Money is a tool, not the purpose.

I remember that around 2015, I started to work full-time, and I started to make around 40k a year. <br>At first, I remember feeling very fulfilled and happy, feeling that I'm living my best life and that I'll never have to worry about money again. <br><br>After a year or so, I was making more than 50k a year and I was still living in the same apartment I rented with 2 of my friends. <br>I was still happy, but I started to feel a bit empty, I had more money but I didn't know what to do with it. <br>I was spending more, I was eating out more, I was buying stuff I didn't need, and I was feeling very empty. <br><br>I remember one day buying a t-shirt for about 40$, eating lunch for 15$, and then buying something else for 20$. I was spending over 70$ in one day, and I didn't even know what I was spending it on. <br><br>I started to read some financial blogs and websites and the general consensus was that I should invest, save for retirement, save for a house, buy a car, do this, do that. <br><br>I was lost, I didn't have any idea what I was doing, I was making more money than I ever did, but I was feeling empty. <br>I wasn't happy, I was spending money, but I wasn't living my best life. <br><br>I realized that money is just a tool, not the purpose. <br>I had more money, but I was spending it on stuff I didn't need, I was spending it on stuff that made me feel empty. <br><br>I took a step back, and I started to think about what I really wanted in life. <br>I wanted to travel, I wanted to explore new places, I wanted to live in other countries. <br>I wanted to spend quality time with my family and friends, I wanted to do things that make me happy. <br><br>I changed my budget, I started to save for the things that make me happy, and I started to live within my means. <br>I stopped buying stuff I didn't need, I started to save and invest for the future, and I started to live my life the way I wanted. <br>I was making more money than I ever did, but I was feeling rich. <br><br>I no longer feel empty, I no longer spend money on stuff I don't need, I no longer buy stuff that doesn't make me happy. <br>I live within my means, I spend money on the things I love, and I enjoy my life to the fullest. <br><br>Money is just a tool, not the purpose.