Financial Independence – How To Get There

 

Do you feel like you’ve reached financial independence? If you haven’t, you’re not alone; many Americans in 2020 have experienced financial struggles for myriad reasons, including the pandemic and the economy. However, even in difficult times, striving to reach a goal of financial independence isn’t complicated – as long as you stay disciplined and follow the right steps to achieve your goals. Being financially independent can change the way you live your day-to-day life, and reaching that point can be wholly beneficial.

 

If you need help getting started, here are a few tips to get you going on your journey toward financial independence:

 

  • Plan it out.  As with any goal you’d like to reach, the first and arguably most important step is to make a sturdy plan that you’ll be able to comfortably follow. Don’t set your standards with others, however; each person’s plan will differ based on income, age, debt, lifestyle, and a number of other factors. Take the time to do solid research when it comes to building a financial independence plan that you think will actually be attainable for your circumstances.

 

  • Create a budget based on your plans.  If you already have a monthly budget, you can start there, or you can build a new one based on your new goals. The idea of being financially independent is to live comfortably without debt, with the ability to obtain access to a healthy savings and investments account, so the more you’re able to save, the better. Look at your current budget – what can you comfortably cut from your monthly expenses to reach your goals?

 

  • Don’t spend your paycheck in one month – if you can help it.  Living paycheck to paycheck can put a serious hindrance on your plans to eventually become financially independent; if you don’t have much (or any at all) to save at the end of each month, you’re going to have a difficult time reaching your goals. Use your budget to assess your monthly expenditures, both necessary (rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc) and less necessary (dining out or ordering takeout, monthly subscriptions, personal shopping, etc). If you’re finding yourself without much in your checking account at the end of the month, make determinations as to what you can cut in order to save money.

 

  • Stay on top of your financial standing.  This includes checking on your investments (money saved in CDs, stocks, etc), your credit score, how much you owe, and the money you have in savings. If you’re working toward financial independence, it’s vitally important to not lose track of what you have saved and invested, and how much you need to save in order to reach your goal. If you have any questions about what you have invested with us at Polam, visit or call us anytime and we’ll be happy to help.