Fight Club and Financial Independence (FI)
What’s the number one rule about Fight Club? “You don’t talk about fight club.” The good thing about the Financial Independence (FI) community is that we do talk about it– fighting for our Financial Independence. The “it” in this case is the mutual goal to achieve your freedom. One could argue that Fight Club’s mysterious and charismatic leader, Tyler Durden is philosophical money expert. As Tyler asserts, “The things you own end up owning you.”
“The things you own end up owning you.”
Tyler Durden- Fight Club
Unquestionably, twenty-five years ago, as a young, ambitious twenty-something looking to surround myself and my family with the “successes” of material luxuries and purchase a McMansion, Tyler’s advice did not resonate. Today, I understand Tyler’s philosophy and often feel we are drowning in useless “stuff.” Feeling “owned” and stuck because of poor financial decisions can weigh you down. Fortunately, there is another way to live.
Revealing the Fight Club Caveat
Presently, let’s focus on two of the main characters in Fight Club, an ambiguous man called, the Narrator, played by Edward Norton. Brad Pitt plays Tyler Durden, one of Pitt’s most memorable on-screen characters. The two men meet mysteriously after an explosion destroys the Narrator’s condominium. However, when the Narrator asks to stay at Tyler’s house, it comes with an interesting and unexpected caveat. Tyler agrees, but desires something in return: “I want you to hit me as hard as you can.”
Unlike the violence, mental illness, anarchy, and craziness which ensues in Fight Club, the journey to FI often requires a devastating knock out money truth punch.
Tyler Deliver’s Fight Club’s Devastating Money Knock Out
If you have read the 1996 Fight Club novel written by Chuck Palahnuik or have seen the 1999 movie adaptation, you know that Fight Club is really about breaking financial dependence and becoming financially free. Book author Chuck Palahnuik reveals, “Really, what I was writing was just The Great Gatsby updated a little. It was ‘apostolic’ fiction—where a surviving apostle tells the story of his hero.” Hopefully, I’m not giving too much away here.
In one of Tyler’s intended to be inspiring diatribes he contends:
Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who’ve ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need. We’re the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War’s a spiritual war… our Great Depression is our lives. We’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won’t. And we’re slowly learning that fact. And we’re very, very pissed off.
Admittedly, I own the fact that I have squandered time, money, and talent. After embracing the confidential devastating truth about my going astray, I’m generally back in line. My spouse and I have deep and personal connection to grandparents and/or parents that lived through The Great Depression. Hearing the stories and watching these individuals live life by a frugal and pragmatic example impacted both of us and our Psychology of Money.
Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who’ve ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need. We’re the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War’s a spiritual war… our Great Depression is our lives. We’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won’t. And we’re slowly learning that fact. And we’re very, very pissed off.
Tyler Durden
Confidentially, What Do You Want Out of Life?
In the Financial Independence (FI) Club, or FI Club, what we do talk about is you cannot deliver that “Money Knock Out” punch to yourself until you know what you want out of life. You and only you, or in the case of Family FI, as a couple, can determine your dream lifestyle. I’m not saying having this conversation is easy. In fact, generally it is a difficult conversation and one filled with risk. In my experience, people on one end of the spectrum completely shy away from risk so much so that it leads to paralyzing inaction. On the other hand, some people embrace risk with near reckless abandon that it can destroy them in the end. Enter Tyler Durden.
The Fight Club movie underperformed at the box office, but developed a cult following.
As Tyler Durden the Fight Club cult leader says, “Hey, you created me. I didn’t create some loser alter-ego to make myself feel better. Take some responsibility!”
Perhaps, you too, need an FI Club alter-ego to help you take some responsibility on your journey. Your alter-ego can be a bad-ass winner. Just ask Mr. Money Mustache.
The FI Community’s cult-like leader in modern times is also an alter-ego named Mr. Money Mustache (MMM) who founded Mustachianism. The real MMM, Pete Adeney, describes the Mustachianism cult on the Tim Ferris Show starting at 11:17 below. MMM often writes and speaks of the bad-assity of the FI Club culture.
Are you ready to join the FI Club?
Are You Ready to Plan Your Escape From the Retirement Police?
MMM and others in the FI Club often joke about the internet Retirement Police. Accordingly, I and others often simply call them the Retirement Police. One of my hobbies is leading fi59andahalf.com where we are seeking to make paid work optional by age 59 and a half. Why age 59 and a half? Because at age 59 and a half you can access your tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) without paying a tax penalty. Some people achieve retirement status sooner as is the case for “excessive retirements.”
According to the Retirement Police, you are violating the laws of retirement if you work during your so-called retirement. I know some people that are volunteering more hours in a week than a part-time or even full time job. Further, outlandishly, these hard working volunteers love their “jobs” so much they do it for free. However, Retirement Police will be making a citizen’s arrest if you quit your day job, claiming you do not need the money and then are still working. This is outlandish and egregious behavior and it must be stopped. You cannot claim you’re retired if you haven’t stopped working.
Already Feeling Handcuffed in Your 9 to 5?
Ready to Elude the Retirement Police?
The Pathway to Financial Independence (FI) and “Paid Work Optional” by Age 59 and a half (hopefully sooner) starts here. Sign up and take the first step now.
By submitting your information, you’re giving us permission to email you. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Are You Ready To Face the Knock Out Punch?
Have you been sleep walking through your finances?
Do You ever wondering why you have no money left at the end of the month?
Does boredom impact your mindless financial decisions?
Have you ever come home from the store and said to yourself, “Why did I buy that?” Yet, you decide not to take the item back out of guilt, laziness, or lacking desire to face the truth?
If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions. it’s time to come along with us and we plot our escape.
*Disclaimer: The content on this website or any blog posts is not intended to be investment or life advice. Readers should consult with their legal, financial, and accounting specialists and spiritual and/or life coaches to provide insight on their personal and specific circumstances as each situation is unique. The website and any blog posts are written for entertainment purposes only.
Leave a Reply