1/ AVOID POST-CHRISTMAS BROKENESS

People really go unnecessarily broke over the holiday period. So, the year is almost over. Maybe you’ve made progress in some areas but in others, you haven’t.

A THREAD... 2/ Certain things have happened that you planned for and others that you didn’t plan for have also happened. Some good some bad. It is, what it is and December is here. Of course, December comes with lots of demand for your money.

1/ WHY YOUR BUDGET IS NOT WORKING!

You have attempted to do a budget many times including this year as you were setting resolutions. You find yourself now in the same place you were last year. You still do not have a working budget.

A THREAD... 2/ You have read this column and other financial literature many times and remembered the many references made to the budget. But you still find this process is simply not working for you. Many people, myself included, can relate to being stuck at this place.

1/ HOW BUDGETS BUILD FACTORIES!

We have been told time and time again to stick to a budget. For many people, even the word budget already has a negative connotation.

A THREAD... 2/ When we are told to stick to a budget many of us already feel restricted by the phrase, we start resenting the process and hence never manage to have much success with it.

1/ WHAT INFLATION MEANS TO YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS!

Inflation is a word thrown about very often when people are talking about money but few really ever want to come to grips with what it means for them and their financial planning.

A THREAD... 2/ Inflation is the overall increase in prices of goods and services over time. Your lifestyle as you know it today will not cost the same next year, the year after or in 10 years. So in a nutshell, you cannot plan for the future with today’s price in mind.

1/ THE IMPORTANCE OF A SAVINGS CULTURE
There is never going to be enough money to save. That is what you must first accept if you want to develop the habit of saving. A salary increase for most people will not necessarily get them to save more.

A THREAD... 2/ Your children finishing school will not get you to save more. A bigger client for your business will not get you to save more. Getting older will not enable you to save more. Paying off your mortgage and other debts will not get you to save more.

1/ HOW TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR EARNING POWER!

There is a lie we have been fed for a very long time. A lie that we have bought into. A lie we continue to live out. A lie that some people die believing.

A THREAD... 2/ A lie that prevents people from coming up with solutions to their own problems because they think it is out of their hands. For example, many times people have written to me with problems regarding debt.

1/ ARE YOU TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE?
The biggest gift you can give yourself is to take 100% responsibility for your life and circumstances. Too often people blame others for their circumstances. Money is no different.

A THREAD... 2/ There is always someone to blame. When we blame others we are under a strange spell that makes us believe that someone else should do something for us in order to fix whatever challenges we are going through.

1/ I AM BROKE! HELP!

When I was in school, students were considered to be good if they passed exams. The teachers had what they called a marking scheme.

A THREAD... 2/ Basically, you had to have written the answer in pretty much the exact same way otherwise you would get it wrong. Because of this, I went through school trying to cram the answers rather than understanding the concepts.

1/ IMPORTANCE OF A BUSINESS WEBSITE.

Let's face it, people don't buy from businesses. They buy from people they know, like, and trust.

A THREAD... 2/ Unless you are selling something really inexpensive, most folks are not going to give up their hard-earned cash without learning a bit more first. Here is where your business website comes in.

5 WAYS TO GET YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS BACK ON TRACK DURING THIS 2ND HALF!

The first half of the year came to an end. This is always a good time to reflect on what we have done, haven’t done, or still need to do for the rest of the year.

A THREAD... 2/ There are many people I have met who just feel like they have not made any progress. There are some who feel they have no room to move. People started the year with goals to save more, invest, start a business, have a retirement plan, etc.

1/ Over the years, Waceke, has received emails, phone calls, and all sorts of communication with questions about personal finance and the journey to financial freedom. She wants to
share some of these questions and answers with you.

A THREAD... 2/ Question: I am employed and want to transition into business. What business should I start? What should I prepare for?
Answer: No one can actually tell you what business to start. The right question is what problem can you solve? That's where opportunity is found.

A BOOK REVIEW BY JIMMY NZIOKA.

Stories. The darling of the literary world. What would it be like if someone told you a story about money? Wait, not one but three stories on personal finance, well-woven to not only entertain but also educate? Look no further.

A THREAD... 2/ Waceke Nduati Omanga’s book, Making Cents: Real Conversations about Personal Finance (2019) is a book worthy of your bookshelf space or better still the one book you would want to be seen reading in all public places.

WHO IS YOUR MONEY TEACHER?

1/ If you listen to children talking about school, they will often speak about their teachers. They speak about what their teacher told them to do or not to do. It becomes clear which teachers are having an impact on them.

A THREAD... 2/ I was sitting in a forum, where the speaker in a bid to break the ice, asked us who was our most impactful teacher. He asked us to give examples or stories about this teacher.

RETIREMENT FACTS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT!

1/ Your company pension fund will not fund your retirement. I could end this article right now having said that because that is the key message I would like readers to appreciate.

A THREAD... 2/ A lot of us are living life thinking that our retirement years are taken care of because we have a nice job with a pension. Others may be thinking that a “deal” will come along at some unspecified point in time in the future and sort this out.

WHAT TRAFFIC CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT MONEY PART 2

1/ The fact that there was a traffic jam on a busy road at 4 pm really should not be a surprise. I could have planned my time better and left earlier.

A THREAD... 2/ We have financial traffic jams and we will get stuck if we continue treating them like a surprise. The holiday you want to go for in December is not a surprise. School fees is not a surprise. Plan for them early.

WHY YOUR EMPLOYER IS NOT PAYING YOU MORE.
1/ Many people do blame their employer for the state of their finances. Every time I speak to people and ask them whom they think should resolve their money issues, the employer always comes up.

A THREAD 2/ Everyone thinks they should be paid more. I rarely meet people who are one hundred percent content with their income.

WHY YOUR EMPLOYER IS NOT PAYING YOU MORE.

1/ Many people do blame their employer for the state of their finances.

A THREAD... 2/ Every time I speak to people and ask them whom they think should resolve their money issues, the employer always comes up. Everyone thinks they should be paid more.

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MARRIAGES AND MONEY PART 2.

1/ Agreement and compromise
It is important to establish what are the priorities you have as a family and what you are working towards together.

A THREAD... 2/ This helps identify the common values and you usually find it is in saving for retirement, school fees, wider family obligations, dealing with debt, etc.

SPOUSES AND MONEY PART 1

1/ In my book Making Cents, I share the story of Faith and James who for years talked about everything under the sun apart from money.

A THREAD... 2/ They both came into the marriage with different mindsets on money. James was brought up to ‘take care’ of his family but they never completely communicated about what that actually means.

INVESTMENT TIPS PART 2.
Be focused.
You can’t invest in all things. Your eyes cannot be open to everything. You also cannot keep getting blown by the wind and jumping into every investment that comes your way.

A THREAD... 2/ Sometimes NO is the better answer even if it is YES for somebody else. Getting the best value for your money means different things to different people. What is your definition of growing money?