• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Cult Of Money

Cult Of Money

Personal finance for the crypto-curious.

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Contact
  • Cryptocurrency
      • How To Start

      • What Is Cryptocurrency And How To Invest?
      • What Is Bitcoin And How Does It Work?
      • What Is Ethereum And How Does It Work?
      • Most Common Crypto And NFT Scams (And How To Avoid Them)
      • Proof Of Work vs. Proof Of Stake vs. Proof Of History
      • How To Invest In Crypto In Your IRA Or 401k
      • Tools + Resources

      • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Best Cryptocurrency Wallets
      • Best Crypto Savings Accounts
      • Best Tax Software For Crypto And NFT Traders
      • Reviews

      • Coinbase Review
      • Gemini Review
      • BlockFi Review
      • Binance Review
      • Hodlnaut Review
      • Ledger Wallet Review
  • DeFi
      • How To Start

      • What Is DeFi?
      • What Is Staking Your Crypto?
      • Centralized vs. Decentralized Exchange
      • Tools + Resources

      • What Is Uniswap And How Do Decentralized Exchanges Work?
      • Reviews

  • NFT
      • How To Start

      • What Is An NFT?
      • Tools + Resources

      • Most Popular Play-To-Earn Crypto Games
      • Popular Projects

      • What Are VeeFriends And Are They Worth It?
      • Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs Are Popular (And Expensive)
      • What Is The Sandbox And How Can You Play?
      • Why Visa Bought A CryptoPunk
  • Investing
      • How To Start

      • Tools + Accounts

      • Reviews

  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

      • Best Bitcoin Rewards Checking Accounts
      • Tools + Resources

      • Tax

      • Income Tax Prep Guide
      • Bookkeeping And Accounting For Crypto And NFTs
Saving Money, Strategies

What Does it Feel Like to Earn More Money?

By Alexa Mason • November 15, 2016

At The Cult of Money, we want to help you navigate your finances. To do this, many or all of the products featured here may be from our partners whom we receive compensation from. This doesn’t influence our evaluations or reviews. Our opinions are our own. Learn more here.Advertiser Disclosure

There are thousands of financial products and services out there, and we believe in helping you understand which is best for you, how it works, and will it actually help you achieve your financial goals. We're proud of our content and guidance, and the information we provide is objective, independent, and free.

But we do have to make money to pay our team and keep this website running! Our partners compensate us. CultOfMoney.com has an advertising relationship with some or all of the offers included on this page, which may impact how, where, and in what order products and services may appear. The Cult of Money does not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace. And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews (or even pay for a review of their product to begin with).

For more information and a complete list of our advertising partners, please check out our full Advertising Disclosure. CultOfMoney.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product's website. All products and services are presented without warranty.

Everything is not as it seems! In the past few years I've tripled my income and how I feel about it might just surprise you.Have you wondered what it would feel like if you could double your income in a couple years’ time? Would it feel magical or a bit anticlimactic? Would your plan for that extra income go smoothly or would you succumb to lifestyle inflation?

Today I’m going to get personal and share what my journey has felt like. Keep in mind that No, I am not a millionaire, I haven’t made six figures (yet) and to some of you my story probably won’t be relatable. But to a large majority I think it will.

Where I’ve Come From

For many of you this story is nothing new. But if you are new I want to first give you some background so you know exactly where I’m coming from.

I live in a small town in rural Ohio. What might be considered a decent job around these parts would pay in the range of $10-$13 per hour. Most would consider a $40k per year job with benefits pretty darn good.

(For some actual data the median income per household is $39,855 and the media income per person is $19,587.) See the chart below:

median-income

It’s also important to note that both income and expenses are low where I live. Houses are cheap here and so is the general cost of living.

In 2012 I was working two jobs and for the time I ever I made a little over $30,000. To me that felt pretty amazing but since I was divorced and “starting over” I needed more cash to fulfill my goals. Plus there was no way I could keep up with two jobs and two kids forever.

That’s when I started working online. I built up my income slowly and replaced what I was making at my jobs with online income. For the next couple of years I earned in the $30-$40k range.

