It all started with a piggy bank. Actually, two of them.
One was a black mini-safe looking container I somehow ended up with as a kid. The other came from my parents — a Ramsey Solutions piggy bank split into three buckets: spending, saving, and giving.
Looking back, those two containers were the footprint of something bigger. When I first started using them, I only put coins inside. But over time, I started slipping dollars in there too — a small shift that showed my growing commitment to saving.
Discipline costs pennies.
From the start, I had choices to make. My mother said, “If you read these books, I’ll pay you X.”
She also said, “If you come with me on my sales meetings, I’ll pay you X.”
My father told me, “If you come with me on my side jobs, I’ll pay you X.”
For some reason, I said yes to every single one over and over again — leading to the development of my work ethic.
Both my parents also said, “You need to monetize your music skills.”, “You should publish a book.”
It’s fascinating because all of these opportunities were entrepreneurial in some form. The one I was most hesitant about — starting a business teaching piano — ended up becoming a consistent source of income for over ten years. At the time, I thought, There’s no way I can do this. I’m too young. I’m not even an expert. But for some reason, I still said yes to the push.
That “yes” ended up funding me through part of middle school, all of high school, all of college, and even a little post-college. Looking back, saying “yes” to all of these opportunities were some of the best decisions I ever made. Along the way I had to figure out marketing, communication, retention, and how to run something consistently — skills that served me far beyond music.
Freedom is bought with discipline. Dependence is bought with excuses.
Every single endeavor I pursued, I put money aside. I even created my own rule early on: a “zero balance” principle. I would never spend below a certain number. My account always had something in it (even if it was small) — I made a pact to practice never going without. That was my line in the sand. I could not spend more than I had. I could not set myself up to be financially dependent.
I said yes to putting money in the piggy banks. I said yes to working instead of not working. I said yes to building something, even when the payoffs weren’t immediate. And these micro-actions shaped my identity.
You don’t escape the price. You only choose which one you’ll pay.
We’re all given choices like that. Some earlier, some later. You can say, “I’ll save,” or “I’ll spend it all.” “I’ll work,” or “I’ll coast.” “I’ll build,” or “I’ll just get by.” Every yes or no writes your trajectory.
I knew at a relatively young age that I wanted to be financially self-sufficient. I didn’t have the words for it, I didn’t have the know how, but I knew I never wanted to depend on someone else to survive. And I knew I didn’t want to financially struggle my whole life. For me, a healthy financial status has always been a priority and in alignment with my goals.
That meant paying a price. The best clothes, the latest fashion, the nicest car, the designer bags — none of that was on my list. Instead of swiping for status, I was asking: How can I get to the next level financially? I got things here and there, but things were never the priority.
One price buys you freedom. The other chains you to survival.
Discipline costs pennies compared to the crushing expense of lifelong financial struggle.
The bill always comes due. The only question is whether you’ll pay with discipline now or with dependence later.
Some of us get the lessons later in life. It doesn’t matter when you get the lessons as much as when you implement the lessons. There are things I wish I did differently. I wish I invested more aggressively earlier on. I wish I learned about certain assets earlier. I wish I didn’t invest in certain things when I did. But I’m grateful for the micro choices I did make, because they helped push for progress and can never be discounted.
What are the micro choices you’ve been making throughout your life, and where are they leading you?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects personal experiences and opinions. It is not financial advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any financial related changes.