From reading “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, I agree with him that a lot of success comes by virtue of being in the right place at the right time in ways that aren’t really within your control.

I have been lucky to succeed in life – graduated law school, good job with the federal government. A lot of this was due to my work and effort, but not all of it. I grew up in a very wealthy suburb with parents who made a lot of sacrifices so I could go to one of the best public schools. If my parents had chosen not to stretch to buy a house in this district, I’m not sure where I would have turned out.

At this point in my life, I feel like I’ve hit a double (many other goals I’d like to accomplish), but I was really born on first base.

I wonder if there isn’t a way to financial independence that doesn’t involve being a smug, condescending jerk. If you ever find one, let us know.

Also, @Dean, I don’t know where these guys work, but I get 2 days a month vacation, 1 day sick, and all bank holidays off and about a week off for xmas. All told, it works out to about 6 weeks off per year.

If 1950s and 1960s parents raised their 4 kids in a 3/2 ranch house totalling 1050 sq. ft., you can too.

The “no such thing as a free lunch” should be reiterated and reinforced at every chance: The “freebie” is ALWAYS less in value than what the company is getting in return. Otherwise they wouldn’t do it!

And Dean, yes, plenty of people in the US get two weeks of vacation, or even one, though this tends to increase as you stay on with a company. Uh, which we usually don’t.

One of my personal finance lessons that rocked my world was that my house does not have to be a museum of everything cool that I see.

And the first financial lesson I learned is that I don’t have to spend money just because I have it if I don’t see anything I want. a) No one will take it away or b) even if they do (which they did), that still doesn’t matter if I didn’t see anything I wanted.

Another great financial lesson I first started learning when I got out of high school is that I should ask for things that I want, just in case it’s possible. I normally tend to assume the worst–my parents can’t afford anything at all (it turns out they could have afforded one of those $1 bouncy balls!), the price shown is the only price offered, etc. I don’t like bothering people or being difficult, so I still have a ways to go on this one!

I am one of those people who makes way more than it looks like I do:
1) Income taxes – I’m only in the 15% bracket; I don’t lose all that much.
2) Extra expenses from work – virtually none. My clothes cost the same as what I would by if I didn’t work (because I get them at thrift stores). I bring my own lunch or eat out cheaply, just like I would do at home. I ride the bus for free. Any other travel is reimbursed. I don’t need to pay for day care. And I don’t pay for lawn service or maid service or anything like that to help me deal with my stress, etc. because I don’t have much job stress.
3) Since I take a bus to work, I get lots of fun reading done on the bus. I also get some free exercise walking to and from the bus. I sometimes even get paid to exercise by having to walk across campus to meetings. I have more of an on-call type of job so I’m not necessarily working the whole 40 hours, and I almost never work more than 40 hours. I now get lots of vacation time plus sick leave and holidays.
4) My company contributes to my retirement pension, and because it’s a pension, I get much more money per month than I would investing my own money because they can go on the assumption that I will live an average life expectancy, but I have to assume that I will live a very long time (just in case I do). This one item basically doubles my pay–I would have to earn that much more to be able to rely on pulling that much out each year. They also pay for my medical insurance and get me good rates on other insurances. I also get out of some taxes because I can contribute to a Roth IRA, a 403b, and a medical flexible spending plan. I also get longevity pay of $20 for every two years. Also I get free use of a huge library and I get all the latest news on interesting campus happenings.

It would not be easy for me to make this much money per hour at a new job or working for myself even though officially I still only make barely what a first-year teacher does in my area.

w/r/t Success is a Choice, I know that too often in the past I would expect opportunities to come to me and would be frustrated if I had to work too hard at it – but that’s what you have to do. It also makes you appreciate the success all the more when it does come – reminds you to be grateful for what you have earned.