What does one deserve? What does one not deserve?
It’s an interesting question to pose, just what someone deserves.
However, what’s even more interesting to me are the variety of answers that most people in a developed society like the US come up with.
While I think human beings are, collectively, a flawed species with a lot of problems, most people in this world deserve more than they’re getting, as the vast majority of the world’s population is living in substandard conditions.
But even those with relatively easy access to arguably all of what they deserve, still think they deserve more.
Is this right or wrong?
In my view, it’s neither.
But I do think the objects of most people’s affection are wrong.
It’s perhaps misplaced desire.
I Deserve It
“I work really hard, so I deserve it.”
“It” might be: a fancy vacation, a new car, a big house, a new swimming pool.
So on and so forth it goes.
Now, if the new car or big house made one happier, I’d say go for it.
However, the problem is that the new car or big house probably won’t make you happier, as this isn’t the kind of stuff that actually makes a long-term difference in one’s happiness.
It’s more likely quite the opposite, that those things will end up making you less happy.
I’m not inherently anti-consumerism. I’m only against superfluous consumerism, especially if it doesn’t do one any good in terms of improving their happiness or quality of life. At that point, it’s just wasteful. And dumb.
If one is working really hard, they certainly do deserve plenty for their efforts.
But should a new swimming pool be part of that equation?
The problem is this: all of that stuff that one buys because they think they deserve it, puts them in a position to where they have to work ever-more and ever-harder in order to continue affording what they think they deserve.
The hedonic treadmill speeds up, making one expend more and more effort, which makes one believe they should continue to spend more on what they think they deserve.
As they work harder, they deserve more.
As they spend more, they need to work harder to afford the lifestyle.
Round and round we go.
It’s silly.
I Really Do Deserve It
But the funny thing is, I think I really do deserve it.
I grew up very poor. I worked extremely hard for years at a job I didn’t like. I’ve saved and invested my butt off, and I’ve been striving to become a better version of myself every day.
Damn it, I deserve it!
However, my “it” is different from what most people come up with.
My “it” isn’t a vacation to Hawaii, a new sports car, or a McMansion.
My “it” is financial freedom.
I feel like I deserve it, rightly or wrongly.
The thing is, financial freedom does positively impact my long-term happiness, quality of life, and overall sense of personal fulfillment.
Better yet, it doesn’t require one to run ever-faster on the hedonic treadmill.
In fact, one is able to completely step off of the treadmill, stop running, and focus one’s efforts and resources on more meaningful pursuits.
My “it” doesn’t require me to earn more so that I can spend more so that I have to earn more. There are no diminishing returns. No feeling of sinking into the quicksand that is the law of diminishing marginal utility.
I’d actually say it’s the opposite. Financial freedom gets better over time, often with no ongoing increasing effort.
As one’s options increase in line with the value of one’s assets/passive income, the potential for improvement in one’s happiness, quality of life, and overall sense of personal fulfillment also increase.
Financial freedom really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Not only that, but the rate at which gives tends to be exponential (in line with the power of compounding that’s affecting the underlying assets that are funding financial freedom in the first place).
So as others are out there deserving more as they work harder, financial freedom continues to hand out more and more rewards whether one likes it or not. You may not feel like like you deserve more in five or ten years, but you’ll get more anyway. That’s a great spot to be in, as it then allows you to potentially reward others out there who deserve more than they’ve received.
Conclusion
What does one deserve? What does one not deserve?
Complicated questions with complicated answers.
But I’ve answered that first question for myself: financial freedom.
I think I deserve it. I’ve earned it to the best of my ability, as fast as I possibly could. And I do my best to keep good care of it.
I’ve had what others think they deserve. And I’ve had what I think I deserve. I can tell you, after experiencing both, the latter is a far more deserving object of affection.
So the next time you think about how you deserve something for all of your hard work, contemplate for a moment about exactly what you really deserve.
What do you deserve?
Thanks for reading.
I have tried to cut off the mindset of “deserve.” Believing I’m entitled to anything at all seems like a recipe for disappointment. There are so many things outside of my control that can go wrong. If I believe that I am losing something that I am entitled to, then I will be more frustrated, more anxious, and more angry. It’s a hard mindset to break because it is so central to the collective beliefs of Americans, but I’m working on it.
