By: PanzerGrenadier The more I read personal finance blogs, the more I realise the secret towards financial freedom is within our grasp. It is something that all of us have known in our lives but were too set in our ways to realise it. We caught sight of it in some of our parents’ lives, some of our grandparents and those people who choose not to live like everyone else. What is this secret to financial freedom? It is to realise that to live more, we don’t necessarily have to spend more. Spend Less, Live More Any personal finance book worth its salt will tell you that one of the principles of achieving financial independence is to live within your means. It is simple but it is not easy. To live within your means in practical terms results in you confronting your worst enemy when it comes to financial independence. YOURSELF. You are both an asset and a liability towards your goal of financial freedom. You are an asset in that you gain in value through experiences and skills you gain from your job, career or business. You represent a stream of cash flows accruing from trading your time for money. Your life energy to put food on the table and to put a roof over you and your family’s heads. You can be a liability in that your lifestyle drives the expenses in your life. Your standard of living defines how much income is “enough” and why you spend on the things you do. How you define what is “enough” and how you see yourself in relating to others when it comes to what is “enough” makes a big impact on your standard of living. How can you spend less and live more?