FI Series Part II: Money Isn’t Happiness—But Being Broke Is Misery
Let’s talk about money—not the Instagram version, not the hustle-bro fantasy, and definitely not the lie that everything will magically work out if you just “follow your passion.” I’m talking about the kind of money that keeps the lights on, the rent paid, and the panic attacks at bay. Because here’s the truth: financial security isn’t about luxury. It’s about not living in fear.
I’ve met plenty of smart, hardworking people who were exhausted, angry, or quietly falling apart—not because they were lazy or broken, but because they were broke. When you’re worried about rent, food, or medical bills, everything else in your life gets distorted. You snap at people. You make bad decisions. You stay in bad jobs. You tell yourself this is just “how adulthood feels,” without realizing how much of that stress is coming straight from an unstable financial situation. Money problems mess with your head. Financial health is mental health.
Now, let’s get something straight: money isn’t happiness. But the lack of it can absolutely poison your life. In the world we actually live in—not the one we wish we lived in—money buys stability. Stability buys breathing room. And breathing room is where decent decisions, creativity, and even joy have a chance to show up.
Here’s the part nobody likes to hear: you don’t need more money nearly as much as you think—you need fewer wants. If you’re constantly chasing the newest phone, the better car, the bigger apartment, the lifestyle you think you’re supposed to have at 21, you’re signing up for debt, stress, and a job you can’t quit. Live simply. Live smaller than your paycheck. Eat well, but don’t pretend every meal needs to feel like a reward. You don’t need luxury to feel human.
If you can get to a place where you spend only half of what you earn and save the rest, you’ve already won a big part of the game. That savings—put somewhere boring and reliable—can grow quietly over time. You don’t need to gamble. You don’t need to get clever. Just be consistent. Eventually, your money starts working while you sleep. And that’s when things change.
Because real freedom isn’t yachts or first-class tickets. It’s knowing you can walk away from a bad job. It’s not panicking when life throws a punch. It’s having options. And options—more than anything else—are what give you control over your own damn life.
~ Bai, Sunday, February 7, 2026, Brentwood, CA