Financial Freedom

Financial freedom is different for everyone. But the basic idea is that when you reach financial freedom, you would no longer be constrained financially to do what you want to do. By having enough income from your investments to pay for all your daily expenses, you no longer have to worry to earn enough to put a roof over your head, provide food all that is needed, and maybe something more, for your loved ones. You are basically financially free to do that thing that you want, such as traveling the world, volunteer at that NGO, staying at the tropical sandy beach, etc.

If you think that it is impossible for anyone to achieve financial freedom, think again, there are many people in this world that have achieved financial freedom and are doing things that want. You can do it too.

While I have not achieved financial freedom myself, I can proudly inform you that I am already on my way to financial freedom but it is definitely a long journey.

The 7 Level of Financial Freedom

The Hamster's Wheel

Have you ever realized that we have been repeating almost the same routine every day?

Wake up

Toilet rituals

Breakfast

Commute to work

Start work

Coffee break

Meetings

More works

Lunchtime

Even more works

Tea Break

Finishing works

Commute home

Dinner

Spend time with children

Spend time with wife

Toilet rituals

Hop onto bed

Sleep

Repeat

If you ask me, the above is almost like what a typical Malaysian's daily routine looks like. But imagine that you would be repeating the same thing for 40 years (assuming you start work at 25 and retired at 65), it does sound depressing. That is why many companies would give your annual leaves to break the cycle and make you refresh before putting you back into the same routine again and again. Many would call it the rat race but a more appropriate new term for this is the hamster wheel.

I am sure that many others would have noticed this hamster wheel of life but not many know how to actually get off this hamster wheel. Truth be told, running on the hamster wheel is all that we know. In fact, we were "programmed" to run the hamster wheel. We were told by our parents that we need to study hard to get a good degree from a college and university. Only with that degree, we can get a good job to support our lives. We are also being "programmed" that we must buy things in order to make us happy. On an average day, we would "see" at least a 5,000 ads. All these ads would tell you that you should

- get the new iPhone because it will make you happy.
- buy the latest BMW because it will make you happy.
- buy the biggest house because it will make you happy.
- eat at the most popular restaurant because it will make you happy.
- buy the largest curved TV because it will make you happy.
- watch that latest TV series on Netflix because it will make you happy.
- play the latest game because it will make you happy.