Being intentional with spending and saving can reduce stress and increase happiness. If you are on track to be financially independent, when is it ok to spend more? If you are saving well and your income keeps growing, do you scale back or use your extra to move beyond basic needs? After you are earning enough to cover regular spending and saving, it becomes an intentional life decision of what you do with your extra income? Do you maintain the same expenses and pursue FIRE? Do you become a one-income household? Do you design your career with your life in mind? As you move from stability to flexibility, it becomes more important to be intentional with your life decisions first, then make sure your finances are supporting your ideal life. MMS #3. Does money buy happiness? MMS #6. The difference between well-being and happiness MMS #7. The impact of friends, family, and communities MMS #18. Why happiness is not the answer to your problems. 7 Stages to Financial Freedom Rich Dad Poor Dad Hedonic Treadmill Reddit FIRE Happy Money Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel go beyond traditional finance questions to help you explore how to use your money to achieve the freedom you want in life. Aaron is a Bay Area Financial Planner with GraystoneAdvisor.com, and Trishul is an East Coast Wealth Manager (InvestingForever.com). MindMoneySpectrum.com and YouTube.