7 Financial Warning Signs You Need To Watch For | Yes Financially Free (2024)

Today I’m going to share with you 7 Financial Warning Signs You Need To Watch For.

I know from personal experience, when I was getting into credit card debt and having trouble paying my basic bills.

I also know from clients who I’ve worked with, you have had issues like stress over bills, the inability to pay basic expenses and having their car repossessed.

Read the warning signs, and follow the instructions on how to improve your financial health!

#1 You Don’t Know How To Calculate a Percentage

This is a big indicator that you are having or will have difficulty growing your money.

The reason is that most of the money world is measured in real numbers and in percents.

Your car loan, mortgage, credit cards all charge you a percent.

In addition you can also earn a percentage in interest on savings accounts, or calculate the percentage your home increases in value.

In our Finance Freedom Mastermind, I’ve found that many of my clients do not know how to calculate percents, and so they do not understand how the percentage rates they pay or earn affect their incomes or wealth.

We spend time weekly calculating percentages and practicing money math skills until all members are comfortable with the numbers.

Take the time now to learn percents are calculated, and how they can affect your money.

#2 You Don’t Know How To Calculate Your Net Worth (Balance Sheet)

In terms of money, people understand and compare the wealth of others by comparing their Net Worth or Balance Sheets.

Yet I’ve found that when I was bad with money, I had no idea how to calculate my Net Worth and had no idea what a Balance Sheet was.

It took me some time to learn, but it wasn’t hard. It’s easier math then percents. It’s just adding up everything you have and everything you owe.

Then you subtract the two numbers.

If you have a positive Net Worth, then you have more money than you owe.

If you have a negative Net Worth, then you owe more money than you have.

If you have a decreasing Net Worth over time then you are getting poorer.

If you have an increasing Net Worth over time then you are getting richer.

In our Finance Freedom Mastermind program, we calculate our Net Worth every month and track it in a table to see how it changes from month to month.

#3 You Don’t Know How To Calculate Your Cash Flow (Income Statement)

Have you ever wondered where your money went at the end of the month?

Then you are like most people and you don’t track your spending.

Calculating your Cash Flow or Income Statement means that you are calculating how much you are making and adding it up to get your income.

Then you are calculating what you spend money on, adding it up to get your expenses.

Then you subtract the two numbers.

If you have a positive cash flow then you are spending less than you are earning. This leaves you extra money in the bank.

If you have a negative cash flow, then you are spending more than you are earning. This leads to credit card debt, or using up your savings or home equity, etc.

This is also something that we calculate and track monthly in our Finance Freedom Mastermind program.

#4 Hearing Money Words Make You Uncomfortable or Tired

I remember when I first started learning about money, and I thought it would be so hard to calculate my Net Worth, and I thought figuring out how to buy a property would be so complicated.

Hearing words about money made me uncomfortable.

I would actually avoid thinking about it.

I have a client who used to have her mind shut off when money terms were discussed.

Some clients get sleepy.

If you hear words like Net Worth, Assets, Liabilities, Earnings and so on and you feel uncomfortable or tired, then it’s time for you to increase your money vocabulary…little by little.

If you know you want to learn more about money terms and need help getting started, then consider doing the One Year Finance Freedom Makeover.

#5 You Are Embarrassed About Your Money

I used to be embarrassed about my money situation.

Now I openly tell people that my Net Worth is a little over $300,000.

I am fine with discussing earnings of our AirBnB business, our Cash Flow, and different investment ideas we have.

If you are embarrassed about money that is a warning sign for you to take seriously.

It’s time to pay more LOVING attention to your money matters.

If you want to learn how to create financial freedom in a group of like minded and caring individuals, then consider joining a Finance Freedom Mastermind.

#6 You Don’t Have A Written Financial Plan

Ever hear that if you are more likely to have a successful plan if you write it down?

Well, it’s important to write out a financial plan if you want your finances to do well.

If you’re like most people you have never written out a financial plan for yourself.

Well, now is the time to start.

You can get a fiduciary advisor to help you with one.

If you want one that you can do yourself CLICK HERE.

#7 You Don’t Make Passive Income

The only way for you to become financially free, is to learn how to create passive income.

This is money from investments or businesses that you are a passive owner of.

Think about it, if you have to work all the time to make enough money to live then you are bound to your work.

You want to release yourself from having to work for money.

The only way to do that is to understand how to create money more efficiently, and to learn how to invest your earnings to create money for you.

If you want to learn more about how to create passive income for beginners, then CLICK HERE for the 7 Day Finance Freedom Challenge.

Conclusion

Understand and learn from these 7 Financial Warning Signs You Need To Watch For.

They are there to guide you and give you clarity on your finances.

If you are like most people, you might be thinking, great, I’ve got most of these warning signs!

The good news is that you can change your financial health.

Start by addressing each sign one at a time, and you will see your finances improve over time.

