10 Mindsets That Will Help You Achieve Financial Freedom

January 5, 2026

While I have mentioned finances a number of times on my blog, I have never actually written a post on the topic of financial freedom or simply put, making wise financial decisions.

In today’s post, I want to share with you what my husband and I have learned about finances, perhaps in a way that a parent or older sibling might share wisdom with a young person just starting out in life.

These are simple, basic truths that I wish I had known so many years earlier! It took me a lot of perspective-shifting and mindset-changing to arrive at the understanding and wisdom of these truths. I wish I knew in my late teens and early 20s what I know now in my upper 30s. If a person will diligently apply the wisdom of these ideas below, he will quickly move towards financial freedom.

What do I mean by financial freedom? In an ideal world, financial freedom (to me) means zero debt and a healthy, sustainable inflow and outflow of money where there is more money coming in than money going out. While living with some debt is necessary for most people for a time, you can still be financially free in the sense of living responsibly and saving more than you make.

Here are the simple ideals that have brought tremendous financial peace to my husband and me:

1.       Live within your means.

We have learned to set aside societal norms and only purchase what we can actually afford. We never carry credit card debt and only purchase what we can outright pay for or pay off in a timely manner.

2.       Don’t try to be your parents.

It took our parents decades to build their wealth; we could not expect to live at our parent’s standard of living right after our wedding!

3.       Don’t try to keep up with others.

This has honestly been a very hard ideal for me, one which I have intensely struggled with. I have felt so “less than” for most of my marriage as our home, vehicles, and possessions are much simpler, older, or worn-out than many around us.

Yet when I stop and think about the financial peace that we have and the lack of debt in our family, I am reminded to stay the course of wise financial decisions. We try to make purchases—vehicles, home, technology, etc.—that we genuinely need (and at times, desire) not based on comparison with others.

4. Live simply.

Our world is increasingly complex, and marketing tells us that we “need” so many things. Yet, our needs are actually quite simple. Here’s how we try to simplify our household:

• Use items up

• Repair what we have instead of purchasing new

• Shop 2nd hand when we can

• Use hand-me-downs

5. Recreational shopping is not a financially healthy, routine pastime.

Gulp. I hope I haven’t lost anyone or stomped on anyone’s toes because that really is not my intention. I know there are some die-hard shoppers out there who love to sniff out the next big, amazing deal! I used to be a die-hard shopper, and if I didn’t get to go out shopping every weekend, disappointment set in.

I’ve learned to shop more like a man--get in and get out! In other words, I don’t generally recreational shop anymore just for the “fun of it.” I shop with a purpose and try to only purchase what we genuinely need. Honestly, I rarely go out to brick and mortar stores anymore. If I don't go out shopping, I don't spend any money!

Now, I will say that routinely checking thrift stores and garage sales has its merits, but I view that as different than shopping traditional brick and mortar stores.

6. It’s okay to live without (even if others think you shouldn’t).

See what you can live without. Make a game out of living without certain items. You might just be surprised at how much you can live without!

7. It’s okay not to have the latest and greatest.

Sometimes people who seem to have it all are actually really struggling financially.

8. Save, save, and save some more.

$47 in a plastic sandwich bag was the start of learning to seriously save for me. At the time, my new husband and I were struggling to get out of renting and into a home of our own, and the odds seemed overwhelming.

A wise lady listened to my financial woes (and even jealousy towards others who seemed to “have it all” so soon in marriage). This kind soul took compassion on me and explained the benefits of socking away every single dollar possible. No amount was too small! Her gift to me of $47 cash in a sandwich baggie was the pivotal impetus to me learning how to change my mindset towards money and particularly saving.

9. Don’t spend every dollar you make.

This sounds like a “duh," but you would be surprised at how many people spend every dollar they make! A person who makes less money than someone else but actually saves more is richer in the long run.

10. Get rid of anything non-essential that is sapping your family’s financial resources.

Is there something that is not truly necessary to your family’s well-being that continually requires care, maintenance, and most importantly, financial resources? Perhaps its time to think of letting that thing go.

I hope that these ideas towards financial freedom are a help and blessing to you. These ideals are simple and honestly rooted in biblical principles. By following these ideals, we have been able to reach personal goals that seemed impossible on the modest salaries we had at the time. By continuing to be frugal and live simply, we hope to achieve more family goals in the future!

-Ashley

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