It seems like everyone wants to be the one to find financial freedom. Some have found that holy grail of financial security, but most of us are only going to be lucky to live a comfortable live. This doesn't mean that we can't find some level in the middle between never having to work again, and scraping by paycheck to paycheck. How can we allow ourselves at least some flexibility in our finances?
The first thing you need to do is have some sort of cushion between what you have, and what you spend. This will allow you to save money on a regular basis. When you save money, you give yourself some options for what you want to do with your life. If you have three months worth of savings, you can quit your job knowing you have three months to make your next move. This avoids things like burnout, or feeling like you have to work every overtime shift just to survive.
You need a good plan for the future as well. Invest if you can, and make sure you have some steady stream of protected income that you are going to have in the future. Whether it be your have stocks, bonds, or an IRA you should be out there looking for ways to make your money last from now until your death. If you are a writer, you might even think about saving up your page view earnings, or investing them into something. It is free money that you can turn into more free money.
Get a good education! Having a good education means you are going to have a good chance at a job. Go to college, and get your degree because it opens a lot of doors for you. Even if you don't think you need or will use your degree, it looks really good and can get you into places you don't even know are open to you right now. It might cost money, but it takes money to make money.
Establish what you need to live, and then don't spend past that. This might be called a budget, but this is more of a income level that you feel like you need to make to make it. If you need nothing more than an apartment, some car, and clothes, you are going to be spending a lot less than someone who needs designer clothes and vacations every month. Know your means, and make sure you can live within them. This helps savings, and allows you to plan for your future accordingly.
The keys to financial freedom are good planning, good education, and saving what you can for as long as you can. One day the bills will be paid and you will be making money simply to put into the bank. Invest well and have a steady stream of cash to put in the markets so that you can make more for the future. That is how you become able to have financial freedom.