Making the decision to finally get a handle on your personal finances should feel exciting! Why? Because it’s an opportunity to dream big and take the time to reflect on what you really want to get out of life. Unfortunately, societal norms die hard. Many millennials are still stuck on the same benchmarks of financial success that defined the generations that came before us. Like, for example, owning a home. 

While you might be tempted to stick to the straight and narrow, it’s important to take time to pause and self-reflect; force yourself to dig a little deeper. Often, you will discover that what you really want and what you think you should want are two very different things.  

Maybe instead of owning a home, you’re more interested in having enough money to travel the world. Perhaps, you want to invest in starting up your own business. Or, maybe you want the freedom and flexibility to live and work on your own terms. Paper & Coin client, Emma, pursued all of those things as a self-employed, freelance graphic designer and digital nomad. But, it wasn’t always midday beach breaks and working from coffee shops. Emma’s journey began from the crippling feeling of being stuck, working an uninspiring 9 to 5 job that wasn’t hitting the mark. 

At just 23 years old, she handed in her 2 weeks notice to jump into the unknown world of freelancing with the goal of running her own business and becoming a digital nomad.

“Through all the ups and the downs, I would constantly tell myself, ‘if they can do it, you can do it,’ says Emma.

So, how did she turn that can-do attitude into her dream gig? She started by getting a strong financial plan in place. She spent 6 months working a full-time contract while taking on freelance design projects on the side. She saved up $13,000 and booked a one-way ticket to Palm Springs where she embarked on three months of travel. As she explored, she worked hard to build up her business, M Line Studio. 

Emma recently returned to Canada and met with Paper & Coin for a Money Masterplan session to level up her personal and business finance game. “Before working with Paper & Coin I was DIY-ing my business and personal finances. I had a super basic understanding of money management, but when it came to saving for retirement and how to invest my money, I was completely lost,” she says. 

“My coach walked me through a personalized plan and gave me crystal clear next steps. The in-depth call, paired with a customized Budgeting Template and Master Plan were exactly what I needed! I feel so much more confident knowing that I’m finally investing in my future and setting myself up for financial success, instead of just procrastinating.”

So what’s next for Emma? As she continues to live a life of travel and freedom, eventually she’d love to lay down some roots.

“I feel so at ease knowing that I’m contributing monthly to my RRSP and investing in a TFSA, so that I can buy my dream home by the water!”

When you start to think about your financial goals don’t forget to ask yourself the most important question: “why?” Dig deep and discover what your dream life really looks like. Then, book your FREE 30-minute consultation with a Paper & Coin financial coach, and we’ll help you build a plan to get there! 

Prefer to work through a self-guided course? Our Money Masterclass online course is launching this September. Sign-up for pre-sale notifications today!WRITTEN BY OCTAVIA AHSAN