Financial Independence is a Huge Scam 

So spot on. I’ve been a real estate agent for the past 12 years because everybody everywhere told me I could make a lot of money and then retire early. I have secretly hated it for the last 12 years. It’s sucked the life out of me. I’ve made money, but it’s not worth it anymore. At 41 years old, as I listen to this, I’m currently packing up my house, closing my business, and getting ready to change everything. Wish me luck. 😊

I have found a job that I enjoy doing, that I’m good at, and earn decent money. I work 4 days a week, live comfortably, and have time for travel and hobbies. I’m in my late thirties. I am working towards financial independence but am in no rush to retire early. Because I’m happy NOW. My life is happy NOW. If one of the point of life and pursuit of freedom is happiness, I have that now. I’m not waiting for another 10-20 years for that. If you don’t like what you do, keep searching. Be happy NOW.

Financial independence is a scam?…. How do people have such stupid money 😣😣

This cut deep. Deeper than you probably intended. In a good way. Your thoughts, struggles, and journey feel eerily similar to mine. From challenging authority growing up, to fearing the shackles of a 9-5, to pursing FIRE, to going all in for years, to beginning to question it all, and to realizing the importance of not delaying our life worth living. Even your concerns around having to play the RU-vid "game".The difference is that I am season one Thorfinn (from Vinland Saga - thanks for the rec) and you are season two Thorfinn. I am still doggedly pursing what I believe to be the right path, while you have already walked it, and realized its destination was no magical land. Thank you for the wisdom Chef Toni, cheers.

Nobody can become financially successful over night. They put in background work but we tend to see the finished part. Fear is a dangerous component, hindering us from taking bold steps we need in other to reach our goals.

The essential thing that everyone should be thinking about right now is investing in non-government sources of income. Especially in light of the current global economic crisis. It is still a wonderful moment to invest in gold, silver, digital money, and stocks.

I have noticed a shift in the FIRE subreddits in the past few years that most people now suggest "building the life you want before retirement" by working parttime, fully remote, or taking a sabbatical rather than grinding it out. Even just working only 40 hours is a step up for some. It's working quite well for me.

Awesome video! I think something that might build upon this “you don’t need to wait, you’re closer than you think” message for folks in the FIRE community would be covering the book Early Retirement Extreme. The author advocates that many people only need a few thousand dollars in order to be financially independent if you are willing to significantly change the way which you attempt to use money - improving yours skills to be able to do more yourself to reduce your need to pay others for everything, finding ways to live with less or often by sharing more to reduce your need for housing, and living with a greater reliance on body powered movement to reduce your need for a private motor vehicle. It was a really great book that changed my perspective - and I also heard about it from a RU-vid comment! So hopefully others watching this can now too 😊

This video actually made me cry because I didn’t think anyone understood how I feel

The story of the man who desires no suffering, asks the monks how they experience no suffering and figures out by the very desire to not feel suffering you suffer. You can be ambitious or content not both. Accept suffering in one of two forms, ambition for more, or acceptance of less. Suffering is part of this deal. If you try to avoid being rained on you just get more frustrated with the rain. If you appreciate the rain the perceived time it takes to stop raining will be greatly lower.

As someone who found myself joining this rabbit hole of financial youtubers during the pandemic, I think the pivot you made was a pivot I myself needed to see as well. It helped me decrease the amount of stress I was adding onto myself by viewing things in a different/healthier perspective. The financial channels did help motivate me, and make me realize where I was doing things wrong, Where I needed to improve and give more effort. But this channel reminds me how do that, the right way. It brought me back to the mindset that made we want financial independence to begin with, which are most of the points you touched upon in the video. One love, Keep producing the content YOU want to make, Because WE appreciate it.

The point is that people aren't meant to "retire" from meaningful work at age 30. That's too young. Getting in the flow is key. I've recently started working part-time even though I don't actually have to work - I just love what I do and I enjoy helping people. It gives me as much fulfillment as travel, sports and other hobbies. I think the problem that a lot of people have is that they haven't found a purpose and they hate their jobs, so they see "early retirement" as a path to fulfillment, but they will remain unsatisfied unless they feel some purpose in what they are doing.

I'm 40 and have long suffered with depression and anxiety. I have, recently, realized that I'll probably be around for another 40+ years and need to get my finances in order, but I definitely struggle with the mindset of being a worker with the feeling that some uncaring executive could shake up my life, remove stability, and cause me to be uncomfortable in a way that my depression and anxiety will get out of control again. I do feel like being able to bet on yourself is good, but I also know that most businesses and start-ups fail. I know that we are in a time of uncertainty, a time of high inflation and high interest rates, and as such, I feel like I have this rope around me, stopping me from taking a chance on myself. I also have responsibilities to my family to make sure I am able to live up to the expectations that I've set for helping them achieve their goals and needs. Your presentation is good, but in the end, it ends up feeling as unattainable as the "cryptobros" saying that you can get rich quick.

Wow, this really resonated with me. I’ve been a registered dietitian in the USA for 15 years. I’m beyond burned out but being a dietitian is my identity. I need to change it I’m miserable. Thank you so much for this.

