How to Become Financially Independent: Create the Life You Want

Inside: How to become financially independent? This is something you want to read. Don’t worry — there are steps you can take and strategies you can use!

One of the biggest struggles for most people is how to become financially independent.

There are many different ways you can be more successful in your finances, but there really isn’t one perfect answer. It’s important to think about what your goals are and then develop a strategy that will help you achieve them.

However, you may feel lost on what to do now.

There is no one way to make a living and there are endless ways to do it.

The concept of becoming financially independent may feel impossible to reach.

But, I am here to tell you that becoming financially independent is easier than you think.

I want you to join me on an adventure where we explore how being financially independent doesn’t have to be a huge sacrifice in your life. Just imagine what you could do with all that free time, money, and energy!

In this post, I am going to break down how being financially independent can actually create an amazing way that you live your life.

Financial freedom is the reason for your desire to be financially independent.

What is Financial Independence?

Financial independence is when a person or family has achieved a high level of financial stability and money does not control their lives.

You are working towards financial freedom that is when your assets have reached a point in which you estimate they will cover all of your expenses for the remaining part of your life. There is no need to work unless you desire.

These terms are heavily intertwined in their meanings.

This is something most people haven’t achieved as they are constantly living paycheck to paycheck.

Overall, by becoming financially independent, you have more choices in life. 

We will discuss how it’s possible to create a generous and financially independent lifestyle while also staying grounded in your values.

How to Become Financially Independent

Financial independence is the idea that you can be completely free from money becoming a factor in your life.

In order to achieve this, you must find ways to reduce debt while increasing retirement contributions and having money on hand for emergencies.

There are two simple steps to achieving financial independence.

1. What you Want to Do with your Life

This one may seem overwhelming for most people to think about. You are working to the grind just to make money and focused on how much I make a year.

Everyone dreams of living a financially free life, where honesty isn’t needed, emotional attachments aren’t needed, and money can just come into your bank account without you spending a single cent making it.

But creating such a life isn’t easy; to make it happen, the first step is to take stock of what you want to do in your life and find the ways to obtain the following:

• Your most fulfilled you have ever been, whether it’s artistic or financial. The freedom of not needing to check in with anyone, not feeling guilty about spending money you worked for.
• Your time to do the things you love, whether it’s with family or friends or travel
• The best relationships that are healthy and supportive in your life
• The best physical health and emotional well-being that you can find.

By making those things your priorities, then you start to design the life you want.

The concept of time freedom is something that will become more important to you as you move from becoming financially independent to ultimately reaching financial freedom.

To create a life of financial independence, it is important to take stock of what one wants in their life and find ways to obtain that.

2. Matching your Money to Desires

You must take personal responsibility for your own finances.

If you don’t make the changes to reach your financial goals, then you will be stuck on a hamster wheel.

For example, debt will hold you back. Period. Until you finally get out of debt, you are a slave to money.

Another example that happens many times is out-of-control spending. The inability to spend less money than you make.

There are many ways for people to become financially independent. You have to craft a plan to match your money to the life you desire.

One way is by living within your means, another is to start making money on the side.

Your lifestyle must match your desires and what you can truly afford.

These two steps are essential in achieving financial independence.

Ways to Become to Reach Financial Independence

Financial independence is the idea that you can achieve financial freedom and continue to work or stay home without worry. Achieving this goal starts with savings and reducing debt, as well as monitoring progress as you work toward your goals.

If you want to learn how to become financially independent in 5 years, then this is exactly what you need to do today.

Making it happen will take hard work but with positivity and willpower, you’ll get there!

1. Know Where You Stand Financially

The first step towards financial independence is to find out where you stand right now (spoiler alert: it might not be where you think it is).

If they are not at zero savings how were they able to get there?

This means you need to understand your net worth.

You determine your net worth by subtracting all of your debts from your assets.

If you have a significant amount of debt, then it is likely you will be starting with a negative net worth. That is okay! You can dig yourself out.

To become financially free, you need to reach a magic number with your liquid net worth to quit working and retire early.

2. Income is Less than Expenses

First, you need to write out your income.

Next, add up all of your monthly expenses.

Take your income minus your expenses.

If your expenses are greater than your income, you will never become financially free and will live stuck in a debt trap.

If your income is higher than your expenses, that is great news! Make sure you start saving money for your future self.

3. Budget

Budgeting is a core principle of financial wellness. Budgeting your money, using the snowball method, and saving for emergencies are all keys to becoming financially independent.

A budget is a tool used to help organize finances and plan for the future.

It can be as simple as writing down what you spend on food each week or as complex as creating a full financial picture of your life.

To create a budget, decide how much income you want to generate in one month and compare that amount to what you currently spend.

Start by listing all your income and expenses for at least the last six months. Then make a plan to tackle any problem areas.

4. Reduce Debt to become Financially Independent

Financial independence is when you have paid off all your debts and are living below your means. This gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, knowing that you don’t need anyone else’s help and are not a slave to debt.

Debtors should find ways to pay off their debt and avoid creating new debt in order to become financially independent.

• Pay off your credit card balance before interest or late fees are charged
• Avoid taking on any additional charges by using debit cards for purchases
• Borrowers should build debt payments into the monthly budget

Debt is inescapable: Drowning and leaning on others until you pay off your debt for good.

5. Save Money

Whether you’re 26 or 66, saving is an integral part of becoming financially free.

This is how you become financially stable.

It’s never too late to start saving money or learn how to invest it in different places.

Enjoy one of these fun money saving challenges!

