What I’ve Learned After 5 Years of Self-Employment

5 years ago almost exactly I got laid off and officially became a full-time blogger. I remember it like it was yesterday because things like that completely change your life.

It also completely changes your mindset, so I thought it would be fun to share some of the ways the old me thought about life/money/business vs. the current me :) You know, cuz I’m so much wiser now…

(PS: Yes, that’s me up top. And yes, some things never change, much to the dismay of my wife.)

2010 me: I’m self-employed, bitches! Never going back to The Man!!
2015 me: I’m self-employed, that’s pretty cool. Sure, I’d work a 9-5 again if it made me happier.

2010 me: You’re only working 70 hours a week? Shiiiit… I work 90.
2015 me: You’re only working 20 hours a week? Niiiice… that’s where it’s at.

2010 me: I’m gonna take over the world and build a massive empire online! (*evil laugh*)
2015 me: I’m gonna focus on a couple sites and appreciate what I have! (*thanks God*)

2010 me: I love being my own boss, I can do anything!
2015 me: I love being my own boss, I can do anything! (As long as I make my readers happy and my clients happy and my advertisers happy and my partners happy and my wife happy and my kids happy)

2010 me: I can’t wait to sleep in and get online first thing in the morning
2015 me: I can’t wait to wake up early and enjoy the peace first thing in the morning

2010 me: I want to be a millionaire so bad!!! Money Money MONEY!!!
2015 me: I want financial freedom so bad! Freedom Freedom FREEDOM!!!

2010 me: I want to beat the market!
2015 me: I want to match the market

2010 me: Man, these cats are a lot of work to take care of
2015 me: Man, these kids are a lot of work to take care of

2010 me: Home ownership is where it’s at!
2015 me: Renting is where it’s at!

2010 me: Beer, frozen meals, ice cream
2015 me: Fruit, home-cooked meals, a beer

2010 me: iPhone, lottery tickets, cable
2015 me:

2010 me: How much stuff can I own?
2015 me: How little stuff can I own?

2010 me: Mansions are cool
2015 me: Tiny homes are cool

2010 me: What would happen to my blogs if I die?
2015 me: What would happen to my family if I die?

2010 me: Blessed to have found a career and community I love
2015 me: Blessed to have found a career and community I love :)

HERE’S TO FIVE MORE AWESOME YEARS WITH YOU GUYS!!! Thank you for your support!

(2020 me: That was fun!)

*******
UPDATE: For those of you who asked if that pic was Photoshopped – nope! I went about my business like this for 24 hours just to see if I could do it… and I succeeded :)

j money beard face-off

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106 Comments

  1. Mrs. Mad Money Monster | @madmoneymonster December 14, 2015 at 5:49 AM

    Isn’t it funny how perspectives change in 5 short years? I can definitely relate to the kids vs. cats thought process ;) And, tiny houses…they are cool. And affordable! I always say you know you’re an adult when you look at a big, beautiful house in amazement, and wonder what it costs to heat and cool that thing. Ha! Here’s to the next 5 years! Keep rocking the blog!

    Cheers!
    Mrs. Mad Money Monster

    Reply
    1. Stockbeard December 14, 2015 at 5:38 PM

      Ha, I never had a pet, but I can confirm that kids take a lot of time :)

      Reply
  2. Brian @ Debt Discipline December 14, 2015 at 6:12 AM

    Amazing what times does for your perspective. Good stuff. I hope you shaved the rest off, that’s a strange look even for you, unless you’re playing a villain in a Batman movie. :)

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:26 PM

      I’ve since shaved it, yes, but I did go 24 hours straight to see if i could do it :) Was pretty fun! (And I didn’t even cheat and stay inside the whole day, haha… I ran a ton of errands in the public!)

      Reply
      1. Brian @DebtDiscipline December 14, 2015 at 5:05 PM

        Nice. I’m sure you got some interesting looks! More than normal for J$ and his Frankencaddy!

        Reply
  3. Chris @ Flipping A Dollar December 14, 2015 at 7:05 AM

    5 years is a really long time! Congrats on living the dream. Awesome family, financially secure, and intentional living. Can’t get much better than that!

    Reply
  4. Kalie @ Pretend to Be Poor December 14, 2015 at 7:09 AM

    Very fun! Sounds like it’s been a great 5 years and you’ve learned a lot. I’m curious: how long did it take you to stop working 90 hours a week? I’m assuming that was a necessary phase while getting things off the ground?

