Since you’re reading my blog, you probably already know that you can’t gain financial freedom only by having income from a paycheck.
There are a few reasons for this ‒ but today we’ll focus on just one. And that’s where the question comes in: “When it comes to how you spend your time, are you the master… or the servant?” Here’s what I mean…
Are You a Servant?
Do you have a clear idea of where you want to live (assuming it’s not where you are now), but can’t pull it off because you just can’t afford to live in that part of the country or world?
Have you and your spouse had to put off, or even give up on, taking that dream vacation because of credit card debt?
For that matter, are you turning down all kinds of fun opportunities to hang out with friends, do cool stuff with your kids, or be more involved with a favorite charity… because you’ve had to take on an extra part-time job (or two) just to start paying off those massive credit card bills?
Do you lack the time to work out the way you’d like to, or money to buy the kind of food you’d like to eat, because you’re too busy working long hours ‒ and too tired when you’re done to make those changes anyway, even if you could afford it?
If you answer Yes to any of these questions, or others like them, then here’s the bottom line:
Your money is controlling you and how you spend your time.
Put another way, your lack of control over your money limits your choices about how much you’re able to actually do the things you’d like to do. In other words…
You’re the servant of your money. Your money is your master.
Do You Have the Freedom to Retire?
By the way, this is pretty much why you can’t retire only on a paycheck ‒ and certainly not if you’re also burdened by consumer debt. Because to retire in a way that actually works and is enjoyable and financially sound, you’ve got to be in control of your money, not the other way around. And there’s more…
I don’t want to belittle the idea of working for a paycheck. If it’s honorable work and brings in cash, that can be a very good thing. In fact, it can allow you to save enough capital to use as a basis to start multiplying your wealth through investment. The problem is simply that working for a paycheck in and of itself, without some way of leveraging the value of the money you’ve saved, isn’t enough.
And that’s largely because when you’re only working for someone else for that proverbial “paycheck,” you’re bringing in some cash… but building their dream. You’re funding their retirement, not yours.
So, yes, being a servant to others is a good and noble thing. (Our motto is “Through service we build people”!) But it’s not so good to serve money, or surrender your control of it to build someone else’s dream. You need your money to serve you.
When You’re the Master…
So what’s it like when you’re the master of your time, and therefore of your choices, including choosing the kind of retirement you’d like? When you’re the master… and your money’s the servant?
We’ll just go back through our list from the beginning of the post, and see the difference.
When you’re the master of your money… you can live where you decide to live ‒ wherever is best for your family and your interests. Money doesn’t hold you back.
When you’re the master of your money… you can take the vacations you’ve always wanted to take, maybe even ones you hadn’t thought of before.
When you’re master of your money… you decide how much time to spend with your kids and grandkids, friends, and spouse. When you need “face time,” you’re free to enjoy it. And when you see a good cause you want to be a part of, you just roll up your sleeves and get to work. Money problems don’t limit your relationships. (Instead, the money makes a lot of the fun possible!)
When you’re the master of your money… you can join whatever gym you’d like, and buy whatever food you need, to be the best “You” that you can be physically. And you can sleep well because you’re not killing yourself with crazy long hours and the sleep deprivation that goes along with that.
When you’re the master of your money… money is your servant.
It becomes a powerful tool that buys you time and freedom to make the best choices for your life ‒ including engineering the ideal retirement lifestyle.
Give us a call at (801) 990-5109 or schedule your free appointment here to build a personalized Wealth Plan. We’ll help you understand how RP Capital can help you be the master of your money and reach your financial goals by investing in real estate…
