We all need a little boost to help us grow and manage our money.  Sometimes the hardest part is knowing how much we are saving and sticking to a plan. Some people love to track all their transactions on a spreadsheet and have little room for movement; others just wing it and kind of know what they should or shouldn’t be spending each week.  There is a number of tools to help you with your budget including apps to track everything down to that latte you had or that must-have item you purchased online last week.

But how far do you need to go to get somewhere with your finances?

This gets down to you and what you need to help you track your progress openly and honestly. With so many options, tools, and strategies available, it comes down to personal preference and motivation.  I think, like with anything in life, the level of motivation or commitment you dedicate to your savings will determine your outcome.  If you don’t commit to your savings plan, your spending plan will take over.

The first step starts with knowing how much it costs to run your life.

This is the scariest and most confronting step of all.  Knowing where your money goes, what’s the biggest drain on your cash flow and where you’re overspending is a necessity.  From here you can then look at reviewing some of these costs.  Contact all your providers of regular necessities like your water, gas, electricity, insurance, etc and see what deals or discounts they can give you and look for alternatives.  Make a call to your financial planner to get them to review your personal insurance premiums and see if you can get a lower premium for the same, similar, or even better benefits.

Then it’s time to Start Saving!

There’s no such thing as the right time to start because expenses will always pop up, but with the right momentum and commitment just take a leap and jump in.

Here are a few tips we recommend helping to boost your sticking to savings commitment:

1. Separate Accounts – establish a separate savings account (ideally not attached to your internet or phone banking so you can’t see the balance).  High-interest accounts are usually the best way to go.  Compounding interest will help you build your balance faster.
2. Automate it – have either your employer split your salary payment each cycle or when your salary is paid in the bank, have an automatic transfer in place to move funds to your savings account. The less involvement you have, the easier it is to stick to.
3. Increase with pay rises – you are currently living off your income so any pay increase you receive in the future should be directed straight to your savings plan. This way you won’t miss it and your savings will build up faster (it’s okay to treat yourself initially with something nice to reward yourself for a job well done).
4. Always ask “Do I need it” – when buying something out of your normal routine, ask yourself, ‘do I need it?’ before you buy. Just stopping for that one second can really make the difference.  Sometimes we buy things on autopilot because it’s something we have always done.  But now you’re on a savings plan to buy that house, that car, that holiday, etc so do I need this or the car/ house/ holiday more?
5. Allocate some money to spend – We can’t save all the time but allocating some spending on a regular basis stops you from spending it all when you’ve saved up a nice lump sum.
6. Don’t call it a budget – A budget is generally seen as a restriction on your spending but if you think of it as a Savings Plan then it is more about your end result than what you can’t have now.  It’s the difference between saying you’re going on a new eating plan (sounds like you get to eat lots of new and different things) rather than a diet (which just screams restrictions).

Don’t get carried away…we don’t want you to become that person that buys a bulk supply of toilet paper to last the next 5 years because it works out to just 2 cents a wipe.  We just want you to get where you want to go.  You know and we know the key ingredient in all of this is… your commitment!

Do you remember when you were earning some cash from your first job and your parents said that you should save some of it?  If you had thought about it at the time, it would probably have been a good idea but in reality, we don’t tend to listen at the time but realise later in life we should have listened.  Here’s your chance now to get it right!

By sticking to your plan and implementing even just some of these tips, you might surprise yourself and that new car, TV or holiday might come around sooner than you think!

If you are struggling to get your savings plan in place, the JBS Financial team are here to help you get your savings (and spending) under control.

Jenny Brown, May 2022.

It’s an unfortunate reality, but all of us will face a crisis at some time. We have no control over what kind of crisis hits us. But the impact on us and our family will depend largely on how we respond to it. Your response is wholly in your control so it’s crucial to have a plan in place before a crisis happens.

Predictable vs unpredictable

A single life event can change the direction of our lives. It can be predictable or unpredictable. Some examples of predictable life events include starting school at age 5, puberty, and menopause. Unpredictable life events are also called crisis events. A crisis comes in different shapes and forms.

Unanticipated early retirement. This major disruption can be the result of redundancy, downsizing, or the end of a career. Would you have enough saved up in retirement assets to sustain your current lifestyle?

