My Wallet Is My Freedom.
There was a time when I thought “independence” just meant being able to make my own decisions.
Then I started university, and every day I had to ask my parents for daily expenses. Then I realized: independence starts with being able to pay and spend for your own things — and your own dreams.
It sounds small, but for me, that was the first time I felt a quiet kind of power. Since my university I started to earn. It brought me both comfort and made my life easier.
Growing up in a culture of “depend but achieve”
I have to say first that, we Sri Lankans sometimes were taugjt that, you do not need money all what you need is people around you. Money talk was often treated as something “unladylike” — as if wanting stability and self-reliance meant I wasn’t gentle enough, or that I didn’t trust life. I know humanity and people around are one of the best sources you can earn through your life time. But, still, in this competitive world money matters.
But I can well remember that my beloved father always kept in mind that, you need to earn and save first. He is such a far-sighted figure.
So, I realized that money actually is.
It’s not cold.
It’s not greedy.
It’s about safety, boundaries, and choice.
My wake-up call
My wake-up call wasn’t dramatic. It was subtle.
I did my studies well and entered into a great profession, and enrolled in the Bar Association in Sri Lanka and started my career as an Attorney-At-Law, and later did my Master’s as well. Troughout my carrier I sarted very small and earned well gradually, I got prepared some gold and saved a considerable amount of money.
I am proudly saying that I spent my own money on my wedding, my master’s, and all the courses I have taken so far.
When I was in my profession, I always tracked my expenses, built a small emergency fund, and saved some for my future tasks.
It wasn’t about how much I earned, always — it was about how much I respected myself. I could treat myself well, and I could give whatever my loving ones need. It is such a satisfaction.
What financial independence really feels like
It’s not always glamorous.
It’s learning that budgeting is self-care.
It’s realizing that you’re not working for status — you’re working for freedom.
Freedom to rest.
Freedom to leave.
Freedom to start again.
And yes — freedom to buy anything that you feel good about without guilt.
I had to end my great career in Sri Lanka, along with my marriage, because we moved to Japan. All at once, I felt so poor. I had everything — yet in a different land, with a different language, I was asked to start my battle from zero.
I hope you can understand — the boss lady became speechless right from the beginning.
But my life motto is so powerful, and it always leads me to the right path:
“I am a seed with great potential. I can rise wherever I am planted.”
During the first few years, I started learning this hard but fascinating language. Later, I found a job. Then, during my pregnancy with our baby boy, I had to pause my work temporarily. But I never truly stopped.
Even through my most difficult days, I started this beautiful site and kept improving myself, paving the way toward a better path.
My advice to every girl who’s starting out
- Start small. Save ¥100 a week, not to get rich, but to build discipline. Even today, I am maintaining a till box. You might think a small penny won’t matter, but never think like that; every penny saves you.
- Ask questions. Learn about investing, credit, and insurance — not from fear, but from curiosity.
- Don’t let money shame silence you. You have every right to want stability and comfort.
- Value your labor. If you’re good at something, don’t “do it for exposure.”
- Support other women. Talk about money openly with your friends — normalize financial confidence.
My personal mantra is Money
“Money isn’t the goal. It’s the foundation that lets me build the life I want.”
Now, when I treat myself — a solo trip, a new book, a quiet dinner — it’s not about spending.
It’s a celebration of all the times I chose to show up for myself, even when it was hard.
Final thought
Financial independence isn’t just about having money.
It’s about having options — and the courage to choose what feels right for you.
Every penny you save, every boundary you set, every skill you learn — they’re not just financial moves.
They’re acts of self-love.
And if you ever doubt it, just remember:
Our wallet isn’t just a purse — it’s a quiet declaration of freedom. Yes, My Wallet Is My Freedom