Keep doing what you are doing! Every video is so high quality, with cinematography or without. These videos are such a refresher to all the other content out there. You are authentic and that’s what’s most important. Not trying to play the “youtube game”.

I'm in college right now, and i've learned that my biggest mistake in high school was putting too much effort into it. Because then I would work myself up about studying and making things perfect, leading to more procrastination. Nowadays, I put in minimal effort and still have a 4.0. Studying is a scam. I would love to see your take on this in another video.

Thank you so much for this. This is the first video I’ve ever seen of yours, and I found it because I’m searching for information on how to generate more income and achieve financial independence, but this was the message I think I needed to hear more. I’ve always approached life in just the way you describe, not using my time as a means to an end but believing that by pursuing what I actually want now, I’m also setting myself up for success. But this past year has been a struggle, even though the year before that was the best I’ve ever had. It feels like hard times economically, my cost of living is up, and my industry (film) is also going through some upheavals and strikes. I’ve been so in a cloud of stress that I have not been able to see the bigger picture and remind myself that making art, practicing my craft every day, is my best time investment long-term. It’s hard to think like someone who’s thriving when you’re just trying to survive. But this is such a great reminder that true freedom is always available. And that I have my younger self to thank for so much of the beauty in my life right now, and just because things are hard right now, it doesn’t mean I’m going about life the wrong way. I’ve always believed in myself and believed that if I do what I love, I’ll be taken care of. It’s just a more challenging moment right now.

I'm at a similar level of success and I have had similar realizations. I've come to the conclusion that the devaluation of family/relationships is the major cause of society's problems. People choose greed over people every chance they get. You talk about mortality being the ultimate equalizer and it's unfortunate a lot of people realize what matters on their death bed.

I hope you realize that although the super fast paced videos get a lot of views, that is not necessarily what everyone wants. There is definitely a niche of more sophisticated individuals still have some brain cells left... keep it up man this video was like therapy to me compared to all the other junk out there.. I found your channel very early on and it is amazing to see your progress.

Still here, all the way to the end of this insightful message. Thank you. This has application for me in my early 60’s embarking on traditional retirement. There is no perfect time to launch the next chapter, and life will pass by if we wait for the right conditions. Thanks very much. 🙏🏻🕊

I love the point that your getting across near the end of the video. It is really like that my dad always says: there is no better time to do things then right now. Cuz you never know where the next moments will get you to. Or if something happens and your not able anymore to do the things that you really would like to be doing. I love sharing story’s and perspectiefs so we can all grow and make better choices faster so we can all enjoy the time we have on this floating rock, with the things we want to do. I really do realise more and more that I really love my life right now “a 23 year old, making videos with my production company for clients in all different branches. And doing stuf with cars in the weekends like driving rallys or traveling with the car through europa.” Thx for one’s and for all opening my eyes to the possibility’s and the endless “choices & options” that I have. I really do hope that it hits home to everyone that views this. Thx to you for sharing your story and the way you tell it. Bless your soul 🙌🏻

It's crazy - this video slowly spells out the same mental journey that I've been going through over the past few years. Fantastic material! The way I thought about it was like so - I don't want to spend the next 10 years WAITING to live. I don't even know if I'll be alive in 10 years. Each moment, each second, your life is happening, trickling along, right now. Are you spending it well? Being yourself completely? I would mention for the other viewers that taking that leap (like the bread maker, or a YT channel) requires someone to really buy-in completely...you can't quit your job and spend the next months watching TV. And there is opportunity cost, and risk that you'd have to take on. It's your life, after all.

this didn’t have any answers for me, im happy to see i’m not the only one out there who had this awakening. I mediate every morning, instead of going to “work” and have location freedom people would only dream of. I do consider myself one of the lucky ones, as narcissistic as it sounds. I don’t have as much money as some of my peers, i don’t have as much money as some of the people in my neighborhood, but i do have freedom and i had for for a while now but it wasn’t until last year that it hit me that i have retired a long time ago, and i need to make this life the life i want to right now and not when there’s s certain number in my bank account. Bravo amazing video, tagging along for your journey and convos.

