Common People, Uncommon Cars

[flinger]

Even though I do enjoy living my own life according to my own rules and principles, I still need to benchmark against peers to ensure I continue to strive hard for success and not get lazy. Sometimes, I also do wonder if the amount of cash I have is anomalous with other couples my age (with a kid). When I see couples buying 2nd property and/or a car, it always gives me the impression they have a lot of wealth!

This is the part i usually don't understand. Why do we need to benchmark against peers or relatives or etc...?? What is the benefit or purpose?

I think the lazy reasoning is an excuse. If you have goals and vision of where you and your family want to be...that should provide you the motivation instead of your peers... If you follow your peers then you are just following another person aspirations which might not make you happy in life.....

My benchmark is based on financial freedom, meaning, would I have sufficient funds to lead a lifestyle that I choose. throughout the rest of my life. Am I prepared if I were to lose my job and not able to attain the same pay anymore or get a good job? Am I prepared to support my family in terms of basic needs of shelter , food, education etc. Am I prepared for health issues? Emergency etc.... retirement.

If I have catered financially for all these, then I am financially free.

Then I would look at things which are desires such as going on holidays to different countries to see how the world is or setting up my own small company to do work that i choose to work on instead of necessity . I will do work for free for charities or social organizations or projects which where the budget is low but the project is a dream project that I would like to tackle etc....

Ultimately, I don't "care" what my peers are doing, but I care more about that we can afford the basic necessities to live and then work towards goals we want in life. That would set out direction instead of our peers.

Don't you think that is better idea?