We keep talking about women empowerment and equal opportunities and right for women, which is a good thing, but what I believe is more important, is the financial independence for women. A woman's financial journey is a very important one in her life. Even if she is empowered but if she does not have financial independence and has to be dependent on her family for her needs, then there is something missing in her empowerment. A women being financial independent is her journey to live life on her own terms.
I worked for 25 years and then suddenly there was a halt which I was not prepared for. I had my savings but if I would use that up then I would have no security for my old age so that was not to be touched and I had capabilities, it was then about getting the opportunities. When my regular income stopped, my hubby told me that he would support me, and he did whole heartedly, he would give me whatever I would ask for, but the catch was that I had to ask for all my small and big needs, and though he would never so no, there were times when I would feel awkward. And I realized the difference between me having my financial freedom to me becoming dependent. I started withdrawing from asking, because I felt awkward, asking for it.
I had this strong urge of having my own money, because that's where I felt my freedom and I felt empowered in true sense. For me earning was not because I wanted to buy many fancy things, I was never in to it. For me it was more about spending it on my own terms where I would spend on my mother, sister buying them gifts, taking care of my mother's medical, planning holidays for my family, giving gifts to my hubby and son on special occasions, treating my family on birthdays and anniversaries. These were the things I did when I earned and then when I stopped, I could not keep asking money for many of these things. Imagine me taking money from hubby and buying a gift for him or treating him to a meal, how odd that would be.
When I started earning again, I felt the freedom. The freedom to make my own choices of where I want to spend and how much I want to spend, there was some sense of security I felt. It was not ego which my hubby always tells me jokingly. It was about making my own choices on my own terms. From whatever I earned, I could plan some saving, spending on my family and spending on my own needs.
No matter how much ever understanding partner you have but asking is always an odd situation. And after being independent for all my life it was a big thing to become independent. The confidence you feel when you earn your own money is very different. It is high and you feel truly empowered.
Ladies, what are your thoughts on this.
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