10 Things I QUIT to Regain My FREEDOMS

I have a theory about life, which is that most of us are born free.

However, over time we gradually begin to lose that freedom driven partly by the choices that we make in life.

When I think about the freedoms that I want in my life, I can think of time freedom 😊.

I want that time to spend by myself, with my beautiful wife, our children, my parents, my siblings, and my friends, and even time with others volunteering.

Then there is financial freedom, that freedom of money so that I'm not worrying about every pound or dollar that I'm spending or even doing mental calculations every time I have to buy something.

I want the freedom of location.

If the weather is freezing, I want the ability to book a flight and go somewhere else and have a different experience.

I also want that freedom of purpose.

Rather than just dream about things, I actually want to take the leap and do them and not be afraid of what other people might think.

Then, there is the freedom of health.

I'd like to improve and make the most of my current state of health rather than watch it deteriorate.

What about you? What freedoms are you seeking in your life and what's been stopping you from working towards them? 🤔

In a world where we often feel trapped by our choices, I found the path to reclaiming more of my freedoms by quitting certain habits and mindsets.

Join me as I share the ten pivotal things I let go of to achieve more financial and personal freedoms.

Note that these didn't all happen at once and have happened over the last 15 years. 

If interested, start with one thing, followed by another and keep stacking them gradually.

🌟 10 Things I QUIT to Regain My FREEDOM

Here they are in no particular order:

🚀 1. I quit the 9 to 5

Most people work the 9 to 5 and will continue to do so (if their jobs aren't replaced by AI).

I found out recently in the 2025 Future of Jobs Report that 41% of employers worldwide plan to reduce their workforce by 2030 due to AI automation.

Although 77% plan to reskill and upskill existing workers to work alongside AI, it's clear that many people (especially as we age) will be left behind.

When you think about it, the quicker you can acquire the right skills to create your own income or job, the more freedom you'll have 💯.

It won't happen overnight and will require a radical mindset shift.

If you want to learn to do this starting with your existing skills, join our free 5-day Start a Membership Business Challenge.

The other two reasons why leaving the 9 to 5 provided freedom were:

• Cost to Well-being 

I worked a stressful job in finance, which paid well but cost me a lot in health and time away from my family.

Interestingly, when I look at some of my former colleagues of a similar age, some look 10 years older, so I feel leaving was a smart move.

• Cost of Opportunity 

It was not until I left the 9 to 5 that I realised that doing that job meant I was losing out on a world of incredible opportunities.

Plus, I was building someone else's business and nothing for myself.

I'm not saying you should leave your 9 to 5. Instead, I'm helping you see what you might not yet see – A future of portfolio work.

Do whatever works for you.

I feel younger, healthier, happier and more fulfilled since I left the 9 to 5 in addition to having more freedoms.

Plus, I feel more prepared for the future of AI because I'm spending my time learning the skills that will matter while also building my own business and doing work I love.

Things aren't perfect as there are ups and downs, but the beauty of doing your own thing is that you have no limitations in income, location (e.g. something you can run from a different country), time, etc, so the ups and downs feel justified. 

💪🏽 2. I quit expecting others to save me

At some point in my life, I always had this backup whereby I always felt that if I just coast along through life, if things went wrong, someone would save me.

It might be my parents, family members or friends.

The thing I've learned is a big part of taking personal responsibility for your life is actually believing that nobody is going to save you.

There's no government to save you.

There are no family members to save you.

No friends to save you.

Yes, your friends and your family love you, and they care about you, but they've got their own problems and bills to pay.

So when I started to believe there's actually no one to save me (although theoretically, someone might), meant I took personal responsibility for my life.

I started to put in place the right safety nets to make sure that I was prepared for all eventualities.

Doing this will help you start taking the steps to take responsibility for your life in different ways: your career, your finances, your health, and so on.

🏡 3. I quit letting a mortgage dictate my future

Is your mortgage controlling your career choices?

For many, it’s a heavy burden that forces them into jobs they despise.

I witnessed countless friends trapped in unfulfilling roles, all because of their financial commitments.

In addition, I saw this with my dad who hated his job in the final years before he retired but had to do it because he needed to pay the mortgage.

My wife and I made a countercultural decision to pay off our mortgage early.

In 7 years, we paid off our mortgage and freed ourselves from that financial chain, opening doors to new opportunities.

This choice transformed our lives, giving us the freedom to pursue new careers and passions that truly resonate with us.

It took a lot of hard work and required many sacrifices, in addition to balancing mortgage payoff with investing in stocks.

🛍️ 4. I quit buying things because I have the money

Consumer culture is pervasive.

It tells us that having money means we should spend it.

I remember when I'd countdown to payday knowing that all I wanted to do was spend on a number of things that I thought made me happy.

Then, predictably, before the month's end, I would be counting down to another payday. 

Gradually, especially as Mary and I started combining our finances, I learned that just because I have the funds doesn’t mean I need to buy something.

The purpose for our income shifted from spending unnecessarily to buying more freedom.

This shift in mindset has allowed us to hold onto our money longer and invest it wisely.

Instead of feeding the endless cycle of consumption, I focus on intentional spending.

Experiences, not things, bring true joy.

Whether it’s a family holiday or a spa day, these moments create lasting memories and enrich our lives far more than any material possession ever could.

