Where are you on the fulfillment curve?

The fulfillment curve is a classic inverted-U curve as it relates to fulfillment and spending. This concept is covered in Your Money or Your Life, which I highly recommend if you are interested in financial independence. Essentially, the fulfillment curve operates like this:

Survival: Many of us start out at a low level of fulfillment and a low level of spending. This is when we start to become self-sufficient and make enough money to purchase basic necessities.

Comfort: As our income begins to grow, we can afford a few more things that make our lives more comfortable. We derive more fulfillment as we spend more money.

Luxury: As we progress in our careers, we start accumulating wealth and perhaps have more disposable income. We can afford a few luxuries. It's important to note that "luxury" does not necessarily mean designer goods (although it can). For some, "luxury" can be a fancy drink from Starbucks. The point is we have the means to spend a little more for things we consider to be luxury items.

Once we reach a certain point though, spending more money can actually result in decreased fulfillment. There can be a number of reasons for this. Maybe the pursuit of more money is resulting in less family or leisure time. Perhaps having more things contributes to clutter and leads to feelings of guilt or wastefulness. Regardless of the reason, this part of the curve represents overconsumption.

The magical place is the point at which you derive maximum fulfillment for the amount of money spent. This point is simply called: ENOUGH.

I've been through the fulfillment curve many times for many different categories of things. I started with fashion and accumulated huge bins of clothing, shoes, and handbags. When I reached the overconsumption tail for fashion, I moved on to camera gear. Then to beauty products. And most recently, to a broad category that I'll call experiences that encompasses restaurants, alcohol, events, and travel. As I spent more and more and more, I realized, I'm no longer deriving much fulfillment. In fact, I feel less fulfilled the more I spend. I was at the tail end of the curve, way past my point of enough.

For the past few years, I've thought and thought and thought about my money and my life. And sometime in the spring of 2018, I woke up. I crunched the numbers and decided to quit my job. Enough was enough. In the 3 short months since I left work, I've been able to shift my fulfillment curve to the left. I'm spending less than I've spent in a decade, yet I feel more fulfilled than ever.

I used to reward myself with things that money can buy. Now I reward myself with time to do activities I love. Instead of buying a new handbag, I curl up on the couch with a library book. Instead of going on an expensive trip abroad, I take a walk to meet a friend to check out a museum. Instead of making a reservation to the hottest new restaurant, I cook a nice dinner while listening to a podcast. Instead of working 8 hours a day at a job I don't love to buy things I don't need, I play with Truffle and Lulu. I take an Epsom salt bath. I listen to music. I record a YouTube video. I talk to my husband.

It's amazing to be at the point of enough.