Sunday 28 January 2007

Steps to Wealth

When you start the journey on the road to wealth, you will be faced with many hurdles that you have to cross. These hurdles will only be small issues with the rewards you will receive as time goes by. Balance of lifestyle commitment planning, organizing of things that will help you make small steps to reach you written goals.

When the decision is made and the goals are planned things will start to happen, it may seem like you are going nowhere but keep your head up and stick to you written plan. It may take years to feel that the whole plan is making headway, do not give up this is the time to focus and make more steps. This is a good time look to see if there are any ways of improving your existing portfolio.

Get started today if not write on the calendar and set a day aside. The only way to get started is to commit to starting. Now the first thing to do is to open a savings account, (AMP, ING, Elders are online banking institutions that you could try) if you do not have the internet that is OK just visit your local bank or building society they will be able to help you get started. From there you will need to have the account automated so that your pay will be automatically deposit into that account every pay cycle.
Now how much should I put in the account, that will be totally depend on your current situation you are in. If we start with say a small percentage of your income say 5%. Now this may seem like a lot, but remember this is for your future it is only a small price to pay to gain so much later on.

Great you should now have an automated account opened. Congratulations you have made a small step. Now I hear some people going what about my credit card! You still need to have the savings account so you learn to pay yourself first. Most people go to work all week and have all their pay spent before next pay cycle. The credit card is a device that is helpful but not necessary. Depending on how much you owe on the card will be how long it takes to repay. You should take the card out of your wallet and freeze it a water container or just cut it up. Why would you want to keep a device that puts you dreams of financial freedom on hold for the sake of a credit card.

Now your probably starting to wonder where will this extra money come from to pay for the credit card and the savings account. This is only the start to grooming you to becoming a sensible money handler. What you need to do is grab a piece of paper and every day for 2 weeks write down everything you buy. Once you have accumulated the information you can study it and see where your money goes. I am certain there will be an area where you can save a few dollars. This may be taking your lunch to work a couple a days a week, missing out on getting a coffee from the corner shop and making your own at the office.

If you take small steps consistanly over a period of time you will achieve sucess. Remember to look at your goals and remember why you want this to happen to you.

Steven Jarvie

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