Getting financially organised in 2019: Q2 check in
Unbelievably, we’re nearly halfway through the year! Time flies, and that means it’s time to check in on where you’re up to on your financial organisation for 2019.
So where should you be if you started The Money Plan early this year? There are three key areas to look at as we approach six months in:
1. Your what and your why
Everyone should have completed Step 1: Setting your outcome. What do you want? Whenever you’re thinking about where you’re going in life, always bring it back to your goals.
Every morning in front of me in the mirror while I clean my teeth I’ve got my compelling vision looking back at me. I’ve written down and pinned up my one, three, five and ten-year goals; the things I’m working towards. We’re human beings and we go off track, we have a lot to do. I find that by having my goals in front of me every morning, I’m always focused on achieving them.
Don’t forget to consider too: what’s your why? For many people, getting financially organised is driven by planning for retirement, paying off debts or helping kids with university or buying property. Your ‘why’ gives your goals a substance. Having a goal of saving £1m is great, but think about why saving it is important to you.
Download my compelling vision worksheet to help you set your goals
By this stage of the year you should also be well into your financial organisation, and that’s Step 2 of The Money Plan.
2. Systems for success
The thing that more people tell me has made the biggest difference for them than any other is the Bank Accounts System. It works for everyone, from multi-millionaires on down, because it automates as much of your finances as possible. If you haven’t put it in place yet, then consider doing it – you can find a detailed explanation here.
If you started The Money Plan in January, then you should already be reaping the benefits of its organisation on your finances.
If you’ve got kids, you should also be looking at the Pocket Money Strategy, helping to teach your kids to be in control of their money rather than vice versa. It doesn’t matter if you’re not great with money, you can still impart valuable lessons to your kids from a relatively early age that they’ll remember for life.
You should also be working on your snowball, the 12.5% of your income you’re paying yourself to put towards paying off debts or your future planning. That might involve selling some items to generate more income… or you may be tempted by other schemes! See below as to why you need to be careful.
Become a member to access my free spreadsheets to help you organise your finances and debts
3. Protecting yourself
Once we’ve got our organisation sorted out, it’s time for step 3: protection, and building our house of wealth.
If you started in January, hopefully you’ve saved up your £1,000 emergency reserve of cash, but if you haven’t then just refocus – don’t beat yourself up about it. Think about how you can get there by the end of the year.
The other two essential foundations, a will and lasting powers of attorney, are something that everyone should have in place. They’re simple to arrange, they cost little, and they matter a lot.
Click here to organise your will or LPA
If you’ve got those three foundations in place, the Bank Account System set up and you’re working towards your goals, then you’re head and shoulders above most people – you should give yourself a very big pat on the back. You’re being smart about your money.
And if you haven’t started yet…
If you didn’t get underway with your financial organisation yet – or if you bought the book, read it and forgot about it without implementing anything – then don’t beat yourself up. Life gets busy, things get in the way. That’s OK.
But if you want to make a change to your finances, then NOW is the right time to do it! You’ve got to step up and make some decisions. If you’re unhappy with how things are panning out, then you need to do something differently.
