"Currency is the minted freedom"—this phrase sounds profound, but it is easily misunderstood. It seems that the more money one has, the freer one is, but it is far from that simple.

Think from a different angle: what is the true use of money? It is used to "redeem" oneself from life. When your savings are enough to cover daily expenses, you no longer need to sell your time out of necessity to survive. No need to please the boss, no need to be constrained by survival. This is the most practical dividend of wealth.

So the first step to financial freedom is not getting rich overnight, but establishing enough passive income as a buffer. This is the most valuable thing money can give you - ownership of your time.