Im so grateful i stumbled upon your small channel by some chance. you truly remind me of the person i thought I lost in myself. For some context, I am 18, hate useless authority like you do, and I am going through the same extreme fight for my freedom that you described, the one in which your identity was at stake. I feel like my mind has shut down, and all brain power has been focused on accumulating enough money to live in comfort for the next few months until I get to college. (for context, I decided to graduate highschool a semester early to disillusion myself and realize that the real world lived up to my cynical expectations) All that changes today, after watching your video. I am going to ask myself some serious questions about what life means to me, and if trying to "free myself" in ways that have been outlined by people OTHER than myself, have become my own shackles. It was scary how much you reminded me of myself. Problem with authority, wanting to study finance in school, wanting to financially free myself, but now saying that I realize how much that embodies the core of every human being alive. Like you said, money is like a proxy to what we need, a proxy to sustinance. Soon money becomes the new sustinence, and if studying finance and "hustling" is the new hunting/gathering then everyone will want to do that, and since we were born with conscience and free will, we all hate authority in some capacity. This video really spoke to the fundamentals of what it means to be human in todays world, and how to break out of that and reach self actualization. I remember when I used t think that, and the stress of the "real world" scared me so much that I was willing to put who I was on the line for "freedom." I became incredibly greedy, so greedy that I didn't realize until now the value in doing what you truly love and making it your life, and instead rejected that for the view that i must do what brings me sustinence (which in the modern era is money) before I did that, which was wrong. And in doing so, I was led back to the trap of the working class, like you said. I am so thankful I have re-realised this now. re-realized becuase I used to think this when I was isolated at boarding school. Where the same greivenaces you and I have with the "real world" were not subtle, but so hilariously conspicious that you felt like the outside world would never be this ridiculously kafakesque. I truly felt like I was looking into a mirror and seeing my future self. Please keep doing what you are doing, and if you never see this comment or never reply or simply have nothing to say it doesnt matter. this video and expressing my thoughts now is something I have really missed over this past year. I really missed myself. And now i am on the road to recovery and hopefully, self actualization.

I just turned 50 and you Sir are beyond your years. What we call an old soul 😇 it was an appetizing journal entry for you that I thoroughly enjoyed. There’s a bit of envy on my part wishing I had realized in my younger days what you did. Also as a black female a lot of things weren’t privy to me. Anyways I’m on my path now. Take care Doll

This resonated so much for me! I’ve been questioning everything about society since high school. Much like you, I dreaded getting a job, going to college, and falling in line in society. I realized early in high school, that I could game the system and still make it through. So I did the same thing in college. I’d now say I’m recovering from the difference in my ambition to laziness due to the fact I allowed myself to game the system and not focus on what I want to obsess over. Thank you for creating all the content you create!

Thanks. I retired 10 years ago. Financial independence is the beginning. Once you are free from wage slavery, you get to decide who you want to be (authentic, self actualization, & individuation). Don't settle (for toxic relationships). Entrepreneurship (RU-vid content creator) isn't financial independence. It's another form of wage slavery.

Thank you for making and posting this video, Steve. I've followed the FIRE movement for the past few years and definitely have fallen into the obsession of delayed gratification to the point of giving up some of my potential joy in the moment looking ahead to some day which may be very far off. I sincerely appreciate the perspective you share in this video. In a way it felt like it gave me permission to have a job and still be happy. Sure, I will continue working towards financial independence without the requirement to be an employee working for the man, but in the meantime, life doesn't have to suck. Just need to find the right gig that is sustainable, fulfilling, and aligned with my character, purpose and goals. Thank you for sharing your journey. This one truly shifted my thinking and I thank you ~

Brilliant - I 100% resonate with everything you said. I recently had a chat with my friend about it - we both work in the financial world - and the saddest part of being sold this "dream" and basically being groomed for it from a school age, is that along the way we were never taught / given the freedom to actually stop and think and learn what it is that we ACTUALLY want to do. Meditation has really been the best way to consistently given myself the space everyday to turn inward and listen to what my dhamma or life's purpose really is. Cannot thank you enough for making this content, hopefully this message reaches many more!

This is one of the best videos I've watched - not just on personal finance - but life in general. Exceptionally well executed.

Great video! I think FIRE is definitely a great starting point for a lot of people. If you have a high tolerance for stress and pain, then I would say it's a decent path if you start early enough. If you're someone that doesn't have that tolerance or you just started later, then my opinion is that it's just better to save a large cushion of funds (if that's what makes you feel more secure) and do what you said, make a bet on yourself. I've seen loved ones die and classmates die (I'm only in my early 40s), and it is a reminder that, as cliché as it sounds, tomorrow is never promised. It makes no sense to me sticking it out in a job I hate that stresses me out to maybe save a boatload in a retirement fund that I may or may not be able to enjoy because of bitterness, failing health, or maybe both. There is an opportunity cost to FIRE for some depending on the person. If you can have most of the things you want right now without actually having 25X your annual salary in the bank, then go for it!

When I found out I was pregnant I became extremely anxious as my husband was a student and I knew I wanted to be able to be with my baby. I prayed and prayed. One day I was walking full of fear and all of a sudden it was like the wind and the trees were speaking to me. I felt a sense of calm and peace like a presence caressing me and soothing my heart. The message I heard was “life begats life”. I understood in that moment that no one job or even person would be my provider but life would provide in its infinite ways and this was how it’s been for all time. This moment changed my life and I have lived in faith ever since. And I am still here now with my son and my husband was offered his dream job. But I have no fear even if he looses it. Life is infinite and glorious in its generosity if we have eyes to see. Follow your heart always ❤

Beautiful, I am a 39 year old dad of three who quit his job four years ago in order to be present for my kids, homeschool them and teach them precisely that. Follow your intuition, do the things you love, stay curious, never stop learning, and of course, learn how to make some money doing those things. I believe in this time and age, this is 100% possible. Thank you for allowing yourself to shine through and to share it with us. 🙌

I adored this. Thanks for sharing!

