Financial freedom is something everyone wants, especially when young and full of ambition. But what is the best way to become your own boss early and freely pursue your ideals?
Saving is probably the most common and most widely shared way to become wealthy. It sounds reasonable, but according to Steve Adcock, an example of successful early retirement, it is not entirely accurate. Steve and Courtney Adcock retired at 36 and devoted the rest of their time to traveling.
Saving money does not make you rich
Saving money is good, but if you hope to become rich from those savings, unfortunately that wish will be difficult to fulfill. You can drink water instead of beer or soda and save a few hundred USD each year. But can that amount be called “rich”? Can it change your life? Can it help you retire early and enjoy the rest of your life relaxing by the sea?
Sadly, no!
Whether you can retire early depends on the financial resources you currently have. To emphasize, that means the money you have, rather than the money you have saved. Changing spending habits and focusing on essentials is good—an excellent action. But it is not the secret to early retirement. Wealth comes from a very different source: Investment.
There is a saying, ‘Idle money is dead money.’ If you only save money without knowing how to put it to use, you are preparing early for your own death rather than for wealth. You can retire early only when you know how to make your savings generate more money.
When saving money will help you retire early
Of course, I still support saving money. Although it will not help you escape a boring office job, it is a good habit to cultivate. But if you want to retire early and enjoy life sooner, I have a formula for you: Purposeful Spending + Motivation = Opportunity for Financial Freedom.
Suppose you have ample motivation and a strong desire to retire early; you already have 1 side of the equation. You also have some savings—not great wealth, but “more or less enough” for you. Now you need to ask yourself: what is the purpose of that money?
In other words, is your money working for you, or are you working for that money? If it is the former, congratulations: you are on the right track. If it is the latter, my condolences, because you may still be stuck in some old office at age 60. The more money you invest purposefully, the easier this equation becomes to achieve. Do not merely ‘avoid spending.’ Invest your savings so money can fulfill its true purpose.
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Steve and Courtney Adcock retired at 36 and devoted all their remaining time to travel. |
It does not matter how much you earn or save
Everyone has a different way of becoming rich. Unless you suddenly win the lottery or inherit a pile of money, you are like most people in this world. Every day, you have to wake up, go to work, earn a living, and struggle to meet basic needs.
But you are still luckier than many people: you do not have to save every penny, go bankrupt or sell your company to repay debts. You can still buy what you want within your spending limits. None of that, however, matters as much as one simple yet profound question: what purpose does your money serve?
How can money have a purpose?
If, like me, you turn purposeful money into the key to early retirement, you can consider the following.
– Know where your money is going: A financial statement is essential for understanding your finances and identifying where money is leaking away. A typical example is automatic payments for services you no longer use.
– Think about your future: most people do not have a clear answer to this question. Of course, we all want to be ‘successful,’ but what does that mean? Does it mean retiring early or continuing in your current job at a leisurely pace? In 20 years, will you still live in that house, drive that car, and do that job? Will anything have changed?
Whether or not you want to retire early, knowing exactly what you want for your future will help you give your money a purpose.
– Investing: there are many investment options, such as stocks or retirement investments. Research these carefully, and remember to stay committed and give them time. Rushing does not produce achievements!
– Persevere: Early retirement is easy, but not quick. It takes years of effort to build a stable income, let alone live in abundance. Keep investing and keep innovating how you earn money.
Collected.
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