This whole blog is dedicated to helping the average person discover how their current financial situation is affecting their life. It’s for people who are engrossed in consumerism, who buy brand new cars, and who don’t realize the excruciating negative effects of credit card debt. My goal is to help assist these people in finding their financial independence.
Financial independence, or FI, is when you have enough money to not feel the weight of the world on your shoulders if a $1500 car repair needs to happen. It’s for the peace of mind of knowing that you’re going to survive if another pandemic happens and you lose your job. Or, it’s if your boss is a total asshat and the stress of the job is not worth it, so you can just say FU and quit without wondering how you’re going to pay your rent.
Financial independence is exactly what it sounds like. It’s having enough money to not rely on your job, or credit cards, or others if unexpected financial obstacles were to be in your way. It gives you the freedom to not have to work 80 hours a week to support yourself. It’s knowing that you are setting yourself up for a bright future and not having to worry if you’re going to have enough money in retirement or not. But mostly, it gives you security in knowing that you can handle any financial situation thrown at you because you know how to manage your fucking money.
The idea of getting out from under a mountain of debt may seem impossible. The thought of not having the nicest things may feel uncomfortable to some. But I promise you, those things will feel very small in comparison to how the rest of your life can turn out. You CAN climb out from under that debt, but you are going to have to make some changes in your life to do so. You DO NOT need to go shopping every week. The 75 pairs of shoes in your closet or that brand new watch on your wrist are enough. If you want to be financially independent, set your mind to it. It is possible. You can do it. And I will help you every step of the way.
If you have no idea where to even begin, I got you. Over the next month or so, I’m going to break down ways that you can spend less money so that you can save more. If you have absolutely no money in the bank, those savings will go towards putting $1000 in your account as a baby emergency fund. Next, if you have debt, those savings will go towards that. Once you are debt free, those savings will go towards increasing your emergency fund. Now, please note that this is a guide. Your financial journey is your own, so please do what feels comfortable to you.
In no particular order, the coming weeks will discuss the 5 main areas of where you can save money:
- Living situation
- Vehicle
- Food
- Entertainment
- Misc expenses
It’s about that time. Go crack open a beer, get your head in the game, and I’ll see you back here next week to start your journey to financial independence with you 