When I read about this week’s contest (number 89), my first thought was: “I’m interested, but the premise is misleading.” It relies on several assumptions that most of us don’t meet. The first is that getting rich isn’t as easy as it sounds; only 1% of humanity actually achieves it. The second is that having more free time doesn’t automatically equate to more freedom or fewer worries. Sometimes, that free time stems from unemployment, chronic illness, or—let’s be honest—sheer idleness.
It might sound overly materialistic, but the truth is that, regardless of your background, freedom requires money. You have to pay for food, water, electricity, internet, clothing, transportation... the list goes on. And even if we don’t earn a fortune from our day jobs, we still have to invest time in them—time that can generate the same stress and anxiety a CEO feels when the numbers don’t add up.
On the other hand, there is a third misleading premise in the contest: not all fortunes are the result of hard work. I know millionaires who inherited everything from parents who sacrificed for years to ensure their children lacked nothing. There are also those who climbed the corporate, banking, or political ladders thanks to connections, rather than through their own talent or merit. And that’s not to mention those who amassed fortunes through illicit means—corruption, money laundering, financial speculation, fraud, arms dealing, drug trafficking, human trafficking... the list is long.
That is why, when people ask if money can enslave us by robbing us of our free time, I believe it all depends on how a person acquired their fortune and the values—or lack thereof—they hold. I have seen millionaires who retire young, sell their companies, and dedicate themselves to philanthropy. I have also read in the press about people who lose everything due to poor financial management.
Ultimately, money guarantees neither happiness nor more time for yourself. Yet, barely scraping by until the end of the month doesn't guarantee freedom, either. That is why, if I had to choose, I wouldn't pick between wealth and freedom; I would seek a balance that allows me to live comfortably without becoming a prisoner of my own success. Because true freedom isn't about having all the money in the world—or giving it up entirely—but rather having enough to live the way I want, without debt keeping me up at night.
Note. This post was translated from Spanish to English using Google Translate, and the images were created using Gemini AI.