8. They value happiness as living a life they love

One of the most important aspects of life is that money shouldn’t be the goal. Sure, we use the money to get to a level of comfort that we want, and we also use the money to fix mistakes or get out of emergencies. But we shouldn’t see it as the end game.

Focusing on happiness and joy should be the first thing on our minds. Early retirees often mention how they don’t aim for a specific sum in their savings account or a specific monthly passive income. Once they believe they’ve saved enough money to live a happy life, they’re good.

Plus, if you concentrate on money too much, moving the goalpost further and further could cause a lot of damage. You’ll be overworked, missing important aspects of life if you’re constantly chasing figures.