Financial flexibility is one of the hidden stages along the path to financial independence. When you hit financial flexibility, you have far more choices than you did before. You can invest more, spend more, save more, and work less if you choose to do so. But, this type of lifestyle can only be achieved by being mindful and proactive about where your money is going, as today’s guest Kevin, knows very well. Kevin’s story was posted on the BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group, where he relived the horror of his credit card being declined at his girlfriend’s birthday dinner. This struck Kevin, since he made a decent salary and was relatively responsible with his money. He contributed to retirement accounts and kept a lean emergency fund, so where was all his money going? In today’s discovery, Scott and Mindy walk Kevin through which parts of his budget need a tune-up, and whether or not aggressive loan paydown is worth it for optimal financial flexibility. So where can you tweak your budget to maximize flexibility while minimizing credit-card-induced stress?  In This Episode We Cover How to pay off bad debt fast and work your way to debt-free status  Achieving “financial flexibility” before financial independence and the steps to get there  Tracking your expenses and budgeting for spending (every single month!) How to cut food and eating out spending so your stomach and wallet stay happy  What to do with extra income once you’ve paid off all your debt The importance of a strong emergency fund and always having a safety reserve And So Much More! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices