Month: December 2018

Categories
Financial Freedom

3 Ways to Relax & Reflect This Holiday Season

As we head into the beginning of a new year, most people I know are making new year resolutions. It seems life is getting faster and faster, and the never ending list of things to do keeps getting bigger.

But before you commit to doing more, it’s important to take time for yourself in this holiday break, and reflect on all you have achieved. After all, acknowledging yourself and celebrating how far you have come is all part of a life well lived. If you feel like you are always busy, here are three ways you can slow down and savour moments.

1. Look at the photos on your phone.

If you are like me, there will be a whole lot of them. I spent time last week at a photo kiosk printing pictures off my phone to send to relatives overseas and interstate for Christmas. By going back over all my pictures for 2018, I realised just how many amazing things I have done – especially with my family. In fact, I was damn impressed by how much fun I had packed in! While it does not feel like that on a day-to-day basis, as you are busy making things happen, by looking back at your photo roll you can really appreciate just how far you have come in a year and who has really mattered.

2. Pick one thing you are proud of that have done, then acknowledge it to others.

So often we are hard on ourselves, focusing on what we have not done, have yet to achieve or have done badly. By consciously forcing yourself to acknowledge something you are proud of, you help change your mindset to a more positive one – which in turn creates more energy for you to achieve more things you are proud of. Mindset is crucial to keeping your energy levels high.

3. Be intentional about who you spend your time with.

While the holidays are notorious for having to spread time between families and functions, you need to intentionally diarise time with people that are important to you. It can be as simple as a drink with a friend, but you need things and people to look forward to. Good relationships give meaning to life. They also make you value all you have. Whether it be a movie with one of your kids (one-on-one time is hard to find but is so important) or a golf game with your dad, schedule in someone who means a lot and focus on them. You won’t regret it.

I’d like to thank you all for your support and time in the past year, I very much appreciate it. With my first book, The Breakfast Club for 40 Somethings launching, I was very excited to see it hit the Top 10 Money Books sold in Australia in 2018. This could not happen without many of you supporting my message and being part of the community.

Have a wonderful New Years and remember to invest in yourself.

Here’s to 2019 being another big one!

Until next time,

Categories
Manage Finances

How to avoid falling into debt this holiday season

It’s the festive season already, and for many people that means spending a much more significant amount of money than usual, but it doesn’t need to!

To help you improve your financial position, I’ve put together simple tips to stop you from falling into debt this holiday season.

  1. Cut the credit card up. Putting presents on your credit card is the biggest mistake you can make. Most people don’t realise that, depending on how long it takes to it off, you could be paying up to 1.5 times what an item is worth if it’s put on a credit card. So next time you are deciding whether or not to buy a gift on your credit card, ask yourself if you’re willing to spend that much extra on it.
  2. The sooner you start, the better. If you do one grocery trip to buy all of your festive foods, you are definitely going to blow your budget. Instead, buy one or two of the non-perishable items per shop for the weeks leading up to Christmas. This not only allows you to capitalise on weekly sales, but it also means it’s less of a financial blow when you buy the fresh produce.
  3. Think more, spend less. It’s easy to spend money on gifts, but the truth is, ultimately, it’s the thought that counts the most. Instead of buying a loved one a new piece of clothing that they may or may not like, consider getting a special frame and pairing it with a photo of the two of you together. Not only will it likely be cheaper, but it’s also almost guaranteed to make the recipient smile for years to come.
  4. Don’t forget about layby. Buying presents all year round when sales are on is an easy way to minimise stress, and also save big bucks. Not only does putting sale items on layby put extra money into your pockets, but by paying them off incrementally it’s also less of a financial pressure. Note: this is not afterpay!
  5. Splurge wisely. Be focused on the festive season experience you want and spend in line with that. For example, if you and your family enjoy celebrating over long lunches, splurge on quality foods – or if you all love presents, allocate a higher percentage of your budget on purchasing memorable gifts. Make sure the dollars you spent are done intentionally.

Ultimately the holiday season is meant to be fun, and a great time to reconnect with family and friends, so make sure you make the smartest money choices today, so you don’t need to worry about debt tomorrow.