Financial Slavery is a Choice

"Wars in old times were made to get slaves. The modern implement of imposing slavery is debt."
-Ezra Pound

In a free market, slavery is a choice. Some people are unknowingly, or encouraged, to surrender their freedoms in exchange for something now.

“It’s hard to build assets when you yourself are someone else’s asset.”
-Beyond Financial Fitness

Debt is the new shackle that binds people to their work. Lenders prey on the unfortunate, or the financially undisciplined, by promising low interests. By giving the item now and paying later. By “Financing dreams” (actual Bank ad). By telling them “you are richer than you think” (another Bank ad… I mean, how can a bank, who sees first hand how in debt people are, say something like this?)

"The Solution to money challenges and a wrong view of money begins by learning about money. There is probably no way to skip this step and still obtain the results you want. Learning about money and finances is essential."
-The 5s of Money

This system works because we allow it to. It’s so ingrained in our society that our entire economy is dependent on it. This has to stop. We have to retake control over our finances. We need a budget and be disciplined enough to follow through. The below books helped me on my journey and I have no doubt they will help you in yours.

• Financial Fitness
• Beyond Financial Fitness
• MONEY Master the Game
• God's Plan for Your Finances

This video, by Youtuber "Primed", does a good job at explaining the differences between the activities of the Rich vs Poor.

Don't You Want More?

“One of life’s biggest lessons is that it’s not success that creates happiness, but what one becomes on the journey by pursuing a worthwhile goal or dream.”
-Orrin Woodward

I've been living frugally for some time now. I'm debt free, I live in a small apartment, drive a small car and I don't have many bills.

I sometime have people ask me "Don't you want more?" The answer is "yes". I do want more but, for me, It's not about better and bigger things. What I want is more freedom. I want to buy back my time.

Time is money but money is also time. If I spend my money on bigger cars, that's less money that I have to buy back my time.

I do not want to work until the day I die no matter how much I love what I do: there are other interests that I would like to fully explore.

"... You would be very upset if someone gained access to your bank account and stole all your money. Most people, though, don't blink an eye when all sorts of culprits sneak into their lives and steal their time."
-Quote from "The Ten Natural Laws" book by Hyrum Smith

"The 5s of Money" Book Review

"The 5s of Money" book, which is part of the LIFE Leadership Personal Finance series, is a scary read for all the good reasons. It paints the picture of the current financial situation and it's quite an ugly site. There's hope, however, as the book also gives tips on how to better your finances.

The following are the 5 "s" of money (with my thoughts):

1. The Stats (This is bad. Real Bad...)
2. The Struggle (Oh no. Really?)
3. The Source (Phew. There's hope!)
4. The Solution (Yes!)
5. The Strategy (I can do this!)
6. The Stress (not part of the book but maybe it should of been called "6" s?)

The Bad:
It is quite short at only 100 pages. It took me about 1 hour to read cover to cover. They could of easily expand it but the book is obviously meant as an introduction to the fantastic Financial Fitness course.

The Good:
The book does a good job at painting the grim picture of today's financial crisis and why it's important for you get your finances together before it's to late. It's an easy read with tips to get you started on the path of debt freedom.

Conclusion:
Do you want to better your finances today? Were you thinking on taking the Financial Fitness course but don't want to shell out the $150 (or so) for it? Get this book. It's the perfect introduction to debt freedom.

The book can be bought here:

• LIFE

Nobody Cares About Your Dreams

“One of life’s biggest lessons is that it’s not success that creates happiness, but what one becomes on the journey by pursuing a worthwhile goal or dream.”
-Orrin Woodward

I sometime hear people say "yolo" (you only live once) just before doing something stupid. We should use yolo as a reason to do something great - not as an excuse to do something stupid.

Nobody cares about your goals and dreams as much as you do and you only have this lifetime to achieve them.

I used to work with a guy who kept saying that he's going to have his own business by the time he reaches 30 years of age. Guess what? Life got in his way. He's now 34, happily married with kids but he forgot all about his dream. Yes, maybe his dream changed but what likely happened is that he became content and had no reason to work on his dream.

"Deep down inside, we don't seek the meaning of life, but the experience of being alive."
-Joseph Campbell

There's nothing more exciting than to work towards your dreams. If you feel stagnant in life, or simply going through the motions, then chances are you are not working towards a dream.

"The individual, it is said, should be free to pursue his own interests as long as he keeps the peace and does not interfere with the rights of others. He should be free to make as much money as he can and to spend it as he sees fit. There is a need for men who are industrious, resourceful, thrifty, and self-reliant, and who have initiative and a spirit of adventure."
-Harold H. Titus / Marilyn S. Smith

What we need today is more people that comes alive as a result of the pursuit of a dream.

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard Thurman

The BodyBuilding Industry is a SHAM

Bodybuilding is one of the best sports in the world but it should surprise no one that the industry is filled with Steroids, HGH or other substances for the purpose of making muscles bigger. Yes, the likes of Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Phil Heat... are sights to behold but at what cost? Is this the kind of image we want to project to the world? That it is okay to take unhealthy substances for the purpose of looking good?

I understand why the pros are doing it. Obviously, there's a lot of money involved here but Bodybuilding is the only sport where it is acceptable to take Steroids and those other substances. It's illegal in every other sport!
There are some bodybuilding competitions out there that does drug tests. They advertise themselves as being "all natural" - why not have this kind of philosophy across the board?

Most of those big bodybuilders don't live past 50. Rich Piana passed away last year at the age of 46. Those that do live passed 50 develop all sorts of health problems. The below video shows retired bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman getting back at the gym after a back surgery (one of several) he received earlier this year.

I say no. The purpose of bodybuilding should be to look the best that we can from a healthy, natural, perspective. The body has its limits, to use drugs to push them further defeats the purpose. Of course we can push our limits with drugs but why not see where we can go without them?