Dismoneyfied

I’m tired of waking up to the same alarm just to pay for the same life.

You are too.

That paycheck doesn’t feel like freedom. It feels like a treadmill. Running hard, going nowhere.

Financial independence sounds like something for people who own yachts or have trust funds. Not for you. Not for me.

But it’s not. And dismoneyfied isn’t magic. It’s math.

It’s habit. It’s choices most people never learn to make.

I’ve watched dozens of regular people do this. No windfalls. No side hustles gone viral.

Just consistent, boring steps.

This isn’t theory. It’s what worked. Stripped down, no fluff, no jargon.

By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do next. Not someday. Not when you’re “ready.” Now.

Financial Independence Is Not What You Think

dismoneyfied is a word I use when someone finally stops trading hours for dollars. And never goes back.

Financial independence means your passive income covers your living expenses. Not your dream expenses. Not your vacation budget.

Your actual rent, groceries, insurance, and phone bill. Every month. Forever.

It’s not about being rich. Rich people still work because they want to. Or because they’re scared to stop.

Or because their money is tied up in illiquid assets (like that $3M house with $2.8M in equity).

I’ve watched friends hit $2M net worth and still panic about layoffs. They’re not financially independent. They’re just labeled wealthy.

Think of it like owning a vending machine. One that stocks itself. Charges fair prices.

And drops just enough cash into your pocket each month to pay your bills. No more. No less.

That’s FI. Not “retire early.” Not “buy a yacht.” Just freedom to say no.

The FIRE movement talks about retiring at 35. But most people don’t need to retire. They need to disengage from the paycheck treadmill.

You don’t need millions. You need a number (your) number. If you spend $2,800 a month, you probably need $700,000 invested at a 4% withdrawal rate.

Not $3 million. Not $10 million.

Yes, the math changes if you live in San Francisco or rural Tennessee. That’s fine. Adjust.

But don’t let the myth of “millions required” keep you from starting today.

Start small. Track your real spending. Then ask yourself: what’s the smallest passive income stream I could build that covers even one bill?

That’s where real power begins.

The 3-Step Engine for Building Financial Freedom

This isn’t magic. It’s math. And it works if you do three things, in order.

Spend less. Earn more. Invest the difference.

That’s the engine. Everything else is noise.

Step 1: Master Your Spending (Not Just Budgeting)

I don’t track every coffee. I ask: What’s draining me without delivering real value?

Housing is usually the biggest leak. If rent eats more than 30% of your take-home, look at roommates. Or moving 10 minutes farther out.

(Yes, that commute adds up. But not as much as $800/month you didn’t need to spend.)

Transport is next. That $400 car payment? Swap it for a used Honda and redirect the difference.

Or bike twice a week. Try it for 30 days. You’ll feel lighter.

Food is third. Stop buying lunch. Pack it.

Not fancy. Just leftovers or oatmeal. That’s $200. $300 back every month.

This isn’t deprivation. It’s intentional spending.

Step 2: Increase Your Income Streams

A 10% savings rate won’t cut it if your income flatlines.

So ask for the raise. But only after you’ve documented three wins you delivered this quarter. Not “I worked hard.” “I cut onboarding time by 22% (saving) $18k/year.”

No raise? Start small. Use a skill you already have.

I wrote more about this in what investment should i start with dismoneyfied.

Can you edit videos? Write emails? Fix Excel sheets?

Charge $50/hour for two hours a week. That’s $400/month. No launch plan needed.

Just one client.

You don’t need passion. You need proof you solve a problem.

Step 3: Make Your Money Work for You

Saving money in cash is losing money. Inflation eats 2. 3% a year. You’re paying to sit still.

Compound interest is your greatest ally (if) you let it breathe. Ten years matters more than picking the “perfect” fund.

Start with low-cost index funds. Not crypto. Not meme stocks.

Something like VTI or VXUS. Set up automatic deposits. Then ignore it.

Seriously (don’t) check it weekly.

You’ll be surprised how fast $300/month becomes $50,000. Then $100,000. Then freedom.

I got dismoneyfied (not) overnight, but because I stopped waiting for permission to begin.

Your FI Number: The Only Math That Counts

I used to think financial independence was vague. Like “someday” or “when I’m ready.” Then I learned the 25x Rule.

It’s not magic. It’s math you can do in your head.

Your annual expenses × 25 = your FI Number.

That’s it. No spreadsheets. No guesswork.

Just one number that tells you when you’re done.

Say you spend $50,000 a year. Multiply that by 25. You get $1,250,000.

That’s your target. Not a dream. A number.

Why 25? Because it’s the inverse of the 4% rule. Pull 4% a year from $1.25 million and you get $50,000 (your) exact spending.

Historically, that’s held up across decades. (Yes, even through 2022.)

This isn’t theoretical. People hit it. Retire early.

Walk away from jobs they hate.

Your number is yours alone. Not your neighbor’s. Not your cousin’s who bought a Tesla with crypto gains.

It’s personal. It’s real. It’s yours.

You don’t need perfect returns. You just need consistency (and) a plan that starts somewhere.

Which brings me to this: if you’re asking What investment should i start with dismoneyfied, start there. Not with stocks. Not with crypto.

With clarity.

Because before you pick an asset, you need to know what you’re saving for.

That number. Your FI Number (is) your compass.

Not your budget. Not your net worth. Not your salary.

Just that one number.

Write it down.

Then go build toward it.

Common Roadblocks (and How to Sidestep Them)

Lifestyle inflation is the silent killer of financial progress. You get a raise (and) immediately upgrade your rent, your car, your takeout habit. It feels harmless.

Pay yourself first means automating savings before you see the money. Not after. Not “if anything’s left.”

It’s not.

Analysis paralysis? Yeah, I’ve stared at Vanguard’s fund list for 47 minutes too. Just pick one index fund.

Start with $25. Do it now. Waiting for perfect is how decades vanish.

Get-rich-quick schemes promise fireworks. Reality delivers slow, steady growth. Or nothing.

Financial independence isn’t won in a quarter. It’s built in quiet months. Years.

Decades. You don’t become dismoneyfied by chasing hype. You become it by showing up (consistently) — for your future self.

You’re Not Stuck. You’re Just Untaught.

I’ve watched people panic over paychecks. I’ve seen them scroll through debt statements like it’s normal. It’s not.

You’re not broken. You’re dismoneyfied. That means you weren’t taught how money actually works.

But here’s the truth: financial freedom isn’t magic. It’s math. Spend less than you earn.

Invest the difference. Repeat until your number is hit.

No guru. No lottery ticket. Just consistency.

So what stops you right now? Is it fear the number will be too high? That you’ll have to sacrifice everything?

Your homework is simple: spend 15 minutes this week to calculate your annual expenses. This is the first, most key step on your journey. Do it tonight.

Or tomorrow morning. Before you check email.

You already know why.

Now go do it.