How it works

The Freedom 30 program is designed to provide a schedule of weekly money well-being mini-projects to complete on your way to greater financial freedom by the end of the year.

The approach is simple: You set aside 30 minutes each week to perform a specific task aimed at improving your financial standing. The tasks will be laid out for you in themed months, so all you need to do is follow the instructions. Make sure to choose a time each week in which you can really put all distractions aside and focus intently. Try to create as calm and pleasant an atmosphere as possible to make the process go smoothly.

Week 1 Project: Blue sky thinking

We’ll start off with an easy one – and a fun one at that! Use this first half-hour to really think about what you want in life. Set aside for a moment what you’re “supposed to do” or what anyone else expects from you. This is just for you!
If you’re stuck with this question, consider starting with what your best life looks like in a year, in 5 years, and in your retirement. It’s vital here to not limit yourself. This is your life we’re talking about, so now’s the time to dream big. Maybe you just want less stress in your financial life in the near term. In a few years, you might want to buy a home or move into a nicer place. Your ultimate retirement might involve traveling regularly.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what will create the most happiness and contentment in your life. Remember: use this opportunity to focus on what you desire most. Everything you do after this in the program was created to help you get those things.

Spend the first 15 minutes of your time this week envisioning your ultimate success in life. For the final 15 minutes, take those aspirations and put them into one of the following categories:

• Short-term goals (1 year or less)
• Mid-long-term goals (1 to 3 years)
• Long-term goals (More than three years)

It’s more than acceptable to have more than 1 goal in each category. For example, while it may not seem like the most fun goal to go after, having a beefed-up emergency fund in place within the next 12 months is a terrific target to set.

Takeaway: By the end of this week’s assignment, you should have a list of your goals and when you want to achieve them.

For next week: Start thinking about how you’ll get a firm grasp on the cost of each of your goals.