least I know I can still be happy with what I have gained so far.