Live Free, Not Flashy: Using Finance as a Tool for Purposeful Living
Finance /ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s/
noun
The mindful management of money with the goal of creating freedom, not luxury.
Includes:
Income – The money you earn, build, or generate
Expenses – The money you spend and allocate
Pursuits – The financial preparation to chase your unique goals and dreams
Finance: The Freedom to Choose Your Life, Not Just Afford It
Money doesn’t buy happiness—but it does buy choices. And with choices comes freedom: the ability to say yes to the life you want, and no to what no longer serves you.
Finance, in the context of a vibrant life, isn’t about wealth signals, luxury cars, or status. It’s about strength, independence, and intention.
If your wellness is your foundation, then your finances are the engine. They help you move, dream, build, and breathe easier.
1. Income – More Than Just a 9-to-5
Traditionally, income is your salary or wages. But in today’s world, income can take many forms:
Freelancing or consulting
Passive income through investments or content
Selling handmade goods, art, or digital products
Renting property, ridesharing, or skill-based gigs
The key is diversification—not to overextend, but to open possibility. Your earning power doesn’t have to be linear. It can be layered, creative, and adaptable.
2. Expenses – The Power of Knowing Where It Goes
Wealth isn’t just built by earning—it’s protected by managing.
Budgeting isn’t about restriction. It’s about alignment. When you track where your money goes, you begin to see whether it supports your values, goals, and future—or sabotages them.
Even the world’s wealthiest people create budgets. Why? Because clarity equals control.
Tools, apps, spreadsheets, envelopes—whatever your method, the goal is the same: know where your money lives and what it’s doing.
Alternatively, treating savings as a default and automatic expense, setting aside roughly $300 a week starting in your early 20s—especially if invested wisely—can potentially grow to over $1 million by your 60s or 70s, thanks to the magic of compound interest.
3. Pursuits – Financing Your Dreams, Not Just Your Bills
Your finances should serve your life, not the other way around.
Travel. Starting a business. Taking a sabbatical. Supporting a loved one. Buying land. Building a sanctuary. Funding a passion.
These aren’t just line items—they’re pursuits. They matter deeply to your heart and your sense of meaning. Finance isn’t just spreadsheets; it’s freedom fuel for your most personal visions.
And that’s why this focus area matters—not to have more, but to unlock what matters most.
Why Finance Is a Core Focus Area
If you feel financially trapped, the rest of your life contracts with it. Worry and stress creep into your health, relationships, and confidence.
But if you feel financially stable—even modestly—you breathe differently. You feel stronger. You begin to imagine.
Finance is freedom. Not to hoard—but to live on purpose.
