During winter I decided I wanted to join a gym to get ahead of the ‘spring rush’ where people hurry to get in shape for summer. Although only July and still winter, I wanted to get that spring clean feeling, get my life organised and into a routine so when summer arrives I can make the most of the warmer months.

I just completed my first 8 week challenge at the gym which was very successful. The challenge gave me structure, goals to work towards throughout the 8 weeks and kept me accountable with the other participants.

Part way through this challenge, I decided to apply this theory to other parts of my life. Joining the gym was the first step and now I have a plan to spring clean my life.

Health & Fitness Routine – I didn’t know where to start at first and to begin with, I thought I could only fit in two sessions per week. However, in just a couple of weeks its amazing how much I was enjoying the gym and I found the time to go, now I’m there at least four times per week. To keep motivation I change my routine/classes/coaches. I have also started keeping a photo diary to monitor the progress/changes.

My Time to Unplug – life is busier than ever and with the endless supply of entertainment at our fingertips, it’s no wonder time can slip away. I have made conscious effort to “rediscover me” by blocking out times each week to clear my mind and unwind. Switching off from my laptop, phone, social media and TV. During winter I was having saunas and now it’s a little warmer I enjoy laying outside on my deck in the sun to clear my mind.

Declutter – Household mess can contribute greatly to stress in our lives, so it’s important to make your home a space you want to be. I used the recent long weekend to go through my wardrobe, tidy the garden and do an all over spring clean of my home. My declutter session was quite therapeutic and as the saying goes – “tidy home, tidy mind”. I donated heaps to charity and managed to sell some items online which will go towards my ‘something special goal’.

Plan something special – I haven’t planned anything yet, however likely an overseas trip will be on the cards in the near future to reward myself on the goals I set myself in July and what I can achieve between now and the end of the year.

You can apply the same theories to your finances. Seeking assistance from a financial coach, doing an audit on your budget and re-assessing your goals can make a world of difference to achieving financial freedom.

– Pj –

Spring is a great time to give your finances a once over to see how those goals you set back in January are tracking. Reviewing your financial situation, starting afresh this spring and making sure you aren’t spending more money than you need to.

Below are a few tips to help organise and freshen up your finances:

Start with a Budget: if you haven’t tracked your spending for a while, it is likely that your income and expenses have changed. There is potential for you to save money by simply making a few small adjustments.

Automatic payments: everyone has been guilty of not paying a bill on time and this often incurs additional fees. Automatic payments could be extremely beneficial and scheduling a direct debit is one way to avoid these extra fees especially for regular payments like utilities.

Check your bank statements: running your eyes over your monthly bank statements for mystery charges. By doing this you may come across charges that are not yours or old subscriptions that you may have forgotten about.

Eliminate non-essential items: small inexpensive items add up over a month. If you didn’t purchase that morning coffee or afternoon snack every day you could save yourself over $1,000 a year. Look for cheaper alternatives – if you can’t leave the house in the morning without your coffee, purchase an eco-coffee cup and start making your coffee at home to take to work.

Protect what you can’t afford to lose: If something is important and you can’t afford to lose it – it needs to be protected. Your income is imperative to your financial freedom, you need to ensure it’s adequately protected.

You work hard for your money, so make it work for you. Creating a budget and monitoring your expenses doesn’t mean you miss out on all the fun stuff. It’s about knowing where your money is going so you stay in control.

If you struggle to stick to your budget or your financial situation is becoming a bit overwhelming, JBS has a program that can help give your finances that spring clean feeling. Contact us today to discuss how Cash Coach can help you.