Luxury Is Cute — But Cash Flow Is Better

Most of us have had… let’s just say, a complicated relationship with money.

We work hard for it.

We save some of it.

We spend a lot of it.

And it seems to disappear faster than a pair of designer sunglasses left at brunch.

For more than 25 years, I worked for the federal government — and not just anywhere.

I was blessed to work at an agency with a higher pay rate, which meant I earned more than the average federal employee, and we had benefits that were unique to that agency. I wasn’t struggling. I wasn’t pinching pennies. I enjoyed my life, I enjoyed my career, and yes, I enjoyed luxury. The shoes, the jewelry, the bags, the fine dining — all guilt-free and debt-free.

So money wasn’t my enemy.

I wasn’t reckless.

I wasn’t living beyond my means.

But here’s the truth:

Even with a great salary and financial stability… I wasn’t maximizing my money.

My retirement account was growing nicely in the stock market, but my discretionary income? Whew. It usually found its way to fun, convenience, and beautiful things — not into building assets or creating income.

I was earning money, but not creating money.

I had money.

I just didn’t give it a job.

And that’s the part I’m redefining.

Money Is a Tool, Not Just Purchasing Power

For most of my life, I saw money as something you use.

You earn it, you pay bills, you enjoy it.

Simple.

But here’s what I’m learning:

Money can create more money, not just buy things.

Real wealth isn’t built from leftover money socked away under the mattress or sitting in a low-interest savings account — unless you’re an heiress with millions sitting idle.

It’s built from what you keep, what you grow, and what eventually starts paying you back.

Because money doesn’t multiply just because you earn a good salary or “set something aside.”

It multiplies when you use it to acquire assets that produce income… ideally, passive income.

That can look like:

• investing in the stock market where your money has the chance to grow faster than inflation

• owning assets like real estate or businesses that can produce income

• using financial tools — like certain types of insurance — that protect money while helping it grow

• putting dollars into tools that eliminate debt faster and free up cash flow that can be invested

• placing money where it earns profit, not dust

That’s money working.

I wasn’t out here splurging irresponsibly or living a lifestyle I couldn’t afford.

And thankfully, I contributed the maximum to my retirement account, so that money was automatically invested for the future.

But my discretionary dollars weren’t earning anything. They left my account, landed somewhere cute, and that was the end of the story.

Money went out.

Things came in.

Transaction over.

Except that’s not how wealth works.

Wealth comes from direction — giving money an assignment and expecting it to return with something: growth, assets, income.

Once that clicked, the shift for me wasn’t about “starting over” — I had already been investing through my TSP for decades. That money was growing for my future whether I thought about it or not.

The real change was in my intention.

Early retirement made me look at money differently.

My goal is no longer to simply earn money and pay bills — it’s to build assets and create cash flow.

Not someday.

Not just for retirement.

Now.

I want my money to show up for me the same way I showed up for work all those years.

Why You Don’t Need to Be Wealthy to Start

Let me be clear:

You don’t need to be rich to make this shift.

A lot of people think building wealth is only for people with trust funds, business empires, or seven-figure inheritances. But wealth isn’t about where you start — it’s about what you do with the money you have.

Some people build wealth paycheck by paycheck.

Dollar by dollar.

Decision by decision.

Small amounts of money can create momentum when they’re directed with purpose.

A little consistently invested can grow.

A little saved can turn into capital.

A little freed from debt can become cash flow.

Because the truth is:

• You don’t need millions to invest.

• You don’t need a financial degree to start learning.

• You don’t need a perfect plan — you just need a mind shift and to start giving your money a job.

How someone could start, even with $5 a week

If someone had just $5 a week and some consistency, they could start dollar-cost averaging in an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF).

An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a basket of investments — like stocks — bundled together in one fund. ETFs are a simple way to invest broadly in the stock market without having to choose individual stocks. This also provides diversification, which is a level of safety because your money isn’t tied to just one company — it’s spread across many.

Dollar-cost averaging simply means putting in a little at a time, on a regular schedule, instead of trying to “time the market,” which means trying to buy when you think the stock is going to be cheapest.

And because most brokerages offer fractional shares, you don’t need to buy a whole $300 or $400 share — platforms like Robinhood, Fidelity, Schwab, and SoFi let you invest $5, $10, or $20 at a time. Technically, you can start with as little as $1, but most people begin with $25 to $50 because it helps the account grow faster. And of course, if you’re really rolling in it — the money, that is 😉 — you might think about more.

Or, if the stock market feels overwhelming…

If someone is nervous about the market and also wants life insurance protection for their family, some people use Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance.

With an IUL, part of your premium pays for life insurance, and part builds cash value.

That cash value can grow based on stock market gains (up to certain limits), without being exposed to market losses.

And the part many people don’t know:

You can access that cash value while you’re alive — through policy loans or withdrawals. If you borrow from the cash value and don’t pay it back, the balance is deducted from the death benefit later.

Some people like this because their money has growth potential, they get protection for their family, and they still have access to funds during their lifetime.

And if things are really tight…

You can start with creating a budget and looking at debt elimination strategies.

When you free up money that’s going toward monthly payments, that cash can be converted into disposable income — and that can be used to build assets that create passive income.

The whole point is:

You don’t need a lot of money.

You just need a mind shift and the commitment to start.

Little changes compound.

Little deposits grow.

And little choices today become big opportunities later.

Everyone’s situation is different.

But everyone can do something.

For me, I’m not chasing perfection — I’m focused on progress.

When you know better, you do better.

You’re not competing with anyone else — only your old self.

It’s all about forward motion…

step by step, choice by choice, day by day.

Becoming the best version of you — financially, emotionally, and in every way that matters to you.

Your future self is already proud of you.

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