Your financial wellness

Tip 1: Know where your money goes

Knowledge is power. The first step on your journey to improve your financial wellbeing is to know where your money goes.

Set a goal of tracking all your income and spending for one month. You can do this by simply taking a daily check of your bank balance or using a money management app.

When you’ve got a good idea of where your money is going, identify areas where you can cut back on your spending.

You may be surprised at how takeaway coffees or subscriptions that you don’t use add up.

Tip 2 : Bust the debt

If you have any debts, now is the time to make a plan to reduce them. Make a list of your debts, the terms of any loans, and interest rates. If you have more than one debt, it can be a good idea to identify which has the highest interest rate and try to reduce that one first.

Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. The National Debt Helpline is one organisation that can offer free and independent advice to help you get on top of your debts.

Tip 3: Set a budget

Once you’ve gotten this far, give yourself a pat on the back! It means that you’ve taken an honest look at your finances and are heading in the right direction.

Now it’s time to set your budget. By being clear about how much your income is and your expected expenses, you should be able to afford little treats to keep you motivated.

Start with writing down your monthly income. Then, list all of your outgoings, including regular expenses and one-offs.

You can use an Excel spreadsheet or money management app if you prefer. This should give you a realistic picture of how much money you have left over at the end of the month. This can then be put towards savings, which will help build your confidence as your nest egg grows.

Tip 4 : Start saving

Now for the fun bit! Thanks to your hard work, you should now have some money left over every month.

It doesn’t matter how much or how little you can save. The important thing is that you get into the habit, this can really yave a positiive impact on your financial wellbeing and wellness. You will find that over time, your savings build up. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that you always have the money for an emergency repair or a special treat.

Superannuation or “super,” the money your employer pays into an account for you to access when you retire, is an important part of saving, too. You can even make additional payments to boost your super savings.

Find out more here.