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  • 4th share: Where does the time go????

    To answer another question on our survey, we all have 168 hours in a week. Sure, some people outsource some tasks but break down what you do. I value my time like my money and spend it wisely, which includes relaxation time to recharge. An old trick learned in the Army (when the mission was to capture a hill by a certain time for the larger battlefield picture), involved allocating time to tasks. So look at how you spend your 168 hrs & modify as required. My (grouped for space) categories are:

    • Sleep
    • Domestics including shopping (notice shopping is not a hobby) 🙂
    • Spiritual & mental fitness
    • Physical fitness
    • Relationships including intimacy
    • “Work”, volunteering & zero footprint (the garden & other hobbies)

    Now the order does not reflect importance but rather necessity. I may reduce sleep /domestics in order to satisfy the other. So have a look at your own situation and start a time jar where you put money in it every time you say you don’t have enough time. I started one in Oct 07 and by Dec I had changed my thoughts & words to say “I have all the time in the world”. Then in Aug 08 I moved to Maui for 3 months with the intention of staying longer – but that’s another “relationship story” 😉 Indeed the time jar & being aware of your “time spending” habits really does work!!

    Comments, questions, sharing of your own tips appreciated 🙂 xx

  • share 3: Answering the question from our survey of …

    “Why can’t I budget?” There may be a few deeper reasons for this so the general answer I can give is because:

    (more…)

  • Share 2: How is it that 2012 was the year you …..

    If you’ve subscribed to the newsletters at www.financialfitness.com.au you’ll know that our minds are our greatest asset. As the most amazing computer on the planet your mind will find the answer to the questions you ask. EG If you ask why am I always in debt? your mind will tell you it’s because (more…)

  • Share 1: How can you get 650% return on your money?

    After 50 lessons over the last 2 years, welcome to my first “share”. I hope 2012 has started well for you and that you think these posts are worth sharing. If not, let me know what I can do to make them more valuable for you. x

    And so… at this time of year I remember my Dad saying that a sale isn’t a saving unless you were already going to buy it. Taking that one step further, when you’re looking longingly at another piece of “stuff”, look at the price and imagine that amount of money being deposited into your account or coming off the credit card or personal loan. Indeed there are amortisation calculators that will show you what you can save with a lump sum payment. For example, a one off payment of $200 off your 30 year $250K home loan, 6 months into it, saves you $1,500. That’s a 650% return on your money! So check out a few different sites to compare. One I used was http://www.yourmortgage.com.au/calculators/repay_advanced/ and to check it I used http://www.hsh.com/calc-amort.html Sorry I couldn’t find an official site that showed one off payments. Would love to know if you do.  Until next..stay healthy, happy & wealthy! xx

  • last lesson: From now on they’ll be “Shares”

    Yes, in 2012 they’ll become Shares instead of lessons. Sharing social capital instead of capitalism 😉 So now…. Give the GIFT OF TIME TO YOURSELF! As we paradoxically wind down while emotions run high this festive season, remember (more…)

  • lesson 49: less stuff means less stress

    If you’re cleaning stuff out to make room for more “stuff” over Christmas, remember less stuff means less stress. Don’t fill the space! Let the energy flow and see how your improved external environment affects your internal environment (health & headspace). If you have less stuff, you don’t need to dust it, find it, fix it, replace it or insure it! Nor do you have to pay it off! Have a couple of “nice toys” but spend your time, effort & money on financial security items (real wealth) instead of trying to look wealthy. This ultimately gives you the freedom to be there for loved ones when it counts, and  spend comfortably into the future.

    Have this discussion with significant others so you all have a stake in the rewards of “healthy, happy family members who can semi retire in their 40’s”. Yes it’s hard if bad habits have already manifested but the longer you leave it the harder it will be. Use the GFC as an excuse if you have to 😉

  • lesson 48: do you really want family & friends to go into debt for you?

    So you’ve liked the Face Book page, you’re listening to the radio shows, you’ve signed up for the newsletter at Financial Fitness and you’ve completed the survey to get your complimentary gift. Have you told your friends about these resources? Please do so as getting the cashflow conversation started is half the battle. With 6 weeks til Christmas, have you (more…)

  • lesson 47: Are you stretching yourself?

    Draw a dot in the middle of a circle. The dot is you and the circle represents the limit of your comfort zone. For example, spending $100 on a night out is right on the circle but $108 is outside the circle and thus your comfort zone. This drawing relates to all areas of your life (eg physical activity like number of push ups, work duties, love making etc). Now, set your goals just outside the circle (eg to save $x in the next pay cycle).

  • lesson 46: Who do you think your most important relationship is with?

    Is it your partner, your children, your parents, your boss (you may laugh but bosses certainly have some degree of control over your life), a creator of all things or yourself? May I suggest that the last two are the same. Without getting into religion or spirituality, you alone create your life. While you cannot control what happens to you, you can control how you respond to it.

    People say I have this energy, this glow and I firmly believe it’s because (more…)

  • lesson 45: don’t spend your health trying to build wealth

    A recent hospitalisation had me questioning the power of the mind. Why couldn’t I recreate the healing I’d read about in books, instead of having to crawl on the floor because (more…)