Want to Feel Financially Free? Here's a Cheatsheet.
I recently polled my friends on social media. I wanted to understand why those who were interested in exiting the matrix/living a life outside the status quo weren’t taking steps to do so, or if they were taking steps, I wanted to know which ones they had.
I also wanted to understand their biggest fears about embarking on such a journey.
I had already made my assumptions based on my fears but it was interesting to hear it repeated again and again.
People’s Biggest Fear
People’s biggest fear of exiting the matrix was not having enough money to pay for basic things.
I get it. Capitalism thrives off of our fear of not having enough. The entire industry of Marketing was built on making everyone feel insecure, that they never have enough, and that they will always need more. The products we buy are not built to last because, well, what good is a consumer if they are only going to buy your product once?
Once you understand that Capitalism is a parasite, one that feeds off of the participation of its host (aka YOU), you can start to make different choices, choices that don’t continue to nourish this beast.
All of these tips may not work for everyone, especially those who are not able-bodied or have to be in a physical location for one reason or another (kids, family, sick parents, etc.) but I hope the list will help you to start reprogramming your mind, to stop falling into the fallacy that you have a finite number of possibilities to live a more fulfilling life. Because it’s not true. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Tips to True Financial Freedom
Move somewhere cheaper, somewhere with a lower cost of living
Move somewhere with higher wages/earning potential, or increase your wages through passive income/remote job
You can decrease the quality of your lifestyle (such as downsizing your home), cook more than eat out
Consider work/trade - exchange your skills for services/goods/rent instead of currency
Volunteer in exchange for food/accommodation using sites like Workaway or Trustedhousesitters
Move in with friends and family for a while while you save money to buy land or an off-grid home
Pool your money with friends or family to buy land and start creating a tiny home village
If your ideal lifestyle is to be in nature or to create more than grind, I want you to know that it’s possible. The path may not be what you think it is but if you stretch your mind beyond its limitations you can have everything you want and more. You can wake up every day feeling refreshed and energized instead of overwhelmed and stressed.
But first, you have to ask yourself the following questions….
Is this something you REALLY want? And if so, WHY do you want it?
Answering these questions will help you stay connected to the purpose when you go through a period of uncertainty.
One person who I polled answered that they had a fear that they would be homeless. At first, I thought, “Well that’s a valid fear.” But then I remembered that I was “technically” homeless. I travel and live in my van and break it up with house sits, visiting friends, and occasionally splurging on a hotel like when I am on my period and need extra comfort. And guess what - I am living my dream! I get to see the world, connect with people from different cultures, hike in unfamiliar mountains, and gain inspiration for my writing.
We have been trained (by Capitalism) to believe that certain things are bad or shameful - like being “homeless” or living with a friend for a while to save money. But you don’t have to uphold this shame. You can be the main character of your own story and write it any damn way you want.
Now, let me be clear, I am not here to convince you that van life is amazing and you should go out and buy one. Peeing in a jar is not for everyone. But if you are serious about wanting to spend more time with family and friends, creating art, enjoying your hobbies, and nourishing your mind and body - then you’ll first have to decide what you value and how you want to feel — and then, here comes the hard part, you’ll have to take steps, real steps towards achieving those goals (like some of the tips listed above.)
I hope this helps. Let me know, if so.
Do you have an interest in living an alternative lifestyle? What is your biggest fear surrounding this topic?
Does Sharing Your Values and Beliefs Feel Scary? Read this.
I follow someone on social media who is slightly younger than me but on a similar life journey as me. Sometimes she posts stuff, usually quotes or passages from a book, and my first response is to cringe (even when I’ve read most of the same books and love the quotes she shares.)
How could she make herself look so….vulnerable? Why doesn’t she just keep it to herself?
When this happened recently though I stopped myself. Since everyone you don’t like is supposedly mirroring something you don’t like about yourself, I decided to investigate deeper. Upon doing so I realized that I was jealous that she dared to share her values and beliefs with her followers. Once I realized what I had been doing, I asked the universe to give me the courage to start sharing my values more openly.
A week prior, I had received inspiration to create a survey and ask my social media followers to answer a survey about a topic I am very passionate about, exciting the matrix/status quo, but I hadn’t done anything with it yet. This was my time to tell the universe I was ready.
Once created, I easily shared the survey on LinkedIn (I don’t know why but I am so detached from that platform. I don’t care at all who reads my posts there and therefore it is super easy to share whatever.) I waited a few minutes and then decided to post on Facebook. Also fairly easy.
I then closed my MacBook and went for a hike, I didn’t want to see who did or didn’t respond. I wanted to enjoy the French Pyrenees while I had them outside of my door. A little while later my BFF texted me and said, “Share your survey on Instagram, tag me and I’ll share it.” I immediately wrote back, but I’m shyyyyyyy. ok, I’ll do it!
I didn’t linger in worry too long though because folks started submitting their answers to my survey and I felt an instant rejuvenation to keep sharing my beliefs more openly. I am so grateful to have BFFs who regularly light a fire under me and encourage me to step consistently out of my comfort zone.
I learned a very valuable lesson through this experience, one that I am about to share now…
As soon as you start living your values (not just talking about them), you are telling the universe that you are ready for the abundance you are about to receive.
Case in point - I recently had a call with a project in Portugal, an eco-village outside of Faro that’s been on my radar for a while. The call was to discuss a potential work/trade. In exchange for helping them with their marketing outreach for a few months, I would receive a deed to a parcel of land….in freaking Portugal…in a freaking Eco Village.
It’s not a done deal yet, but I am convinced it will go through, and also that I’m worth receiving it.
I am not telling you this as an adult version of one-upping you. Nor am I typing this whilst sticking my tongue out and mumbling “nanny, nanny, nanny.” I am merely suggesting that when you take a bold leap and start LIVING your values (not just talking about them), when you start taking actual tangible steps towards realizing your dreams, and when you take risks, BIG risks, the universe delivers an opportunity seemingly overnight that will prove just how magical and creative of a being you truly are. You see I am a BIG fan of work/trade and it’s one of the principles I want to discuss in the book because it’s the easiest way I know to start building a freelance portfolio when you don’t have a lot of experience and also the most fun way to say F-U to the man. But I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be possible to trade my marketing services for land. Until now.
That’s the Universe’s way of one-upping me, I guess. Well played, universe, well played.