Do you live above your means? Did you pick up your bad financial habits from your mum and dad? What are you teaching YOUR kids about MONEY? Here’s my Money Checklist

Money is something that affects us every single day of our lives. We put a roof over our heads with it, buy food with it, pay the electricity & gas with it, as well as those fab shoes and iPads for our kids.

Bad habits are usually something we wouldn’t dream of passing on consciously to our kids but the way we speak about money, act around money and spend money is being unconsciously learnt, observed and copied by our kids.

So, if you are constantly in debt, or a good saver, your money management skills are being passed on to your kids.

As study by TSB has discovered that almost half of people who spend their earnings before their next payday claim their parents do the same.

Despite being aware of their financial shortcomings however, parents are still the first port of call for financial advice with more than a quarter of us turning to them for help with managing our money.

Schools rarely teach kids about money management & the seminar world is flooded with people like T. Harv Eker or Tony Robbins running workshops on how to balance saving with spending.

( p.s T Harv Eker’s book is really good! SECRETS MILLIONAIRE MIND – Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth)

How We Speak About Money Matters

“Money doesn’t grow on trees”

“Money is the root of all evil”

“Who do you think I am Rockefeller?”

“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people that they don’t like.” – Will Rogers

“Money makes the world go around” as Liza Minelli sung in “Cabaret

Or a tongue in cheek one……

“A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.” Lana Turner

The Children’s Society’s annual report, which surveyed 3,000 children and their parents, found that overall, levels of happiness continue to fall each year because after their safety, parental debt and money struggles damage children’s happiness the most, the charity’s annual Good Childhood Report found.

So, let’s look at how you can make a change if you don’t like what you’ve discovered about the way you’re passing on your attitudes and behaviours around money.

Here Are 10 Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself About Your Finances.

Grab a pen and paper and a cup of tea and ‘Pause To Ponder’ …….

1. Is My Money Being Spent on the Things That Truly Matter to Me?

Are there items in my budget that could be stopped, reduced, or bought in a cheaper place to help me better utilise my income? (eg. Small changes like shopping in Aldi for basics rather than Tesco?)

2. What Was the Last Item I Regretted Purchasing?

Was it an impulse or a comfort buy? Could I stop myself and get into the new habit of asking myself “Do I really need this?” every time I’m about to buy something on impulse.

3. How Would My Life Look, Feel & Be Without Debt Payments?

Would I sleep better? Would I be less tense? More patient with the kids?  Would my relationship with my partner improve?

Take a moment to close your eyes, breathe deeply and slowly and to really, really visualise being free of debt. Now make up your mind that from THIS moment you are going to make some small changes that will make a BIG difference to your life?

4. Am I Listening to the Right People?

Where do you get your advice from – your mother in law, your best friend, your partner, the tabloids, a financial advisor, books?

Are you surrounding yourself with good financial influences?

Is the advice you’re receiving best for your situation? Does your partner want nothing to do with talking with you, planning with you, listening to you and working together? Do you have the same attitudes to money?

 What needs to change?

5. How Can I Improve My Financial Literacy & My Confidence?

Are you overwhelmed, stressed, frightened? What VERY small step can you take today into getting some help are you researching solutions or are you just giving up? Take a look at Martin Lewis site ‘Money Saving Expert’ for good impartial information.

6. What do I REALLY earn?

After commuting costs, time spent getting around for work and clothing expenses, how much are you really making per week, month, year?How can you reduce those extra costs? – walk to work, share a car to work, budget for clothes?

7. What Can I Do to Increase My Income?

Can I get a part time job during the week in a pub, could I let out a room in in my house, could I offer Airbnb, could I let out my parking space, ask for a raise a work?

Do I actually want to change career?  Could I have a small business idea and the capital to make it happen?

Think out of the box……

8.  Am I Setting a Good Example for My Children?”Are you teaching your children good financial values? Do you want your children to have the same issues that you’re currently having? How can you help them avoid your mistakes?

9. . If I Got Ill or Died Today, Would My Family Be OK?

Would my family be able to sustain their current standard of living? If not, how can you ensure that they are able to? What do I need to do today to rethink my plans?

10.  Where Do I Want to Be One Year from Now Financially?

What steps can I take today to get started on that goal?

What’s holding me back?

What’s really stopping me?

Imagine a year from now if you took control of your finances – see what you’d see, hear what you’d hear and feel how good you’d feel.

Your past doesn’t have to equal your future.

In this positive state go and take some very small actions towards this better future & let me know how you get on.