4 unconventional ways to create more financial freedom
- an underrated holiday destination & a podcast interview.
In my last email, I shared how I outsource life admin to create more free time and mental space - things like house cleaning and weekly food shopping.
Full disclosure: I also have a Virtual Assistant who does my bookkeeping/accounts and a Life Concierge who helps me organise things like school holiday activities, pet insurance, Christmas events, travel etc.
Sure, these things cost money, but I save approximately 3-4 hrs per week which I can use to work more and earn more. This is huge when you freelance and work on either an hourly or day rate basis.
Here are 3 other ‘unconventional’ choices I’ve made to create more financial freedom:
I rent where I want to live and purchased property elsewhere
I love Sydney, but the property here is extortionate. So I chose to rent here and bought an investment property in a cheaper area.
This way I'm not committed to an over-priced mortgage and have location flexibility as my life evolves.
*Read The Surfers Guide To Property Investing by Paul Glossop if this is something you’re interesting in exploring.
I birthed one child
Being a one-child family benefits not only my finances but also my physical and mental wellbeing.
Considering the increase in expenses (approx $200 per child per week), increase in household chores and reduced alone time, you can see why stopping at one had its appeal.
*I wrote a blog about this because I was fed up with people asking when I was going to have another baby!
I live in a 2-bedroom apartment
Having a big home with a pool and garden sounds lovely, but a ground floor 2-bedroom apartment with a terrace suits my family of 3. Why do we need any bigger? (Admittedly, I’d like an extra room to use as an office one day).
I value the location and community I live in rather than the size of my bedroom. Life happens outside the home too.
Popular Tweet of the week:
The Leader Assistant Podcast
I sat down with Jeremy Burrows for an interview on his podcast to discuss what it was like being a Virtual Assistant (The Healthy VA) and how to choose a niche.
An Underrated Holiday Destination
Over the school holidays, we housesat for one of my friends.
It was just for a weekend but felt like we’d been on a mini staycation.
Housesitting is so underrated. What a perfect idea for a family holiday, even if it’s less than an hour away from your home.
It’s free
You’re familiar with the home and area, yet still a change of scenery and routine
Your friend can recommend places to visit, the best cafes and restaurants etc
If they have pets, you’ll have a cuddly friend to play with
And even better if they have kids, so your child has a bedroom of new toys to keep them entertained!
Best wishes,
Joanna