13 Principles of Financial Independence
If you’re like most people in their 20s and 30s, you’re probably looking for ways to become financially independent. It can be tough to save money when you’re young and just starting out, but with a little bit of effort, you can stride toward financial independence. Here we will give you the thirteen Principles to help you get you started.
1. Know What You Want
2. Know Money Mechanics
3. Create Your Side Hustle or Business
4. Payoff Debt
5. Track Your Money
6. Create A Money Management System
7. Grow Your Savings
8. Invest Savings
9. Improve Net Worth
10. Use All Tax-Advantaged Possible
11. Protect Your Self With Risk Management
12. Protect Your Self From Inflation
13. Downsize / Reduce Cost of Living
Know What You Want
One of the most important things you can do when planning your financial future is to decide what kind of lifestyle you want to have. Most people never stop to think about what they want their lifestyle to be. They just go through the motions day-to-day and let life happen to them. But if you don’t take the time to figure out what you want, you’ll never be able to achieve it. So, sit down and ask yourself what you want your lifestyle to look like. Do you want to be financial independent, or do you just want to have enough money to cover your basic expenses? Once you know what you want, you can start making plans to achieve your goals. If financial independence is your goal, for example, you may need to start saving more money and investing for the long term. On the other hand, if you just want to have enough money to cover your basic expenses, you may only need to make minor changes to your financial habits. No matter what your goals are, it’s important to know what you want from life so that you can make a plan to achieve it. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, you can start making a plan to achieve it. Remember, your lifestyle is yours for the making, so make it something you’re proud of.
Know Money Mechanics
Financial independence is a great goal to strive for, and it’s one that’s definitely within reach if you’re willing to put in the work. A big part of reaching financial independence is understanding the mechanics of money. How does it work? What role does it play in our lives? Once you have a good grasp on these concepts, you’ll be well on your way to financial independence.
One of the most important things to understand about money is that it doesn’t grow on trees. Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods, services and repayment of debt. The more time and effort you put into earning money, the more you’ll have. Of course, there are always going to be limits on how much you can earn when you trade your time for it, but if you’re smart about your money and make it work for you then my friend your on your way to financial independence.
Create Your Side Hustle or Business
Since the 2020 lock down, many people are looking for ways to become financially independent. While it takes time and effort to get to this point, financial independence opens up a world of possibilities. It allows you to spend more time doing things you love, whether that’s traveling, pursuing a hobby, or taking care of your family. And because you’re not relying on one source of income, you’ll have more financial security in the event of a job loss or other setbacks. One way to achieve this is to create your own side hustle or business. This can be a great way to make some extra money, and it can also help you gain more control over your financial future. There are a few things to keep in mind when starting your own business. First, you need to choose an industry that interests you. Then, you need to come up with a business plan and find a way to finance your venture. Finally, you need to be marketing your business and building a clientele. By taking the time to develop a solid business plan and marketing strategy, you can increase your chances of success. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve financial independence by starting your own side hustle or business. Our Personal Finance Consigliere can help you start a side hustle or a business you choose.
Payoff Debt
Paying off debt is one of the most important things you can do to improve your financial security. By getting rid of high interest debt, you free up more of your income each month to save and invest for the future. In addition, paying off debt can help you improve your credit score, which can save you money on future loans and lines of credit. Please remember that paying off your debts is one of the best things you can do for your financial future, it is your adult report card. Paying off debt is very important for several reasons. First, it can help improve your credit score. This is because carrying a balance on your credit cards can negatively impact your credit utilization ratio, which is one of the factors that lenders consider when determining your creditworthiness when conducting business. Additionally, paying off debt can reduce your monthly expenses, freeing up more money to save or invest. Finally, getting rid of debt can provide peace of mind and reduce stress levels. When you’re not burdened with monthly payments, you’ll be able to sleep better at night and focus on other important priorities in your life. If you’re looking to get out of debt, there are a few key strategies you can use, such as consolidating your debts into one lower-interest loan, hire a credit repair consultant, DIY credit repair using our books with over 100 fill in the blank templates letter to use or personal consultation with us that includes credit repair to speed up the progress. Whichever route you choose, the important thing is to take action and start working towards becoming debt-free.
Track Your Money
No matter what your financial goals are, tracking your money is the only way to ensure that you are on track to meet them. Whether you’re trying to save for a down payment on a house or simply want to take your family for a vacation to Spain, knowing where your money is going is essential.
There are a number of ways to track your money, but the most important thing is to find a system that works for you, this will take time while you try different systems. If you’re someone who likes to keep things simple, you can just write out your income and expenses in a notebook. Or, if you prefer having everything in one place, there are a number of budgeting apps that can help you track your spending.
Whichever method you choose, the most important thing is to be consistent. Make tracking your money part of your regular routine, and you’ll be well on your way to financial independence.
Create A Money Management System
Creating a money management system is important for you to become financially independent. To successfully become financially independent, you’ll need to generate income and track your spending. A money management system can help you do both of those things. Income might come from a variety of sources, such as a full-time job, investments, or side hustles. Once you have income, it’s important to track your spending. This way, you can make sure that your spending aligns with your financial goals. A money management system can help you stay organized and on track.
There are a number of different money management systems that you can use, so it’s important to find one that works for you. You might want to consider systems like YNAB (You Need A Budget), Mint, or Personal Capital. Each of these systems has its own strengths and weaknesses, so be sure to do some research before selecting one. Ultimately, the goal is to find a system that will help you become more financially independent. Creating a money management system is an important step in reaching that goal.
