Finance Roll

Financial freedom is something that most people think is only a dream. We all dream from time to time. My favorite dream is that I'll win the lottery and get to go spend at least a million dollars without any consequences. However, there are some things that shouldn't be left to dreaming.

Financial freedom isn't a dream. It is a reality for many people, and it can be for you, too. All you have to do is make it happen. That's really all there is to it.

Why do you want financial freedom? You may be tired of never having money to buy the things you want. You may be tired of debt, finance charges and the never-ending bills. You may want to give your children a better life. You may want to retire comfortably, or even early.

These are your financial freedom goals. The why is just as important as the how. Goals will keep you working towards financial freedom. You aren't doing it just because you think you should. You are doing it because you are getting something in return. Early retirement, a new home, college educations for your children. It is all worth it.

When looking at your financial goals, make sure that they are really important to you. Choose one main goal that will drive you to save that extra dollar. This is what will keep you going over the years. Don't just agree to what someone else says. If you really want to see Paris some day, make that one of your top goals.

Break your goals into actions that you can take to reach them. For example, if you want to pay off your credit card debt, you need to make a debt repayment plan. Or if you are looking to retire early, you need to calculate how much you need to invest each month in order to reach that goal.

Set time limits to each of your goals and actions. You may give yourself three years to pay off your debt. Give yourself one week to start researching your investment options for your retirement savings. Break your goals down into things that you can do one step at a time. This keeps you rolling right on down your list.

One of the keys to successfully building your financial freedom is to stay on top of it. It isn't enough to say that you will get out of debt and then start investing. You have to take the actions. You have to review your goals several times a year to see if the actions you are taking are working. You may find that you have not been faithful to your goals. This periodical review will refresh your plan for financial freedom and get you back on the right track.

Financial freedom is possible. Start with why and let it guide you to the how. I guarantee that almost every goal you set will be dependent on paying off your debt and starting an investment portfolio. Educate yourself on how to manage your finances successfully, and before you know it you will be financially free.