Have you ever had one of those days where you're walking along with one immediate future in your mind, and then something happens and your immediate future switches in an instant? Mine was last week, when I was walking the dog and a squirrel, a pulled leash and a misstep put me on my face on the sidewalk.

 

I'm fine, but a split lip, sore knee and bruised joint on my left hand reminded me of just how life shifts unexpectedly sometimes.

 

I felt vulnerable and alone. I didn't have my cell phone or purse with me. I laid there for a minute just to take inventory, and figured out I could stand. My face was bleeding and two high schoolers wanted to help but my dysfunctional dog kept them away.

 

The whole experience brought back to me when I felt that vulnerable and alone in my financial life. I felt like the world was against me, and that life-gremlins were finding ways to make it even worse. My refrigerator had a small jar of mayonnaise and mustard some days, and nothing else. My car would break down and take all my money and more.

 

I don't like feeling like a victim. Let me put that a little more strongly...I detest feeling like a victim. That feeling of your heart free-falling through your chest as you struggle through the reality that's in front of you.

 

I was so affected by this self-victimization that it became the motivation for me to make changes in my own money life, and I decided to write about it in the article below. The changes I've made have proven sustainable and given me a true sense of financial freedom.

 

It's that transformation, that re-claiming of personal power that was the driving force for me to be a financial counselor and coach. I know what a remarkable shift it creates: how the world appears to you, how you react to others, and the lightness of spirit that comes from having safety nets in place.

 

Freeing yourself from financial worries allows the world to do what it does, and you'll still be okay. You have your centeredness and peace of mind to get you through even the craziest of economies. To me, that's financial independence.

Until next time,

 

sb  

Your Financial Independence Day
By Susan Bross, Money Coach

Because of the recent holiday, I got to thinking about what the motivation of financial independence has meant to me. Unlike what we often hear or perhaps think quietly to ourselves, financial independence can be a part of your life long before there are millions in your bank account. I know it can seem so big and out of reach...it did to me. I decided that I'd tell you my story about the small steps I took that have brought me to my sense of financial freedom.

 

I didn't come from a wealthy family, nor did I learn about money in my family. But I have peace of mind, no matter what happens, because years ago I developed an addictive habit...saving money while crafting a lifestyle that feels rich and full.

 

The first time I felt a sense of freedom was when I had outfoxed my old car by saving money in advance for its breakdowns. I was in my 20's and had those old-car-blues. By saving in advance I was prepared and not in fear.

 

The next time I saw a glimpse of financial freedom was when I had one extra car payment put aside. A little later it was a car payment and a rent payment. When I had three months of living expenses set aside, I felt a strength and power because no boss could trap me into staying somewhere I didn't want to be. It didn't cause me to quit jobs, but it freed me because I knew I could quit if I wanted to. ('Course, you could get a job in three months or less then.)

 

This all happened gradually for me. In my 20's, I saved $25/month for retirement initially, $25/month for irregular expenses, and $10 to prudent reserve. But I did it no matter what. Even before I showed the paycheck deposit in my checkbook register back then, I would write in those transfers. I got used to my balance being my paycheck minus those amounts. I would fit my lifestyle choices into the balance that was available after savings.

 

Have you wanted more flexibility and peace of mind in your money life? In this economy, as in most economies, the flexibility comes from having savings, and peace of mind increases from having the safety nets of savings in place.

 

Here are some tips and tricks I and my clients have used to gather savings:

1. Start small. The first step is to set up the savings habit. It doesn't matter how little you start with, just that you put it aside no matter what and use it only for the purpose you've defined. By starting small you're more likely to be able to do this.
2. Support your habit. Give yourself a specific goal. For me my first goal was one car payment in advance, but that may not be yours. Find something that either bothers you or causes fear when it shows up. This can be the motivating reason to create that savings habit.
3. Savings won't be left over. Period. If you don't take it out first, the money will evaporate on the millions of things that we need and want.
4. One for piggy, one for me. Move your savings dollars up when your income goes up. This is pretty painless and works surprisingly well.
5. Debt vs. freedom. If you're thinking of going into debt for something, you need to ask yourself: is this purchase worth moving further away from financial freedom? Debt keeps financial freedom at bay and there are very few things that are worth the stress and fear that debt causes.

If you've always dreamed of financial freedom and don't know how to get there, your desire for financial independence and peace of mind is possible. You are closer than you think. If you don't know how to get there or see that you're not changing or you're having difficulty in getting your lifestyle to fit in what's left over, then my 20 years of experience in helping people just like you will be helpful in getting the ball rolling and create sustainable change .

 

I'm offering a free hour-long session in which we review the future you want to have, what's keeping you stuck, and what's motivating for you. We can explore your personal path to financial freedom, together. We'll collaborate on a financial partnership that can get you to the future that's may be just a glimmer of hope right now. Email me today!