One of the most memorable novels that I read in high school was Animal Farm by George Orwell because of one character, Boxer. He was the most loyal and hard-working character in the story, yet his life was simply tragic. He spends all his time and energy pulling stones for the windmill and eventually dies while pulling them. Not only did he not get a proper funeral, he was also sent to the glue factory at the end of his life to produce more income for other people. He was completely exploited even after his death. As a 16-year-old kid, I was shocked, but I wasn’t terrified. However, over the years, whenever I think back to Boxer, I feel more scared every time. I fear that I would end up like Boxer.
I’ve always been told that as long as I work hard and stay focused, I would have a decent life, making enough money to have shelter and food and perhaps start a family. That was what it meant to have a decent life, especially as the child of first generation immigrants. Yet the older I get, the more I wonder if there is more to life than working a decent 9-5 job to pay the bills.
What does it mean to be a responsible independent adult? Do I just pay all my necessary bills and just do whatever I want with the rest of my income? That sure does sound fair. However, if I choose to live like that, would I not just end up like Boxer? Not dying but never truly living.
If I don’t take financial matters into my own hands, will I just keep working and working to make enough to pay my bills and blow the rest of my money on things I can “afford” to buy? I mean I have money leftover in the bank after all the expenses and I’m not doing anything illegal by buying things I want. But then, I’m not paying myself. I’m paying all the bills, I’m paying for the things I want, but I’m not paying myself.
If I want to live a truly meaningful life, I have to be able to buy back my time, my freedom. And the only way to do that is to pay myself first.
It’s simple. Make automatic deposits biweekly or monthly (depending on your pay period) to an investment account. That way, you’re not incentivized to spend your entire paycheck because a portion of it would be invested already. You’re paying yourself first.
