Blog — Sisters for Financial Independence

Aug 16

Aug 16 Substitute the Word Money with the Word Freedom: Phrases to Try

Financial Education, Financial Basics, Alternative Lifestyle

"A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life."

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I recently came across an article written by Whitney Cummings on the last page of Money Magazine. She talks about her personal money management, but more importantly how she started substituting the word money for the word freedom. So I thought I would compile a list of phrases with this substitution. It's important to note that sometimes changing our language changes our mindset in a whole new way even if we haven't fully internalized it yet. Try these on for size. Speak them out loud. How does saying one versus the other make you feel?

It's always important to understand that money isn't just money. We exchange our time for money (via jobs) and therefore we can exchange back money for time (retirement).

The first quote is from Whitney Cumming's in the article above.

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Should I give some of my money to a friend who shows no signs of wanting to get her own life together and earning her own money, but keeps asking for some of my money?

“Should I give some of my freedom to a friend who shows no signs of wanting to get her own life together and earning her own freedom, but keeps asking for some of my freedom?”

Should I spend some of my money to buy this dress that looks great, but I may wear once or twice?

Should I spend some of my freedom to buy this dress that looks great, but I may wear once or twice?

I need my money now so I haven't set up a 401K or an IRA yet. I'll get to saving money for my retirement later on.

I need my freedom now so I haven't set up a 401K or IRA yet. I'll get to saving for my retirement freedom later on.

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financial basics, spending, budget, being basic, debt

Is Being Basic Costing You Money?

financial basics, spending, budget, being basic, debt

Is being basic costing you money?

There's been a term floating around for a few years now called "basic." Urban Dictionary defines it as someone who "engages in typical, unoriginal behaviors, modes of dress, speech, and likes." Is there anything wrong with liking the things that are being mass marketed to us? Absolutely not, BUT, sometimes we have to start doing the unconventional to be able to get off of the same hamster wheel that everyone is on. Being average in the world of Financial Independence sometimes carries a price.

financial basics, spending, budget, being basic, debt

I only live once. It's OK if I spend all of my money today. I'll earn more money in the future.

I only live once. It's OK if I spend all of my freedom today. I'll earn more freedom in the future.

I can just borrow money later. It's easy.

I can just borrow my freedom later. It's easy.

I owe so much money to these lenders. I don't know what to do.

I owe so much of my freedom to these lenders. I don't know what to do.

I want to invest so that I can have more money.

I want to invest so that I can have more freedom.

“I spent money impulsively and I gave money to whoever asked. It was all going pretty well, or so I thought, until one of my parents got sick…without health insurance. All of a sudden I needed all the money I had ever spent on shoes, fancy juices, and other people’s problems.”

— Whitney Cummings

I'm saving my money instead of spending it all.

I'm saving my freedom instead of spending it all.

Learn more about how money mindset affects you by watching this video with Rami Sethi from I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Share it with someone who can use a spark.

If you are ready to crush your debt, the first thing that needs to be done is to face the facts and calculate how much you have, then get pointers from David Bach, author of 9 best selling NYT books, on crushing debt.

Do you have a phrase you'd like to add to this list? Comment below.