In a society incessantly bombarded by bigger, better, faster and keeping up with the Kardashians, it’s no surprise people everywhere – including the government – are literally drowning in debt.

If you’re among those folks slipping out of their life jackets with the waters rising around you, your rescue is here! By following these four financial hacks, soon enough you’ll be the one captaining the recovery mission and on your way to the financial freedom you’ve always dreamed of.

1. Know Your Numbers. Step one to financial freedom is getting a handle on all the money that’s coming in and all that money that’s going out — your income versus your expenses. Write down every penny that finds its way to you from every source: your career, your side jobs, your pension, your interest, your investments, etc.

Next write down every penny that goes out: from your car to your housing and everything in between including groceries, insurances, phone bills, gas, lunch for the kids, coffee…every penny.

Knowing your numbers helps take the fear out of Step #2.

2. Organize Your Numbers. Now that you know where your dollars are coming from and where they’re going, setting up a budget will be a breeze. Following it will be too if you’re determined to stay focused on the end result of financial freedom.

It used to be pen and paper were the only way to track income and expenses, but with the help of modern technology there are quite a few ways to create a spending plan (a.k.a. budget) online. (Click here to read more about budgets: https://jmvfinancialservices.com//budgets-friends-not-foes/)

Getting and staying organized with your cash flow makes for less stress and more time for living out your dreams.

4. Use Cash, Not Cards. Most people reach for the credit card when it comes time to pay for that new TV, phone or next new gadget they or their kids just HAVE to have, but when you adopt a cash-only lifestyle you’ll not only be saving money (think upward of 10% interest on most credit cards) you’ll be learning personal development skills as well. If you only have enough money budgeted and saved for your bills and that vacation you’ve been dreaming about for five years, you’ll quickly realize your old TV works just a good as the one that almost set you back $999, your phone sends the same amount of text and calls as the larger version and your kids really CAN carry on a conversation at the dinner table if they’re not distracted by a video screen.

Imagine what you can learn not only about yourself, but your children – your family – as well when you choose to spend more time with them rather than money on them!

5. Shop Smarter. Being thrifty is a definite plus when it comes to living within your means. Using coupons, visiting consignment or thrift shops and bartering are all great ways to pad the numbers in your favor when it comes to increasing cash flow.

For example, if you’re a massage therapist and you live in an area where there’s a local farmer, offer to trade goods for services instead of going to the chain supermarket to get your produce. Farmers work from sun up to sun down, and a massage just might be the one thing he needs to help keep him moving and producing. And honestly, is there anything better than fresh-off-the-farm foods…that you don’t have to pay for?

While these are just a few ways to get you started making changes toward the financial freedom and lifestyle goals you’ve been thinking were impossible, rest assured one or two small steps taken each day in the direction of your vision will soon having you living well within your means – and maybe even with enough extra for you to pay cash for that TV upgrade after all.

So are you ready to get started? Connect with us here to share your questions or comments about living within your means…or anything else financial for that matter!