Happy 4th: 4 Financial Freedoms You Don’t Take Advantage of, but Should

In a gutsy move two hundred and forty one years ago, the thirteen American colonies that formed the United States declared their independence from Great Britain. We’ve been sovereign and loving every second of it since then, and every year on the 4th of July, we celebrate that spirit of freedom, which has become America’s symbol. Whether you’re chillin’, grillin’, drinkin’, or all of the above, we hope you’re out there making the most of your Independence Day. But are you exercising your financial freedom to the fullest?

Probably not. No, we don’t mean what you’re doing in order to one day achieve financial freedom (typically retirement). We mean the everyday opportunities you are handed to us, simply by way of living in the world’s greatest economy. If we look hard enough, we’ll always find something to complain about, but we choose to focus on the good: The many steps we could be taking well within our freedom, in order to find ourself on optimal footing. What would those be? Glad you asked.

Freedom to accumulate wealth

There’s a reason they don’t call it ‘the Indonesian Dream’. Unlike other countries with higher tax burdens, and even methods of governing that aren’t democratic, the US simplifies and celebrates the accumulation of wealth by individuals. Ideally, this is done through hard work, merit and expertise. According to the quintessential American Dream, any hopeful man or woman willing to work hard and make their own way, will find opportunity. And hey, until opportunity presents itself, we have another surefire way to accumulate wealth without even trying.

Freedom of mobility

We could wax poetic about the benefits of ‘social mobility’ and the many paths America offers to achieve it, but we’re going to look at mobility from a more literal angle. Thanks to its vast size and the federal system, the United States offers us a freedom like no other to choose where we’d like to live, work, and pay taxes. This means we will never be ‘trapped’ in a reality we don’t wish for ourselves, free to pursue our dreams, however we envision them and wherever they may wait for us. Hate taxes? Try Texas. Love the sunshine? California and Florida are calling your name. Love skiing and dream of opening a coffee shop? Colorado and Oregon have exactly what you need. Live and breathe tech? The Pacific Northwest could use your skills! Can’t go a day without surfing? Book a ticket to Hawaii. You’re technically limited to 50 states, but that’s not really feel limiting, does it?

Freedom of consumption

This is one of the many derivatives of the freedom of choice we all enjoy, but often take for granted. Since we’re free to make any choice we want with our money, that means we can also accumulate everything we need, or even just anything we want. If we want to spend our entire paycheck on tacos, that’s our business. If we want to spend 40% of our income on housing, instead of the recommended 25%, that’s 100% our prerogative. However, this isn’t just the land of blowout sales and outlet stores, it’s also the world’s leading pioneer in consumer-centric return policies, and fair practices such as price adjustments and price matching among competitors. So next time you’re having trouble deciding between purchases, remember — that’s a luxury in itself.

Freedom from consumption

You didn’t think we’d mention the freedom to consume without emphasizing that another, very palpable freedom exists alongside it? Yes, just as we’re free to yell #yolo and #treatyoself at every gadget and thingamajig we happen to find fascinating this week, we’re just as lucky to be able to refuse consumption when it doesn’t suit us. It’s empowering to manage the way we spend our money, but that also includes choosing — when it’s right — not to spend it at all.

Do you recognize these opportunities all around you, in the Land of the Free? If you’re not taking advantage of them, don’t wait another minute. If you have an idea, pursue it; if you believe in something, invest in it; if you want something and can afford it, make it yours; if you have a skill, monetize it. Or don’t, the choice is yours. Stay safe, and enjoy the fireworks!

Originally published at gochange.co on July 4, 2017.