In a word: No. In many words (you had to know that was coming by now):
No, I’m not particularly having fun restricting my spending and trying to earn/save as much money as quickly as possible. It creates a lack of immediate flexibility that can be stifling. It’s isolating in that friends and family don’t really get what you’re doing (and don’t much care). Being social is difficult as most social events require spending. It has also made me overly conscious of both the immediate and long-term costs of any spending I do do (tee-hee). So I judge myself harshly when I spend too much (like last month). Time management has also become an issue. I spend a lot (a lot, a lot) of time working. There’s my 45 hour a week day job (with 5 hours of lunches where I’m trapped, essentially donating time) and then I work nights and weekends on selling collectibles and on the rental business.
But (and you knew there had to be a but in there too) I know it makes good long-term sense to do what I’m doing. I have four pieces of property that could, if paid off, generate a gross $3,250 per month ($1,625 after expenses). That would go about halfway toward allowing me to retire. So, despite all the long hours, feelings of isolation, and setbacks, I know this is something I need to keep doing. Because ultimately I don’t see myself as able or willing to work another 25 years to reach ‘full retirement age.’
And so I keep doing what I’m doing. Scraping by a little, doing just a little better each month, and managing each setback as they come. But please forgive me if I get a bit grumpy about it occasionally.
Toodles,
Dumpling
