The ultimate luxury in 2k19 is not first class flight tickets, cruising around the Greek Islands in a yacht like Beyoncé, or a McMansion that would make your friends jealous (although all of those things are lovely) – it is time and money freedom! That is why we are seeing books such as the Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape and anything by Dave Ramsay continue to top best seller records!

As more and more Gen X’ers, Millenials and Gen Y’s decide they do not want to be a slave to the grind stone or the bank and wish to ‘tread their own path’ to quote Mr Pape, we are seeing a big trend in spending (and savings habits). But getting your finances in order can be a difficult mistress, as unlike the latest diet ,no-one ever sees your progress (or lack of). Speaking from experience here, as someone who decided that 2018 was the year to take control and get back into financial shape , I quickly learned that the key to success was preparation and the right mindset. Here are our top tips on how we banished 3 credit cards and a car loan this year.

1. Check out your bank account. If you are paying a fee for the luxury of holding it, you are paying too much. Switch to a no fee account such as ING , and pay no fees ever! This little tip will save the average person just over $500 this year! Extra credit for accounts that refund international charges!
2. As an Entrepreneur , us ladies are often guilty of not paying Superannuation – or not paying any attention to it! Firstly, make sure that if you are in business for yourself that you are paying yourself first and taking care of your Super by contributing at least 9.5% of your take home pay or that your employer is if you are currently hold a position (or 401K if you are in the USA). Next, make sure that you are paying a reasonable amount of fees! Ideally , you want to be paying less than .085% a year in fees total! This is how you will outperform every single time, with a low fee account option. Check out your plans PDS!
3. Give yourself permission to spend on fun for yourself and the kids (otherwise you’ll feel deprived and not in an abundance mindset) but limit it to 10% of your earnings. Like everything with moderation, the minute you start white knuckling it through the week is the minute you spontaneously visit Kmart and spend a fortune on retail therapy because ‘you’ve been good and deserve it’. However, if you stay true to the amount of 10% on treats, you can feel good about spending your 10% whilst remembering that you are continuing to stay true to your real goal of financial independence.
4. Write down your money goals and colour in /check off when you’ve completed regular steps along the way. This is how you tackle a big , hairy, scary debt – one repayment at a time. We loved using debtfreecharts.com and enjoyed seeing it coloured in as we got closer to our final payoff. Be specific, and divide your debt into regular increments you are wanting to pay. Tracking and viewing your progress is so important! Make sure you celebrate when you take that sucker down! This is a great one for the kids to see you achieve as it teaches them very valuable money lessons.
5. Domino your debts – this is a big one. Arrange your debts from the smallest to the largest. Pay off the smallest first to give you that confidence boost. By the time you are ready to pay off the larger debt you will have more disposable income to hit it with (having paid off the smaller ones). Make sure you are continuing to pay off minimums with each of your debts so you don’t fall behind while you complete this process. Avoid taking on any new debt, and pay with cash/debit card wherever possible.
6. Get an accountability partner. Just like your business or other personal goals in life, this one is so important. This may be your partner, a parent or your bestie. Someone who will keep you on track when the going gets tough, and will celebrate the wins when you conquer those debts! If you have a partner, its a great idea to complete these steps together so you are on the same financial page.
7. That little bit extra! See what you can do to earn just a little bit more that will see you succeed in your goals even earlier. Perhaps its negotiating a payrise, doing a bit of overtime, perhaps its monetizing a skill you already have. Check out our pages @theartofdecluttering and @earnonthego for a few ideas.

As we expand the page, you will be able to explore a variety of methods for getting maximum value out of your life on the go so please stay tuned!