Financial freedom (or financial independence), is often defined as having enough income to cover one’s living expenses for the rest of their life.
So what does this mean exactly? Passive income, as the name suggests, is money coming from sources which we don’t have to be actively involved in (unlike how a typical job would). This means that achieving financial freedom is equivalent to having all of one’s life expenses paid off for, without having to really “work”.
Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? After all, who would not want to live comfortably and free of worries about money and finances?
Some of us may wonder if such is even possible in our lifetimes. Thankfully, the good news is that with adequate planning and professional guidance, financial freedom may actually be attainable - and it all starts from small steps.
As young adults, we can begin by taking full responsibility and doing proper financial planning for ourselves. Be it cultivating habits of sound money-management and being better prepared for rainy days, or trying out investment strategies to accumulate wealth, these are all gradual progressions towards establishing financial independence.
Understandably, navigating through the many aspects of proper financial planning (i.e. spendings, savings, investments, insurance and more) can appear intimidating, especially to those just starting out. More so, achieving financial independence is more than just planning - but also putting in the hard work towards making it a reality. Hence, it always helps to have a more knowledgeable guiding figure around, be it a mentor, or a professional who can offer sound advice tailored to each individual’s unique financial situation.
To those figuring out where to start, The CRÈME Internship may just be the right thing for you! The brainchild of our mentors, the program would be a great springboard for advice and guidance from experienced industry experts. From learning about the secrets to evaluating oneself, to steering towards making the best career decisions, The CRÈME Internship is filled with tips you’d definitely not want to miss out on. To find out more about your eligibility for the program, check out this link.
Thanks for reading! Here are a few anecdotes from our mentors as well;
Weishen:
First, let me ask, what is financial freedom to you? According to Forbes, financial freedom is defined as “finding yourself in a financial position where you don't need to work unless you want to.” Times change, things change, numbers change. Change is the only constant in life. Cliché, but that magic number that may bring you the perceived Financial Freedom today, may change due to so many factors that one cannot fathom or even control.
Instead of focusing on financial freedom, and on the many things that one cannot control, we should shift our focus to the things that we are in control of, like ourselves;
1. Always be focused! Whether it's your goal, your dream, your self growth, learning a new skill. Be focused!
2. Be hardworking and committed! Every drop makes an ocean, putting in the effort and work regardless of whether we want to or not, will make all the difference.
3. Always be humble to learn. Our ego is usually our biggest enemy. It keeps us from being able to see, hear, and acknowledge the reality of things. This is the most dangerous thought to possess - to think that we have learnt enough, and that we know it all. Always keep the ego in check, it is how we react to the feedback and critique that sets us apart from others. Are we going to pause, and reflect upon this information to see what resonates, or perhaps how we were blindsided, and improve and transform ourselves, or will we outright reject and react impulsively to this action?
Coming back to financial freedom, it is achievable! However, to reach that, having a strong, aligned mindset is essential to being a happy and successful individual on that journey, will definitely increase our ability to do so. Our cups need to be full before we are able to fight our daily battles and trudge on this quest to achieve financial freedom. Good luck!
Shao Wei:
No, if we are still asking that question.
Yes, if we start diligently working on it. With proper planning and disciplined execution, it will move in the right direction. In any case if we don’t hit our targeted goal, we won’t be far off and will still be at a much better position from where we started.
Jamson:
Anything is possible, as long as you have the courage to believe that you can do it. To me, the key is Self Discipline, Sincerity and Trustworthiness.