Fantastic Steve. Watched from start to finish. So much resonated with me and there's plenty of inspiration to take away and think about. When I was your age all I was doing was living from day-to-day and having a good time. I had no financial discipline at all. You are teaching not only how to make better financial decisions, but how to have a healthy relationship with money in a way that helps you lead a better life. Love your content. Don't stop making it,

This totally resonated with me. Was captivating. You sound a lot like myself. Striving for knowledge and wisdom. Philosophy, psychology, finance, freedom, metaphysics etc. thank you for sharing.

This could be one of the most impactful videos I've watched on RU-vid. Thank you for this Stephen. Not only did you make the right decision for your wellbeing and fulfillment, but you are impacting so many people with your work right now.

I really enjoyed this video. I love to sing, and I started posting covers on RU-vid years ago with no real intention other than to share with family and friends. I surprisingly started getting some views on my videos, and as I grew up and RU-vid changed, I started to get in my head about "needing to post" and putting out songs that I thought other people might like (not the ones I actually wanted to sing), that I literally paralyzed myself from doing anything at all. I stopped playing guitar, I stopped singing, and I stopped sharing. All this is to say, as I reflect on my own life and what I got from your video, we ought to follow what feels meaningful to us as individuals, without attachment to a particular outcome (easier said than done, of course!). The world we live in nowadays, where everything has to be monetized as a "side hustle", is frankly quite exhausting. I finally after months have been picking my guitar back up again, and doing it simply because it's what I love to do. When I remember that, and allow myself to enjoy it for what it is, it absolutely feels like freedom. This video was very refreshing to watch and gave me a lot to sit with. I am looking forward to watching as you continue to explore what you find interesting!

100% agree. Grateful for all the FIRE-related podcast and topics, though there is a lack of focus on choosing the life you want (in my humble perspective). It's not easy or simple, rather it's complex to determine identity, meaning, etc. Thanks for your efforts! I enjoyed this style of video.

I can’t literally thank enough to the insight you have shared. Just listened to this completely from start to the end. I am 20 girl at the moment, and as you rightly mentioned, I had the similar mindset to start living fully once I reach somewhere kind of feeling at all times. Like maybe better earnings or more fitter self or more confidence self thing, then I live more well type. But now, I know “true freedom in its true sense comes from me”. So from this moment, I shall start living - becoz life is nothing but the NOW, though I continue to work my goals and ambitions. ❤❤❤ thank you,

Thank you … and I really mean it! I am 40 going onto 41 … in a few days and have pracastinated stepping into the same footsteps as you … and I mean literally the same footsteps … for the last 5 years and almost everytime I feel that I have finished something and now I may find the time to do it, something comes out of the blue on the very next day. That could be my job, my finances, children or my better half and I struggle to this day to follow that same path that you do easily broke into 3 years ago. I really wish to myself that I could be more organized but I am getting tired day by day but still having hope that I could venture on this prized journey. I am hopeful I can … and I will … and I hope it’s not too late by then. It’s been calming to hear you everytime and it gives me hope that I don’t have to resort to funny idiotic faces but just be me always. Listening to you gives me hope that I can make it … and I need to lift that first step … and things will get easier.

You don't know how much that begining analogy resonates with me. That got my gears turning more than you'd think. I appreciate these vidoes, not only for the knowledge, but of how you are able to spark my own thinking. I hope everyone here questions everything. Question why you are questioning. And ask yourself the same questions later and see if you have the same answer. 4 minutes in already made me want to comment. So I will now enjoy the other 39 minutes of this. Edit: I'm just going to keep adding to this as the video goes on. Bout 23 minutes in now. And I have to say- what you said about your thoughts during childhood and highschool years, could not be more close to mine. Now that you pointed it out, I never realized just how much I resented, what I'm going to call "unknown authority". If I think a rule or an order is dumb, or I am not given sufficient reason, I am extrememly ressentful in my mind. I have had a constant desire to question. And I am gald I do, because without it, I would be a part of the obvious sheep. But now, this has me thinking- have I just moved to a more unrecognizable heard of sheep? I am currently a high school student. A jr. (also that minimal effort for the max turn out is precicely how I deal with my school work lol. I would love to see a video on that). I am simply not satisfied with accepting the common thought. But that thinking, I now realize, simply leads me to another, less-common thought. Even my own thoughts, I am not satisfied, becasue I know my thoughts are flawed at times. I notice the internal desire to look for answers and knowledge and conspiracy.... is that a part of human nature? Anyway, this video seems to be the perfect thing for the way I have been thinking recently. And watching your videos along the way have been really crucial to how I've been going about things. Glad you put these thoughts out there. This is very valuable for a youngin like me. Edit: 38 minutes in. "He had the same realization I did...albeit later in life". This is a very important quote. I could same the same while watching your video. Edit: Perfect closure. Just want you to know that your creative expression of your thoughts in these videos really touch me. Similar to how the sour dough guy touched you with his expression of ideas in his book. I hope that others watching this video can have internal dialiouge, but also physical dialouge. Speak to others. Either, in silly, long comments like mine that no one will read, writing, video, or hopefully, physical conversation. You are one of the roses in this internet of thorns. Keep going. There is certainly more for me to ponder on. Intellectual conversation is something that I feel I am deeply missing, so I guess this little comment is the expression of my desire to speak to other like minded individuals. Hard to talk to other high school kids about stuff like this haha.