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:34 PM

      It took me having kids to stop :) I realized I had become a workaholic and didn’t want to live my life that way anymore. So I slowly transitioned into a healthier schedule which I’m still trying to be better at now – 3 years later. The trick is becoming MUCH more productive w/ your time since you have a lot less of it!

      Oh, and to answer your question – yes, it did take me a while to get my projects to where they are now, but looking back I could have done a lot of things differently to get to the same spot – if not bigger – had I paid attention to the way I was working. I had my hands in like 10 projects at any given point in time whereas now I’m in a few max. Focusing is key for sure :)

      Reply
  5. Lindsay VanSomeren December 14, 2015 at 7:20 AM

    Bahaha! That was awesome. I feel like I could write the same thing about my life too. I think it’d go something like this:

    1987: Wow, it’s really bright out here.
    1995: Brussel sprouts really do suck. Tomatoes are still the bomb, though.
    2001: I want to be a professional dogsled racer!
    2005: I want to run the Iditarod! I’m moving to Alaska!
    2007: This dogsledding thing ain’t working out like I hoped.
    2009: I want to be a wildlife biologist!
    2011: Wow, getting a job is tough…I’ll go to grad school!
    2014: Here I am, world! Who is ready to hire me to do wildlife studies!?
    2015: Hello?? Is this thing on?!

    And so it continues… It’s good to see that other people’s perspectives shift so much over time too. :)

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:36 PM

      hahahaha..

      2016: I’m studying wildlife while on a bobsled! LOOK AT ME GO! (Literally!)

      Reply
  6. Roy Largo @ Band of Savers December 14, 2015 at 7:26 AM

    Isn’t it amazing what some time and a lot more information can do for your thought processes. Sometimes I wish I could go back a decade or so with the knowledge that I have now and see how much better my life would be, but then I remember all of the crappy times and pain and learning experiences that I had to struggle through to gain that knowledge. So now I look at my nephews who are just starting to make their big life choices and wish I could just pour my information into them. Which is a large reason that I started my little blog, to attempt to spread the information that I learn by going through life so others can learn from it.

    A quote that I love says, “A wise man learns from his mistakes. A super wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”

    Reply
    1. Its All The Same December 14, 2015 at 10:40 AM

      The quote I like is:

      A man who at 50 looks at life like he did when we was 20 has wasted 30 years of his life!

      Reply
      1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:37 PM

        haha…. love both of y’alls quotes :)

        Reply
  7. Natalie @ Financegirl December 14, 2015 at 7:41 AM

    Hahahahha this is incredible!!!! I’m dying laughing, and I’m also the 2010 version of you lol (clearly not wise yet)! Thanks for sharing and love the pic!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:39 PM

      2010 versions did know how to party a lot more ;)

      Reply
  8. James @ JPCashFlow.com December 14, 2015 at 7:57 AM

    Great post! Funny how some things change and other things don’t. Looking forward to your 2020 update.

    Reply
  9. Dee @ Color Me Frugal December 14, 2015 at 7:59 AM

    The cats versus kids one made me chuckle. I too thought our dogs were a lot of work- until we became parents! Love the pic by the way! That’s pretty awesome :-)

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:39 PM

      Thanks! It was fun to go around town like that for a day :)

      Reply
  10. Michelle December 14, 2015 at 8:03 AM

    Ha ha ha! Love this! I was floating around Instagram yesterday and saw all the beard trimming pics and you did look like a hipster with the full beard going on. Sorry, have to agree with your wife on that one!
    My fave is this one:
    2010 me: iPhone, lottery tickets, cable
    2015 me:

    Yep, no iphone, no cable, no home phone. I’m ignoring my phone these days lol.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:41 PM

      I wish more people would start doing that – they’re looking like zombies out there walking around the world w/ their heads lowered and eyes glued!

      Reply
    2. Minsc December 15, 2015 at 6:45 PM

      *face_palms*

      Here I was thinking you forgot to fill in the 2015 section. Why I didn’t clue in on the meaning of it is beyond me.

      Reply
  11. Chuck December 14, 2015 at 8:13 AM

    Congrats on the anniversary! I’m only about a year in and already discovering some perspective shifts. Good luck with your next five.

