Finance expert Davinia Tomlinson shares easy steps to help you manage your money
Anyone else counting the days until payday? The first payday after the holidays usually feels a long way off (especially if you got paid early in December), but some of us may be noticing it more than ever this year. As we head into the New Year, many of us like to take the chance to reset and embrace a fresh start, but worries about money and the cost of living can hold us back.
If you’re keen to get a handle on your finances in 2023, a great first step is to learn more about managing money so you can approach it in a simple and strategic way. To help us get started, finance expert Davinia Tomlinson, founder of Rainchq and author of Cash is Queen: A Girl’s Guide to Securing, Spending and Stashing Cash, shares five tips to help you take control of your financial future and live your best, most financially abundant life.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your financial habits, understanding the basics of positive money management can help you feel reassured and put you back in the driving seat.
Learn to control your money mindset
Remember: you control your money, your money doesn’t control you. This is the key to transforming your relationship with money and establishing solid financial foundations that form the basis for how you live your life. Cultivating a healthy money mindset means that, in time, you will be making powerful financial decisions on autopilot. Start by keeping a daily money planner for a month and write down what you spend, when, why and with whom.
Next, reflect on how money makes you feel. Which words or thoughts come up consistently when you think about money and most importantly why? Do you feel excited? In control? Anxious? Whatever it is, write it down.
Lastly, look for patterns or clues in your behaviour. What do you notice about your money behaviour that makes you proud? Do certain people impact you positively or negatively? Is there a spike in spending after bad news?
The only way to make a positive lasting change is to know your starting point, identify where you’d like to get to and take micro steps that you build on incrementally to achieve your target.
Understand the difference between what you make and what you keep
Being financially free is about understanding the difference between what you earn and what you keep. Keep track of your expenses and make sure you’re spending less than you’re earning. This will help you make informed decisions about what to do with any disposable income, including how much you can afford to save and invest for the future. Most people who achieve financial success aren’t simply those who ‘earn lots of money’. The most financially savvy are focused as much on what they earn as what they keep.
Deferred gratification
It’s easy to get caught up in the here and now and spend money on things we want but don’t need. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional burst of spontaneity when it comes to our spending, if this becomes our regular mode, it could lead to financial struggles later down the line. Instead, reflect on what is driving your financial behaviour and how it makes you feel.
Are you being influenced by external influences such as friends or social media to make purchases you might otherwise not have made? Will your decisions lead to lasting satisfaction or fleeting joy in that moment? Again, there is absolutely still room for immediate gratification in our lives and that instant dopamine hit that might come from an unplanned purchase. But also know that when we diligently stash our money away week after week, month after month, the impact on our overall sense of wellbeing and satisfaction over the long term is incalculable.
Find your money tribe
Unsurprisingly, the people closest to us will have a significant impact on our relationship with money, positively and negatively. If you’re attempting to optimise or transform your financial behaviour, then a good place to look is in your interactions with close friends and family.
How openly do you discuss money and what sorts of things come up? Do your friends encourage you and cheer you on to financial success, remind you to command your true value in salary negotiations and help you stay committed to your saving and investment plans? Or do they tempt you into blowing the budget whenever you’re out together, discourage you from pursuing your ambitions or generally pour cold water on your money-saving efforts? If you’re yet to broach the subject of money in your friendship group, perhaps you can lead the way.
Set a money date with your friends to talk about all things money and hold one another to account. This might include how you’re getting on with your savings, checking in on your goals, discussing the latest money apps and more. While it may seem awkward at first, talking about money in the safety of people you know and trust is a power move.
Automation
Don’t rely on memory or adding it to your to-do list to stick to your saving plan. Identify a realistic amount of money you can consistently put away, however big or small, choose a savings or investment provider you’re comfortable with and contribute to it regularly via standing order. Don’t wait until you get a pay rise or start a new job, instead start small but start early. The power of compounding over the long term means that you will soon start generating returns which could help you secure your financial future.
Don’t be overwhelmed by any of these tips. Take the path of least resistance, pick one that resonates most and build up slowly. Remember to:
Focus on cultivating a positive money mindsetStay in control of your money by setting a realistic budget you can stick toPractise deferred gratificationFind your money tribe to help support you on your journeyAutomate the process for peace of mind
Looking for more tips? Take a look at these articles:
8 must-read subreddits if you’re struggling financiallyWhat is financial quicksand and how can we get ourselves out of it?How to save money on your weekly food shopWhere to get help if you’re worried about your finances
Cash is Queen, a guidebook for young women to help them take control of their future, is out now.