This is a great video. I recently quit my job to go full time on my RU-vid channel. I'm not yet to my FIRE goals but I decided it was time to bet on myself and create a life (and a job) that I didn't feel I needed to RE from. I walk in the woods with my dogs every day at lunch for a couple hours. I workout with my husband and we cook dinner together (something I wasn't able to do on a regular basis with my previous job). And I help people. More than I could at my previous job that was causing me so much distress. And I'm myself. That's all to say - you couldn't have said it any better. Great video.

Incredibly valuable video, I watched it all and I will share it with my closest friends. I am a 24 years old guy at the start of its career, with more or less the same questions and doubts that you shared in these 45 minutes. I still have to find MY answers to those questions, and I feel like by knowing your “lessons learned” explained in such a clear way, brought me one step closer to them. This is the first video I saw from you and wow, I feel amazed by the quality of it. Keep it on with your work, I am looking forward the next ones!

I had a similar realization lately. Pursued FIRE hard for the last 11 years and made RU-vid videos for the last 4. Goal was to share what I learned about money and finance and to make more money to be able to invest more, get financially free even sooner, etc……all to come to the end of 2022 totally burned out. Now the plan is to make videos I care about regardless of how they will perform, spend time with my family NOW as if I was retired, and basically live as close to the dream life as possible. No more waiting. Sounds like you’re 1-2 years ahead of me on a very similar trajectory.

O.M.G., this is the essence of what F.I.R.E. could be. It's the purest form of conscious and joyful living - painting your own picture, running your own race, being authentically you, and chasing that journey, not the money and stuff journey. I would also love for you to explore more about how, even post-FIRE, folks are still working, hustling, and selling stuff/a lifestyle. I guess you did this. a bit in this video, but I imagine you'll need to spell it out more like we are 3rd graders for it to be heard and stick.

Great video/lecture! I'm 56 now and I saw through the oppressive system since I started school - 1st grade - Crazy rebel! Your story is so similar to mine. Not exact though. I lived a simple life working odd jobs and being creative... Working only a few days a week - always self employed. My mistake was renouncing my freedom to "grow up" and get married... Try going back to your freedom with a family on your shoulders! I just re-started my freedom a couple of years ago. There Key for me is dealing with FEAR! Being deathly afraid and doing it anyway! I just started a RU-vid channel about my passion that's off on a great start. I'm at a point where I can focus on helping others instead of worrying about myself. It's the most rewarding way to live! Peace, brother! 😎👍🏼🍄

Bro your words feel so pure and real. It's so refreshing seeing someone who seems not to fool his audience. Thanks for the different perspective ❤

my biggest goal in life is to be able to spend my time how I want it. I DO NOT want to have a certain amount of money. I DO NOT want to have a certain amount of friends. I DO NOT want to have certain amount of things.. WHAT I WANT is as simple as being able to do essentially what i want.. whenever I want.. and if that keeps me poor in the sense of the material definition I have no problem with it. Great video Stephen!

Thank you for this video. From the bottom of my heart, thank you 🙏

Humblebrag level: INFINITY

I enjoyed this philosophical insight into financial independence. I’m currently working my corporate 9-5 job to pay the bills and I’m also pursuing my dream of studying my passion on the side. To help myself feel more free I also am trialing that passion career with some clients for free! Freedom comes from within and this is something I truly believe after 3 months of really focusing on it

Shareholders are looking to get paid nicely into the indefinite future for doing no work while workers are treated horribly. Do not include any shareholding actions in your quest for financial independence. It is an ugly way to behave, and it harms society.

Thanks for sharing your epiphanies and insight. If I were to just add one thing in terms of this work/life construct we're pretty much born into, it would be health insurance. And crucially, I am speaking as an American. I work in tech (well, worked - I was laid off before Christmas when a public company bought mine and eventually "downsized" after a couple or 3 down and to the right quarters), and as I have been taking stock of what I want to do, facing the job search and interview process.. which honestly I'm not suuuuper jazzed about as a woman in my early 50s, I really had this stark realization that part of this constant hustle to land the good gig, work, work, work - is that it comes with health insurance. I really am kind of angry as I process how searingly heavy "benefits" weigh in to the time and toil we hand over on a daily basis to our overlords, just so that we don't have our entire life upended if we get fucking sick or get hit by a car or something. What kind of awesome chances have I not taken? Or am too hesitant to take just because I gotta walk that straight and narrow path of health care security. It's a sobering realization, and quite limiting, at least in the professional timeline of my life so far. At least, If having a stupid insurance card didn't weigh so heavily, my entire life and entrepreneurial risk taking would have been a whole different calculus.

