There are a lot less steps to financial freedom than you might first imagine.
Certainly people come to us with two images in their minds.
Number One: That it is going to be such a pain to do that before they even start they are feeling defeated already.
Or the more common one (and hands up if you put yourself into this camp?)
They have the image that the steps to financial freedom will leave them living in a cave with just a candle to keep warm by.
They are scared by what they have to cut off from their lifestyles in case…well, they don’t end up having a lifestyle at all.
Both of those images are valid to the extreme, but believe me it doesn’t have to be that way.
Let’s start looking at what you can do first to get your finances under control, and start living a life that is stress-free and money abundant.
The First Of The Steps To Financial Freedom
This is one of those steps that most people dislike as it is down to them.
“Help me to get free from debt..help me live within my means (oh, and did I also say….i want you to do it for me?”) they cry.
Well my young financial padawans we can’t, so there!!
You have to do it, and you have to make a commitment that you will keep doing it.
None of this New Years resolution rubbish that you give up three weeks in.
If you don’t want to do this financial freedom journey then you will fail.
Its all or nothing. Sink or swim.
You in with us?
Then carry on to the next of the steps to financial freedom.
The Second Step: Stop Spunking Money
My wife and I have a phrase, some might not like it, others might cringe, but it gets across the point.
If you can’t control when you spend your cash (and what on) then you are in trouble big-time.
Yeah, it’s enjoyable to go into a shop and wave your credit-card around.
The same way that it is enjoyable to have a wonderful climax at the end of a sex session.
But count to five afterwards and the feeling is already going. You just end up with the debt.
So, i wont say to you don’t do the spending if that is what makes you happy.
Instead I will say “Leave the ability to do the spending at home.”
Don’t carry around credit-cards in your wallet that can be whizzed through a machine without even a second thought.
Take just enough cash in your pocket that means, if you get into trouble you can get home, or at least make things easier for yourself.
You aren’t spending on what doesn’t need to be spent on, capiche?
The Third Step: Plug The Leaks In You Life
This is one of those steps to financial freedom that we mentioned at the beginning.
People go “Grooooannn, this will take ages!!”
Well it will take sometime, but it will be the best pay-rise that you have ever given yourself.
One of our clients went through this process with us and saved £500 per month.
£500 which they admitted to me “To be honest I couldn’t really tell you where it was going each month, but now it’s back in my bank account.”
We need to get serious with our finances and go through them with a fine tooth comb, to assess what is happening.
We already know what is happening to be honest.
Direct debits that we no longer need are still being paid.
Insurance policies that have crept up year on year at renewal are not being re-negotiated.
Shopping for groceries at the local store just round the corner, instead of making a little effort.
You need to go through everything you spend daily, weekly, monthly and yearly and see where the savings can be made.
The Fourth Of The Steps To Financial Freedom: Consolidate Those Debts
A few percent here and there between friends..what does it matter?
Well it wouldn’t matter at all if the banks weren’t the enemy of the financial freedom lovers of the world.
They want us to have debts so they can make money from the interest.
They send us lovely letters telling us that because they love us, we can have an additional £15,000 on a credit-card to go on that lovely holiday.
Stop being seduced by these lies…they don’t love you, they just love your cash.
The biggest (ok, they are all the biggest if you are reading this..and we hope you are otherwise I have wasted my time) is looking at your biggest debt and get it down as quickly as possible.
If your mortgage is the biggest debt, and it generally is, look at getting all your other debts consolidated to free up some cash.
Company’s everywhere offer interest free credit-cards for up to three years on new balance transfers, which means you can just plough extra cash into your biggest debt.
Once this is down to a decent level, then you can turn your attention to the credit-card.
Don’t pay additional interest just because you are a lazy little so and so.
The Fifth Step: Earn More Money Than You Spend
Now after reading our steps, you might be thinking “Yeah, this is it…I am now on a mission to change my spending habits forever!”
Well good for you, we salute you and your passions.
You might also be thinking “Can’t be bothered. It seems too much effort.
Well it’s not, and in many ways it is the easiest of all the steps to financial freedom you can get.
In fact it is the only steps to financial freedom that we would ever think about walking for sure.
However nowadays you can make money so easily by creating additional income streams you could forget everything we have told you and go straight for step five.
With affiliate marketing, passive income, online coaching and programs, product development you can start replacing income literally overnight.
Do you have something in your life that you think could be a winner online?
Most people think they don’t.
That is a crock to be honest as we prove time and time again through our weekly and monthly training sessions.
Drop in on our next free training session and we will certainly get the old cogs in your head working as you start thinking “wow there is cash to be made!”
The Sixth Step: Surround Yourself With The Experts
There is no doubt that travelling the steps to financial freedom on your own is hard.
However it doesn’t have to be, as every single episode of the Join Up Dots podcast offer real life financial advice.
You will literally have money making experts in your ears 24 hours a day if you choose.
Leave behind the mates that only want to spend frivolously, and spend your time with the movers and shakers of the world.
Of course it’s not just Join Up Dots that has the gold as other on iTunes you will find thousands of other savvy investors and money experts too.
Pete Matthew from the UK, Scott Turner in the US, or whatever your country you live in, you will find an advice spouting financial guru at hand.
Return To The Top Of Steps To Financial Freedom
