So you want to be financially independent huh? Well, if you truly want to, you need to know where your money is going right now. Do you know? Take a look at your current budget and take note of where your money is going. Don’t have a budget? Well, make one silly. If you don’t keep track of your money, you won’t know where it’s going. You’d be surprised how fast little expenses can nickel and dime you to death. How much do you spend on bills? How much is spent on luxuries? What is a luxury? A luxury is something that isn’t needed for survival, it is a want, not a need. A house is a need. A car may or may not be a need. (A basic car would, a fancy wouldn’t. If you can walk, you don’t need a car.) You’ll be surprised how much money you’d be saving if all you did was stop buying so much snacks and coffee at lunchtime.
For entertainment issues, you don’t have to go out to the movies every week. Not since prices are almost ten dollars for a ticket now. Go to the movies in a party, add popcorn and drinks, and bam! Your bill is over $60. Same goes for eating out. Big party + Tip = You’re broke. What you can do instead is stay at home, spend time with your kids, read a book, go for a walk, etc. If you really want tv, there is always netflix. Thousands of in-demand movies and it’s really cheap at $8 a month too. Hear that? You pay two dollars less then a single night at the movies for a single person. Sheesh.
If you need to make more money, then try selling off all those useless stuff sitting in your attic and basement. I bet that you probably won’t use it anyway. Why not turn it into cash, huh? If you’re good at something, try selling off your skills. Or if you’re good at serving people, sell that instead. No matter how silly your skill may be, I’ll bet you that you could make some form of income from it if you look into it seriously.
Once you know how much you’re making and how to increase it, where your money is going, and you have a financial plan, the next step is actually following it. Although making an occasional binge is ok, don’t overdo it. But pretty much if you stay on the same path, you’ll become financially independent….eventually. Depends on how much you care about your future. If you really care, then help yourself now while you still can. You won’t get the same chance in retirement.