Finding Your Balance - How The 8 Week Program Works!
I am a geek! I love to do research, and I love to help people. This is good news for you, trust me. When it comes to solving a problem, my stand point is that there HAS to be a simple solution - so in search of simplicity I go.
It’s no secret that I set out initially to find a simple way to manage my own money, a way that makes my money work for me. I know how to do complicated spreadsheets (20 years in accountancy will do that to you) but who wants that level of complication when managing your own money?
The Finding Your Balance program is me doing my thing; taking ALL the information that I have consumed to deliver a simple program that dusts out the corners of your brain, has you make friends with your money and leaves you effortlessly in control, using your money for the thing that are important to you.
So how do we do it?
Stage 1 – Mindset
We start by looking at what you believe about money. This is the first step because most of the time what you believe is actually what’s holding you back. Maybe you feel like you are not good with money, that you make bad decisions, that nothing good comes from money? Whatever it is, it’s sitting between you and freedom so it’s the best place to start!
Once we have uncovered some of those sneaky beliefs its time to figure out what it is that’s really important in your life. I can give you a big hint right now – it’s not money! What’s really important to you are the things you value. Maybe it’s freedom, family, nature, equality, conservation. Sure you might need money to make things happen, but we need to understand what you actually want so we know what purpose your money needs to serve.
Stage 2 – Getting To Know Your Numbers
After we’ve poked around in your brain and got to grips with your mindset, we move onto the numbers. For some people this is a challenge, especially if you haven’t done this in a while. The thing is unless we have a really clear picture of all your money it’s difficult to create any new plans. The one thing I promise you is that once you have done this in detail you won’t have to do it ever again if you implement all the systems in Stage 4.
Stage 3 – Finding Your Balance
We found out in stage one what it is that’s important to you, but how does that apply to your life?
In this stage we look at the balance between now and the future, spending your money on things vs experiences, and we consider what makes your home a ‘home’. We are building a picture of your unique balance in order to set up your structures.
In this stage I also introduce you to the three tiers of saving (spoiler alert – some of it is actually for spending – with permission!)
Stage 4 – Simple Structures
This is the life changing stage. This is the where we pull everything together to build your structures; your rules for your money. No one else's rules, yours. I will not tell you what to do with your money, there are plenty of people out there that want to do that! I will show you the structures that really work, and show you how mine are set up.
It’s all about consciously choosing what your money is for, before you start spending.
Okay I’ll give you a sneak peek…
Let’s say that this circle represents the money that you have on an average month:
I’d say most of us make sure there is enough to pay the bills and then use the rest to ‘live’ like this:
When we do it like this, the ‘leftover’ money often seems to vanish and we are left wondering what we spent it all on!
What if instead you split your money and set it safely aside for the things that you identified as important? Like this:
Every month slices of your money would be put aside for things like holidays, travel, gifts at Christmas and Birthdays, savings for the future and maybe a new car (this is just an example – during the program you will be guided through the weeks to build your own unique wheel).
This money is physically saved outside of your main bank account (hidden from your magpie brain that lies shiny new things) in ‘pots’. These pots accumulate over time so that when you want to go on holiday the money is already there.
I’m not saying that straight away you’ll miraculously have all the money for everything you want, and it might mean that you have to make some decisions about where your money goes, but you will be clear and in control.
I promised effortless, and here’s the beauty of this system. Once you are all set up (most of this is automated) you will know how much you have left each month for your living costs. You’ll be squirrelling away for the things that bring you joy, and you’ll know if you’re robbing from your holiday money to buy new shoes.
I only recommend reviewing your set up every three months. With a handy review checklist to help you see whats worked well for you, what didn’t work and make the adjustments you need for the stuff that just comes up in life.
So that’s the effortless part. I reckon an hour every 3 months and maybe a quick check each week.
Managing my money like this, made possible by understanding my stories, has changed my relationship to money and my life! Click here to have a no-obligation chat with me about how the program could help you.
Hi there I’m Gail Bainbridge - money coach and mentor. I am on a mission to transform our relationships with money. I teach people to find money that they didn’t know they had for the things that are important to them. If you enjoyed this blog sign up to my newsletter to be the first to read all my money musings.