Financial Freedom - Why Should You Strive For It?

On the surface, one might think that this is a "Well Duh!" question.

Most people feel that they are attempting to do this. One of the problems that prevents most people from attaining it is actually the "why" to do it. If you really do not have a strong enough WHY, you may not have the drive and the attitude needed to actually attain it. It it totally possible, people attain it every day because they have identified the proper why and are using the right tools and methods to do it.

What exactly is "Financial Freedom"?

There are many definitions that could apply here but a good start is;

Making enough money to pay all your obligations whether you are physically able to work or not and being debt free.

What does being financially free mean to you? Here are a few ideas:

• Being able to choose the job or career that you want and not needing to accept something or be "trapped" in a bad job just because you need the money or benifits it brings in. Working or volunteering for a non-profit cause or entity for instance.
• Freedom to live wherever you wish. Most of us live where we do because that is where or livelihood is produced and we cannot live elsewhere and still do that job.
• Choosing how you spend your time. Want to work, do it! Want to play on the beaches of the world? Do it! Want to explore new business ideas without needing to worry about cash flow until it gets off the ground? Do it.
• Freedom from worry. Stress creates health problems we don't need. Financial Freedom is an amazing stress reducer!
• If you think about it, it gives you the freedom to say NO. No, when your employer tells you you need to work overtime this weekend and you had other plans. No, when you see unethical things happening in your workplace that you do not want to be a part of. No when the hotel clerk tries to put you in that crappy room by the elevator because you didn't have a reservation.
  
• It also gives you the ability to say YES. Yes when a friend or relative is in need. Yes when your church needs help. Yes when your son or daughter asks you to be at a school function or sporting event during normal work hours. Yes when your son or daughter needs a coach or mentor for their after school team or club. Yes to joining the Peace Corps or Habitat for Humanity for a year or two.
  
• Freedom to choose the schools your children attend.
• Freedom to drive the vehicle you always wanted or choose to ride your bicycle because you don't really need to be anywhere at a particular time.
• Freedom to support causes, political or otherwise, that you believe in.
  

The bottom line is, is that it is all about FREEDOM!

One of the signatures on one of my e-mail accounts is: "Ya know, just once I would like to try to disprove the concept that money does not buy happiness. If you do it right, having financial freedom can go a long way toward being happy.

Dana@TheGoodMoneyLife.com