Disability. Your inability to work due to illness or accident can put a big dent on your finances. How will you meet your day-to-day living expenses if you couldn’t work any more?

Changes in your family situation. This includes marriage, divorce, and even instant stepchildren. How will this affect your estate plan? Ideally, your estate plan should go beyond superannuation beneficiary nominations.

Outliving your money. Retirees often spend their first years splurging on travel or other bucket-list goals. Add to that the increasing cost of living – especially medical expenses. Having an accurate estimate of what your expenses will be in retirement is crucial because understating your expenses means you can easily outlive your portfolio. Will you have other sources of income?

Aged care. This overlooked area of retirement planning is also potentially the most expensive. How will you pay for it?

Premature death. Having a proper estate plan and adequate life insurance ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your family will not experience financial hardship following your death.

4 ways to prepare for the unexpected

Regardless of the scope, having a plan in place can be the difference between a quick resolution and financial ruin. So, what can you do to prepare for the unexpected?

Ensure you have proper life insurance coverage

You insure your house and your car. So, why not yourself and your income? Income protection insurance provides steady payment if you’re unable to work. Disability insurance pays a lump sum in the event of sickness or injury. Life insurance protects your loved ones from financial disaster following your death.

Bulk up your emergency savings

An unexpected event like an accident or a serious illness can be devastating if you’re not prepared. Medical bills can go through the roof. We all know it’s important to save. But how much is enough? A rule of thumb is to put away enough money (3-6 months of living expenses) into a ‘rainy day’ account. Start small and continue building it up each month. Saving as little as 1% of your income is a good start.

Create an estate plan

These are legal documents that determines who will make key financial and medical decisions on your behalf. Without a Will, upon your death, a court controls the distribution of your estate. An Enduring Power of Attorney provides your chosen person with authority over your financial affairs until you die (it extends beyond any loss of mental capacity). An Enduring Medical Power of Attorney provides the attorney with authority over your medical needs if you’re unable to make these decisions yourself (whether temporarily or permanently).

Seek expert financial help

The thing about the unexpected is that you never see it coming. How can you plan for something which you can’t anticipate? While it sounds impossible, it’s not.

Financial planning can help you see how your finances may change, and, how your lifestyle would be affected should something unexpected occur.

For example, cash flow planning can help give you a projection of how your family’s money situation will change in the event of your disability or death. This allows you to prepare and to create an accurate picture as possible.

A financial planner can help you see the steps you can take when things go wrong. A little preparation today can protect you and your family when an unexpected event takes you by surprise.

Final Note

Life doesn’t always go perfectly. There will be twists and turns. The impact of significant life events will be much easier to handle with a little planning.

You can reduce the impact of a crisis if you’re ready to respond. So, don’t panic. Expect some things to go wrong. Prepare solutions in advance.

Planning can make the difference between enduring a crisis and giving in to it. The JBS Financial team are here to help you with the things you plan for AND those unexpected eventualities. Book a chat so we can step you through being prepared.

How do YOU prepare for the unexpected?

If you’ve only recently started earning for yourself, taken out a mortgage or started a family, you’ll know it’s a far cry from the teenage impulse to order up that amazing jacket right now.

Of course, giving something up involves sacrifice, which doesn’t sound like fun. So instead of thinking of the pain, concentrate on what you gain. Instead of clicking on another piece of wearable tech, imagine a property with a backyard where your kids can run around.

Why we want it now

It’s only human to want things straight away. Evolution has given us a desire for immediate rewards. We’ll eat the food in front of us if we’re not sure where the next meal’s coming from. Most other animals simply act on these impulses, they don’t know any other way. But we can imagine the future.

People don’t always make rational decisions straight away, which is why some areas like house purchases usually have cooling-off periods. Waiting a while before you commit to a purchase can reduce buyer regret and free up money better spent on what you really want.

You can do it already

Even if you think you’re a hopeless case when it comes to resisting temptation, it’s likely you already practise some form of delayed gratification.

If you have kids, you’ll already know the challenges of unfiltered demands. Most parents teach the benefits of waiting and sacrificing something now for something more rewarding later.

