achieve financial independence

I signed up for an online course offered by Loral Langemeier—“The Millionaire Maker.” It’s called WealthDiva.com and is a great way for women to get their finances organized. I’m on the lesson that requires you to do a baseline, a forecast, and set up a financial filing cabinet. In the process of doing my taxes, I’m going to do income averaging for the last year and set up my P/L statements (something I should be doing for the business anyway). Mainly, I have to change my thinking from “I hate dealing with financial records” to “I take responsibility for my financial records so that I can reach my financial goals.”

People always talk about the new cars they’re going to buy, the new homes they’re going to purchase, the boats and other big ticket items, but I have my own list.

• install a backyard patio and finish the landscaping
• replace the hot tub cover so we could enjoy it again
• replace the overhead garage door
• take all of my kids on individual trips
• pay for all of my kids’ college tuition
• increase my donation level to Habitat for Humanity
• buy my husband a business to run (to keep him busy)
• rent a vacation home for a month in the Virgin Islands
• replace our upstairs carpeting
• pay off our mortgage
• get weekly massages again
• hire someone to help with the cleaning
• eat out a couple times a week at nicer restaurants
• golf more often and at nicer courses
• do something incredible and memorable for my husband’s 50th
• do something nice for my mother (a vacation maybe?)

I’d put more emphasis on experiences and services than on “stuff.” I don’t need to impress anyone! I just want to do things that will make life easier and more enjoyable. I also want to share some really special times with my friends and loved ones.

It certainly means different things to different people, but for me it means not being dependent on anyone else for the things that I want and need in life. If I want to be able to take a vacation, I check my schedule and go online and buy an airline ticket. If I want to take my daughter to the mall on a shopping spree, we go without having to worry about how to afford it. If my son wants to attend a certain college, he doesn’t have to wonder where the tuition money is going to come from. If I want to attend a conference, I make the reservations. It means not having to worry about how I’m going to pay the bills. Being financially free means having my money working for me instead of me working for my money!!