For many people, achieving financial independence is a significant milestone that may be quite thrilling and open numerous doors. Financial independence is defined as having enough money, either from income or collected wealth, to cover your expenses for the rest of your life without relying on others. Financial independence will look different for everyone, and the measures to achieve it may alter as a consequence. Even though the procedures for becoming financially independent may change depending on one’s financial condition, there are a few common boxes that people need to check to become financially independent. Understanding these milestones, their significance, and how to attain them can put you on the path to learning how to be financially independent.
Read Also: Little Steps to Take When Learning to Live Independently
1. Set Specific, Attainable Goals
The importance of establishing goals in pursuing financial independence may be simpler to obtain for someone who knows exactly what they want to achieve and when they want to achieve it. The SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound) framework is a smart method to approach setting financial objectives. Each person’s goals are unique, and their breadth might vary greatly. These objectives might range from paying off a certain amount of debt each month to acquiring a new home. Regardless of your circumstances, it’s beneficial to set both short-term and long-term financial objectives.
2. Make A Budget
A detailed budget will most likely make it easier to ensure that your money is being spent correctly and that you are on track to meet your objectives. The first step is to learn how to create a budget. A solid monthly budget should include the following items:
- Monthly earnings
- Maintenance of the home
- Personal hygiene and clothing
- Prescriptions and groceries
- Payments for rent or mortgage
- Expenses for entertainment and travel
- Subscriptions, memberships, and dues are all paid monthly.
- Recurring costs (bills, credit card debt, bank fees, etc.)
You can add more categories based on individual financial conditions. For example, if you have pets, you may need to include a pet care category, however, if you do not, you may not need to include a monthly subscription, memberships, and dues category. Whatever your scenario, your budget should be detailed and show where your money is going, making it easier to find opportunities for financial improvement.
3. Make A Safety Net
Establishing a robust financial safety net as soon as feasible is a crucial step to take. Having a cash buffer is critical to becoming financially independent. Create an emergency fund in addition to your regular savings account and contribute to it whenever possible. You should save enough money to cover at least three to six months of living expenses, so you don’t have to rely on others in case of an emergency.
4. Set up Automatic Savings
First and foremost, pay yourself. Enroll in your company’s retirement plan and take advantage of any matching contribution benefit, which is effectively free money. It’s also a good idea to set up an automatic withdrawal into an emergency fund that may be used for unanticipated needs, as well as an automatic donation to a brokerage account or something similar. The money for the emergency fund and the retirement fund should ideally be withdrawn from your account on the same day you get your paycheck, so it never crosses your hands. Remember that becoming financially independent is to have a suggested amount to save in an emergency fund is dependent on your specific circumstances. Also, tax-advantaged retirement plans have limitations that make it difficult to assess your money if you need it right away, so that account should not be your primary emergency fund.
5. Begin Investing Right Now and Become Financially Independent
People may doubt the idea of investing in bad stock markets, known as bear markets, yet there has historically been no better way to increase your money. Compound interest alone will grow your money tremendously, but it will take a long time to attain substantial growth. Remember, however, that attempting the type of stock selection would be a mistake for everyone but experienced investors. Instead, register an online brokerage account that allows you to easily learn how to invest, build a modest portfolio, and make automatic weekly or monthly payments to it.
6. Contract for Goods and Services
Many Filipinos are unwilling to bargain for products and services because they are fearful of seeming cheap. If you can overcome this phobia, you might save hundreds of pesos each year. Small firms, in particular, are willing to negotiate, so buying in bulk or establishing yourself as a regular client can lead to substantial savings.
7. Maintain Your Financial Knowledge
Examine applicable tax law changes to ensure that all adjustments and deductions are maximized each year. Keep up with financial news and stock market movements, and don’t be afraid to alter your investment portfolio accordingly. Knowledge is also the best defense against con artists that rely on inexperienced investors to make fast money.
8. Live Within Your Means and Become Financially Independent
Developing a thrifty mentality involves focusing on living a happy life with less and it’s easier than you think. In reality, many affluent people adopted the practice of living below their means before becoming wealthy. Adopting a simple lifestyle is not difficult since it values the importance of establishing goals in pursuing financial independence. It simply involves learning to discriminate between what you need and what you want and then making little changes that result in large financial rewards.
9. Diversify Your Earnings
Having many revenue streams is another approach to secure long-term financial security. Consider strategies to supplement your income beyond what your regular work offers. Extra sources of income can start as freelancing or starting a “side business”. Passive income from investments can also be used to complement your principal source of income.
10. Seek Professional Financial Assistance to Become Financially Independent
Professional assistance can assist you in developing a strategy for achieving a financially independent life. A financial adviser can help you understand your money and acquire vital financial education on saving, retirement planning, and other topics. They may assist you in developing a financial plan for your financial objectives and advising you on how to attain them. This will take into consideration your age, family conditions, income, time remaining for the objective, and so on. They can assist you in preparing for and protecting your money and assets against the plague of inflation.
Financial independence has several advantages, including improved control over your own life and time, better peace of mind, and greater flexibility in achieving your goals and objectives. You have the freedom to pursue your hobbies and passions when you are financially independent. You can also opt to work less, giving you more time to pursue your interests and spend time with family and friends. If you are starting to live a financially independent life and also want to establish goals in pursuing it, you may want to consider owning a house and lot in Bria Homes. Offering bank housing loans, OFW investment, and pre-selling houses and lots for sale that will undoubtedly meet your housing needs as you live independently. Check out our house models by visiting our website https://www.bria.com.ph/ and to know more about our latest offers!
Also Read: Why Invest your Money in Affordable House and Lot? Here are 5 Reasons
