Many Australians delay taking control of their finances because they don’t have time, they find it too daunting or they may just not know where to start. The reality is that the sooner you take charge, the sooner you can start working towards achieving better results, especially in the long term.

Why think about saving and investing?

In the short term, a savings ‘safety net’ frees you up from the stress of living from payday-to-payday. Similarly, in tough financial times or when unplanned expenses arise, you can comfortably access your own savings instead of being forced to use more expensive options such as credit cards, loans and cash advances. In the medium term, a regular savings plan establishes a financial track record (which is essential when applying for finance), and can also help you to reach goals such as a holiday or a new car. In the longer term, effective saving and investing can help to improve your quality of life – possibly supplementing your superannuation when you retire and allowing you to accumulate greater wealth.

Getting started – set goals

If you don’t set yourself personal financial goals, then how do you know what you are trying to achieve financially? Ask yourself – what do you want to achieve? Remember, it is important to be specific and make your goals measurable so you can see the results. Ensure that the goals are attainable, realistic and within sensible time frames. If your goal is to save $40,000 in two years and you only earn $20,000 a year, then you’re setting yourself up for failure. Once you have decided on your goals and their timeframes, then you can begin to make informed choices about how to work towards achieving them.

Save first – spend later

Saving is easier if you commit to putting the money aside at the start of your pay period and spending what is left, rather than trying to limit your spending and saving the amount left over. An automatic deduction, either directly from your pay, or from your bank account a day or two after you get paid, is one of the easiest ways to set yourself up so that you save first. That way, you know exactly how much you have left to spend each pay period. Many people already do this as they have set up their mortgage payment this way.

Budgeting

Budgeting is an essential tool to help you manage your personal finances and, most importantly, your cash flow.
Budgeting requires you to list all your sources of income and all of your outgoing expenses. It is important that you’re realistic. If you find you’re spending more than you earn, the budget will help you to review your expenses and see what areas you may be able to reduce expenditure in immediately. Alternatively, if you have surplus funds, you can then use this money to establish a regular savings plan to work towards your personal financial goals.

It’s best to prepare a budget based on your pay cycles. Downloading the attached worksheet (BUDGET PLANNER) may be an ideal way for you to identify and  set up a budget which can be updated as and when your circumstances change. If you’re not sure what you spend, start by looking at bank balances and old credit card statements; you’ll be surprised by what you see.

Consolidate accounts

Consolidating multiple accounts can reduce the fees and charges you incur and help you reach your goals sooner. Many of us have multiple accounts and probably don’t even give it a second thought. For example, how many of us have two or more bank accounts? Or more than one credit card? Or even multiple superannuation funds as a result of changing jobs.

If you have multiple accounts with small balances and are finding it difficult to keep track of everything, now might be the time to consolidate and avoid paying multiple fees and charges. If you’re consolidating your superannuation, many funds offer investment choices, so you can still spread your risk within the one fund, without incurring multiple administration and management fees.

Where to invest?

For many people, a high-interest earning account or a cash management account, separate to your everyday banking, is a simple and effective way to start saving and to make your first foray into the world of investing.
When you are ready to start looking at alternative investment options, there are four main asset classes to choose from:
• cash
• fixed interest
• property, and
• Australian and international equities (also known as shares).

You can choose to invest directly in these assets – such as purchasing an investment property – or indirectly via a managed fund, which provides you access to multiple options, diversification and consolidated administration.

While this information highlights some factors to consider, and how these may impact your finances, it does not replace the need for ongoing financial planning advice that is tailored to your specific needs. The team at Adviser fp are able to guide you towards the choice that is right for you.

Contact us today (CLICK HERE) for an obligation free appointment to discuss how the process of saving / investing will assist you to achieve your personal, financial & lifestyle goals.