• 100 Envelope Challenge – Fun $5000 Money Saving Plan
• 20 Simple Money Saving Challenge to Save More in 2022
• Your 52 Week Money Saving Challenge + Free Printable
• 30 Day Money Challenge: How to Make Your Money Work For You

6. Understand Your Needs & Wants

Achieving financial independence is about creating a life with only needs and wants. It’s about getting rid of the things that make us feel inadequate or less important, like debt, credit cards, and wasting time on social media.

Needs are things like food, rent/mortgage, utilities, transportation, and clothing.

Wants are all the things that make us feel like we’re keeping up with the Joneses’ or how we spend without thinking.

Most people do not have a clue on what is a need and what is a want. Most wants fall into fun spending. A no spend challenge is great for discovering what is truly a need!

7. Spend Less Than you Make

Financial independence is the ability to create a generous, balanced life without relying on others for financial support. That cannot happen if your expenses are greater than your income.

It is about spending less than you make and saving the extra money from your budget at the end of every month.

Track your spending for a few months, then analyze it to find out where you can cut back or save more money.

Look at how can you cut expenses. This could be as simple as cutting back or drastic ways to cut expenses.

8. Create a Rainy Day Fund

Financial independence is a term used to describe a person who has enough wealth that they do not have to work for money. A rainy day fund will help you to achieve this.

A rainy day fund takes your emergency fund one big step further.

Experts agree that a rainy day fund should have at least 6 months’ worth of expenses saved up in case life goes south.

Ideally, money should be pulled from the same day you receive your paycheck, so it never even touches your hands, avoiding temptation entirely.

9. Set Goals

Financial independence is a measure of personal finance that includes three components: financial goals, financial milestones, and knowing what you want your money to be used for.

You must set smart financial goals to become financially free.

Goals may depend on age and where you are in life. You must get clear about your vision for the future.

Ask yourself questions like:

• How much should you have in your bank account?
• What lifestyle do you want to enjoy? When is it achieved?
• What your net worth should be.

Figure out what you need to do to reach your money goals.

10. Lifelong Learner

No matter how much you know, there is always room for more knowledge

Money, investments, and new technologies allow the possibility to grow your money exponentially. With a rich understanding of fiscal responsibility and a desire to progress, there are many ways to find financial liberation.

That happens by investing in learning about money, finances, and investing. Here are the best finance books I recommend.

Fastest Way to Become Financially Independent

It’s never too late to start investing in your financial independence. If you wait until the last minute, it will be difficult for you to make significant progress on your plan and stay on track with what needs to happen first.

You need to find ways to diversify your income and make more money.

That is the key for those who reach financial independence in 5 years or less.

Diversifying your income will help balance out how much money you make. You know the saying, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket;” the same holds true for your income.

This could be starting a side hustle that turns into a small business. Or freelancing your services. Even more important, learning how to make passive income in the stock market.

Stick around Money Bliss… We have lots of ways for you to make more money.

The Secret to Becoming Financially Independent

The secret to becoming financially independent is to take on one small financial challenge that will open up your eyes and help you understand the world of investing.

Investing is when you put money into stocks, bonds, or other low-risk investments that generate income without any work on your part. It’s called “passive” income because it happens without your involvement.

Investing in the stock market is one of the most common ways to invest, but there are other choices you might want to consider too. You can invest in bonds or look at real estate.

This is the secret of those who already have become financially independent.

How to Become Financially Independent from Parents

More than half of millennials over 21 are receiving financial help from a parent or guardian. However, many young people are beginning to realize that they can become financially independent from their parents by developing their own skills and connections in the workforce.

– Achieving personal independence is not always easy but does come with some benefits.

– It gives you more control over your life and allows you to pursue passions without feeling weighed down by debt or other obligations.

But, parents should also work on changes to help their children. For example, they can focus on showing proper money management skills and talking through financial decisions.

That way when high schoolers or young adults are ready to make their own financial decisions they have a strong foundation of knowledge of money.

How can young adults become financially independent?

Young adults are often advised to focus on building wealth in order to become financially independent.

Young adults must learn how to track expenses and make a budget.

Saving money needs to be a priority for them, so sharing housing with friends will lower expenses.

Young adults should also take into consideration their future income potential and consider whether or not they plan on continuing higher education after graduation.

What parents can do to encourage financial independence

Parents should encourage their children to become financially independent as it will benefit them in the future.

If parents always step in and solve problems, they may be preventing their kids from learning important skills that would allow them to meet their needs while putting off wants for the future.

This will only lengthen the amount of time needed to reach financial independence and this will eventually prevent an individual from reaching FI.

As parents, even if you have not been wise with money, teach those valuable lessons to your kids. Then, they can learn from your mistakes and change the trajectory of their lives.

Start Working toward your Financial Independence Today

Millions of Americans are financially dependent on someone else.

There is a lot to be said about financial independence and the perks that come along with it.

Do you want to avoid having a life of financial worry and debt?

There are numerous ways to become financially independent. Above, we have shared how to FI, ways to make financial independence happen faster, and the secrets to success.

Just to recap…

• Budgeting can help you make sure you have enough income to achieve your financial goals.
• Start by looking at areas of life that would be easiest for you to change, like your spending habits. The more you change how you spend, the easier it will be for that money to go farther and last longer.
• If saving is another area that’s difficult for you, you might want to think about how much your spending is and then try to save that amount each week. Setting aside a specific chunk of money will make saving more manageable and help you meet the goal quicker.
• Creating a generous lifestyle that includes leisure time and spending money on experiences over material things
• Using the power of compounding interest
• Living within your means.
• Build wealth through investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other forms of investments.

In the long run, these principles will help you focus on what matters most to you so that your life is more meaningful and rewarding in general.

Now, learn how to become a millionaire with no money.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!