7 Practical tips to achieve Financial Independence

Unfortunately, 61% of UK adults are not financially independent, and 15% believe it’s not in their cards according to a study by King Street Wealth Management.

But financial independence is a feasible goal. So if you want tips to retire early or simply cut the cord from family support, here are some helpful financial independence tips to get you started.

1. Set a goal

First, what exactly are you aiming for? The definition of financial independence and the outcome is very personal and unique to every individual.

For Harry and Meghan, this means no longer receiving funding through the Sovereign grant. The rest of us tend to have more humble goals, such as “retire early”, “quitting my job”, “pay off debts”, or “own my own home”.

2. Budget towards it
Whatever the goal, big or small, it helps to break down the journey into smaller and more achievable steps. Start by setting a budget and financial plan that mixes budgeting, savings and investments. Remember, every spare pound and pence beyond the essentials (food, shelter, clothing…) could be best used towards your financial independence goal.

To budget successfully, it’s best to use an online service or app like Money Dashboard to track and categorise all transactions, giving you a clear view of your financial progress.

3. Live below your means
As part of your budgeting strategy, consider how little of your income you can feasibly live off of. Many people live at or even above their means but a few lifestyle changes can mean big savings. You can use Money Dashboard to evaluate your regular costs and, better yet, use the planning feature to see what future savings and expenses might look like if you lower your rent, for example, or switch to biking instead of the bus.

Although some financial sacrifices may seem unpalatable at first, remember that even millionaires use this tactic of living below their means to save money and grow their wealth.

4. Build an emergency fund
According to ING, more than a quarter of UK households have no emergency fund. But a single emergency like a sudden home or car repair can wipe out months if not years of savings and investments and, with it, your progress towards financial independence. You can lessen or eliminate the blow by building an emergency fund. In fact, this should be part of your financial foundation.

To build the fund, automate a small monthly transfer and any spare cash into a separate high-interest earning fund until it totals at least 3 months of expenses. The account should have no penalties for sudden withdrawals.

5. Be responsible!
Although emergency funds can go a long way towards protecting yourself and your family in hard times, it’s wise to also buy insurance to protect yourself and your family in more serious circumstances. This includes Life Insurance, Critical Illness, and Health Insurance.

Sometimes employers offer these benefits as part of an employment package, and if that is the case for you, be sure to review your options and opt-in where sensible. Otherwise, use independent review and comparison sites, like Compare the Market and Money Supermarket to see the policies offered by reputable providers.

6. Invest invest invest
Income and budgeting alone may not win your financial independence. Especially if you want financial independence tips to retire early, you will need—and want—to combine these strategies with investment. Although there are many ways to invest, an initial approach is to find a platform where you can automatically transfer in weekly or monthly savings, which are then invested into a low fee portfolio with safe and diversified assets such as market index funds.

Remember, every pound you save today represents more than a pound in the future if you put that money into a high-interest savings account or invest it (and with a Share ISA you can invest tax-free). So get started as soon as possible.

7. Repay your debt alongside investing
One of the most important financial freedom tips is to pay off debts as quickly and efficiently as possible alongside investment. Of course, some longer-term debt is unavoidable, like a mortgage, and that’s okay. And taking out more debt to cover existing debt or to start investing is a terrible idea.

Every individual will have to determine his or her own best mix of investment and debt repayment at any given time. Financial advisors can help with this decision, and Money Dashboard can help you decide which debts to prioritise in your budget, for example, because the interest rates and penalties are higher on some debts than others.

‍After acting on these tips for financial freedom, the key is to make sure you stick to the budget you have created, continue to live below your means and prioritise any savings. Don’t let yourself become discouraged by any mistakes or bumps in the road. Remember that financial independence is a continuous process, and with discipline and organisation, you too can secure financial independence for the rest of your life.