If you can afford these 7 things without checking your account, you’re doing better than 95% of the population

When I left my corporate job as a financial analyst five years ago, something unexpected happened.

For the first time in nearly two decades, I had to think before buying my morning coffee. After years of steady paychecks, I was suddenly navigating the unpredictable waters of a writer's income, and it forced me to reassess what financial security really means.

But here's what surprised me: even with less money coming in, I felt more financially secure than many of my former colleagues who earned six figures. Why? Because I'd learned to distinguish between having money and having financial peace of mind.

After spending almost 20 years analyzing investment portfolios and watching the 2008 crisis unfold, I've seen how people at every income level struggle with money anxiety. The truth is, if you can afford certain things without that familiar stomach-clenching moment of checking your bank balance first, you're experiencing a level of financial freedom that eludes most people.

Let me share what those things are.

1. A full tank of gas

Remember when you used to put exactly $20 worth of gas in your car, hoping it would last until payday?

If you can now pull up to the pump and fill your tank completely without mentally calculating whether you'll have enough for groceries, you've crossed a significant threshold. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and for them, every fill-up requires careful planning.

I still remember the first time I filled my tank without checking my account first. It wasn't because I was making more money. It was because I'd built enough of a cushion that a $50 gas purchase wouldn't derail my budget. That small act felt like enormous freedom.

2. Groceries without a strict list

Can you walk through a grocery store and pick up what you need, maybe even grab a few extra items that catch your eye, without keeping a running total in your head?

During my early days as a writer, I'd walk into the store with a calculator app open, subtracting each item from my weekly food budget. Now, while I still shop mindfully, I can buy fresh berries in winter or try that interesting new cheese without anxiety.

This isn't about wasteful spending. It's about having enough margin in your budget that a spontaneous $30 addition to your grocery bill won't leave you short for something else.

3. An unexpected restaurant meal

Your friend texts: "Want to grab dinner tonight?"

If you can say yes without immediately wondering if you can afford it, you're ahead of the game. According to recent surveys, dining out is one of the first things people cut when money gets tight, and for many, even a casual meal out requires advance planning and budgeting.

The ability to spontaneously share a meal with someone, to prioritize connection over cost calculation, represents both financial and emotional wellbeing that many people simply don't have.

4. A small medical concern

This one hits differently. Can you notice something minor wrong with your health and actually make a doctor's appointment without first researching how much the visit will cost?

Too many people ignore early symptoms because they're terrified of medical bills. If you can prioritize your health without the paralyzing fear of financial ruin, you have something precious that millions of Americans lack.

I've watched colleagues delay dental work until they needed root canals, turning a $200 problem into a $2,000 crisis. Being able to address health issues when they're small isn't just about money. It's about having the resources to take care of your future self.

5. A broken household appliance

Your washing machine stops working. Your refrigerator starts making that sound. The dishwasher floods the kitchen.

If your first thought is "annoying" rather than "catastrophic," you're in rare company. Most people face these moments with genuine panic because they don't have the few hundred dollars needed for repairs or replacement.

During my finance days, I watched coworkers earning good salaries still stress about these expenses because they were living right up to their means. Having space in your budget for life's inevitable breakdowns is a luxury many never achieve.

6. A friend's birthday gift

Can you buy a thoughtful gift for someone you care about without it affecting your ability to pay bills?

This might seem small, but it represents something bigger: the capacity to be generous without sacrifice. When you can participate fully in your relationships, celebrating others without financial stress, you have a richness that transcends money.

I used to dread birthday parties and weddings because each gift meant something else I couldn't afford that month. Now, being able to show up for people without that calculation feels like wealth of a different kind.

7. One month's rent or mortgage in savings

Here's the big one. If you have even one month's worth of housing costs sitting in savings that you could access without penalty, you're more financially secure than the vast majority of people.

This isn't about being rich. During my highest-earning years in finance, I knew people making excellent money who couldn't have covered an unexpected month without their paycheck. They had expensive cars and beautiful homes, but no real security.

That buffer, that single month of breathing room, represents the difference between stability and constant anxiety. It means a job loss, illness, or emergency doesn't immediately threaten your home.

Final thoughts

After witnessing the 2008 financial crisis from inside an investment firm, I learned something crucial: financial security isn't really about how much you make. It's about the gap between what comes in and what goes out, and the peace of mind that gap provides.

I made excellent money in finance but lived with constant money anxiety because I'd tied my self-worth to my income and spent accordingly. Now, earning less but living more intentionally, I have something I never had before: financial peace.

If you can afford even a few of these things without checking your account, celebrate that. You've achieved something remarkable. And if you can't yet, don't despair. Building financial security is a process, not a destination.

Start small. Pick one item from this list and work toward being able to afford it without anxiety. Maybe it's building up enough buffer to fill your gas tank, or saving enough to handle a minor medical expense.

Remember, this isn't about comparing yourself to others or feeling bad about where you are. It's about recognizing what financial peace actually looks like and working steadily toward it. Because that freedom from constant money anxiety? That's the real wealth most of us are actually seeking.