It's not about having the biggest pile of cash as possible so you can quit working as soon as possible. You should eliminate your liabilities as quickly as possible, and lower your expectations as much as possible. I own my house outright. It's not the best place in the world, it's not huge, and it needs work, but I own it. I pay $650 a year in property taxes and utilities, that's it. My house is worth less than $100,000. I live in a small city in Ohio. I don't care about being in a "metropolitan hub." I don't date, so I don't care what the place looks like, either. It's paid for. Same goes for my vehicles. Yes, I own two. A car and a truck. Both are over 20 years old. Both cost nothing to maintain aside from standard oil changes and fuel. That's it. I eat on less than $50 a week, and I eat well. I have more than a years worth of expenses in the bank. Anybody can easily attain the "do whatever you want" status out of life. You just have to realize the vast majority of things people think they need are just marketing ploys to get you to part with your time and money. Good content, keep it up.

Loved it! Thank you, Stephen!

For every success story you hear, there are thousands of failed ones you don't. Don't give up on everything and hope it works out. That's not how real world works for majority. Hell, majority can't save up $90k in their lives

You literally have this 46 year old guy in tears of hope for his future life. I kept trying to live by the rules put out in front of me instead of trying to live as the person that I am naturally. It had a devastating effect on my professional and family life. I am definitely the type of person who does not need a lot of material things to find meaning and happiness in my life so I definitely see where some of your viewpoints and advice will be helpful for me going forward.

You know that retiring in your 40s or 50s is still FIRE, right?

New subscriber and really enjoy your content. 'Me' also asking 'why' and then saying to 'them' I don't have to do anything...always got me into trouble and sometimes still does! I went to college for business/accounting and have been doing accounting for 28 years and am over it. It bores me to tears and doesn't indulge my very creative side. I am in the process of trying to figure a way out of the hell I am in right now career-wise. Thank you for this amazing video!

Yes I agree. For me , the main problem with the FIRE movement is that it usually is done by single individuals with high salary or sometimes a couple of young privileged people. Usually those people have no or very light family obligations (maybe 1 toddler) and have a lot of freedom and possibilities in terms of getting an education, side hustles and jobs. When you talk about this baker and say " anyone sure could fly to France and train with the best chefs" I was like, who can do that? who can actually do it apart from single rich young or very old guys with no kids? which single mom or parent of multiples can just take off and do that? It takes a lot more freedom, money and education than most people will ever have access to. A lot of people are stuck in low paying jobs or in shared custody in a city they hate or in other situations making it impossible to implement the kind of life changes or fast saving strategies the FIRE movement proposes. I think the FIRE movement has good advice for everyone but, let's be real, not everyone is privilege enough to access this lifestyle.

It's so refreshing listening to someone who values and hates the same things in life as I do and is already further along the path. I even feel and experience the same thing as you do when it comes to RU-vid. This video is a nice wake-up call. Thank you Steve!

The most successful youtubers are those that stay true to themselves.

I appreciate the effort to inform people that needed to hear this. thank you good sir

Excellent video.. luckily I’m in healthcare and I’ve been PRN (work as needed) for years .. I work whenever I want .. I never understood why we all have to work .. even now, people around me don’t understand why I don’t work 5 days a week like them .. I also took almost 3 years off completely from work one time ..

Hi again Steve, now that I’ve watched the whole video (and I still love it) I have to say that I get away from your videos, now that you have fully embraced who you are, with a lot more to think about than before. I’ve been a long time follower of yours and I got a lot from your early videos. I felt and still sometimes feel as frustrated with the impositions that I face in life as you have described in this video, and seeing you put that into words has made me feel relieved in some sense. Being from Spain I only hear that “work equals health” from old people who could never really choose what to do with their lives. No matter what I say, what gets through is that I am lazy and I don’t want to work 😅 Ironically I am writing this while I fold napkins at the restaurant where I work part time, and I tell you I absolutely hate doing this job and I have never seen the purpose of me being here other than making some money while I build my own business, and I hate as much as you do being told what to do, even more when there’s no point. As unfair as life is, I have to tell myself many times that doing this job is teaching me many things about myself and what I don’t want. Is teaching me about how life works and I have turned it into a spiritual practice. I want to think there’s a reason for me being here, even if I am not fully able to see why yet. As you said, we can be free right now if we make that choice and keep walking towards a place that feels more balanced for us. I’m thankful for this video. You’re such an inspiration and I feel so proud of our generation. Thanks for making these videos the way you do now. They’re great ✨ Take care 🙂

Beautiful, wisdom thanks for sharing.

I just turned 30 like 1 week ago, and i has to pause the video at 26:49 because you send chills down my spin. I am at awe, about how many people don’t know financial literacy. I though, it the people older than me, had this all figured out. I am pretty much in the same shoes as you, i got here through entrepreneurship. I started with selling candy at school when we moved from Canada to new york lol NOBODY KNOWS FINANCIAL LITERATURE ITS INSANE!

