Financial freedom can be achieved in many ways. Through financial planning, budgeting and expense tracking, you can achieve the peace of mind and security that results from financial independence.

If you are searching for financial freedom, but it continues to remain elusive, below are 5 ways to help you achieve it.

Talk to your spouse

One of the main barriers to complete financial freedom is competing philosophies about what that means. This holds especially true in relationships where finances are shared, and pooled, such as marriages and long-term relationships. Talking to your partner about what your idea of financial freedom is, and coming to an agreement on the steps necessary to achieve that freedom, is the first step.

Figure out your current position

Many people might feel hesitant to take a detailed and objective look into their finances, or simply don’t know how to go about doing so. The best way to figure out your starting position is to create and honest and accurate net worth statement. This simply means putting down on paper what you own, and what you owe.

Track your spending

It’s so easy in this day and age to swipe a credit or debit card and forget the impact of the financial transaction. When hard currency isn’t involved, and, when credit cards are involved, payments are deferred to a later date, it’s easy for spending to remain out of sight and out of mind. Keeping careful tabs, whether through downloading one of the myriad of apps that helps you track your spending, or simply staying dedicated to tracking what you spend, will help you curtail unnecessary purchases and save for what really matters.

Adjust your spending

Look at your current expenses. Are you hitting the local cafe or restaurant for a lunch break when you could be packing a lunch? Or are you paying for an expansive cable or internet package that you don’t use or need? Adjusting your spending habits means making compromises on what you need and don’t need, and making better judgements about furture spending.

Set goals

If you’re not working towards a financial goal, then you are just aimlessly spending money as a means to no end. Knowing what you want your financial future to look like, and dedicating honest time and effort to figuring out how to arrive there, is something without which financial freedom will always seem just out of reach.

Financial freedom is not impossible. It does, however, require some careful introspection and a detailed look at your current lifestyle and net worth. With planning and dedication, anyone is capable of achieving financial freedom. If financial freedom is at the top of your list of priorities, keep the above tips in mind. If you’re currently experiencing debt that is impacting your ability to achieve financial freedom, contact a licensed insolvency trustee to learn about your debt management options.