11 Reasons Why I’m Stress-Free with Finances

I have the same challenges everyone is tasked with: keep a good job, make rent every month, pay your bills, have fun. I deviate in that accomplishing these challenges, for me, isn’t challenging. In fact, my stress levels are essentially zero thanks to clawing my way to stress-free finances.

1. I know I’m self-reliant

That is a massive statement to be able to say, and one I don’t make lightly. Stressing over money is as American as apple pie, these days. It’s also the #1 cause of stress for everyone except me… and others who worked to get here. Here’s how and why my finances leave me stress-free:

There’s nothing I pride myself more on than being able to stand on my own two feet. My back isn’t bowed by paralyzing burdens, nor is there a ball of debt chained to my ankle. I can depend on myself and trust myself to get through life, which in turn sends my confidence and happiness soaring.

2. I know my own powers and abilities

As a baby, you knew you could move around on your own. You first conquered crawling, then you conquered walking, and then running and jumping and biking and driving and… the list goes on, all because you kept building atop what you could already do. Because it’s in my power to reach this financial height, there are several other achievements I can now reach: coasting into retirement, buying a house early, starting a business, etc.

3. I have no fear for the future

The ambiguity of the future terrifies so many people. Absolutely no one can see the future, and there’s no guarantees on what tomorrow will look like. I actually prepared for tomorrow – a whole lot of tomorrows! – with my savings and investments. Now that I’ve got one of the most powerful forces of society backing me up, I don’t need to be afraid of what the future will bring. Whatever it is, it won’t break me.

4. I don’t worry if something expensive happens

Here’s a disgusting fact: almost half of all Americans can’t handle a $400 emergency. Your life can get bungled up because of $400? That’s absolutely horrifying, and one of the worst episodes of my life was when I was also in this boat. I’m saved from that particular horror because I have an emergency fund just for that scenario (thank you, stress-free finances). Whether it’s a hefty hospital bill, or something important breaks, or I need to rush somewhere to be with a loved one, I can cover it no problem.

5. I don’t worry if something catastrophic happens

Say the worst was to happen to me: I lose my job, I’m diagnosed with a serious disease, and my apartment is destroyed in some freak accident. If I was the average American, I’d have to worry over how I can afford to live on top of everything else. “Stress-free finances” would’ve been the the most bitter of oxymorons. But with my monetary cushion and ability to calculate things, I’ll be a whole lot better off in navigating my way out of this mess.

6. My life is flexible

Whatever I want or need to do, I can find the time to do it. If I have a doctor’s appointment on the same day I need to be at work, I can tell my boss where I’ll be without worrying this could sour our relationship. Anytime a friend needs me, I can be there wholeheartedly and with all of my focus on them. All that time you might spend worrying is time now added to my life, making it a lot easier to take life as it comes.

7. I’ve got options

For me, it’s not a question of “What can I do?” It’s more a question of “What can’t I do?” Without worry sucking out my energy I’m constantly ready to go, and can do crazy things like start a side hustle or write blog posts like a maniac 😉 Stress-free finances let me choose where I want to spend my time, as opposed to having that time sucked away from me in a mindless anxiety session.

8. I know how to handle my expenses

Nope, I’ll never be that person who stares open-mouthed at credit card statements going “Where did all my money go?!” I know the value of a dollar. I’ve allocated how much of money goes where, and when my money gets there, and why my money’s there in the first place. Knowledge is freedom, y’all.

9. …and my investments, too

I invest primarily in index funds, which are basically groups of stocks from only the highest-performing companies on the planet. Thanks to my understanding that the stock market fluctuates year-to-year, I’m just as confident investing with negative returns than I am with positive returns. That confidence has paid off well in this bull market, where I’ve gotten back double-digit returns despite the “scary” days of lower prices.

10. I can make informed decisions

One day I will buy a house, an electric car, and insurance for both. Thanks to my ever-expanding financial education, I’ll know how to do all three with the most bang for my buck. Someone might still be able to scam me or not give me my money’s worth in some minor transaction, but not to the point that I lose sleep over it.

And:

11. I live in the US, land of the rich

Yeah, my list wouldn’t have been complete without acknowledging this. American laws and regulations disproportionately favor the haves over the have-nots, and with a six-figure net worth I fall into the former category. Things like legal proceedings and business contracts are set up to favor me over the less-fortunate other guy. I haven’t done anything of particular note to win this, just as nothing remarkable about my character gave me the privileges that being white and straight-passing do. These unfair advantages further contribute to my stress-free lifestyle. This doesn’t make me untouchable, mind you, (see #5) but pretty damn close to it with a disproportionately small level of effort.

I wasn’t always so carefree, as this took time to accomplish. Comparing 2020 me to 2016 me reveals a whole lot of growth and happiness as I navigated my climb up that mountaintop. Where are you in the climb to success?