Self-control is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it will be. The stronger you get, the easier it’ll become. Over time you’ll become less susceptible to dropping back into old habits and finding yourself searching online for this week’s hot Apple gadget. Early adopters often pay more for tech that’s new to market. Waiting for the bugs to clear and price to fall might be cheaper and better.

Talk to your future self

There’s a trend for famous people to write notes to their teenage self, saying what they’ve learned along the way.

Will your future self thank you for trading up to the latest phone or vehicle? Or would they rather you’d saved for the holiday of a lifetime, or that beach shack with a view?

The answers help you plan your goals. Often, it’s experiences rather than things that are truly memorable. There may come a time when you come across that designer jacket in the back of your wardrobe and casually toss it into the op shop pile.

Talk to someone older about what they’d have done differently. Many retired people wish they’d put more aside, or started saving earlier in life.

See the difference a day makes

Waiting just 24 hours before you commit to buying that band t-shirt can be enough to persuade you that you’d never really wear something that yellow.

Taking time to reflect often changes the choices you make. You might just find you can do without that extra case of shiraz, when next day you come across one you haven’t opened.

Many consumer goods are marketed to persuade you that you need something right now. Think of those shopping channel ads where they’ll throw in an extra mophead if you buy that new cleaner within the next 10 minutes. Make sure you really care about that mophead before you commit.

Don’t be a tech slave

Own your phone, not the other way around.

As advertisers get more and more personal data they’re better at targeting what we want, and using techniques to get us to buy right now. Is 10% off the end-of-financial year sale really worth losing a week’s holiday? Think of your other goals so you use the value scale that’s right for you.

Instant advertising often pushes for instant responses that don’t look so flash down the line. Marketers often structure offers to take advantage of our FOMO. Resist this year’s model in favour of the future car. It might just be a jetpack by then.

Source: AMP, 2019

As we head towards the silly season after a long year of hard work, a holiday is something we all desire. However what can provide us with a few weeks of absolute bliss, can also end up costing a fortune over the long term if we don’t fund it right.

The best way to fund a holiday is of course through your savings. It’s what happens when you don’t have any savings and you decide to borrow to fund your holiday is where things can get messy.

The worst way to fund a holiday would be through a credit card as it has the highest amount of interest payable.

Based on a borrowed amount of $5,000 and an interest rate of 14.99%, if you paid the minimum amount each month, it would take you over 23 years and 10 months to pay it back with a total cost of the holiday of $12,018. More than twice what the actual holiday cost!

Source: MoneySmart.gov.au

By making increased payments of $200 per month, the amount would be paid off in 2 and a half years and would cost you $5,942. Keep in mind however that yes, you’ve saved $6,077 over the long term by paying off more than the minimum required, however even still the holiday is costing you nearly 20% more than the actual cost of the holiday.

With larger overseas holidays the numbers are even worse as the more you borrow, the more likely you are to be making the minimum monthly repayments as that is most likely all you can afford. That $20,000 holiday can quickly become a $40,000 holiday. You’ve effectively paid for 2 holidays but only received 1.

Another tempting option is to redraw on the home loan for your holiday as the interest rates are a lot cheaper. The below analysis shows the cost of borrowing $20,000 at 5.50% over 20 years.

Source: MoneySmart.gov.au

While the minimum payment will take you 19 ½ years to pay off, by paying approximately twice the minimum amount, you reduce the term of the loan by nearly 13 years and save approximately $9,500 but even then it will take you nearly 7 years to pay off your holiday, long after most of the memories have faded.

We all enjoy holidays and while it can be tempting to borrow money to fund them, a much better alternative is to plan ahead and save money before you go on holiday. If you haven’t yet saved up enough to fund your holiday, why not try some alternatives such as staying home and doing some day trips over summer, a cheap camping trip, delaying your holiday until less peak (and therefore cheaper) times of the year or even skipping this year and going on holiday next year when you can afford it.

Over the long term, using your savings rather than borrowing will enable you to go on holidays more frequently. At JBS it’s not only about saving for retirement, we also help you save for your holidays.

– Liam Rutty –

I remember back in 2009 I ran the Melbourne Marathon, a whopping 42km run that took me over 5 hours, yep 5 long hours of continuous running (what was I thinking!?).  One day after completing the Marathon I went for a long run and asked myself, why am I doing this?  I’ve run the Marathon so why do I need to keep running, it just seemed pointless.

