In this conversational excerpt, Speaker A and Speaker B discuss their perspectives on wealth, budgeting, and financial independence. Speaker A questions the conventional approach to budgeting and wonders how their personal system feels. Speaker B emphasizes that having wealth makes them feel safe, allowing occasional treats while remaining mindful and purposeful with spending. Both agree that financial security reduces anxiety and enables them to be more present, contrasting this with the stress experienced during the 2008 financial crisis. The dialogue highlights the subjective nature of wealth, the importance of intentional spending, and the link between financial safety and present‑moment well‑being.
What do you think about today, now that you have wealth or access to money and wealth following traditional budgeting? That's what we're told we have to do. What do you think about how we do our system? I like how we do it.
I don't think about wealth in that way. I think when you say that, I feel safe.
Maybe that's what wealth is. Yeah.
For me it's. Sometimes you can spoil yourself with like a little treat of a thing, a pair of shoes or something like that. We're still very mindful of everything we spend money on. We're purposeful. I like that. That makes me feel safe. We were extravagant, whatever. I think that means it's different for everyone. I think I would be scared that it would go away or we were being irresponsible. I feel like we are responsible and careful and purposeful and that makes me feel safe.
Yeah. I think that is the definition of financial independence isn't the accumulation or demonstration of stuff you have, it's the security you have for the future, which I think also for me makes me more present now. Back in 2008, I was under such stress, I wasn't present. I can't remember those days except for the worry. Do you feel with the system we have, the financial independence, the safety, does it make you more present in the current times? Is there less worry or has it worked for you?
Well, that's hard for me to answer because I grew up with that happening every three months. I think that's why I almost felt comfortable. I almost felt relief when it happened to us because the thing I was scared of and worrying about happened and I knew exactly, exactly what to do. I didn't have the same emotional journey with it, I had a different one.