    Reply
  12. Penny @ She Picks Up Pennies December 14, 2015 at 8:15 AM

    Cheers to five incredible years and many, many more. I love the shift in perspective. Appreciating what I have helps me figure out where I want to go and what I want to do.

    Reply
  13. C@thesingledollar December 14, 2015 at 8:20 AM

    Congratulations on your growing wisdom :)

    Reply
  14. Josh December 14, 2015 at 8:21 AM

    Thanks for this introspective look. Regarding the 5 year theme, that’s one question I always prepared myself for with job interviews, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I laugh at the answer I gave when I graduated college for the company I was with & how 5 years later we were all pretty much in the same position as when we began, with a few more wrinkles under our eyes to show that we were actually employed.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:42 PM

      Oh man, I always suck at that question cuz I’m HORRIBLE at trying to predict/wish into the future… I can barely figure out what next week will bring no less 5 years from now haha…

      Reply
  15. Lucas December 14, 2015 at 8:22 AM

    Thanks for sharing the perspective change :-) A lot can happen in 5 years! Hope you get some progress on selling your house soon!

    Reply
  16. Laurie @thefrugalfarmer December 14, 2015 at 8:33 AM

    Absolutely love this, J$!!! And, super cool pic. :-) 5 years. WOW. Thanks so much for the wonderfully positive and uplifting impact you have on me and so many others. We appreciate it more than you know, my friend.

    Reply
  17. Kati December 14, 2015 at 9:10 AM

    Dude you are AWESOME.

    Reply
  18. Tiffany Alexy December 14, 2015 at 9:16 AM

    2010 me: iPhone, lottery tickets, cable
    2015 me:

    Made me laugh out loud. Great work friend :)

    Reply
  19. Lisa O December 14, 2015 at 9:18 AM

    Nice…just to funny what a difference of 5 years can make in ones thinking. I am sure the kids have helped a lot with the changes!

    Reply
  20. Stephen Weyman December 14, 2015 at 9:22 AM

    I’ve never seen a better example showing how a person’s priorities can shift. It really is crazy to think that 5 years can make such a huge difference in a person but it really does happen like that.

    Reply
  21. Justin December 14, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    Way to go J$!

    What do you give yourself for your five year working for self anniversary?

    And aren’t we all really working for ourselves all along? :)

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:45 PM

      I shower my wife with gifts every year at this time since it just so happens I got laid off on her birthday back then – hah! Not the best present then (she was pretty freaked out) but these days we’re good ;)

      Reply
  22. Mr. Enchumbao December 14, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    Nice. You learned A LOT during those 5 years of entrepreneurship. I was an entrepreneur before going back to corporate so I can relate with many of these. One thing for sure, you can never do whatever you want one way or the other because you’ll always have clients to respond to.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:48 PM

      Exactly…. Unless you’re financially free and don’t care about the money :)

      Reply
  23. Wess Stewart December 14, 2015 at 10:15 AM

    Looking forward to the next 5 years. :) Keep kicking ass!

    Reply
  24. Chad Carson December 14, 2015 at 10:49 AM

    2010 me: Beer, frozen meals, ice cream
    2015 me: Fruit, home-cooked meals, a beer

    Ha, Ha. I’m with you on this one.

    Great article. I do a 1-year reflection to look back, but 5 years is a lot of fun because you see some big changes. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  25. Steve December 14, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    Lived this and agree totally…….. perspective is different 12 years into runing my own corp.

    After years in the Accounting professions, it was time to do it on my own. The benefits are more simple than monetary… working out of my home in my comfy clothes at 6AM in the morning, beats the heck out of a schedule that I had no control over… its not about money, its about freedom of choice. and discipline is the key !

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:49 PM

      Yes – without discipline (and hustle!) you’re pretty much screwed. I’d never tell some of my lazy friends to give it a shot as it’s not for everyone.

      Reply
  26. Harmony December 14, 2015 at 10:56 AM

    Humorous AND true. My perspective has changed so much in the past couple of years, and it probably will change again in the future. That’s why I feel so good about our goal for financial freedom – it will enable us to pursue a variety of dreams.