Grow Your Savings
When it comes to growing saving, it’s important to have a plan and know your goals. Everyone’s financial journey is different, so it’s important to tailor saving strategies to fit your unique circumstances. However, there are some basic tenets that apply to everyone who wants to be financially independent: you need to have a plan, you need to be disciplined, and you need to start now. Growing your savings is essential to achieving financial independence, and with a little effort it can be easier than you think. Start by evaluating your spending habits and setting realistic goals for yourself, then build up your savings account over time with regular deposits. With dedication and discipline, you can reach your financial goals and enjoy the independence that comes with having a healthy savings account. Growing your savings is crucial to overall financial success.
Investing is one of the most powerful tools available to achieve financial independence. When done correctly, investing can help you grow your wealth and reach your financial goals faster than any other method. There are a number of different investment strategies that you can use, so it’s important to find one that works for you. Some common approaches include index investing, value investing, and growth investing.
Index investing is a passive form of investing that seeks to track the performance of a given market index, such as the S&P 500. Value investing is an active form of investing that seeks to buy stocks that are undervalued by the market. Growth investing is a combination of the two, focusing on companies with high growth potential. No matter what strategy you choose, remember to start small and invest regularly. Over time, your investments will grow and you’ll be well on your way to financial independence.
Improve Net Worth
One key metric to track when pursuing financial independence is net worth. Net worth is simply the value of your assets minus your liabilities. Your assets might include things like savings accounts, investment accounts, and real estate. Liabilities, on the other hand, are things like credit card debt and loans. Improving your net worth is a good way to gauge your progress towards financial independence.
There are a number of different ways to improve your net worth. One option is to focus on increasing your income. This can be done by asking your employer for a raise at your job, but keep in mind having job does not protect you from fiat currency losing its value. Scale your side hustle, or business. Scaling your side hustle or business is the best route for reaching financial independence. Another option is to work on reducing your liabilities to improve your net worth. This can be done by paying off debt and negotiating with creditors.
No matter what method you choose, remember that improving your net worth is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time and effort to see real changes, but it’s worth it in the long run. Improving your net worth is an important step on the road to financial independence.
Use All Tax-Advantaged Possible
There are a number of different tax-advantaged investment accounts that you can use to grow your wealth. These accounts offer special perks, such as tax breaks or lower interest rates, that can help you save money and reach your financial goals faster. Some common types of tax-advantaged accounts include 401(k)s, IRAs, and 529 plans.
401(k)s are employer-sponsored retirement accounts that offer a number of benefits, including tax breaks and employer matching contributions. IRAs are Individual Retirement Accounts that offer several different tax advantages, depending on the type of account. 529 plans are education savings accounts that offer federal and state tax breaks.
No matter what type of account you choose, remember to take advantage of all the tax breaks and benefits that are available to you, having a good business accountant is always good to have on your side. This can help you save a significant amount of money over time and make it easier to reach your financial goals.
Protect Your Self With Risk Management
Risk management is an important part of financial independence. It’s important to protect yourself from potential financial risks, such as income loss, illness, lawsuits or market volatility. There are a number of different ways to manage risk, including insurance, investing, and diversification.
Insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from financial risks. There are a number of different types of insurance, such as health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance. Investing is another way to manage risk. This can be done by investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other assets. Diversification is a technique that seeks to spread investment risk across a number of different asset classes. This can help you weather market volatility and protect your portfolio from losses.
No matter what strategy you choose, remember to always keep risk management in mind. This can help you protect your finances and achieve your financial goals.
Protect Your Self from Inflation
Inflation is a threat to your financial independence. It’s important to protect yourself from rising prices by investing in assets that have the potential to appreciate over time. Some common inflation-resistant investments include real estate, precious metals, collectibles and now blockchain.
Real estate is a good investment for inflation protection because it has the potential to increase in value over time. Precious metals, such as gold and silver, are also good choices because they tend to hold their value well during periods of inflation. Collectibles can also be good investments, but it’s important to choose wisely since some items may not hold their value as well as others the same goes with blockchain. The same way you are learning to become financial independence you need to do the same with the investment vehicle you choose.
Remember to diversify your portfolio and include a mix of different types of assets. This can help you weather market volatility and protect your wealth over the long term.
Downsize / Reduce Cost of Living
Downsizing is a great way to reduce your cost of living and save or invest more money. It can also free up more time and energy to focus on other things, such as your hobbies or travel.
Moving to a smaller home is a great way to reduce your housing costs. This can free up more money to save or invest for the future. Getting rid and selling unnecessary possessions is another way to downsize. This can help you declutter your life and simplify your living situation. Reducing your monthly expenses is also a good way to downsize. This can be done by cutting back on unnecessary expenses, such as cable TV, magazine subscriptions or eating out.
No matter what method you choose, downsizing can be a great way to save money and simplify your life.
We just discusses the 13 principles to achieve financial independence, that included saving money, investing, and risk management. We also provides tips on how to protect yourself from inflation and downsizing your cost of living. Applying even a few of these steps can put you on the path to financial independence. If you’re not sure where to start, or if you need help implementing these steps, we offer Personal Finance Coaching. Our team of experts can help you create a personalized plan to get you on track towards your financial independence. Give us a call today and let’s get started!