Journey to Financial Independence with Me

Many people assume that earning more money automatically leads to wealth. Unfortunately, that was something I believed for a long time before realising the truth. It doesn’t.

I’ve met people on modest incomes who build savings steadily, and I’ve seen high earners living month to month with nothing to show for years of hard work.

The problem usually isn’t the amount of income. It’s behaviour. How you use that income influences your wealth.

When we talk about the economy and finance, inflation is one of the most commonly used words. Even during the current global conflicts, inflation is mentioned almost every day and how it may impact our lives.

But there’s another type of inflation that is even closer to us — lifestyle inflation.

The moment income increases, we normally increase our spending as well. It becomes an upgrade for an upgrade.

A pay rise becomes a nicer car.
A bonus becomes a holiday.
A promotion becomes a bigger mortgage.

It feels good in the first few months, but gradually the same feeling creeps back in, and now you are back to the same mindset: I need to earn more. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life. But if every raise disappears, progress never begins.

Many people work hard but never stop to define what they are working towards. Without a target, money gets spent randomly.

A simple plan changes everything:

• Build an emergency fund
• Clear expensive debt
• Invest monthly
• Increase income over time

But above all else, start by developing the habit of looking at your own accounts and balance sheets. That’s where it all begins.

The common issue currently is about looking rich instead of being rich. Some of the wealthiest people look ordinary. Some of the most financially stressed look successful on the outside. Real wealth is not the watch, the car, or the designer label.

Real wealth is:

• Freedom
• Options
• Time
• Peace of mind

These are not always obvious from the outside. It’s not external “richness” that I am aiming for, it’s internal richness. I believe we have to stop thinking too much about how others perceive us, because in reality no one really cares.

Many delay investing or saving because they think they need more money first.

I made this mistake myself. I often thought, my current income is just enough for my current lifestyle. So when my income increases, the extra money will become savings or investments.

But often when the income increase came, lifestyle inflation would set in, and I was back to square one again. This cycle repeated itself numerous times.

Looking back, first it was: I just started work, income still low, let me climb the ladder. Then came: I have a girlfriend, I need to make an effort for dates and activities together. Then: I am getting married, I will start saving after the wedding. Then: I need to spend more on my newborn. Then school fees… and it keeps on coming.

The mistake was always pushing savings further away.

I can see why it happens so easily. It is a real mental challenge to restrict a portion of money and choose not to use it now. We are all impatient, and we often want immediate results. The spending above gives immediate results.

Whereas saving and investing is a long game. You don’t feel it today. You only appreciate it many years later, which makes it harder in the moment.

In reality, there will never be a right time.

As the famous proverb goes: the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is now. Financial independence does not come overnight. It comes from years of investment and commitment to eventually reap the benefits. Like planting a tree, you only get to sit in the shade once it has fully grown.

Schools teach many things, but money management is often learned the hard way.

Understanding budgeting, investing, tax, pensions, and compound growth can change your future more than many people realise.

I do wonder why this is not taught more in later school years before college or university. It is important knowledge that can empower people to manage their finances wisely and, in turn, strengthen the economy.

Perhaps the system benefits when most people never learn these things early enough.

But I will share the knowledge that I have acquired over the past few years with you, so that you can begin your journey as well and join me on the path towards financial independence.

For years, I focused mainly on earning. Then one day I made the first step. Looking back, it may not have been the perfect step, but it eventually led me onto what I believe is the right path for me at this moment. Hopefully I am right.

Slow progress is better than no progress. Now I understand that building wealth is not just about income. It is about what you keep, what you grow, and what habits you repeat. That mindset shift matters more than any single pay rise.

You do not need to earn the most. You need to manage what you earn better than before. That is where the journey starts.

One decision at a time. One step at a time. One habit at a time.

See you in the next step of my journey.