    Reply
  27. Lisa | The Money Pinch December 14, 2015 at 10:57 AM

    Love the comparison of five years. My goal is to eventually be my own boss perhaps through blogging, but for now it’s the 8-5 work schedule and the life I lead. Boo!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:50 PM

      Ain’t no shame in that. Lots of pros to having a more steady paycheck for sure :)

      Reply
  28. Joel December 14, 2015 at 11:01 AM

    Always a pleasure J-Money! I don’t comment much but I read faithfully and I appreciate what you’re doing and for allowing us to be apart of it!

    Love the beard, no good genes here! Haha

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:51 PM

      Hey, thanks man! Appreciate you stopping by to let me know :)

      Reply
  29. Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore December 14, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Awesome post! I love it :)

    Reply
  30. Hannah December 14, 2015 at 11:22 AM

    The real question is how much of the change is due to five years of self-employment, and how much is due to 3 years of having kids?

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:57 PM

      I’d say 60/40

      The kids def. helped me to work less and appreciate life more (and eat/sleep better too), but the self-employment – and just time in it self- helped me understand more the real point of money and minimalism/focus :) And in some cases the kids had an opposite effect in taking more of my money and adding to my “things!” haha…. But what are you going to do.

      Reply
  31. Michelle December 14, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    Love this! I don’t see myself ever going back to working for someone haha :)

    Reply
  32. Kate @ itsakatelife December 14, 2015 at 12:56 PM

    Had to laugh and the cats vs kids. I have two cats and they are super needy (likely of my own doing) so I know that kids are not for me. I’ll happily be auntie to all my friends’ kids instead :)

    Congrats on the anniversary!

    Reply
  33. Even Steven December 14, 2015 at 1:05 PM

    I remember one of the first times I popped over here and saw what I thought was you flipping the middle finger to your job or whoever was watching, knew I’d like reading after that one. Cheers to your blog and meeting you in person, good times.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 2:58 PM

      Thanks man – that was a fun picture to use for sure :)

      Reply
  34. Abigail @ipickuppennies December 14, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    Congrats on all that reflection/introspection.

    I’ve learned one thing as a quasi-self employed person: I hate quarterly taxes.

    Reply
  35. Tawcan December 14, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    Isn’t it amazing how quickly 5 years went by and how much your perspective change? Having kids in your life certainly bring a different perspective, that’s for sure. 5 years may seem to have gone by quickly but it’s also neat to see how much you’ve accomplished in 5 years.

    The scary thought? When looking back in 5 years you haven’t done or changed anything. That means no growth. When we have no growth, it’s time to die.

    Reply
  36. Revanche December 14, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    Happy five years, bud!!

    It’s amazing how quickly these years have passed. But am I the only one who found the first year of parenthood pretty similar to any first year of a new dog? I swear we just brought home a humanoid puppy: ze chews on things, drools everywhere, requires regular bum wiping and really gets anxious about being fed on time.

    Here’s to many more (and perhaps still an online empire ;) )

    Reply
  37. Bonnie December 14, 2015 at 2:28 PM

    Perspective is a wonderful thing. I wish I had come to the place where you are when I was your age. I am there now but, alas, I’m in my 50s. But still feel blessed to be where I am. Better late than never and all that jazz.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 14, 2015 at 3:01 PM

      Yup. You’d be amazed at the people who message me in their 60s and 70s who are just starting to pay attention to their money – it’s scary :(

      Reply
  38. Nicola @ The Frugal Cottage December 14, 2015 at 2:28 PM

    5 years is a long time; it’s funny how attitudes can change :) looking forward to the next 5 years!

    Reply
  39. Steve Miller December 14, 2015 at 3:01 PM

    Congrats on 5 years my friend. Your perspective has changed but I can tell your heart hasn’t. Keep up the great work.

    Reply
  40. Winn December 14, 2015 at 3:15 PM

    Love Budgets Are Sexy. Thank you for 5 great years!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:03 PM

      Thank you for taking the time to say hello! :)

      Reply
  41. David Hunter December 14, 2015 at 3:47 PM

    That picture of you is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  42. Joe December 14, 2015 at 4:31 PM

    Congratulation!
    2015 me: I want to match the market
    Me too. :) It took a long time before I realize matching the market will let me sleep well and still get wealthy.
    I remember that post 5 years ago. I was still stuck at work and it was awesome to have you as a role model. Keep at i!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:04 PM

      Woahh really?? That’s so cool!