The biggest unresolved problem am having with FIRE and financial independence in the US is paying for health insurance. How do working class people pay for affordable coverage that will actually pay for a major catastrophe? The reason am asking is I know a woman who’s mom worked part-time in fast food and; therefore, had no health insurance covered by her employer because it’s NEVER required for PT employees. Also, the mom (let’s call her Julie), could NEVER have benefitted from FIRE because her minimum wages made it impossible for her to save any money. Julie was married and they owned a home; however, in her early 60s, she was diagnosed with cancer and died within less than two years because NO ONE would treat her cancer without health insurance. If someone has a meaningful answer, then please respond because saving pennies or crypto is delusional at best. Thanks for reading and for this channel which will benefit many (but not all).

Sounds like Stephen has completed video game syndrome, the depression that occurs when you've reached the post game. The thrill of life is the challenge and sense of fulfilment from doing things for other people this is why video games are so addictive as it stimulates this inate desire in people. Now that he's got freedom he's in the danger off falling into an entirely self interested life. Baking, walks, reading, 'enlightenment' it's all self interested, self development. I'd suggest he finds responsibilities, to be needed by other people. I've know rich kids with the this issue, they end up miserable and delusional as their connection to ordinary people and challenges are non existent.

The other day on my walk I had a thought that was pretty much along the lines of what you outlined here. Freedom comes not from the have, but from the want - or lack thereof. If you want the fancy car and the nice house because you think it's going to bring you fulfillment, you've got a carrot. If you have a vision of how you could live your life (do stuff, not have stuff) and actionable steps on how to attain that vision, you have a goal. Many people advocate for the prior as a worthwhile goal. It's all about phrasing and once one realized how much power the words we use have to serve or undermine without even realizing, that in my opinion is freedom. The baker example is a perfect demonstration of this too.

Thank you so much for this. I've been having an internal struggle for years now about what you described in this video. In my case, I've been obsessing over making myself "in demand" when, in reality, we don't really know what the landscape of jobs will be like in a couple decades anyway. Also, I think I'm going to start putting more energy into what I'd like to do if I was retired. My goal would be to live comfortably off of that, but if it doesn't work out, I can always return to a dead end job 😅

I have felt this way as a child, and I have such a hard time navigating this world guilt free or comfortably. I wish everyone and all the life around us had equal opportunity to live the healthiest they can according to their own DNA and biology.

This video is an excellent reminder of what's important in life. A great lesson I learned from hockey is always to keep your feet moving

thank you for being authentic, it came through. this video really resonated with me 🙏

Stephan, it's remarkable how closely our experiences have mirrored one another in terms of our upbringing, challenging the dominant narrative, and being met with the age-old adage "because I said so." Additionally, I share your belief that many educators lack the resources and expertise necessary to provide adequate financial education or explore unconventional subjects. I'm pleased to hear that you've found some measure of contentment and stability in your life. As for myself, I'm still working diligently to find peace of mind and make incremental strides toward achieving greater personal freedom. Learning to recognise the small victories can be the first step.

I completely agree that finding fulfillment and contentment in your life NOW is far greater than working a job you hate for 10+ years to be financially independent. However, this thinking gives me an immense amount of anxiety as someone who doesn’t know what the f*ck she wants to pursue. Because of this, I have changed jobs, careers, and industries so many times I don’t feel as if I can find success in my next pursuit. I’m exhausted by jumping through jobs when all I crave is stability. Although you mentioned you didn’t need that 90k, I know for many of us, we need to have a large sum of money to feel an ounce of confidence to pursue our interests as a career. And I’m scared that leaping into my interests will cause me to do the same thing I’ve done in my career, jump and not find success. This is definitely a mindset problem and I hope anyone who feels like me can find strength and guidance to pursue what they truly want without financial hardships.

this resonated a ton, thank you. Gonna go meditate on these ideas

These long form videos where we get to see you think out loud and work through ideas is fantastic. You have a wonderful talent for film and videography, but this stuff resonates with me on another level. Thank you, Stephen.

Freedom without enough money is worry. Define what is enough then seek the freedom

Hey Stephen. I haven’t watched your videos for a while, maybe 9-12 months. It’s proof that your resistance against clickbaity thumbnails works because I thought the other day: ‘hey I wonder what that guy with the surname I can’t pronounce is up to? He made pretty cool well made and thoughtful videos’. So I came back and watched this start to finish. I wouldn’t say I was all in on FIRE, but I cut back on things and kinda throttled my spending quite a bit. I have a 2 year old, and this and the comments has really convinced me that NOW is the time to enjoy yourself. As great as some of the lessons of FIRE have been, like most things on the internet, stuff gets extreme pretty quickly. I’ve gotten myself into a good position, now’s the time to reap the fruits despite being almost mortgage-free. I’m in a position now that a few years ago I set as the threshold for reducing hours at work, like you say, you always want that extra cushion, but it’s not always necessary. Thanks for the video man. 👍🏻

There are 2 types of people: 1: Those who see life as a journey with a destination, or many destinations along the way. 2: Those who see life as a experience and try to enjoy the passage of time. Peoples primary issue imo is they play game 1 but want game 2's benefits, you can have the 'freedom' you described without being financially struggling, You just don't get the "pervceived success' from others.

