Let’s get one thing straight: Financial freedom isn’t for other people. It’s for you, too.

It isn’t some elusive summit you climb your whole life just to plant your flag on top and call it a day. It’s not a finish line. It’s not reserved for the ultra-wealthy or those born into money. And it’s not something you “someday” stumble into with a lucky break.

Financial independence is a process. A practice. A habit.

In fact, it’s a lot like brushing your teeth: you don’t do it once and say, “Well, that’s done.” You show up every day with small actions that, over time, produce extraordinary results. The same goes for your money.

Degrees, not destinations

Most people treat financial independence like a destination you drive toward at 100 miles an hour, only to hit the brakes once you get there. But that mindset leads to burnout, frustration, and often, giving up before you even really begin.

Here’s a better way to think about it: Financial independence moves in degrees.

Every time you make a smart money move, however small, you level up. Every time you choose to save a little more, cut a tiny expense, automate a payment, or invest in your future self, you’ve taken another degree of control over your financial life.

And those degrees? They add up faster than you think.

Start where you are and use what you have.

You don’t need to have your dream salary, a portfolio full of real estate, or a spreadsheet that rivals NASA’s flight plans. You only need this: the willingness to tweak one money habit today in favor of your long-term freedom.

Think about it: could you skip the $8 delivery fee once a week and move that cash into a high-yield savings account instead? Could you start rounding up your debit card purchases and automatically save the difference? Could you make an extra $50 payment toward debt this month?

It might seem small, but these micro-movements matter. And they compound.

The most financially free people you know didn’t wake up rich. They woke up disciplined. They started with small, intentional choices. Then they did it again. And again.

You can too.

Here’s your action step this week:

Pick one daily money habit. Just one. Maybe it’s your morning coffee, your weekly subscription, your after-work Target run. Whatever it is, adjust it slightly in favor of financial independence.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire budget or sacrifice all your joy. Just move one dial.

Then repeat that next week. And the next. Before you know it, you’ve created an upward spiral of financial momentum. That’s the real path to freedom.d

Freedom isn’t later, it’s now.

There’s a powerful moment when you realize that financial independence isn’t waiting for you at age 65. It’s happening right now, in the habits you’re building, the choices you’re making, and the mindset you’re developing.

It’s the peace of knowing you’re on a path. It’s the confidence that you’re building a buffer. It’s the joy of spending intentionally, not impulsively. And it’s the clarity of knowing your future self is already grateful for the decision you just made today.

This isn’t wishful thinking. This is real, practical, doable stuff. You’ve got everything you need to start.

So go. Take one small step toward your financial independence today, and know that you’re already on the path.

To your financial freedom,
– Mike
Author of The Money Habit

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