      Reply
  43. Fervent Finance December 14, 2015 at 4:33 PM

    I bet the wife LOVED that look. Congrats on 5 years! I wish I was self-employed just so I could try to grow a crazy beard :)

    Reply
  44. derek December 14, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    Did you just announced your retirement 5 years early?

    (2020 me: That was fun!)

    Reply
    1. Free to Pursue December 15, 2015 at 10:26 AM

      My thoughts exactly. I’m a little concerned…

      Reply
      1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:04 PM

        Haha… you’ll have to stick around and see ;)

        Reply
  45. Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank December 14, 2015 at 8:28 PM

    Wow! 5 years already J. Money. Congrats! Has there been any time that you regretted your decision to be self-employed?

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:06 PM

      Regret? No. But I am constantly making sure not to become a workaholic. I never want to be the dad who puts work over his kids!

      Reply
  46. Jason Butler December 14, 2015 at 8:41 PM

    It’s interesting to see the differences in only 5 years. I wonder how my thought process will change.

    Reply
  47. Richard Anthony December 14, 2015 at 9:27 PM

    Congratulations, J$, on your 5th SE anniversary.

    This might sum it all up:

    Self-Employed = Self-Enjoyed.

    You’ve learned how to smell the roses!:)

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:06 PM

      Hah! I like it.

      Reply
  48. Sarah Noelle @ The Yachtless December 14, 2015 at 10:03 PM

    Aww, this is such a nice (and deep) post. :) Happy 5-year full-time blogging anniversary!
    Fruit is awesome.

    Reply
  49. Michelle December 14, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    I love seeing how much you’ve changed. Happy 5 year anniversary!!

    Reply
  50. Financial Samurai December 14, 2015 at 11:09 PM

    Haha, awesome pics!

    I feel you on the tiny home and simplification process. Glad you’re thinking 5 more years and congrats on cresting Rockstar Finance too!

    Sam

    Reply
  51. Millennial Money Man December 15, 2015 at 7:11 AM

    This came a great time for me dude. I’m fortunately at a point where I make money in very little time via the interwebz. Trying to decide if I should ramp up and make as much $$$ as possible or enjoy the ride. Interesting to see your perspective!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:08 PM

      If you’re enjoying it, I say ramp it up and just kill it because there will become a time when you’ll want to work less and/or you make less whether by your own accord or someone else’s :) I’m a big believer of going w/ the flow when things are moving nicely in a positive direction. Never know what life will bring later.

      Reply
  52. Chris "Stasher" December 15, 2015 at 10:23 AM

    The blog post, the killer beard you had or the fact you shaved half off…..you make things touch on what was the best part of this one :) Keep on man ….keep on

    Reply
  53. Free to Pursue December 15, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    2010 me: I want to be a millionaire so bad!!! Money Money MONEY!!!
    2015 me: I want financial freedom so bad! Freedom Freedom FREEDOM!!!

    YES! That’s the greatest epiphany there is. Such an important lesson. Aren’t you glad you’ve got that one nailed early in your professional life? Here’s to increasing levels of freedom and joy for years to come (well beyond 2020…don’t you pull the plug on us!).

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:09 PM

      Yes! All the money in the world is pointless if all you’re doing is working 24/7!

      Reply
  54. Thehappyphilosopher December 15, 2015 at 10:38 AM

    Love it!

    It’s amazing how much change we are capable of in s 3-5 year span. This is why a major tenant to my philosophy of happiness is financial freedom. Even if life is perfect now chances are priorities will change. The 80 hour per week job and major salary aren’t so cool when you never see your kids and the marriage is falling apart. Freedom creates that space where happiness can thrive.

    Love the beard man, I gotta get to work on mine!

    Reply
  55. Marko Zupanic December 15, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    It’s nice to hear something that from a guy who really try self-employment. Your lessons rock :D

    Reply
  56. Shannon @ Financially Blonde December 15, 2015 at 2:47 PM

    I LOVE this comparison and after two years of having my own business, I feel a lot like you. The less I can work and obtain in life, the happier I know I will be. Congrats on 5 years and cheers to another 5!

