In these uncertain times understanding
money is a must. Either you gain control over your money or the lack of money
will gain control over you. Here are 5 steps to help you to help yourself.
1. Keep
your financial goals simple and specific
Your target
maybe to better manage your finances as a whole but how are you going to do
it.? A good starting point is to take an inventory of where you are right here
right now. Don’t bury your head in the sand and hope and pray all will be well.
We’ve all been there at one point in our lives and we know it doesn’t work. Be
honest with yourself and if you’re finding it hard to get out of the starting
blocks enlist the help of a friend. Are
you going to pay off your debts, build up some savings for something specific
like a deposit for a house, car or business? Whatever it is, keep it simple, as
you build consistency the magic will happen.
2. Set a plan and monitor your progress
The key here is to write down your goals with a list of steps you need to take to complete them. If you’re paying off debt, this could start by focusing on the card or the finance agreement with the highest interest rate, pooling your resources to pay it off and then utilising the savings to eliminate the next debt and so on so forth. A key to remember is to always celebrate your successes on your journey to financial freedom.
3.
Don’t let a bad day ruin your plan
Life
happens, you’ve set a budget and everything is going well, then out of the blue
the boiler breaks down and you have to use that credit card you swore you would
never use again. Don’t be too hard on
yourself, look at it for what it is, an essential genuine need. Think about it,
if you’re in the middle of winter it's -3 degrees outside I’m sure you’d function
better with some heat and hot water. Adjust your plans to accommodate this
intrusion and remember it was never set in stone. A set back is a set up for a comeback.
4.
Remember the rewards
Saving money,
having a financial plan doesn’t mean that you have to live a completely frugal
lifestyle, cutting out all of life’s pleasures from day one. Changing your
habits gradually are more likely to see you sticking to your long-term goals
than setting unrealistic mammoth goals from day one.
If you’re
trying to save and you think you spend too much money on going out, don’t
change it by staying in for the rest of your life! Perhaps cut it down
slightly and prioritise the times that you do go out, or just try to do it on a
lower budget and save the extra.
5. Ask
for help
Goals can be
so much easier to achieve if you’ve got the support of someone who’s got your
back. Someone who has walked the walk and can talk the talk. Someone who
has been there, worn the t-shirt, made the video and is living life. With so
much going on in the financial world today, it’s imperative that you seek out
some sound financial advice to navigate the unchartered waters.
Do today what others don’t, to have
tomorrow what others won’t.
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