Do You Really Want to Be Rich — Or Do You Want Freedom?

May 26, 2026

In my work as a financial educator, one of the most common things I hear is:

“I want to be rich.”“I want to be a millionaire.”

And whenever I ask why… there’s usually a pause.

Not because people don’t mean it.

But because once they stop and really think about it, they realize the desire is not just about money.

What We Really Want

Most people don’t dream about having money simply to look at numbers in a bank account.

What they really want is:

• freedom

• peace of mind

• experiences

• options

• and the ability to live life without constantly feeling restricted

  
  

We want to:

• travel

• create memories with our families

• walk into a store without anxiety

• help the people we love

• and make decisions without money always being the deciding factor

  
  

That’s the deeper desire.

The Story We Carry

As a child growing up, I understood there were certain things we simply could not afford.

Certain experiences.Certain trips.Certain opportunities.

Not because my parents didn’t want those things for us, but because the financial means were not there.

And even as children, we understand more than adults sometimes realize.

That’s why I used to say:

“When I grow up, I’m going to be rich.”

Not because I cared about luxury.

But because somewhere deep down, I understood that money was connected to access.

To possibility.

To choice.

The Contradiction

And yet, despite wanting financial freedom, many of us handle money with very little intention.

We:

• spend emotionally

• avoid planning

• ignore our finances

• and make decisions that move us further away from the life we say we want

  
  

Not because we’re irresponsible.

But because many of us were never taught how to connect our daily financial habits to our long-term vision.

The Money Lesson

Wanting more for yourself is not wrong.

Wanting financial freedom is not shallow.

But if we truly want a different future, our money habits have to align with the life we say we want.

Because wealth is not built only through income.

It’s built through intentional decisions repeated consistently over time.

A Better Question

Maybe the real question isn’t:

“Do I want to be rich?”

Maybe the better question is:

“What kind of life am I trying to build… and do my financial habits support it?”

Because once you answer that honestly, your relationship with money starts to change.

Final Thought

Most people don’t actually want money for the sake of money.

They want what money represents:

• freedom

• stability

• experiences

• and the ability to breathe a little easier

  
  

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

The key is making sure the way we handle money today aligns with the life we hope to create tomorrow.

Keep your money Irie.

About Petra-Ann Brown

Petra-Ann Brown is the founder of Brown Financial Solutions, LLC, a financial coaching practice that empowers individuals to take control of their financial lives. She is also the host of Island Money 365 podcast, where she shares inspiring immigrant stories and provides invaluable financial resources to the community.