It's easy to spend more than you make, especially if you are chasing some illusive satisfaction that you think money can buy. The bigger house with a pool, the boat, lavish spending, the more you make the bigger the price tags for what you think will make you happy.

Intrinsic rewards lead to satisfaction, where the action is the reward, often without spending a dime. My wife is a perfect example. As a kindergarten teacher her classroom family was her life, later it was our kids and now our grandkids. All her satisfaction and contentment stem from the children she lovingly serves.

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Budgeting is simple. Spend less than you make, dump raises and bonuses into increased savings and investments. I started over at thirty-five after a nasty divorce where I traded property and money for the schedule I wanted with my kids. Still, I was semi-retired by 55 and my time was my own to do as I pleased. There are many options that require far less than nine to five every day unless you choose to spend yourself into the abys.