When people talk about financial freedom, they often talk about it like it's one destination. Like one day you'll make enough money, save enough money, invest enough money...and suddenly you've arrived.
But that's not how financial freedom works. Financial freedom isn't one moment, it's a progression. It's something you build over time through awareness, consistency, control, growth, and intentional decision-making.
If you've ever felt like you're doing some things right with your money but still don't feel fully in control, there's a good chance you're in between levels. You're not where you started, but you're not where you want to be yet either.
In this episode, I'm walking you through the five levels of financial freedom, how to identify where you are today, and what it takes to move to the next level.
Because financial freedom isn't about perfection, it's about progress; and understanding where you are can help you focus on the next step instead of feeling overwhelmed by the entire journey.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The 5 levels of financial freedom and what each one looks like
- The difference between financial awareness and financial control
- Why many people get stuck between knowing what to do and actually doing it
- How consistent money habits create financial confidence
- What financial control really looks like in everyday life
- The shift from managing money to growing money
- How investing, saving, and increasing income contribute to financial growth
- Why financial freedom looks different for everyone
- How to identify your current level and focus on the right next step
- The habits, systems, and mindset shifts needed to move forward
This episode is especially helpful if you:
- Feel like you're making progress but aren't sure where you stand financially
- Want to build wealth but don't know what to focus on next
- Feel stuck between budgeting and long-term financial growth
- Want a clearer roadmap to financial freedom
- Are looking for a practical way to measure your financial progress
- Want your money to support more freedom, flexibility, and choice in your life
Why this matters:
One of the biggest mistakes people make with financial freedom is believing they're either "there" or they're not…but financial freedom isn't binary. It's built in stages.
When you don't understand the stage you're in, it's easy to become frustrated, discouraged, or focused on the wrong things. Someone in financial instability needs something very different than someone focused on growing wealth. Someone building financial awareness has different priorities than someone working toward financial freedom.
That's why understanding your current level matters. It helps you stop comparing yourself to people who are on a different part of the journey and start focusing on the habits, systems, and decisions that will move you forward.
Because every level serves a purpose. The awareness creates consistency. The consistency creates control. The control creates growth. The growth creates options. Over time, those options become the foundation of financial freedom.
Timestamps:
- [02:01] Does your money feel inconsistent or unpredictable? You're likely in the first stage of financial freedom: instability.
- [05:35] When you know what you should be doing with your money but you're not doing it – this is a common place where a lot of women get stuck.
- [09:57] Control does not mean perfection. Just because you have control of your money doesn't mean things won't come up. The biggest difference is those things don't derail you.
- [15:40] You have enough money and enough control of your money to decide how you spend your time and where you spend your life…this is financial freedom.
Resources Mentioned:
Request a free money call with Raya
City Girl Savings Personal Finance Portfolio
Financial Focus Coaching Program
I want you to ask yourself one simple question: Where am I right now?
Not where you want to be. Not where you think you should be. Not where someone else says you should be. Where are you today?
Because once you're honest about your current level, you can focus on what actually matters next. You don't need to master every aspect of money all at once. You don't need to jump from financial instability to financial freedom overnight.
Real progress happens when you focus on the next right step. The next habit. The next decision. The next level. If you're feeling stuck between levels, or you've built some momentum but aren't sure how to keep moving forward, support can make all the difference.
Sometimes the breakthrough isn't working harder. It's having the right structure, the right systems, and the right guidance to help you see what comes next.
Financial freedom isn't something you arrive at by accident. It's something you build intentionally, one decision at a time. You're not behind, you're building. That consistency compounds, and the steady work you're doing now is shaping your next level.