Then at the end of 2014 I had a bit of a breakthrough. In 2015 I grossed $63,000. This year I should gross $80-$90,000.

In the span of four years I have almost tripled my income.

Again, I understand that for many earning this amount doesn’t seem astronomical but for me it most definitely was a total game changer. So how did earning more make me feel?

Here’s What I’ve Realized

Perhaps my biggest realization has been that once I got past a certain point money just didn’t feel important me. When I was earning half as much and was supporting my two daughters by myself money felt VERY important. Now that I’ve hit many of my goals, money just doesn’t feel as important.

Instead, what feels important is accomplishing goals. While I’m thankful that I’ve been able to build financial stability along the way I’ve also come to appreciate that the excitement is in the challenge.

Honestly, after you’re able to meet ideal living arrangements and can cover all the basics without relying on debt and with having a cash buffer, the excess just isn’t exciting.

There are some good things about earning more – like being able to purchase items my kids need without having to look for the best deal or wait until the next paycheck. But earning $80k hasn’t made me any happier or better of a person than earning $40k did.

The Happiness Curve

If you’re on a mission to earn extra money here’s what I recommend:

# 1 – Learn to live within your means before you have extra income. If you don’t you’ll end up just pissing all your money away like you do now. Seriously, extra money with the same bad habits won’t do a thing for you.

# 2 – Have goals in place. Goals are what kept me going. After a certain point accomplishing goals is what helped contribute to my happiness and overall personal development.

# 3 – Realize that money doesn’t equal happiness. A lack of money can cause you to be downright miserable but once you get your financial cards in order an excess of money won’t necessarily make you anymore happy.

Practice Gratitude

I don’t want this post to come across as me feeling ungrateful about earning more. That’s not the case at all. In fact, I’ll continue trying to earn more and save the money for my family and our future.

I just think it’s interesting how I thought earning more would make feel and the reality of how it does feel. Once you get your finances in order the money goals become less important and new challenges are needed to keep that same level of excitement going.

If you’ve ever been in this position, how did earning more money make you feel? Am I crazy?

Alexa Mason
Alexa Mason

Alexa Mason is a freelance writer and wanna be internet entrepreneur. She is also a newly single mom to two beautiful little girls. She chronicles her journey as a single mom trying to make it big at www.singlemomsincome.com.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors’. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Editor’s Picks

  • 8 best cryptocurrency exchanges ranked

    8 Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges Ranked For 2023

  • crypto savings accounts

    6 Best Crypto Savings Accounts For 2023

  • Cryptocurrency Bonus Offers

    10 Best Crypto Promotional And Bonus Offers

  • best crypto wallets

    Best Crypto Wallets For 2023 (Software And Hardware Options)

  • Best Portfolio Trackers For Cryptocurrency And Stocks

    6 Best Portfolio Trackers For Cryptocurrency And Stocks

  • best tax software for crypto and NFT traders

    Best Tax Software For Crypto And NFT Traders In 2023

Popular Posts

  • proof of work vs. proof of stake vs. proof of history

    Proof Of Work vs. Proof Of Stake vs. Proof Of History

  • Why I Bought An NFT

    Why I Bought An NFT [And 5 Reasons You Should Too]

  • My Dogecoin Experiment: What I Learned From Investing $2,000 In DOGE

  • common crypto and nft scams

    Most Common Crypto And NFT Scams (And How To Avoid Them)

  • Bookkeeping and Accounting for Crypto and NFTs

    Bookkeeping And Accounting For Crypto And NFTs

  • what is a 51% attack

    What Is A 51% Attack? (And How Is That Game Over For Crypto?)

  • what is staking crypto

    What Is Staking And How Can You Make Money With Your Crypto?

  • what are veefriends

    What Are VeeFriends And Are They Worth It?

  • how to file a complaint against crypto exchanges

    How To File A Complaint Against A Crypto Exchange [Crypto Regulators]

Footer

Pages

  • Best Cryptocurrency Wallets
  • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Categories

  • Cryptocurrency
  • DeFi
  • NFT
  • Personal Finance

About

  • About The Cult Of Money
  • Contact
  • How We Make Money
  • Advertise With Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 | Cult of Money | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service