For as long as I can remember until recently, I always thought about being financially free but never about how exactly I could become financially free. I believe this is the case for many people because from my recent research and learning, financial freedom does not come from wishing and it does not happen overnight.
Of course, there are instances where people gain wealth randomly, through luck, inheritance, or illegal means. When we remove those cases, because we cannot rely on them for our future, financial freedom is built, not gained. I came to understand that there is one main thing that helps wealth grow into financial freedom.
Honestly, it is still surprising to me that I never thought deeply about how financial freedom really happens. After I understood it better, I realized there were a few times I had followed the rules without even realizing it.
I remember those days when I would save money in a safe box for a particular item I planned to buy. The joy that came after finally getting the item was always worth it. Staying committed until the money was complete before buying the item was one rule I was following without knowing it.
I also remember how I used to buy only what I needed for my daily student life back in school. I did not realize then that I was following another important rule toward financial freedom when I made those choices.
Sadly, these were not things I did intentionally based on knowledge. I only did them when there was an urgent need or when I had to manage my allowance carefully. That has changed now because I understand better and I want to share what I have learned.
Being financially free starts and is maintained with one key thing, Discipline.
When we look at people who seem to live comfortably without constant money worries, they are usually people who have built something that works for them. Building something takes effort, patience, and the courage to step out of comfort zones.
You cannot build something meaningful when you keep spending on the wrong things. Impulse and emotional spending are some of the biggest reasons people struggle to reach financial freedom.
The difficult part is that many people know this but still struggle to control their spending. This is why everything comes back to discipline. Anyone who wants to build something that will support their future must learn to give up certain things now, especially when those things work against the future they want.
A financial advisor I listened to once said, "If you want to build wealth, buy nothing". She did not mean that you should literally stop buying everything. It was a reminder to think carefully and more than once before deciding to spend money.
Honestly, it is not easy, and I am still training myself to live this way. But I know it is possible, and I am working to make it a habit. One helpful step is tracking your money, because it helps you see where your money is going and where discipline is needed.
Image used is AI generated.