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7 Financial Warning Signs You Need To Watch For | Yes Financially Free (2024)

FAQs

7 Financial Warning Signs You Need To Watch For | Yes Financially Free? ›

Some key signs that your finances are in trouble include the following: You have no emergency fund; You make routine overdrafts; You must choose which bills you can pay; You pay bills on credit or with cash advances; You can only make minimum credit card payments; You're getting collection calls; You're fighting or ...

What are the 7 steps to financial freedom? ›

You can too!
  • Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund.
  • Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball.
  • Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully Funded Emergency Fund.
  • Invest 15% of Your Household Income in Retirement.
  • Save for Your Children's College Fund.
  • Pay Off Your Home Early.
  • Build Wealth and Give.

At what point are you financially free? ›

Financial freedom means you get to make life decisions without being overly stressed about the financial fallout of those decisions. That's because you're financially prepared for whatever life throws your way—you have no debt, you have money in the bank, and you're investing for the future.

What are signs of financial freedom? ›

Here are 5 other signs of financial independence, and tips on how to attain it:
  • Owning a home. After clothes and food, shelter is the most important necessity for all human beings. ...
  • Planning your children's education. ...
  • Able to pay bills and instalments on time. ...
  • Starting to invest. ...
  • Starting a business.

How much money does it take to be financially free? ›

Americans say they'd need to earn about $94,000 a year on average to feel financially independent. That's about $20,000 more than the median household income of $74,580.

What is the 30 day rule? ›

The premise of the 30-day savings rule is straightforward: When faced with the temptation of an impulse purchase, wait 30 days before committing to the buy. During this time, take the opportunity to evaluate the necessity and impact of the purchase on your overall financial goals.

What is Dave Ramsey's Step 7? ›

Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give

You've kept to Dave Ramsey's zero-based budget and maxed out your 401(k) and Roth IRAs. This means with what's left you can “truly live and give like no one else by building wealth, becoming insanely generous, and leaving an inheritance for future generations,” Ramsey said.

What is the point of financial freedom? ›

Financial freedom is a state where you have complete control over your finances, allowing you to make choices based on your desires and goals rather than being limited by how much things cost. It means having enough income or savings to cover your expenses, giving you the freedom to live life on your own terms.

Can you retire with 500k at 40? ›

The short answer is yes, $500,000 is enough for many retirees. The question is how that will work out for you. With an income source like Social Security, modes spending, and a bit of good luck, this is feasible. And when two people in your household get Social Security or pension income, it's even easier.

What salary is financially free? ›

The average American says they'd need an annual salary upwards of $94,000. That's doable, although it isn't easy. The median income was $74,580 in 2022. It would take a raise of over 25% to go from that to $94,000.

How to tell if you're doing well financially? ›

  • #Sign 1 - You have little or no debt. ...
  • #Sign 2 - You can pay for monthly expenses with just your or your spouse's income. ...
  • #Sign 3 - You pay your bills on time. ...
  • #Sign 4 - You have an adequate emergency fund. ...
  • #Sign 5 - Your net worth is growing year after year.

How much money is considered financially stable? ›

The amount of money needed to be considered financially stable is subjective and depends on a person's individual situation. But generally, having a net worth of $1 million or more can indicate that someone is financially stable or secure and has a good grasp of money management.

How do you know if you're overspending? ›

It's important to notice the warning signs if you find yourself living beyond your means and take action. These include high credit card balances, rising bills, saving little to nothing of your income, a low credit score, and spending a big chunk of your income on housing.

What is the 70% money rule? ›

The rule states that you should allocate 70% of your income to monthly rent, utility bills, and other essential needs to improve your financial well-being. 20% of your income should go to savings. The remaining 10% can go towards your investments or to debt repayment.

How many people don t have $1,000 in savings? ›

A stunning new Bankrate survey of 1,030 individuals finds that more than half of American adults (56%) lack sufficient savings to shoulder an unexpected $1,000 expense.

What percent of Americans are financially free? ›

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite most Americans having modest expectations of what it means to attain financial freedom, just 1-in-10 (11%) report they are living their definition of financial freedom, according to a new survey by Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance.

What are the 5 pillars of financial freedom? ›

The five pillars of financial planning—investments, income planning, insurance, tax planning, and estate planning— are a simple but comprehensive approach to financial planning.

What is the 7 step to freedom? ›

How does one go through the “steps”?
  1. Step One: Counterfeit vs. Real. ...
  2. Step Two: Deception vs. Truth. ...
  3. Step Three: Bitterness vs. Forgiveness. ...
  4. Step Four: Rebellion vs. Submission. ...
  5. Step Five: Pride vs. Humility. ...
  6. Step Six: Bondage vs. Freedom. ...
  7. Step Seven: Curses vs. Blessings.

What is the 4 rule for financial freedom? ›

The 4% rule says people should withdraw 4% of their retirement funds in the first year after retiring and take that dollar amount, adjusted for inflation, every year after. The rule seeks to establish a steady and safe income stream that will meet a retiree's current and future financial needs.

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