Luxury living sounds like staying five nights at Kruger Shalati overlooking the Sabie River in Kruger National Park.
Not always. Luxurious living can be calm and collected, no need to scream from rooftops. There is no need to tell everyone you are rich; actually, most people think riches should shout with branded clothes. Not so with the wealthy, silence is peace and calm.
Time freedom is a quiet luxury when everyone else is swallowed up in the bustling and hustling of work. You are chilled; you own your hours, and there is no need to panic. It’s just Monday morning who cares.
Why Financial Independence Is The Ultimate Luxury
Financial independence is not the destination; it’s a lifestyle of intentional living. Often, everyday life is on autopilot; in this life, work is worshipped. And don’t forget sick leave days are counted too!
Your salary affords you the purchasing power, but long–term wealth is built through saving and investing.
The main luxury is not your accessories, but your days. Imagine if we knew exactly how many years we had left. It would be heartbreaking to spend so many of those hours sitting in traffic.
I am referring to my daily commute.
I drive to work 46 minutes every day, one way. That makes up 92 minutes for the return trip without even considering roadworks and common accidents.
How Your Daily Commute Steals Time and Money
It’s unthinkable, my friends. We are talking 49.8 days per year spent behind the wheel since I work 5 days a week. Bear in mind, I haven’t even included gridlock traffic days.
Just by visualising this, I feel poor. No wonder my car needs servicing every few months.
In actuality, it feels like time wasted burning fuel. Let alone the stress caused by this driving. Imagine wearing a blood pressure monitor during my daily commute.
You see, I can wish for luxurious living in the Alps, or pursue the achievable luxury of my perishing 50 days. After seven years in my current job, I have technically driven 353 days. That’s almost a full year staring at the windscreen.
My time behind the wheel doesn’t sound like a luxury. Does it?
Luxury Spending vs Smart Spending: What’s Really Worth Paying For?
No need to eat fast, gulping your lunch all your life. “Time is money,” your employer tells you. When you are eating lunch at work, it feels like time is on fast-forward; however, when you get back to work, the slow-motion button is on.
Considering how extremely hard it is to earn money; it would be reckless to splurge your rands on things only. Maybe, after all the work and energy to earn money, your idea of luxury is an ultra-luxury toaster.
We are talking a colourful Dolce & Gabbana or Smeg to make your bread crispy and crunchy.
This experience will cost you about R4 000 to R15 000, whoops! Compared to a Pineware at less than R500, the bread still tastes exactly the same, but with the higher-end purchases, you are likely to work more years than if you opted for cheaper options.
When Spending More Actually Saves You Time
Don’t get me wrong, I am not asking you to be a cheapskate. Actually, I own a Bosch dishwasher and an LG washing machine. I grew up with hand wash, had enough of manual rinsing in the river.
It’s cheaper to do my dishes by hand but way more efficient and time-wise to press a button while going for a run and accomplish both fitness and clean dishes. It’s a judgement call you have to make personally. Do the maths, don’t just assume expensive is better or that cheaper is worse.
Why My Biggest Monthly Expense Is My Investments
In my own personal budget, the most expensive line item is my investments. That’s because money and my time are directly connected. Personally, I find it hard to believe why someone would pay monthly car instalments higher than their monthly investment debit orders.
No judgement; I suppose it’s a matter of priorities. At this point in time, in my 40s, time is on top of my list. That’s why it holds as the most expensive luxury.
Whichever way, don’t forget we all have the same 24 hours in a day, and most of those are spent working and earning money.
I would quietly stick to the silent time wealth, owning time. Strategic thinking is the idea. Thinking backwards by designing my dream life and plan from that dream. It’s more like planning your summer in winter.
While most people are cold to train, your mind is already in summer. That slow 42 minutes on the treadmill is then better than no run at all. Sometimes luxury is viewed as lazy or pride.
Actually, life is not fair. Someone wakes up, takes a casual walk on the beach, does yoga and reads a book before work.
Meanwhile you and I once the alarm rings there is no second to waste. Even a cup of tea is a waste of time in this rush context, with no time for praying or reflecting.
Luxury is what you make it. For me, it’s just that simple.
Free time not rushed, no pressure please.
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