Financial Freedom: Honey, You Have Arrived!

Your most valuable asset? Time. Yet most of us spend it cranking away at the 8-5 grind - pushing deadlines, showing up for everyone else, and leaving our future selves hanging. Whether you’re running your own business or clocking in as an employee, financial freedom isn’t just about having money - it’s about reclaiming your time, options, and energy.

But what does that actually mean?

What Do You Want Your Money to Do For You?

The first thing I ask every client in the planning process: "What do you want your money to do for you?"

Almost everyone answers with some variation of:

• "I want to live well."
• "I want to travel."
• "I don’t want to have to work forever."

Sound familiar? That’s the dream. But dreams without a strategy stay stuck in fantasy mode.

Income vs. Lifestyle: The Budgeting Breakdown

Let’s keep the math simple:

Income - Expenses = Freedom (or lack thereof)

Understanding your cash flow is your first power move. That means:

• Knowing what you earn
• Tracking where it goes
• Spotting the spending leaks

The biggest line item? Housing. This is where a lot of people go sideways.

Here’s a rule of thumb:

• Under 30% of income = Ideal
• 30-35% = Manageable
• 35%+ = House poor

For example: If you earn $5,000/month, you ideally want rent/mortgage to stay under $1,500-$1,800. If you’re over that - no shame - just know it’s time to either increase income or cut elsewhere.

Then come the layered expenses: groceries, utilities, lifestyle spending, subscriptions (you know the sneaky ones), and finally - savings.

Discipline looks like this: Delaying the luxury car or designer bag now so you can own your time later. Short-term sacrifice for long-term abundance.

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Business Owners: Your Personal Wealth Still Matters

If you’re self-employed or run your own company, this applies to you too.

Don’t be so invested in your business that you forget to invest in yourself.

Managing overhead, understanding your true profit margin, and separating personal and business finances are crucial. A profitable business doesn’t mean a healthy personal financial life - you need both.

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Save First, Then Spend

“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.”
— Warren Buffett

This one hits. Saving must be a non-negotiable, not an afterthought.

But what’s the difference between saving and investing?

SAVINGS vs INVESTING

It all comes down to time horizon.

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SAVINGS = Short Term (< 5 years)

Savings should be liquid, accessible, and stable. Think:

• Emergency fund
• Vacation fund
• Home improvements
• Big purchases
• Career transitions or personal development

These go into cash equivalents like:

• High-yield savings
• Money market accounts
• CDs

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INVESTING = Long Term (5+ years)

Investing is how you outpace inflation, build real wealth, and create income streams. It’s a mindset shift - from “spending what I have” to “building what I want.”

Tools of the trade:

• 401(k)s, IRAs
• Index funds
• Stocks, bonds
• Real estate
• Business investments

Why do we separate the two?

1. Liquidity: Savings need to be there when life happens.
2. Growth: Investments ride the long game and grow over time—volatility is normal.

How Much Should You Save?

Let’s talk benchmarks:

• 15–20% of your income is a healthy savings/investment rate
• This includes 401(k), IRAs, brokerage accounts, and cash savings

Can’t hit 20% yet? Start with something. Even 5% gets momentum going. Financial freedom isn’t about perfection - it’s about progress with purpose.

Your Wealth, Your Rules

The Radiant Wealth mindset? It’s not about restriction. It’s about alignment.

• Spending in ways that reflect your values
• Saving like you believe in your future
• Investing like you plan to be around to enjoy it

Financial freedom isn’t some far-off dream. It’s a series of intentional choices you make today that stack into a life you love tomorrow.

So, honey - you haven’t just arrived. You’ve started. Let’s build from here.

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