Take Control of Your Money Planning
It would not surprise me if almost every ‘bloke’ has an ice-cream container full of bits and pieces in his garage or shed.
It’ll have some screws, maybe some nails, an assortment of nuts and bolts, some washers and various other bits and pieces in it and they’ll be all mixed up in a shambles.
Total Chaos
Scrounging around in the ice-cream container when working on an urgent job our ‘bloke’ can be heard saying something about sorting them out ‘one day’, however that one day almost never comes!
I have to admit that I am your typical bloke and I too have a few such containers (and I also have some very nicely organised containers as well).
I have realised after talking to hundreds, maybe even thousands of people over the years, that a large number of people have their day to day household finances in a similar state.
They have the noble intention that ‘one day’ they will sort things out.
However, now is not a good time…they’re too busy trying to earn more money to solve this week’s financial crisis or they’re off chasing some passion or dream — trying to ignore the money shambles!
The Problem to the Solution
The problem isn’t just that you keep postponing what needs to be done. It’s that you don’t know how to solve the problem, even when you can find the time. Is this expense a nut or a bolt? Maybe it’s a nail? What container does it belong in, and if I put it here will that allow me to get the outcome I want? You really want to achieve something beautiful and easy to work with, but how do you achieve that?
The Solution to the Problem
The secret is to be able to group expenses with similar characteristics together, just as you would group all the same size washers, nuts, bolts, screws etc.
However, money is NOT like nuts and bolts!
Over the years I have seen so many different ways to group expenses!
- Maybe you could separate discretionary and non-discretionary expenses
- Or perhaps you should compare needs and wants.
- Yet another option could be to group according to business or personal or by category such as food, clothing, transport, accommodation, and so on…
All of these would give you an organised view of your expenses, but would that necessarily help you?
I was working with a client on a Spending Plan recently and I realised that this very topic was the source of a major problem. There was so much confusion and my client had no idea of how to group things in order to take financial control over them.
I was able to quickly and easily demonstrate how much power you get over your expenses when you sort them according to the time cycle they fall due on.
People who have a Spending Planner helping them to fine-tune their finances and achieve more with their money will know where I am going here.
A Three-Dimensional Budget
By grouping your expenses according to the time cycles they fall due on, you can create a Spending Plan (a three-dimensional budget) and doing it this way makes a massive difference.
You get to see your ideal bank balance(s) in advance, allowing you to always know when you have spare funds and when you need to pull back a little.
You really will benefit from getting all your financial ‘nails, nuts, screws, washers and bolts’ in the right containers so please don’t put it off any longer! There is a lot of fun to be had when you are in financial control. It really is worth doing. It can lead to things like:
- Less stress
- More holidays
- Less bad debt
- More family fun days
The possibilities are endless…
Do NOT Put Up With Screwed-Up Finances For The Rest of Your Life!
If you can take control of your spending by making some of the little changes above, you’ll put some breathing space between you and your money stress, allowing you to relax and start building a stable financial future for your family. How many expenses do you accept in your day without question, and where could you reduce your weekly outgoing money just by changing a few habits? If you just can’t get your head around that and/or you are tired of money stress and have decided it’s time to take control, talk to a Spending Planner to find out how you can break the cycle. BOOK A FREE CALL
You have nothing to lose and lots to gain. Spending Planners are non-judgmental professionals who are trained to help. A short relationship with a Spending Planner will provide you with tools and training that will benefit you for the rest of your life!