Matt,
Indeed. What does one deserve exactly? It’s a complicated question. Is life itself not enough reward?
But for those who really think they deserve something for all of that hard work, I can think of no prize greater than financial freedom. 🙂
Best regards.
Everyone deserves a pat on their back for the hard work that one puts in, regardless what that might be. I believe we are all working towards a fruitful results and financial independence could be the ultimate fruit of all for the hard work that is being put in.
B,
Definitely. If you’re looking for the ultimate “pat on the back”, financial freedom is it. That’s because it keeps patting you on the back for the rest of your life, long after its achieved. 🙂
Cheers!
Why do Buddhists not vacuum in the corners? Their vacuum cleaners have no attachments!
I’m slowing building up a small cadre of like minded people I can associate with. Personal Freedom for the win!
I wonder if the mindset is more difficult for Libertarians to adopt. They often think materialism and selfishness are virtues. At least the Ayn Rand worshippers do. I’m glad I chose the FIRE path instead.
FV,
Never heard that joke before, but I like it! 🙂
I honestly wish I had more people around me that believed in this, or maybe a group of people that at least “get it”. That’s hard to find. Isolation, or perhaps more isolation than one would otherwise experience (if they were living more like everyone else), is a drawback to this lifestyle, in my experience. Of course, the benefits are definitely worth the stretch.
I might give the idea of exploring Thailand another go. Being a minimalist/frugalist over there means you’re just part of the pack!
Best wishes.
“Deserving” consumer items was made up by marketing. After genuinely useful things like electricity, running water, and medicine, people would not be buying stuff if advertisers didn’t give them a reason. By creating “deserve”, advertisers created a carte blance to throw on anything. Once they taught us we “deserve” it for “working hard” (just getting through another day), it reduced their workload.
lesslessyes,
Yeah, I hear you. But I think there’s something to be said for personal responsibility. Marketing is one thing. Choice is another. Two people can be exposed to the same marketing. And you can end up with two radically different choices as a result. I think it’s less “evil corporations” and more “people”. People like stuff. It’s part of the human condition. And it’s why Keynes was wrong with his prediction about 15-hour workweeks. People’s wants are insatiable, even when they’ve already acquired more than they could ever need or reasonably use.
That all said, if you really want the most outstanding luxury of all, financial freedom is really where it’s at. 🙂
Cheers!
Thank you Jason for your post… This is a very good question and there are a wide array of answers I think. I could go on and on with this subject. I think those of us who are older, perhaps raised by depression or WW2 era parents have a little different take on what we deserve. I was raised to work hard, contribute to society and don’t whine. If you don’t like your present circumstances then change them, don’t count on others to change them for you. Yet, as you mentioned there are places in this world where the people deserve a basic standard of living.
Thanks for the food for the brain!
Bob
Robert,
Thanks for dropping by!
We all have different perspectives, based largely on our collective experiences. I get the whole “I deserve it” thing. People work hard. They want something in return. I’m not saying we should all just work hard and go live in caves, being happy to simply exist. But the thing is, the “it” which most people chase (more/better stuff) is really the wrong way to go. If you truly do “deserve it”, there’s no greater “it” than financial freedom. The rest tends to entrap you over the long haul, putting you in a terrible cycle.
Cheers!
I’ve always subscribed to the idea that the majority of people get what they deserve. In that framework, of course you deserve financial freedom – you worked bloody hard to get there.
Robert mentioned the idea of changing your circumstances if you aren’t happy with them – I think its still a great attitude to have.
Good post Jason
ADI,
Yeah, that’s a good notion to subscribe to. But I think it largely only works in developed countries. It’s hard to think that a billion or so people out there “deserve” to live in abject poverty where they’re practically (or sometimes literally) starving to death. That’s a tough stance to take.
But if you’re not happy, you definitely have to do whatever you can to change your world. Be the change you wish to see. 🙂
Cheers!
