Why I bought S&P 500 shares instead of Cartier for my 40th birthday treat...
Turning 40 is a significant milestone, and like many, I had always imagined marking it with something grand, tangible, and luxurious. Cartier, with its reputation for timeless elegance, plus my love for a life filled with redboxes, seemed the natural choice.
SUCCESS ≠ STUFF
We went to London for a day out and after we sipped coffee with indulgent croissants for breakfast, Andy and I went to Cartier. We went with intentions to buy. However, as I was there, surrounded by the beautiful opulence of their Bond Street store, with a diamond set, double wrap, Juste En Clou bracelet on my wrist, an unexpected feeling arose in me.
I had a twinge of excitement but at the back of my mind I had a nagging feeling “Do I really want another Cartier piece?” It didn’t feel the same as it did in 2018 when I bought my first Cartier watch. Honestly, it felt a little flat and I couldn’t work out why.
We went for lunch and we talked it through and the conclusion I came to was that I have changed in the last 5 years. What defined ‘success’ to me then isn’t the same for me now. When financial stability and money was new to me, I wanted expensive ‘stuff’. And don’t get me wrong I love all the ‘stuff’ I ever bought. But I just feel differently now. An expensive bracelet at this point in my life doesn’t fill me with the same joy it once did. I crave something different.
2018, in Cartier, purchasing my first piece!
WHAT DO YOU CRAVE? WHAT IMPRESSES YOU?
In my book, Money Mechanics, which will be released on 7th September on Amazon, I talk a lot about working to a success standard that is personal to you and engineering your money in a way that satisfies more for you than instant gratification. If you haven’t done so yet please join the waitlist www.sarahpoynton.com/moneymechanicswaitlist so that you get the launch day details and all the awesome bonuses I am going to give to anyone that orders the book on the 7th September. I digress...
As much as I love the shimmering craftsmanship of Cartier I realised that right now I am craving something that shimmers for more than a moment, I want something that offers legacy for years.
I chose to invest my birthday money into the S&P 500 and a handful of Real Estate Investment Trusts instead of buying Cartier!
This decision came from reaching a point in my life where I actually don’t feel like I want to play the same character as I did 5 years ago. Back then I was surrounded by people that tussled at the top by showing-off their ‘stuff’. I think I felt like I needed ‘stuff’ to fit in! I was really impressed by ‘stuff’ because I didn’t have any; I think. That’s what a lifetime of poor money decisions created in me. I craved the ‘stuff’ so that's what I got as soon as I could.
But now, I am not impressed by ‘stuff’. I don't crave it at all.
FREEDOM & CHOICE
What really impresses me these days is actual, true, freedom and choice. Something that is actually really hard to come by unless you are very intentional in the way you live your life every day. Money greases the wheels, there is no doubt about it, so for me having money, invested, working for me every day is what will ultimately create true freedom and choice in my life. Right now, I am financially free in the basic sense. I have enough money to cover all my bills and have freedom about what I do for a living, and with whom, but I wouldn’t say I have achieved true freedom and choice yet. I know that because it’s pissing down outside and I am in the UK cold, instead of bombing around Europe in the sun, taste-testing pastries, coffee and cheese as I go (not at the same time). I always set myself a goal of 45 as my target of actual retirement. Where I no longer have to work, trade time for money and I will still be able to cover everything and more. But I need to build my 'F**k You Money Fund' to allow that to happen! (More about how to do that in the book!)
I think because I know that about myself, when presented with the option of buying a VERY beautiful piece of jewellery vs putting the same money to work for my future, it was actually a no-brainer. I am pretty sure that is why the sparkle on the day just wasn’t there in Cartier.
Celebrating 40 in Ibiza with Andy!
GO WITH YOUR GUT!
I have just written a whole book about the journey towards true freedom and choice and there I was about to break one of my own cardinal rules. Go with your gut! My instincts were telling me I didn't really want it. So I listened and instead of buying Cartier, I invested the money. I chose the S&P 500 because it is so well diversified (I explain loads about this in my book) and I also chose to invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts because that is property investment without having to actually buy a brick or deal with any tenants (I also explain loads about this in my book). So now those investments are working for me and they will continue to do so.
Instead of more Cartier now... I will buy more Cartier when I have achieved true freedom and choice! (if that is what I want when I get there that is.)
INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE
Investing in this way is all about patience and long-term thinking. Choosing long-term plans over instant gratification. Society places so much emphasis on the ‘now’, chasing trends, immediate responses, everything is now. But true empowerment lies in understanding and leveraging the long game.
It has been a bumpy road getting me from £60,000 debt to being in the place I am now; a net-worth millionaire, with enough ‘stuff’ and a growing passive investment portfolio.
I wrote my book to help people understand what all this means. True freedom and choice starts with financial literacy and then intentional behaviours when it comes to your money. If you are someone that wants to improve their financial literacy and harness the power of intentional financial decisions, then join the waitlist for the release day of Money Mechanics. www.sarahpoynton.com/moneymechanicswaitlist
Cartier will always be attractive to me, but my birthday present to myself was a pledge to my future. A statement of my current values and vision for my future.
If you are ready to delve into your financial future, then get 7th September in your diary and you can get your hands on the amazing special offers I am running that day to help you along the way!
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