Guest Blog: Freedom isn’t Free

Here’s a guest blog from Matthew Dutile. A friend of mine with some insight on how financial freedom applies to his life. As we reflect on this 4th of July weekend, I’m reminded of an idiom that often pops into my head during traditional memorial holidays, “Freedom isn’t Free.” Freedom takes hard work, dedication and a commitment to not only bettering oneself, but others as well. It comes at the price of effort, time and often sacrifices – big or small. It occurred to me this year though, that the phrase is far more encompassing than a simple tributary saying in honor of our troops. It’s applicable to every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s the freedom to express ourselves, choose our own careers, practice our own religion or even live a life independent of monetary concerns. In fact, “Freedom isn’t Free” might be the perfect way to look at our financial lives. Financial freedom often seemed like a goal far off in the future. Something for when I was older, more experienced and had put my due time into the work force. Who was I to think that it was something I was entitled to so early in my life? At least that’s how I used to think. Then I realized there was something fatally flawed about that line of thought. Financial freedom has no age requirement or restriction, it does not magically happen at the age of 40, 50 or 60, but is a destination that can be reached with alacrity – or never at all – depending upon how the journey is approached. Not only that, but who was I to think I was entitled to riches and a life without effort or care? If I wanted those freedoms, they certainly would not come free. They would come with effort, time and yes, sacrifices. With the following realization, I’ve been putting my time and effort toward financial freedom. I’ve set goals to pay off debts, made sacrifices on different wants, budgeted expenses for saving and spending, made investments and even looked into turning a hobby – photography – into a money maker. Photography has always been a small passion of mine, but it wasn’t until recently that I thought it could be an actual money-maker. I never really considered myself good enough for that. After receiving encouragement from friends and family though, I have looked into ways to begin turning the hobby into an income source. I’ve poured countless hours into reading blogs, books and critiques on improving the craft, met with professional photographers, invested money into portfolio building and put effort into my networking outreach. The effort has been very rewarding and I’m happy to say that I have sold a decent amount of photographs, expanded my knowledge base, made new contacts in the business and continue to learn more each day. It’s afforded me the ability to invest more into a hobby I enjoy and continue the journey toward financial freedom. So reflecting on this past Independence Day, as the nation collectively tucks back the barbeques, cleans the serving platters and reviews photos of fireworks, remember that there is more than just one way to look at freedom. Think financially as well.