Financial Freedom is a long-term game. Why?

Imagine working hard for years, and then, after some time, reaching a point where you no longer need to work for the rest of your life. You can choose to work if you enjoy it, but otherwise, there’s no obligation. Sounds cool, right?
That is financial freedom. Today, I want to share my insights on financial freedom — why it’s important, how to train the mind psychologically for it, and why it’s a long-term game.
So, without wasting any time, let’s dive in.
What is Financial Freedom?
As I’ve already explained, financial freedom means living life without the need to work when you don’t want to.
Why is it Important?
We all have dreams. I do too. But can we achieve them easily? TBH, no. And why is that?
Because money isn’t readily available to us in the way we need it. However, once you achieve financial freedom, these dreams become possible.
So, how do you achieve it? If you ask me that, here’s what I’d say:
Training the Mind Psychologically
How do we train our minds psychologically, and why should we?
We need to condition our minds to avoid spending money unnecessarily. Many people, including myself, wonder: “I keep saving, but I see no results.”
Hold on — I’m not telling you to just save money aimlessly.
There are various saving and investing strategies, like the 60–40 rule, but I don’t follow them. Instead, I prefer a different approach:
Step 1: Build an Emergency Fund
Imagine your health suddenly declines, and you’re unable to work. What happens to your family if they depend on your salary? That’s why you need an emergency fund.
Personal Advice: Don’t save money just as cash. Instead, buy gold.
Many might think, “Okay, Anand, then I’ll buy gold jewelry.” But no, you need to buy gold coins or biscuits, depending on the amount you can invest. Your emergency fund should cover at least one year of expenses.
Why gold? Because of inflation, currency depreciation, and more. TBH, if I were to write about it, it would take at least two or more blogs. But to keep it simple, buy gold and store it safely for emergency situations.
Step 2: Get Insurance
Once you’ve secured an emergency fund, you’re slightly safe. Even if you face job loss or an unexpected crisis, you won’t be in immediate financial trouble.
The next step is taking out insurance for yourself and your family.
But TBH, insurance can be a headache. Choosing the wrong one becomes an unnecessary financial burden. So, do your research — watch YouTube videos, compare policies, and make an informed decision.
Step 3: Investing in Stocks and Bonds
At this stage, you now have an emergency fund + insurance, so you’re financially safer for the time being.
Now, it’s time to learn about the stock market and bonds and start investing.
Alert: I am not a SEBI-registered financial advisor; I am only sharing my personal thoughts.
Study stocks — understand their book value, integrity, and overall market behavior before investing. If you’re wondering where to learn about this, I recommend checking out Almost Everything, Animated Book Show, and Money Pechu — they provide great book summaries on stock market investing and psychology.
If you have extra money, don’t put it all in an FD (Fixed Deposit) because FD returns don’t even match inflation. Instead, consider bonds.
Salary Breakdown
Your salary should be distributed as follows:
Salary = Insurance + Investment + Expenses
Pay for insurance and investments first, then spend on expenses. If you spend first, you’ll struggle to invest. It’s human nature, boss.
Other Important Financial Practices
1. Practice Delayed Gratification:
Whenever you want to buy something, don’t purchase it immediately — even if you have the money. Stop yourself.
Wait for days, weeks, or even months. If, after a month, you still genuinely need it, then buy it.
Trust me, when you follow this method, you’ll notice that most of the things you initially wanted weren’t necessary. I am 100% sure about this.
2. Follow Your Mother’s Budgeting Practices:
Your mother is an excellent guide for financial management. TBH, I was shocked to realize that, despite studying personal finance extensively, my mother was already applying many smart financial practices — except investing.
Learn from her in areas like expense tracking, monthly budgeting, and financial discipline.
3. Avoid Spending via UPI Payments:
If you make transactions using UPI, even spending ₹10,000 won’t feel like a big deal. But when you pay in cash, you will hesitate — and that hesitation helps control spending.
Psychology Matters in Investing
Whenever you study investment-related content — whether through books, podcasts, or videos — also listen to at least one book on psychology.
Psychology plays a huge role in financial decisions.
Financial Freedom: A Long-Term Game
If you follow these principles for 10 to 20 years, your returns will be unbelievable.
Some may react by saying, “Are you kidding me? What will I do after achieving financial freedom in 10–20 years?”
Here’s my reply: Even Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors in the world, became a billionaire at age 55.
Just think about it. I don’t want to scare you, but this is reality. Many jobs aren’t permanent, and financial security ensures an enjoyable life, not just for you but for your entire family.
TBF, following all these steps is tough — even for me. I’m still a beginner, like you. But compared to most people, I might be on step 5 or 10.
Final Thoughts
As already said, when you feel this content is valuable, follow me for more upcoming Blogs.
Connect with Me:
- LinkedIn: Anand Sundaramoorthy
- Instagram: @anandsundaramoorthysa
- Email: sanand03072005@gmail.com