    Reply
  57. Tonya@Budget and the Beach December 15, 2015 at 3:42 PM

    ” I love being my own boss, I can do anything! (As long as I make my readers happy and my clients happy and my advertisers happy and my partners happy and my wife happy and my kids happy)” This could not be more true. I love how people who are self-employed think they only have to do things that make THEM happy. Guess what? You have clients instead of bosses now! :)

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:11 PM

      Haha yup! And is something most wannabe self-employed people don’t even understand until they go off on their own. I sure as hell didn’t. And I often miss just having 1 boss too! You always have to make so many decisions when you’re on your own.

      Reply
  58. Kim December 15, 2015 at 5:39 PM

    2015: a beer

    lol! I love it. What a wonderful and thought provoking retrospective. I bet you can’t believe five years have gone by. Congrats on your evolution and I wish you many more. Also- love the picture!

    Reply
  59. weenie December 15, 2015 at 6:56 PM

    Congratulations – amazing what has changed in 5 years yet I bet you were so certain of what you wanted back then!

    Brilliant photos!

    Reply
  60. Sarah B December 15, 2015 at 10:38 PM

    Love this. What a great reflection on how one grows in just five years of working from home.

    Reply
  61. Aaron December 16, 2015 at 11:50 AM

    I got laid off in 2008 during the Great Newspaper Purge and while I didn’t see it as a good thing at the time, since then I’ve enjoyed being a freelance writer/editor and all of the freedom that comes with it. Working 20 hours a week is great, and I’m much happier.

    Congrats on doing so well after only 5 years!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:13 PM

      Way to only work 20 hours!!! I’m getting closer to it as the years go by, but still pretty far away. At least until we move to a two-income household.

      Reply
  62. Jacob December 16, 2015 at 1:58 PM

    What a journey it’s been, thanks for sharing as always, J!

    I love the fire of your 2010 self balanced with the wisdom of your 2015 self. That’s waht makes you such a successful entrepreneur.

    Cheers to 5 more!

    Reply
  63. Cassie December 17, 2015 at 12:26 AM

    Holy crow, has it really already been 5 years? That just blew my mind. It really shouldn’t, I was laid off from my job shortly after you were let go from yours, but it really doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. Congratulations on rocking the self-employment for the last five years!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:14 PM

      Thanks Cassie! I hope your last 5 years have been going well too? Your turn to write a post about it? :)

      Reply
  64. Amy @ DebtGal December 17, 2015 at 12:49 PM

    I love the comparisons – congratulations!!

    Reply
  65. madeline December 17, 2015 at 1:05 PM

    2010 :5 years ago my grandson was 3 and facing a myriad of physical challenges
    2015: the total joy of watching him run across the playground laughing and happy
    lesson learned : what really matters and what it is now like to live every day gratefully!

    Thanks very much for all your work. I have learned a lot and enjoyed the process.
    One of the things I think is hard about internet work is that you can’t always see us loving the work and appreciating the effort…but we’re here and we are.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 17, 2015 at 2:15 PM

      YES! Thank you so much for telling me so too – it def. gets lonely some times! Especially on the days only the haters come out ;)

      Happy holidays!!

      Reply
  66. Jason Fieber December 17, 2015 at 3:22 PM

    J$,

    Congrats, man! Love the picture. Epic!

    I know firsthand how challenging (but also how rewarding) it is to cut it online. We’re making our dreams come true in real-time. It’s pretty awesome.

    Keep it up. Can’t wait to see the picture for the 2020 you. :)

    Cheers!

    Reply
  67. Christine December 17, 2015 at 4:04 PM

    I still want to be a millionaire (and I really still want to be stinking rich – minus the stress of getting there and I may be 90 before I even build a decent stash – aka, debt sucks).

    But two things stood out that made me chuckle, as i have similar traits:

    Lack of iPhone, lottery tickets, cable (okay, I still have the iphone)
    And now wanting a tiny house. haha.

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 24, 2015 at 1:47 PM

      the good thing is that any of us can become millionaires if we let time work its magic (and start early!) :)

      Reply
  68. Seeking Saturdays December 23, 2015 at 8:47 AM

    That’s great! Love that you went about your business for the day as “two-face”. It’s amazing looking back on how your thinking changes over time – even a short 5 years. Looking back on myself, 5 years of change means getting married (which is definitely a psychological change).

    Good luck in the future and looking forward to more great posts in the financial independence arena!

    Reply
    1. J. Money December 24, 2015 at 1:47 PM

      Thank you! Appreciate you reading and dropping by :)

      Reply

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