Fast forward to now and I constantly use this as a reminder that you need to keep setting yourself goals to allow you to keep up your momentum.  Over the past few years’ I set myself a budget (I know sounds boring) and goal to save up for a house, it did mean that I had to make some sacrifices, but I’m happy to say that in November 2016 my Fiancé and I bought our first house.

Now the key is to keep up my momentum on the savings to achieve further goals, I’m happy to announce I also got recently engaged, but with that comes the massive expense of a Wedding and Honeymoon (Yikes!).  To keep us motivated and the momentum going my fiancé and I keep thinking of the next big thing we need to save for.  Once the Wedding and Honeymoon is done and dusted, the focus will then be on getting that pesky loan down, having an enjoyable life (travel and new shiny things), and I guess at some point kids will pop into the picture (yep another big expense).

At the end of the day I find the best thing to do is continue to set yourself a goal, if you don’t I find you lose your momentum, and this is evidenced by me becoming lazy after the Marathon (yep the waistline has grown).  Now that I’ve continued to set myself new goals with my Fiancé, we are continually saving and working towards a common goal allowing us to keep up our momentum.  In the end this will hopefully allow us to enjoy our life and hit our goals, and hopefully I’ll get my nice new shiny Audi one day!

We’ve just passed the first quarter of the year and it’s also this time of the year that you may begin to see some of your New Year’s resolutions start to lose momentum. More specifically we’ll look at your savings goal and tips on how to ensure you maintain the momentum and consistently save throughout the year. Often the beginning of the year is when you look to commence a New Year’s resolution. One common New Year’s resolution is to come up with a savings goal. The issue however is that the momentum starts to slow down after a couple of months into the year. Here are some tips, which may assist you in ensuring you maintain the momentum and consistently save each month.

Use technology as it’s readily available now
One of the most common factors that prevent consistent savings is the tedious process of having to keep track of all the income and expenses from day to day. Having to remember what that $50 you withdrew the other week was for, or remembering to retain all the receipts from last month, so you can register the amounts can become very tiresome, very quickly. Luckily we now have technology to assist us in keeping track of all your income and expenses and programs which are able to link all your bank accounts and credits cards.  This means after the initial set up of the accounts, all you have to do is spend between 5 – 10 minutes each week checking your income and expenses online. You can even download an app to your phone, so you could categorise your expense and review your cash flow anywhere. Having a simple method of tracking your income and expenses will assist you in consistently reaching your savings goals.

Simplify expenses and income details
Another common mistake we see is having too many categories in your budget. In your expenses section you may have a category for fruit and veg, then another category for groceries and perhaps even another category for meat. Ultimately you could just bundle all these expenses together into groceries and reduce the amount of categories under expenses. Furthermore, consistently recording certain expenses the same each month / week is also crucial. This means do not record the costs of your fruit and veg as groceries one week and then the next week record it as shopping.  The same applies to your income. If you have income derived from several jobs, you could simply categorize all the income as salary, instead of recording each income individually. Having fewer categories will make it easier for you to analyse and compare your income and expenses from time to time.

Turn your savings goal into your lifestyle
One of the most important reasons why you should stick to your savings goal is that once you’ve consistently saved for a period of time, you will automatically change your daily spending habits. When you initially start to review your expenditure, it will feel very daunting and painful knowing you can’t buy that new phone that’s been released as it means you won’t reach your savings goal for the month. However over time you’ll find it becomes easier and easier to manage all your spending. This means that eventually you won’t even think of the savings plan as a painful task but rather something you just do naturally. The trick is to stay consistent each month.

Never lose sight of your original goal (Have a Cash Coach on your side)
Whether it’s to purchase a new car, your first home, or save for the next family holiday, we generally start a savings plan with a specific goal in mind. The issue arises when motivation starts to lack and our vision of the original goal starts to blur. There is also the issue of temptation, knowing that there’s now a certain amount saved up, it’s very tempting to make impulse purchases on things we don’t need. The important tip to remember is to never lose sight of your original goal and keep yourself disciplined and accountable in order to reach that goal. This may mean you get your partner, family member or friend to keep you accountable. Even better is to have a financial adviser in your corner. Similar to having a personal trainer at the gym, having a financial adviser on your side means you receive that additional support in order to achieve your savings goals.

