4 Money Principles That Will Transform Your Life

We’ve been told our main goal in life is to study hard, get a good job and hope to retire someday. Car payments, mortgages and credit card bills are just a way of life. We should never expect to be free of them.

But that’s not true at all. Financial Freedom isn’t just for a chosen few.

Given the right plan, anyone reach Financial Freedom. The path is actually quite simple.

So, how can you achieve Financial Freedom and live the life you desire? Freedom is achievable by following the Four Money Principles to get control of your life, plan for the future and eliminate money stress.

Principle One: Pay Yourself First

If you’re like 96% of the population, your paycheck disappears the moment it arrives. The money is spent as soon as it hits your bank account while you’re left wondering what happened. No matter what your income level is, you spend exactly, or often more than, what you make.

This leads to a very important point: It’s not what you earn, but what you get to keep that matters. No matter what salary the 96% earns, they rarely keep any of it. And that’s a shame.

How can you ensure you’re putting away money for your future? How can you ensure financial security in the years to come?

You need to Pay Yourself First.

The wealthiest 4% already do this. They pay their future selves before any other bills, every single paycheck. You’ve worked hard to earn your money. You deserve to have something to show for it. Right now, you might be thinking you don’t even have enough income to save for your future.

You need to take a hard look at where your money is being spent, and start Living Within Your Means.

Principle Two: Live On What Remains

When a Financially Fit Bootcamp member works through their Money Planner, they’re usually surprised at how much money they waste each month. Once you see where you can cut back without sacrificing too much quality of life, you can take control of where your money is going.

Living On What Remains–after you Pay Yourself First–isn’t a matter of living your life without any fun. You shouldn’t be picturing a life of no meals out with friends and never going on holiday. But this is a point where you need to take a hard look at your needs versus your wants.  I hear people use those terms interchangeably, and they don’t seem to know the difference.

Controlling your life begins with controlling your spending–to set aside some wants to ensure your needs are met, both now and in the future. If you practice the principles of Paying Yourself First and Living Within Your Means, you’re already light years ahead of the 96% who are still stuck wondering where their money has gone. Once you’ve mastered these two principles, the next step is ensuring you and your family are protected from emergencies. It’s time to Protect Yourself.

Principle Three: Protect Yourself

Despite our best-laid plans, life throws curveballs when we least expect it. What would you do if you lost your job tomorrow? How long could your family survive without any income?

The principle of Protect Yourself means creating an Emergency Buffer and having appropriate insurances in place for your specific situation. An Emergency Buffer is a savings account with at least three months’ worth of living expenses for you and your family. This amount will keep you afloat in the event of a job loss or major medical crisis.

The next step is the proper insurance your family needs in case of a catastrophe. By now, I hope you see that living paycheck to paycheck is a recipe for disaster. Should the unthinkable happen, you need to focus on your family and deal with the crisis at hand. Money should be the last thing on your mind.

Remember, your goal is Financial Freedom and your Emergency Buffer is an important part of that plan.

Principle Four: Making Your Money Work For You

Let’s take a look at the final piece of the puzzle–Making Your Money Work For You.

The 4% already know that to be Financially Free, they need to send their money out to work for them by making quality investments and reinvesting the earnings. When you’re truly Financially Free, you have enough cash flow from your investments to cover your monthly expenses. At that point, work is optional. You have the passive income to pursue the life you truly desire.

Many people wonder what types of investments they should make. My advice in this area is to do your homework. Don’t put all of your investing eggs in one basket and only invest in quality investments. Often, I hear people lament that they didn’t start investing sooner. But it’s never too late to start! You’re never too old to enjoy the benefits that come from Making Your Money Work for You.

Putting It All Together

Now that we’ve examined the Four Money Principles in detail, I hope you understand Financial Freedom is within your grasp. You don’t have to live your life constantly stressed about money, living paycheck to paycheck with nothing saved for the future. You can reject the behaviors of the 96% that leave them stresses, miserable and broke.

Choose to live like the 4%. Make the decision to Pay Yourself First and Live Within Your Means so that you can Protect Yourself and Make Your Money Work for You. By following these Four Principles, you can eliminate money stress and live the life you’ve always imagined.

Take the first step to Financial Freedom by signing up for Mindshift.money. Read stories of success, get expert tips and connect with others who are committed to living the Four Money Principles. We can’t wait to see you there!

Have you been following the Four Money Principles? Which was hardest for you to implement? Which was easiest?

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