What is Financial Freedom?

I am super excited to finally be talking about Financial Freedom! For the better part of the past year, ideas and concepts have been circulating in my mind. In the past year, my life has changed drastically. I have more confidence in myself, my job, my faith, and my family life. What happened a year ago? Well, I hit my own personal rock bottom.

Typically when people think of "rock bottom" they think about someone whose life is in complete shambles. No money, no job, no hope. Well, my life wasn't in complete shambles. In fact, I am a very blessed guy. However, I hit my own "personal" rock bottom, meaning that I didn't want to sink any lower than I already felt. So I made the decision to start clawing and scratching my way back up.

My wife and I were in debt. We lived paycheck to paycheck. Many times there was too much month at the end of our money. We were literally shaking piggy banks looking for any loose change to get us through the end of the month. We were paying back student loans, car payments, credit card payments, and mortgage payments. Add that on top of all the "normal" expenses like expensive cable, expensive cell phones, groceries, eating out, and the list can go on. We were living comfortably, not going into anymore debt. That is one of the biggest lies I had told myself: "We are fine because we aren't going into anymore debt." Basically, I excused my bad spending habits by being proud I didn't overspend my bank account. How crazy is that?! Go ahead, spend what you want and be reckless with your money as long as you don't go negative in your bank account. That's a ridiculous philosophy, yet it's how I was living. When you play with matches, you will get burned. So, yes, I wasn't going into anymore debt, but I was also not progressing financially. I finally had enough.

I remember one month about a year ago, when it finally hit me. I was getting paid in a few days, but I had hardly anything in my checking account and about the same in my savings account. You know the story, right? Your savings looks good at the beginning of the month because you put some money in when you get paid, but by the end of the month, your savings is covering the deficit of your checking account. You are basically spending just as much as you are bringing in. It's an endless cycle and you are never moving forward! I felt like I was running a race and no matter how fast I moved my legs...I never left the spot where I was standing.

It had to stop. This is not the way I wanted to live. So, my wife and I decided to roll up our sleeves and get to work. You know how people do a complete remodel of their house? Well, we did that with our finances. We completely gutted our lifestyle and started building it back up again. We had to examine our choices and our lifestyle. We had to stop thinking about instant satisfaction and start thinking about our future. We cut unnecessary expenses. We made difficult choices like cutting cable and only paying for Hulu and Netflix. We made the decision to pass on a family vacation. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Fast forward to today; a year removed from the start of our complete remodel. We are still working and still making changes, but our lives are better. That's the thing about finances, there's always work to be done because you're always making money (hopefully). The entire time I was fighting and scratching my way out of my personal rock bottom, I kept thinking to myself, "How can I help other people do the same thing?" My full time job is a preacher. I teach the Bible at a congregation in Athens, AL. My primary focus with preaching is teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping people get to Heaven. I am not qualified to teach the Gospel because I am an expert or because I'm perfect; I am qualified to teach the Gospel because I genuinely care about God's Word and God's people. I teach the Gospel because there is a need for salvation in this world. In the Bible, James said, "remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (5:20). When I preach, this is what I try to do...teach myself and those who are listening how to turn from the error of their ways and turn back to God.

I am not a money expert and I am not perfect with money. However, over the past year, I have realized that there is need for a financial awakening in this world. Debt has overrun our country and people are in need of saving. Millions of people are in debt and have no idea how to scratch their way out of the pit. They have no idea who to turn to.

This is where the idea for Financial Freedom was born: helping people learn how to win with money, teaching people how to take their life back, coaching people on how to be smarter and better with what God has given them. I want to help people see the error of their ways and turn them toward Financial Freedom. Through this blog, I am going to share my thoughts and opinions on winning with money. I am going to share with you my journey, the choices I had to make, the lessons I learned, and the things I wish I knew when I was younger. Hopefully, they will help someone. Hopefully, this blog and the services I will provide will change someone's life.

Are you ready to find Financial Freedom? Subscribe to the blog. Look at the website. Start your journey today!