Here at JBS we have a Cash Coach program, which assist clients in tracking their income and spending every day. More importantly JBS acts as a coach and will evaluate your performance each month, to ensure you’re still on track to meet your goal. If you’re thinking about starting a savings plan or just need someone in your corner to help you save, JBS can assist.

– Andy Lay –

There’s something about starting a new year that brings with it a tonne of motivation. That fresh start where you can re-set, clean-up, and where energy levels are high and excitement at its peak. Where our passion for giving those dreams of ours a really good shot is reignited and our visions of living bigger and better are at the forefront of our thinking.

However, we get to March and the motivation starts to taper off and by April most goals have been abandoned or forgotten about. Research shows, in the end only about 8% of people stick with their good intentions.

So what do this 8% do differently? Are they just more willing to invest wholeheartedly to work towards their goals? Maybe, but experts say it has more to do with how they set themselves up for success. Specifically, they use January to re-set themselves and clean up any messes from the previous year, then invest the time and effort into effective goal planning.

So with the new year having now kicked off, here’s a list of the best results-driven tactics to ensure you are part of that 8% and make 2017 your best year yet:
Get Super Clear

Vague or generalised goals such as ‘save more’ won’t serve you. They need to be specific and well defined so that they can be measured.

–  What?

–  When?

–  And How?

Specific goals such as ‘pay off credit cards by March’ are easier to measure. By then mapping out the action steps required it is then easier to achieve the goal than not.

But there’s also the why? Connecting emotion with your goals will help you remember why they were important in the first place and will reignite your passion for reaching them when things get difficult.

Write it Down

Study after study has shown that those who write down their goals accomplish significantly more than those who don’t. Why? Putting pen to paper forces you to clarify what you want, it motivates you to take action and it makes it easier for you to see your progress and celebrate your successes.

Get Support & Accountability

We’ve all heard the importance of being around the right people, especially when chasing our goals.  When you’re in pursuit of a dream, there are many elements that can resist your path and block your forward motion.  Surrounding yourself with people that are genuinely cheering for you will help you disengage from this resistance and keep you moving forward.

That’s where JBS fits in. We believe (and know!) that the biggest influence of you achieving your financial and lifestyle goals is firstly to have clarity on what your goals are, then aligning your cash flow to help you achieve those goals. Fortunately for you we have a program designed to help you achieve this.

The JBS Cash Coach program is tailored to you, your needs, your goals, and the actions you need to take to achieve those goals.  We take the time to understand you, then design solutions to help you achieve your goals. We help you create a spending and savings plan that is aligned to your goals, and keep you accountable and motivated on a monthly basis to maximise the probability of achieving your goals so you can have the lifestyle you are entitled too in 2017 and into the future.

The early part of 2017 is the perfect time de-clutter your life of the excess build up from last year, clean up, clear your head, set motivating goals, and get moving towards those goals.

The JBS Cash Coach program will help you get the most out of 2017 but only if you take action. Make time and join the best support network around (aka JBS Cash Coach).

No matter where you are on your financial journey, you need to know that it’s possible for anyone to turn their financial life around. As with most things, sometimes that very first step is the hardest part. We have created a list of tips to start saving money today.

None of these tactics will be life-changing on their own, but they can make a difference over time if you are able to implement more than one. Some of these suggestions take just a few minutes, while others require a bit of regular effort. Still, they’re all incredibly simple – anyone can do them.

So here we go with our money saving ideas:

 
– Have a save buddy. Saving while hanging out with spenders can mean your money goes on impulsive or unnecessary items

 
– Review your bank accounts. Are you paying fees? Are there cheaper offerings? Are you restricted on what you can do with your money?

 
– Master the 30-day rule, waiting 30 days to decide on a purchase can give you better perspective on whether it’s truly worth the money, often the urge to buy the item has passed

 
– Write a shopping list before you go shopping to avoid impulse buying

 
– Lock up your credit card for a month and only pay for things with cash

 
– Set a limit for birthday and Christmas presents and don’t go over

 
– Buy in bulk

 
– Have a portion of your salary paid directly into your separate savings account

 
– Set a savings goal

 
– Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees

 
– Shop around for necessities such as car insurance, house and contents insurance, gas, electricity, phone, etc.

