Blog | Personal Finance

Don’t Accept the Status Quo

Thrive with Financial Freedom Instead

Do you play it safe?

Well, you are not alone. In It’s Rising Time!, I talk about research from Dr. Christopher L. Hayes, founder and executive director of the National Center for Women and Retirement Research, and author and speaker, Kate Kelly. They state that women tend to make “safe,” financial decisions based on “getting by” rather than “getting rich.”

Well, according to Webster’s dictionary, “status quo” means “to keep things as they are now,” and currently:

• The unemployment rate in the U.S. is 8.5% per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• "Out of the estimated 46,215,956 people in the U.S. living below the poverty line, approximately 25 million of them are women and 21 million are men."
• "Between one third and two thirds of women now aged thirty-five to fifty-five will be impoverished after age sixty-five if they do not immediately start to prepare financially for their later years.”
• The USDA states that 46,224,722 people in the U.S. use food stamps, or about 15% of the population, costing $6,233,377,828.

With these disturbing facts, I think everyone is looking for positive change away from the status quo. Plus, it’s no fun to “live below your means” and to just “get by.” You deserve more.

If you are reading this, and from the comments I’ve seen from previous posts (thank you), you are probably ready to move forward or already on your way. If not, you may be wondering where to start to make change happen and…

How to Avoid the “Status Quo” and Obtain Financial Freedom

With all of the so-called experts, books, videos, seminars, and massive amounts of information out there, it can be confusing and easy to just give up, curl up on the couch and do nothing. Don’t do it!

To avoid being overwhelmed, start with three, simple steps: figure out where you are now, what you have financially and where you want to go (The Triple A Triangle®). This is the beginning of your financial education.

Search for books, seminars, meetings, investment clubs, videos, online chats, and more where there are experts in their fields doing what you want to do. Network with other investors and find mentors and coaches who can help guide you through the process.

And yes, this research is time-consuming and takes effort, but it is a very important process that you need to do for yourself.

Stop playing it safe and just trying to “get by”

By going through the process of building your financial education, you will find what works for you and what you need to do to make your dreams of financial freedom a reality.

Over time, you’ll feel more confident making decisions and be able to take control of your financial situation. Know that financial freedom is an ongoing process of growth, taking action and creating new dreams. So start by taking one, small action right now and let your journey begin. Once you get started, you’ll never be stuck in the status quo again.

What small step did you take to turn your financial situation around? Please share it with us below.

And if you need some help beginning your path to financial freedom, check out our free, financial education resources here.