Well, I am one of those folks who feel I deserve that vacation. I do work hard, and definitely need the break from time to time. That doesn’t mean I deserve to overspend on my vacation when I take one. In fact, I was paying for my last vacation months after it ended. But, however shortsighted it might be, I felt like I deserved a trip to New Orleans.
I do agree, however, that attaining financial freedom is better in the long run. But, different strokes for different folks.
DP,
Hey, whatever makes you happy. In the end, this whole thing is about improving one’s happiness, quality of life, and personal fulfillment. If taking a trip gets you there, go for it. I just felt like taking short vacations here and there would have delayed the ultimate vacation. I’d rather speed things up as much as possible in order to gain access to those 52 weeks of vacation. Worked for me. But to each their own. 🙂
Best regards!
As a reward, satisfaction and happiness are the only things one deserves. What gives you the pleasure of experiencing one or the other is the question. For most, I think things are sources of satisfaction. As long as I can update the sound system in it, I’m satisfied driving a 10-year old car. My wife on the other hand is not comfortable driving any car older than five years. As for happiness I think time spent with others and positive experiences are the keys to realizing it.
We are in our mid- to late 50’s and have been financially independent for a few years. I am happy to have the experience of financial freedom, but I truly believe the money is more a source of satisfaction than happiness. Our adult children frequently remind us that we deserve newer and “better” things due to the work and sacrifices we made to become financial independent, but our consistent answer is we are satisfied with what we have. Buy things based on whether or not they will satisfy a need (or want), not whether or not you think you deserve them.
Larry,
I agree. For most, things are a source of satisfaction. Or perhaps the better way to think about it is that things are a perceived source of satisfaction. When surveys and studies are done, it turns out that all (or most) of that is an illusion. But it’s likely just part of the human condition, meaning these perceptions aren’t going to (ever) change. To each their own. Others spending away allows me to live as I do. But I try to make sure I do my part by showing another path.
It’s great that you’ve kind of figured out what makes you happy. Indeed, relationships and good experiences will often do much more for this than stuff. If you look up the word “satisfaction”, a synonym is happiness. It’s really all about what makes you get up in the morning, smile, and be fulfilled/content with the world around you. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Best wishes.
Jason,
I think you hit the nail on the head towards the beginning of the post. It depends on what “It” is for the person and if that “It” is what truly makes them happy. If that’s what makes them happy, then they deserve it. But if they are buying stuff because they can and they think that will make them happy versus actually knowing it will, then you can have a different argument. I’m with you in the sense that my “it” is financial freedom. To me, that is the ultimate end goal. But I also have other “it” items along the way that I enjoy spending on.
In the end, to answer your question, I think you deserve what will genuinely make you happy in life. But to avoid that generic answer, I take it one step further using a vacation as an example. Traveling makes you happy and you are very passionate about it. However, will you be satisfied though if a vacation that you can’t afford makes you happy for one week and miserable for the others though because you are trying to figure out how to pay for it?
Not an easy question. Every time you go to answer it various scenarios and “But” situations arise. I don’t think this helps answer your question.
Bert
Bert,
Right. Definitely. The first part of the equation is figuring out “it”. The next part, which is far more important, is determining whether that “it” truly makes you happy. That requires a lot of introspection and honesty. And I think, in general, most people don’t really take the time for that. Of course, do they not take time because they have no time? And is that because they’re busy working to pay for the wrong “its”? Interesting stuff. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Cheers.
Jason, you are truly an inspiration. Your story is amazing going from being broke to having passive income pay all you bill is awesome. You have done it in an very intelligent way surrounding yourself with great companies and having them pay you. While I don’t agree with your investing style, I can’t argue with your results of being financially free
Bill,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it! 🙂
Financial freedom is wonderful, no matter which path you take to get there. It has its drawbacks – no lifestyle is perfect – but the benefits are far more numerous. I’m very happy and very fortunate.
Hope all is well!
Cheers.
You were the inspiration for me to start investing, thank you so much! I started out as a dividend investor but I wouldn’t have started investing if not for your story. Made me realize I too can take charge of my financial freedom and don’t have to remain a slave to the corporate 9-5 always working world!