Written by Mike (Michael) Petry Writer, speaker & finance educator · About Mike
The Journal

Essays

Long-form ideas about money, wealth, behavior, financial freedom and the systems that shape our choices.

Aug 2026

The Mathematics of Enough

The hardest financial question isn't how much you can accumulate. It's how much is enough to live the life you actually want.

Aug 2026

Discipline Runs Out. Systems Don't.

Why automation and defaults can make good financial behavior easier than relying on willpower.

Aug 2026

The Lifestyle Inflation Trap

Why a higher salary can create a higher baseline for spending — and why that matters for freedom.

Jul 2026

Wealth ≠ Rich

Visible consumption is easy to measure. Optionality is not. The two are often confused.

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