When I first graduated from college, I was lucky enough to get a pretty good job almost immediately.
In fact, my first day at that new job was literally nine days after my college graduation day.
My starting salary at that job blew away my earnings up to that point.
This post originally appeared onThe Simple Dollar.
In fact, it was higher than the earning level of my parents at the time.
Even better than that, it was pretty clear that this job held some real opportunity for advancement.
I spent money under that assumption.
Second,it assumes steady employment and progress in your field.Youre going to keep your current job.
Youre not going to be affected by the machinations of other people in the workplace.
Third,it assumes perfect life stability.You dont get married or get divorced.
You dont have children.
You dont have to care for an ailing parent.
You dont get into a car accident where someone else dies and youre liable.
Assumptions Meet Reality
Of course, thats not a realistic view of anyones future unless you areextremelylucky.
People change careers all the time and start over when their current career doesnt work out.
People lose their jobs constantly, too, and find themselves forced into career reboots.
People dont have perfect health, either.
They suffer from mental illness.
Life constantly intervenes in ways that you dont expect.
Life also deals out a lot of negative changes, as per Murphys Law.
Things dont go like you expect them to go.
At the same time, I got married, had a child, then another child.
It took a very difficult financial turnaround to fix things and get things on the right track.
The goal is not to live in some kind of self-imposed austerity today.
Remember, that future self of yours wont be as energetic as you are today.
That future self may have physical or mental ailments.
He or she may be burdened with unexpected life changes or with a career that hasnt panned out.
Burdening that future self further with poor spending decisions today is going to make for an even bleaker future.
But What If My FutureIsBright?
Your options are even broader.
you’re free to take big career jumps without worrying much about the money.
you could retire early.
you’re able to basically do whatever you want.
The world becomes your oyster simply because you didnt shackle your future self with extra financial burdens.
All youll face are the bills from itand it will be nothing but a burden.
Its easy, too.
Rather than living an expensive life today, cut back a little bit.
Drive a late model used car instead of the shiny newest model.
Live in a more modest apartment rather than the best place you could possibly afford.
Go out a little less and have some dinner partiesmaybe even potluck dinner parties.
Find some hobbies that dont require you to constantly shell out cash.
