🐜🎻 Living the 'Ant-Grasshopper' Life: Achieving Freedom and Happiness ~Saving Money Edition~

💰 Why I, an 'Ant-Grasshopper,' am talking about the 'value of saving' first

I use the term 'Ant-Grasshopper' as a catchphrase for my way of life.

Of course, it's a coined term, lol

Preparing like an ant while enjoying the present like a grasshopper. Saving and spending are both correct, and both are important. But today, I want to talk seriously about the value of 'saving'.

💸 In my 20s and 30s, I was more of a 'spender'.

I've gone to casinos in Macau and South Korea and blown 500,000 yen in a single night, and I've spent money without hesitation on luxury hotels and extravagant experiences.

I didn't hate that thrill. But now that I'm in my 40s, I see money with a completely different perspective.

✨ By 'saving,' you gain the ability to choose

I currently work with several companies on a contract basis. In every case, I am working with people I truly like.

That's not so much thanks to my skills or connections, but rather because
I have saved up a certain amount of financial assets.

I'm in a state close to what's called 'Coast FIRE,' where I no longer need to work hard on building retirement assets, and

it's okay as long as I can cover my immediate living expenses.

My assets are growing steadily while being invested at a 6-7% annual return.

⭐ The feeling of buying 'freedom of choice' with assets

For me now, the greatest luxury is not winning big at a casino or living it up at a luxury hotel.

It's the feeling of purchasing 'freedom of choice' through substantial financial assets.

I can decide whether or not to take on a job without feeling rushed. I can 'only interact with the people I like.'

This brings a very high level of happiness.

Moreover, that 'luxurious freedom' isn't something that just disappears after you spend it.
Because it's managed through solid investments, it actually increases year by year.
I believe it's not waste, but an investment that expands the future.

📈 Assets grow while the body declines—that's why now is the time to act.

I realized something after learning about investing.

When I realized this fact, my assumption that 'aging equals a negative' changed. Even as you get older, if your money has been growing, your level of freedom actually increases.

A long time ago, when I visited the home of a 60-something CEO of a famous company, I was shocked.
He was energetic, giving his all to both work and play. And he looked like he was having a blast.

'Old age isn't just a 'remaining life,' it's a time to fully enjoy freedom.'

From that moment on, my values began to change.

✅ The foundation of freedom is 'money' and 'health'.

To enjoy life freely, you need a foundation.

The first is 'money,' to buy future options.
The second is 'health,' because you need a body to enjoy that freedom.

Only when these two are in place can you obtain a 'life you can play with.'

I often tell young people this:

Of course, I'm half-joking, but
I want them to realize the power of 'saving first.'

Next time, I'd like to talk at length about another axis that the 'Ant-Grasshopper' values—
'the value of spending.'

Like the story of memory dividends or our family trip to Okinawa.
Those were the moments when the money I spent became 'emotional assets.'

✍️ If the freedom brought by the 'power to save' resonates with you,
I would be happy if you could support me with a like, follow, or comment.📩