Freedom is such an attractive thought. Being able to do as you please, within reason. The last time I was truly free was when I was a kid. No job, very few responsibilities, and being able to do all of my favourite things for hours on end. Sure, I was still answerable to my parents, but I still felt free.
As you grow up, your list of responsibilities grows. Getting educated, earning an income, being a spouse and a parent.
Financial responsibility is restrictive
If you don’t keep up with payments on the house or rent, you will be booted out.
If you don’t perform at work or get injured, you may lose your income.
You can’t just leave your job and do what you want
If you don’t pay your bills you may be without food or power
Kids aren’t cheap
Some people buy so much house or spend so much money on wants that they add unnecessarily to their responsibilities, tying themselves to having to work at their job for much longer than they would otherwise.
Statistics in the U.S show that 3 in 10 Americans have no emergency savings and only 4 in 10 would be able to cover a $1,000 emergency with their own money. Most people would be in a bind if they only missed one pay check. I imagine the statistics in New Zealand are similar, if not worse. The household savings rate in NZ is much worse than it is in the states.
These statistics are the definition of zero freedom. Being so reliant on your employer that you would be in real trouble if only out of income for a week, let alone several months. With so much responsibility and so little room to wriggle, financial freedom is a distant dream.
Why I’m so passionate about financial freedom
That is why I am so passionate about financial freedom. I hate that feeling of being so reliant on an employer. Even creating some financial leeway you have the power to leave a higher paying but miserable job for a lower paying but more pleasurable job. Or maybe it provides you the option to go part time so you can have more leisure time to work on passion projects or whatever floats your boat.
As I’ve said many times, I like work. Just not work I don’t find enjoyable. I am not yet financially comfortable enough to make that move, but in about 3 years I will be ready to make the leap to part time work that I love.
It is not work I dislike, it is the wrong work I dislike. It is the lack of options I dislike. It is the lack of a work/life balance I dislike.
Financial freedom solves all those problems and I will continue to sing from the rooftops to anyone that will listen.
Thanks for reading.
If you need help with optimising your lifestyle, then get in touch today.
The information contained on this site is the opinion of the individual author(s) based on their personal opinions, observation, research, and years of experience. The information offered by this website is general education only and is not meant to be taken as individualised financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or any other kind of advice. You can read more of my disclaimer here