October 31, 2025

What does financial freedom really mean? Is it going on a world tour, taking a long afternoon nap, or just the power to follow your heart every day? Delhi-based fund manager Gurmeet Chadha recently met someone who gave him the most amazing and simple answer. On X (formerly Twitter), Chadha said, “Today met a client (prospect) who gave me the best definition of financial independence.” When he asked the man what he did for a living, the client said, “I do whatever I feel like.” Boom! That’s the heart of financial freedom — it’s not about luxury cars or vacations but having the freedom to choose how to spend your time. Imagine waking up without alarms. No deadlines hanging over your head. No obligations pulling you away from what you want to do. That’s true independence! The internet loved it too. One person said real financial freedom is “being able to take an afternoon nap without guilt or worry.” Another shared how true freedom means quitting your boring 9-to-5 job because you can, and not because you have to. They pointed out how many people think quitting is irresponsible, but being able to do it because you are financially strong is the ultimate win. A neat summary: financial freedom is really the freedom of time. But how do you get there? Gurmeet Chadha says the journey is different for everyone. Some reach financial independence in 15 years, others take 25 years with a safer style. Some never start investing because they keep finding excuses. His advice? Run your own race. Don’t copy others or look for shortcuts. About numbers, Chadha breaks it down clearly. Forget ₹5 crore or ₹20 crore as magic numbers. What matters is your lifestyle and monthly costs. The simple rule he shared is: if 6% of your total savings can cover your monthly expenses, you have financial freedom. For example, if you spend ₹2 lakh a month, you need around ₹4 crore saved. Why? Because 6% of ₹4 crore is ₹24 lakh a year — or ₹2 lakh a month, which covers your expenses. His tip: be honest and a little generous when calculating your real expenses. This way, you can start your journey toward true freedom—the freedom to do whatever your heart wants, every day!

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Tags: Financial freedom, Gurmeet chadha, Financial independence, Investment, Money management,