Chapter 1: The Misconception of Luck

Lately, I've been reflecting on the phrase "you’re so lucky," which has become quite bothersome to me. It's often used in situations where luck has no bearing whatsoever. To me, it sounds like an insincere compliment—an attempt at kindness that isn't really warranted.

For instance, I have a coworker who consistently puts in more overtime hours than I do. When I log off earlier than she does, I always say, "have a good night." Occasionally, her response is, "you’re so lucky." But let’s be clear: neither of us was coerced into working extra hours; it’s entirely a personal choice.

In my view, my decision to leave work earlier has absolutely nothing to do with luck. I cannot speak to my colleague's financial responsibilities or her reasons for seeking additional income. However, in my opinion, choosing to finish work sooner does not equate to being "lucky."

Another instance where I was labeled "lucky" occurred during a conversation with my husband about our financial habits when we were single. He remarked that I was fortunate to have saved enough for a down payment on my first home. Yet again, I believe it was not luck but rather five years of living frugally that enabled me to reach that goal.

I opted to work an average of 25–30 hours of overtime each week for three years. I also made intentional choices to enhance my savings. While I did treat myself occasionally with travel, dining, and shopping, there was no secret formula—just hard work, increased earnings, and mindful spending.

I specifically chose to rent an apartment in a less attractive area because it was significantly cheaper relative to my income. Since I was rarely at home, I reasoned, "Why spend more on rent if I’m hardly there?" Additionally, my apartment was only a ten-minute walk from my workplace, which helped me save on transportation costs like gas, maintenance, and insurance.

If you’d like to delve deeper into my financial strategies, you can read about them in my previous post.

Chapter 2: The Nature of Luck vs. Choices

In conclusion, I believe that attributing outcomes to luck should only occur when luck is genuinely the factor at play. For example, winning the lottery would indeed be an instance of luck! But is it fair to label someone "lucky" and overlook the effort they put in to achieve their goals?

What are your thoughts on this? Has someone recently used a phrase that rubbed you the wrong way? I invite you to share your experiences in the comments!