I was a similar kid but I feel like we’re reading drastically different FIRE advice-what I’ve seen that resonated with me is that while there might be some concessions in your life when pursuing FIRE that all the little free/mostly free things like taking a walk in the morning, carving out quality time with the people you care about, finding fulfillment with meditation like you mentioned etc. are the quality of life refuge while your spending $ is tight as you pursue financial independence. What I’ve seen around also suggests that retiring can cause an identity crisis for some, but if you’re grounded in these things that are already important without money and don’t use pursuing FI as an excuse to not know/learn about yourself then I can’t imagine feeing without identity or purpose. Also, just want to throw out there as a person with severe disabilities that the Worker life has always felt like a poverty/death trap and having become too disabled to work and earn an income several times in my adult life as an unpleasant surprise, FI is my insurance against my disabilities ruining my life again. Right now I am well enough to pursue FIRE but I won’t always be. FI is the only way out of The Trap for me in the future. Being able-bodied I might feel less desperate but seeing some of the comments on this video (NOTHING in the video itself) about dismissing people pursuing FIRE as greedy has me pissed. For the privileged, sure, money buys happiness-for those of us who don’t perform well in a labor market because of our disabilities money buys SECURITY. Thanks for the chill long format video!

Best 46 minutes ever. So true. Why wait, why not right now? If I want to write 2 hours a day in my future, why not write 10 minutes everyday today. Damn.

Thank you for this amazing content! I can relate so much to what you said, from thinking about a monastic life to the struggle of authority and no sense. I am thinking all over again when I will allow myself to truly bet on myself, your story is for sure inspiring ❤

An incredibly interesting and valuable take on the FIRE movement. Very motivating, thank you :)

There is a difference between "I lied" and "I was mistaken." We've all been mistaken in our lives, which is how we learn and grow and develop as people. It gives us a deeper understanding. I appreciate your thoughts and your honesty. Your videos have helped me a lot. This one resonates as well with much to think about.

I appreciate this. Truly 🙏

fing amazing video, best thing I’ve watched all year so far, I’m literally reading Your money or your life atm, and this cleared allot of the doubts I had abt the system, thanks for this!

Dude. Mind blown. You know what's funny, I first heard about Cash College years ago from one of Matti's videos. I watched a bunch of them, but at the time (being a broke college student) the whole concept of FIRE seemed kinda discouraging, and so I moved on and eventually forgot all about your channel (I know, that sounds horrible). Fast forward to today, where I'm working a job I relatively enjoy but in no way want to be at forever. Meanwhile, I've got an idea for my own business sitting on a shelf, waiting to be explored, but I've been afraid to make the leap because I don't feel like I'm financially ready. All that said, I needed to hear this. And it's videos like this that help me remember the vision I had already set for my life and inspire me to actually go for that instead of wasting my time.

This was an excellent message. Thank you! ❤

Thank you for being so honest and genuine with your thoughts! I enjoyed listening to the whole thing, it really resonated.

Stephen you have found The True Path freeing yourself in the whirlpool of this world Your level of understanding about Freedom at your age is applaudable I totally agree with you on everything you have said The times we are going through The only way is to Decide How much more is less ( money ) to find joy and fulfilling life You are The True ambassador dear Keep up the good work Keep guiding This is your Karmic calling if I may say so You are The Blessed one I have one son your age and his thought process is same And I would today Encourage everyone to Find that feeling of actually living life in whichever way it would possible God Bless

Thank you for sharing your story! I follow many financial RU-vidrs and I find your content much more meaningful than the rest and it resonates with me and my journey. I shared with a friend. 😊

Thank you for your video. I, on the other hand, had not been very smart with my money, ever. But I think that my reckless spending and the idealized promise of retirement, in my case, have something in common: not living in the present. In the first case, it has to do with uncomfortable emotions in the present, that I somehow want to numb by buying dumb things (that promise happiness). And the latter is related to idealizing the future, not appreciating what you have for sure: the present. I just recently started to organize all these ideas, something never felt right, neither about retirement nor about reckless spending. And that's how I stumbled across your video and channel. Thanks a lot, thankfully I am still young and healthy, and after much effort got into a master in neuroscience, which is one of the few things I find authentic pleasure investing my time in.

Just found your channel and you are absolutely crushing it. I was hooked throughout the entire 43 minutes of this video, and I feel like I've been on my own version of the FIRE movement, and I'm so glad you shared your journey it deeply resonated with me

Thank you for creating this. I am reaching a similar conclusion. I discovered the concept of FIRE in 2013 or so. I started learning about it and pursuing it in earnest around 2014. I have saved a lot and don't regret it, but I made the mistake of not defining an "exit ramp" for my saving and investing goals. With no goal in mind other than "save as much as possible" I made some poor decisions and neglected my own happiness. This seemed to really get out of control in the pandemic years. I am now starting to look at ways to make myself happy NOW and using financial security to build a life I would be happy living.

Man, your amazing!! You have turned into one of my favorite people on RU-vid. I really love these videos that are focused more on philosophical ideas. Thank you so much for sharing!!

We love you Stephen. Thank you for creating

Thank you for sharing. I love this as a new follower 🌞