<prompt> Human: I consider myself a responsible adult but my experience and priorities run so counter to the general advice of this sub.I changed my life in a pretty major way at about 27 years old. I had a good steady job with good advancement opportunities for money and prestige but I was getting more and more restless. I interviewed for a raise and the boss asked me where I saw myself in 10 years. I was like... art director? That was best case scenario, but I worked with many art directors and their extreme hours and lack of freedom is the exact opposite of what I want with my life. I started talking to older guy friends and they all had similar thoughts. Dont settle down, chase your dreams and interests, dont have regrets like they do. Some in confidence told me they hated their lives and the monotony was killing them, they wanted to be in my position. What really cemented my perspective was when I took care of my sick mother, far before her age. Money and savings meant absolutely nothing, only the previous experiences and relationships. If I pass away at that age all my years of saving for retirement would have been for naught.I quit my job and went freelance and never looked back. All the money I make I spend on furthering my career or unique experiences. I have no retirement savings, but I dont care about that, I can run the rat race when I have kids and need security.In my opinion what is important to me at a young age and even now is:1. Freedom and mobility 2. Lack of a ceiling - I dont want to be working towards a concrete end goal that I can never rise above. 3. Relationships4. Memorable experiencesMoney is important as a means to these goals, especially freedom. I got hit hard with debt at the beginning of my career when the recession hit. I had no job and massive student loans, so my credit took a nosedive. I started recovering it for a couple years, but then I had to quit my job to take care of sick family and it tanked again, back down to rock bottom. It all felt quite pointless, any debt owed to an individual I pay off ASAP, but if I owe a bank or Sallie Mae, thats a low low priority when your credit is already destroyed.Recently I decided just to go completely mobile. Now I travel the world and work from my laptop. Ive got long term goals for my business and Im not frivolous with my spending besides eating out and drinking, those are my vices. Some of my friends back home tell me that they couldnt live like I do, that security is more important. I disagree, but I totally understand.Is this sub geared mainly towards those that value security above all else? I see all good advice, but advice that I dont myself follow. I think debt is okay if you use it wisely, even a lot of debt. I went into a lot of risky debt at a young age but it paid off because I used it to move to a city with much better career prospects and prestige. I think saving for retirement isnt important at a young age, I would rather pursue travel and lofty goals while Im young and healthy. Getting a house at a young age limits your options in a bad way, I think renting is much better, etc.Im sure many on here agree with me, or maybe Im super irresponsible, but I see little advice on here that applies to my ambitions. I think risks at a younger age is what makes a person interesting and opens doors later in life.  <response>: Is this sub geared mainly towards those that value security above all else? I see all good advice, but advice that I dont myself follow. I think debt is okay if you use it wisely, even a lot of debt.Security base happiness. If youre scaredstressed all the time about money issues, then you probably wont be that happy. If youre completely fine with 0 bank balance and you arent worried about it, then you have the required amount of security YOU need to be happy, and thats fine.Some of my friends back home tell me that they couldnt live like I do, that security is more important. I disagree, but I totally understand.What these friends dont understand is that you already have security, they just dont view your type of security as suitable for them. If you read advice in this sub, translate it to what security and adequate savings mean for you. Some people need 50k cash in the bank to feel secure, you may need 100. Money is important as a means to these goals, especially freedom.This is what rfinancialindependence is about. It takes saving money to gain freedom, but maybe not the freedom youre looking for. In this sub and that one, freedom comes from not stressing about money in any way, being able to pay bills without thinking about it, and saving enough to be comfortable throughout life. This doesnt necessarily mean youll be able to have less memorable experiences.Many people are in the situation where theyre still recovering from the risky debt or student loans that inhibit them from feeling free and secure, and budgetingsaving is right for them.Im sure many on here agree with me, or maybe Im super irresponsible, but I see little advice on here that applies to my ambitions. I think risks at a younger age is what makes a person interesting and opens doors later in life.As with all things, with more risk comes more opportunity - but people have to know exactly how much risk theyre comfortable with risk that doesnt let you sleep at night isnt worth it. 