 
– Unsubscribe from sale email alerts. This is just constant temptation

 
– Stop buying bottled water! Buy a water filter instead if you can’t drink tap water

 
– Only purchase classic clothing that you can wear again. If you know you’ll only wear it once or twice, consider borrowing from someone rather than buying that sequent and lace floor length ball gown

 
– Empty your pockets and wallets of coins at the end of each day into a jar. But make sure to deposit into your savings account and not dive into because you want a coffee

 
– Double down. If you do have to buy luxury items, like makeup, wine or clothes, try saving the same amount. $15 on that gorgeous red lippy you had to have might not seem so great when it comes with another $15 savings requirement. If you can’t afford both, then you have to step away.

If you struggle to manage your money and wonder where your savings disappear to each month, fear not! Our comprehensive program will put you back into the driving seat, using high impact track and reporting technology teamed with expert advice. We’ll help you get your finances on track, so you can achieve your goals, plan for the future and say hello to a happier, healthier life where YOU are in control.

Cash Coach is a program run by JBS Financial Strategists. We believe that the biggest influence on achieving your goals is how you use your cash flow, so we start from there and help you develop great money management skills. Our aim is for you to consistently have money left over at the end of the month, so you can direct it towards the stuff that really counts!

If you’re not sure where to start – contact the team at JBS and we can run through a financial health check with you. This is a great way to understand your financial position and the team can identify any trouble areas, offer possible solutions and could also find growth areas you may not have considered.

Happy Saving 🙂

Buying your first home has never felt harder and it’s clear that people could use a helping hand.  Australian’s typically approach their finances with a ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude, and have quite a reactive, last minute approach when facing up to life-changing events such as home ownership.  

We understand Australians have a high emotional drive for property ownership and we see the importance to satisfy this driver to create life satisfaction.

Here are some tips to help make it happen:

Tip 1 – Determine / Cut Down your Expenses:  Saving the house deposit is going to involve some sacrifice.  Try cutting down on a little luxury each week.  It all adds up.  As a first step, determine what your living expenses are so you are happy, whilst also ensuring there is money left over to save.

Tip 2 – Start Now:  It doesn’t matter if you don’t know exactly where you will buy.  It’s going to take some time to save for a house deposit, so start a regular savings plan now and sort the finer details later.

Tip 3 – Stash your Cash somewhere Sensible:  Investing short term in the share market is not usually a good option.  Whilst an online savings account doesn’t pay much in interest, it is most likely the right place to save for your house deposit.

Tip 4 – Avoid Paying Rent:  One of the hardest parts about saving for a deposit is saving cash whilst also renting.  Living with your parents is not always an option, however if this is possible it will supercharge your savings.

Tip 5 – Save like you’re paying a mortgage:  Many people say they find it hard to save because they’re renting and still have all the other expenses as well.  If you have to rent, then as a minimum you should be saving the difference between your rent and expected mortgage repayments.

Tip 6 – Don’t forget Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI):  If you can save 15% – 20% of the purchase price you will generally avoid paying LMI.  The aim should be to avoid LMI because the insurance isn’t actually for you, it’s to protect the lender.

Tip 7 – Allow for Other Extra Costs:  Costs such as Stamp Duty and conveyancing add up and need to be factored in.  The Stamp Duty amount will depend on the purchase price and the State in which you purchase, whilst conveyancing costs will range somewhere between $800 – $2,500.

How JBS can Assist

We believe the biggest influence on you achieving your financial and lifestyle goals is how you best utilise your cash flow.

This has driven us to develop the JBS Cash Coach program which aims to assist the Generation X & Y demographic, and anyone else requiring advice / coaching / mentoring / tracking / accountability regarding their cash flow and financial goals, such as purchasing a first home / debt reduction / retirement planning etc.

We assist clients to develop great money management skills.  This puts you back into the driving seat, using high impact track and reporting technology teamed with expert advice.  We help clients get their finances back on track, so they can achieve their goal.

We have helped around 10 clients this year purchase their first home, and this was achieved through the JBS Cash Coach program.

If this is something of interest and you are looking for accountability and ongoing advice around achieving your savings goals / house purchase please give JBS a call.

Please refer to this brochure for further details.