🚗 5. I quit paying for a car monthly

Cars are often seen as necessities, yet how we finance them can significantly impact our financial freedom.

I realised that financing a car monthly only added to my financial burden.

It felt like I was working just to pay for a depreciating asset.

So, we opted to buy our car outright – Paid around £9k second hand and we've been driving the same car for 8 years so far.

This decision not only saved us money in the long run but also provided peace of mind.

No more monthly payments meant more freedom to allocate funds towards things that truly matter to us.

Research by Kwikfit found that:

Financing a car (UK average value of £15,438) leads to paying around 47% more than if you paid upfront (average of £10,511).

It doesn't end there because if you buy a more expensive car, you're also likely to spend a lot more money insuring it.

By the way, I get that for some people, financing a car is the only option they have as they simply don't have savings. Please do what works for you.

😌 6. I quit seeing the future as distant and completely unknown

At this moment as you read this post, the future keeps arriving.

It arrives every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, etc.

Rather than have anxiety about the future, I've accepted that God willing, I will arrive at it.

I'm 41 years old, there is something freeing about knowing that God willing, I'll arrive at the age of 45 or 50.

It is close enough that I can feel it and ask myself real questions like:

• What type of life do I want to be living at 45 or 50?
• What type of work do I want to be doing?
• What would I like my marriage to look like?
• When I arrive at that age, what could life look like for our children?
• etc.

Embracing this way of looking at the future is comforting rather than stressful for me.

I do my best to focus on living in the moment but I also gradually prepare for what’s ahead.

In addition, asking these questions and having some unknowns allows us to pray about the future because ultimately, (in our world) God's plan will prevail.

🌞 7. I quit working Fridays to Sundays

Creating a life that aligns with my values has been crucial.

I decided to reclaim my weekends, deliberately choosing not to work from Friday to Sunday.

This decision wasn’t made lightly; it took time and planning.

It started when I worked my corporate job as a CFO in the investment business.

I'd take Fridays off once in a while to see what a 4-day work week felt like.

When I left corporate and focused on doing my own thing full-time, things got extreme as I worked almost every day to help things pick up.

However, once I felt we had some momentum, we made it a rule to call Fridays “Me Day” and extended this to the weekend, too.

This forced us to work smarter and not just harder.

Today, working 4 days a week is living the dream 😊.

By setting these boundaries, I can fully engage with my family and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Imagine having three days a week dedicated to relaxation, adventure, and connection.

I even sleep better as a result of not working or thinking of work in this 3-day break.

What would your ideal week look like?

Design it intentionally, and don’t be afraid to say no to commitments that drain your energy.

Note: It won't be easy and will require a gradual transition but it's possible. You may even need to earn a bit less for a season but will gain more long-term.

❌ 8. I quit people-pleasing to conform to expectations

For years, I tried to make everyone happy, often at the expense of my own happiness.

The pressure to conform to others' expectations can be suffocating.

This stops us from venturing out to do what we really want to do because we worry about what others will think.

It could be the expectations of your parents, colleagues, ex-colleagues, friends, or even strangers on social media (who don't even care about you), etc.

Living authentically is far more rewarding.

Choosing to prioritise my own values and desires has opened up a world of freedom.

I’m no longer bound by the need for external validation.

Instead, I focus on creating a life that resonates with me and my family, free from the weight of others’ opinions.

📈 9. I quit putting all my eggs in one basket

There is a shift happening in the UK and around the Western world. 

You may even have noticed it yourself. If so, comment and tell me.

Costs are rising, living standards are declining, people are more unhappy, there is a rise in far-right sentiment, etc.

I feel like the next 5 years will be more challenging for some of these reasons and more.

As a result, it's important to have liquid investments that are accessible at any time you need them and movable to anywhere you want to move them.

This is one reason why investing in my Stocks and Shares ISA, for example, is particularly important, among investments in other asset classes.

It has also become more important to be a global citizen, have globally portable skills and to think globally. 

If you're not already doing so, begin to think of ways to invest internationally and buy yourself some options.

By the way, if you want to get a glimpse into this shift I'm talking about, read some of the 2,000 or so comments in this video:

🥗 10. I quit eating bad-quality food

Food is fuel and I've learned this gradually as I've gotten older.

The quality of what we consume directly impacts our health and energy levels.

I’ve made a conscious choice to prioritise nourishing, wholesome foods (at a cost) over processed options.

By being mindful of my diet, I’m investing in my long-term well-being.

This doesn’t mean depriving myself; rather, it’s about making informed choices that support my body and mind.

When you consider the impact of what you eat, it becomes clear that quality (rather than quantity) is all that matters.

Conclusion

Gradually winning back your freedoms is like gradually winning back power. 

It happens by design and if done well, it will lead to having more options to do what best suits you and your family.

Freedom also gives you the courage to do things that you really want to do in life including being more generous with your time and money.

Even if you feel like you don't have much going for you in life now, there is at least one thing on this list that you can focus on today.

Now it's over to you to gradually work on taking back your freedoms 💪🏽.

Comment below and tell me what you're quitting and what freedoms you're making a priority in your life.

Here are more resources about creating more freedom in your life:

• Start an Online Business for more financial freedoms
• No Savings at 40+? RETIRE in 10 Years INVESTING £500 Monthly (Tax-Free!)
• Book 121 Financial Freedom Coaching

Watch the video version about 10 things I quit to gradually regain my freedom: