How I Turned My PhD Stipend Into a Freedom Fund

The first money habit every academic needs to automate

Author

Macarena Fritz
August 04, 2025

Before I started investing, I built this.
Not a company. Not a reputation.
A Freedom Fund. This where it all begins.

Why?
Because if you don’t build a runway, you’ll always be flying someone else’s route.

WHAT IS A FREEDOM FUND?

A Freedom Fund is a separate, automated account used to build capital for future investments.

Not for rent.
Not for travel.
Not for emergencies (car repairs, hospital bills)

It’s for buying the one thing academia rarely teaches: freedom through assets.

Think of it as the launchpad for your financial independence.

Why PhDs Need This?

Let’s be honest:

  • A PhD might get you prestige, but not always pay.

  • Most researchers never learn how to invest.

  • Global studies show millions of highly educated professionals have no investments.

You’ve spent years learning how to generate knowledge.
Now it’s time to generate freedom.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Start a Freedom Fund (Anywhere in the World)

1. Open a Separate Financial Account

Choose a separate savings or investment account. Not your day-to-day bank account!

📌 Look for:

  • Low fees

  • Online/mobile access

  • Automatic deposit features

  • (If possible) Local or international investment access

Why separate?
Because when it’s all in one pot, it disappears.

Label it clearly:

“Freedom Fund” | “Asset Builder” | “Buy Back My Time”

2. Start with What You Can

Even a $10 or $25 monthly contribution matters.

My first Freedom Fund?
💸 I saved $50 each month from my PhD stipend.

Some ideas for your first deposit:

  • Teaching a private class (for undergrads or school students)

  • Doing remote data analysis

  • Freelance translation or editing

Start small. Stay consistent.

3. Automate the Transfers

Make it a system, not a feeling.

Set up a recurring monthly transfer the same day your stipend or paycheck hits.

Why? Because:

  • You’ll forget otherwise.

  • Automated = consistent = inevitable.

4. Use It ONLY for Assets

Your Freedom Fund is not for consumption. It’s for income-producing investments.

Examples:

  • Mutual funds

  • Global index funds

  • Local real estate crowdfunding

  • Dividend-paying equities

This fund is NOT to be touched until it buys income-producing assets.

5. Track It (Like Your Research)

Build a simple tracker to monitor progress:

Month

Contribution

Total Balance

Investment

Jan

$50

$50

—

Feb

$50

$100

Mutual Fund

This is your new data set—your financial experiment.

Key Takeaways

  • The Freedom Fund is your first automated step toward financial freedom.

  • You don’t need a big salary—just a repeatable system.

  • Separate the money. Automate the habit. Use it to buy income-generating assets.

  • This is how you exit dependency, not just earn degrees.

Let me be candid — no one’s coming to save you.
But you can. Start building your Freedom Fund today — your future self will thank you.

Until Next Time

The Financially Independent PhD