Hey Nine-to-Miners!

Still thinking your paycheck is a plan?

This week’s Nine-to-Mine is part myth-busting, part kick-in-the-assets.

Inside, we’re breaking down:

• The #1 mistake people make chasing financial freedom (spoiler: it’s not spending too much on lattes)
• Sharing the books I keep re-reading like they’re financial gospel
• Giving you a roadmap to ditch debt without ditching your lifestyle.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re making more but somehow still stuck — this one’s for you.

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A “Best of” List of Things You Should Check Out

Read: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
The gateway drug to financial independence. If you haven’t read it, start here. If you have, re-read it — because odds are you’re still thinking like the wrong dad. (I’m currently on my third re-read myself!) (Amazon)

Read: Main Street Millionaire by Codie Sanchez
This is like Shark Tank meets small-town hustle. If you’ve ever wanted to turn boring businesses into big money, Codie gives you the blueprint — with sass and spreadsheets. (I’m re-reading this one right now too. Don’t think, run and get this one now.) (Amazon)

Read: How to Pay Off Debt and Build Wealth (Yes, You Can Do Both)
Debt freedom and financial freedom? You don’t have to pick a lane. Here’s your roadmap to do both without selling your soul — or your Starbucks habit. (blog)

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The #1 Mistake People Make When Trying to Achieve Financial Freedom

Most people trying to “escape the paycheck life” are making the same fatal mistake — and no, it’s not skipping their 401(k) match or forgetting to cancel Netflix.

It’s chasing income instead of building autonomy.

At first glance, more money feels like the obvious answer. Get promoted. Make six figures. Get the bonus. Feel smug. Post about it on LinkedIn with 47 clapping emojis.

But here’s the problem:

If your income still comes from just one place — and that place isn’t yours — you’re not free. You’re just well-paid and wildly vulnerable.

More Money, Same Cage

Years ago, I knew someone (okay, me) who thought the fastest route to freedom was a bigger paycheck.

So I climbed. Hustled. Negotiated. Crushed my performance reviews like a type-A gladiator.

The salary went up. So did the house, the car, the “I deserve this” spending.

But I still felt trapped — because my entire lifestyle was balanced on one stream of income. One that belonged to someone else.

The more I made, the more I relied on my job to keep making it.

I wasn’t building freedom.

I was building a fancier version of dependency.

The Income Illusion

Let’s call it what it is: The Income Illusion.

It’s when you believe making more money equals more freedom.

But freedom isn’t about how much you earn.

It’s about how you earn it.

Are you in control of it?

Does it keep flowing if you step away?

Can it weather a layoff, an illness or a sudden “we’ve decided to go in a different direction”?

If the answer is no, then it doesn’t matter if you’re making $60K or $600K — you’re not free.

You’re just expensive to replace.

What Real Financial Freedom Looks Like

Here’s the truth no one puts in their inspirational quote carousel:

Freedom isn’t about income.

It’s about independence from any single source of income.

You need income that:

• Comes from multiple places
• Isn’t tied to your time or one employer
• Keeps flowing even when you don’t feel like performing

That’s why I can’t stop talking about income streams. Not because “passive income” sounds sexy (although it does) but because diversification = durability.

You want income that works with you, not just because of you.

A Tale of Two Earners

Let’s play this out.

Person A makes $180K in corporate.

Person B makes $80K from a consulting side hustle, $20K from a course, $15K from affiliate links and $10K from a travel biz.

Person A looks shinier. Until they get laid off.

Person B? They’ve built a safety net and a springboard.

That’s the power of autonomy. And that’s what Person A needs to start mining before they find themselves in a financial free fall.

The Better Question

Most people on the hunt for financial freedom ask:

“How do I make more money?”

The smarter question is:

“How do I make money in a way that doesn’t trap me?”

That’s the shift that changes everything.

Because it’s not about quitting your job tomorrow.

It’s about building streams around your job today — so that when the day comes, you’ve got leverage.

You’ve got options.

And options? They are the currency of true freedom.

TL;DR: Here’s the Takeaway

Don’t confuse a bigger paycheck with financial security.

Your job funds your life — but it doesn’t guarantee your freedom.

Start now. Build something that belongs to you.

Even if it makes $500 a month at first — it’s yours. And that’s the start of autonomy.

This week, ask yourself:

“If my W2 disappeared tomorrow, what income would still come in next month?”

If the answer is “none,” it’s time to get to work — on your own terms.

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