I have followed Ramit Sethi for a while. As a finance geek and one who optimizes and automates finance, I liked some of his practical wisdom. Nothing path-breaking or new, just bite-sized and easy to implement. One thing he mentions often is the definition of Rich life. “What is your Rich life?”

When I read the book, “I will teach you to be rich” the first time, I was not thinking much about what it means to be rich. Heck, I was just getting started and I did not believe in counting my chickens before they hatched. So one step at a time.

Now, almost two decades later, I still have difficulty answering this question. The circumstances have changed quite a bit, but my attitude and approach to life or money has not. I am fairly conservative with finance. Even if I can afford it, I am fairly basic when it comes to my wardrobe, I don’t collect art, and don’t really have expensive hobbies whether golf, or astronomy. I actually feel uncomfortable with luxury beyond a point. I like to serve but not be served, it is just who I have been. But what is my Rich life and why don’t I really enjoy some of the things people aspire to want when in their rich lives?

Maybe one part of this comes from a very modest start. We used to live in a 160 sq ft apartment in Bombay inhabited by 15 people at one point. That’s an average 10 sq ft per person. Part of me never wanted to go back there. It was fun while it lasted and if it does come down to it, I would have no issues readjusting to that situation. So that kind of drove my lack of interest in that “rich life”.

The other part is perhaps my constant moving from place to place, leaving behind friends, property, society and everything we owned. Whether moving from Bombay to Kuwait with literally nothing, or moving back from Kuwait to Bombay to Madras, each time leaving behind everything, whether forced by the war or family circumstances. So, the fact that life is fleeting became concretely etched.

Finally, the lack of enjoyment of luxury, whether it is taking first class in a plane or train, or being upgraded to that Executive suite or even being offered an office with closed doors away from the team. None of these appealed to me at all. In fact they made me feel claustrophobic.

Then comes collectibles, watches, cars, jewels, or art. I enjoy looking at and admiring all these things. Owning them by buying or inheriting them seemed too much of a burden. I love collecting things. I still have the watch my grandpa gave me, and a couple of great pieces my dad gave me. I have a few rare coins and jewels that are locked away somewhere. What is the point of a collectible if there is so much pressure to keep it safe, can’t be enjoyed at will? Another fleeting joy.

Wardrobe, I spoke about already. I have a few go to basic pieces. Never been too fascinated by high end couture, am uncomfortable and don’t feel myself in them. My body has not cooperated or stayed consistent in shape of size for any more than a couple of years, so I guess that’s been fleeting too!

So, what does this leave? I enjoy travel, quite a lot. I love exploring new places, and watching people, even if not engaging in small talk. I like clicking that occasional photo. I love writing and reading. I am very interested in solving problems. So perhaps my rich life is a work in progress and this post needs a yearly update.

I like to work, I like a cause, I like to run, I like to learn, earn, invest, build, drive and share that joy from the fruits of all those things. Something that incorporates some of these without limits or restrictions will be what my rich life looks like.

But as Ramit says, I can’t wait until I am 60 or 80 to live that life. Better start now with baby steps and habits that incorporate all these!

I have followed Ramit Sethi for a while. As a finance geek and one who optimizes and automates finance, I liked some of his practical wisdom. Nothing path-breaking or new, just bite-sized and easy to implement. One thing he mentions often is the definition of Rich life. “What is your Rich life?”

When I read the book, “I will teach you to be rich” the first time, I was not thinking much about what it means to be rich. Heck, I was just getting started and I did not believe in counting my chickens before they hatched. So one step at a time.

Now, almost two decades later, I still have difficulty answering this question. The circumstances have changed quite a bit, but my attitude and approach to life or money has not. I am fairly conservative with finance. Even if I can afford it, I am fairly basic when it comes to my wardrobe, I don’t collect art, and don’t really have expensive hobbies whether golf, or astronomy. I actually feel uncomfortable with luxury beyond a point. I like to serve but not be served, it is just who I have been. But what is my Rich life and why don’t I really enjoy some of the things people aspire to want when in their rich lives?

Maybe one part of this comes from a very modest start. We used to live in a 160 sq ft apartment in Bombay inhabited by 15 people at one point. That’s an average 10 sq ft per person. Part of me never wanted to go back there. It was fun while it lasted and if it does come down to it, I would have no issues readjusting to that situation. So that kind of drove my lack of interest in that “rich life”.

The other part is perhaps my constant moving from place to place, leaving behind friends, property, society and everything we owned. Whether moving from Bombay to Kuwait with literally nothing, or moving back from Kuwait to Bombay to Madras, each time leaving behind everything, whether forced by the war or family circumstances. So, the fact that life is fleeting became concretely etched.

Finally, the lack of enjoyment of luxury, whether it is taking first class in a plane or train, or being upgraded to that Executive suite or even being offered an office with closed doors away from the team. None of these appealed to me at all. In fact they made me feel claustrophobic.

Then comes collectibles, watches, cars, jewels, or art. I enjoy looking at and admiring all these things. Owning them by buying or inheriting them seemed too much of a burden. I love collecting things. I still have the watch my grandpa gave me, and a couple of great pieces my dad gave me. I have a few rare coins and jewels that are locked away somewhere. What is the point of a collectible if there is so much pressure to keep it safe, can’t be enjoyed at will? Another fleeting joy.

Wardrobe, I spoke about already. I have a few go to basic pieces. Never been too fascinated by high end couture, am uncomfortable and don’t feel myself in them. My body has not cooperated or stayed consistent in shape of size for any more than a couple of years, so I guess that’s been fleeting too!

So, what does this leave? I enjoy travel, quite a lot. I love exploring new places, and watching people, even if not engaging in small talk. I like clicking that occasional photo. I love writing and reading. I am very interested in solving problems. So perhaps my rich life is a work in progress and this post needs a yearly update.

I like to work, I like a cause, I like to run, I like to learn, earn, invest, build, drive and share that joy from the fruits of all those things. Something that incorporates some of these without limits or restrictions will be what my rich life looks like.

But as Ramit says, I can’t wait until I am 60 or 80 to live that life. Better start now with baby steps and habits that incorporate all these!