[caption id="attachment_3110" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Photo by Andrew Mason"][/caption] The ultimate paradox of financial freedom has been revealed to me. All this while, I’ve been reading, researching and writing about financial freedom. It took a recent episode of moving my net worth from one asset class to another that an epiphany struck me. What is this ephiphany that Panzer encountered? Financial freedom is in the mind Financial freedom first and foremost has to begin in the mind. It’s where you conceive the very idea that you can take control of your finances by living within your means, saving and investing, growing your means and protecting your means. As I started with this idea, and implemented it in the various posts I’ve outlined in this blog, I started to gain new insights about myself. For instance, tracking where every single dollar I earn and spend helped me modify some of my habits when it comes to spending. It has allowed me to evaluate where money (that represents life energy) goes and how that either adds value or subtracts value out of my life. I also started some projects on growing my wealth. My blog monetisation efforts have given modest returns but they are positive returns. While I’ve managed to beat fixed deposits returns for the past 6 years since I started managing my own money, I’ve also under-performed for 2009 year-to-date and I hope I can end the year with a positive return. Throughout all these experiences, I realised one thing. I am already financially free. Read more...