Turning Financial Crisis Into Financial Freedom

Four little words that so many of us can relate to.. "How Much Is That?"

Do you welcome the day when you no longer have to check the prices on the menu to determine how hungry you are or whether you feel like steak or salad? Do you look forward to the time when you can take your family on the holiday they want, not the one you can afford. When you can drive the car, buy the house, support the charities and live the life of your dreams.

Do you longingly aspire for that day or have you hit so many hurdles that you have lost the vision and find that you no longer plan or even allow yourself to hope and dream anymore?

According to survey findings released recently, getting one's finances in order has topped the 2008 New Year's resolution list, with the recurring favorite "losing weight'' finishing a distant second.

Wizard Home Loans surveyed over 300 people and revealed 40% considered getting their finances in order as the number one priority for 2008 ahead of 28% who chose losing weight. Citibank conducted year-end research finding that over 33% of Australians were worried about their financial future. Their research also showed little more than 20% of the population had enough savings to sustain them beyond three months if they lost a job. CXC Research surveyed 400 Australians and found 29% were worried about their financial future and 22% rarely set aside any money when paid. They found 19% of Australians would only last one week on their current savings if they lost their job, 45% would last up to one month and only 23% would last more than three months.

It seems that regardless of who conducts the surveys, the message is the same. The vast majority of people are in financial crisis and sadly they don't recognize it as a problem until after they get into financial difficulty and by then it's too late.

Can you believe Christmas has come and gone yet again? During the festive season everyone was merry, the sumptuous meals were enjoyed, the drinks were plentiful, the gifts were graciously given and received. However, it's now February and the food has since migrated to your hips and become the kilos you are trying to loose and the gifts have been packed away. But now, the money you spent on your credit card is due and you cringe as you see the balance owning and fearing a mistake, go through the statement wondering where did it all go? Did you know in 2007 the majority of Australians over spent to the tune of 110% of their annual income and in 2008 they predict it will rise to 121%.

Did you overspend last year or did you manage to put some money away? How long would you survive in a financial crisis... a week, a month, a year? Rather than guess, get out your calculator and work out what your annual expenses are and divide by 12 to give you a monthly amount. Next divide your savings amount by the monthly expenses and you will know exactly how many months you would survive without getting paid.

If you don't know what your annual expenses are and if you have no savings, then this is part of the bigger problem, which is that "you are not managing your money" but instead you are precariously living from pay to pay.

Consider which of the five financial categories below you currently fall into and decide today which category you want to work towards achieving.

Financial Crisis:

I have no savings

I live month to month

I spend more than I earn

I consistently rely on credit to get me through

I have more than two credit cards and use one to pay the other.

Financial Stability:

I live within my means

I have sufficient savings to cover three months of my basic living expenses which including mortgage/rent, car, debts, rates, water, insurances, utilities and food

Three months is considered stability because that is how long it takes the average person to find another job if they lose theirs. If you believe due to circumstances it would take you more than 3 months, then you need to increase the amount of months savings to match.

Financial Security:

I have sufficient savings or capital invested (ie. property and/or shares) to provide me an annual income to cover 12 months of my basic living expenses.

Financial Independence:

I have sufficient capital invested, without ever having to work again, to provide me with an annual income to cover 12 months of my basic living expenses plus my current lifestyle items such as holidays, gifts, entertainment, clothing, sports, hobbies, healthcare, personal grooming, beauty, subscriptions and memberships etc.

Financial Opulence:

I have sufficient capital invested, without ever having to work again, to provide an infinite income so I can live the life of my dreams without limitations and without ever having to ask those four little words... "how much is that?"

For some of you, the state of your financial management has been a concern for some time. Sadly for others, this is the first time you have actually considered it and it has come as rather a shock. Either way, you can't continue living day to day with your head in the proverbial sand and ignore the situation.

Thankfully, we no longer live in our parent's world of "a job for life", in our economy we traded security for flexibility and choice, but now retrenchments, redundancies and sackings are part of everyday reality. I will ask you again, how long would you survive if you lost your job? If you (or your wife) fell pregnant and had to leave work early due to complications. If you unexpectedly had to take care of a family member in need. If you or one of your family were injured in an accident or got sick and needed ongoing, expensive treatment not covered by public healthcare?

At a minimum, you should automatically be putting 10% of your salary away every month as savings for unexpected situations and a further 10% toward investing in your financial future. I personally think you should also aim to put 5% into an account for the charities you support.

If this surprises you and you think that you can barely afford to live on 100% of your salary let alone 75%, then how do you plan to survive if you hit a financial bump in the road?

Charity is often put in the same basket as savings or investing, it's on the one day list or on hold until I have spare money. However, if you don't contribute to a charity or cause that is close to your heart because you think you can't afford it now and plan to start when you get that next pay rise, then chances are you never will. If you can't give 5c when you earn $1.00 as a child, $50 when you earn $1,000 as a teen, then why do you think you will suddenly give $5,000 when you earn $100,000 as an adult?

Did you know it only costs $15 a month through Catholic Mission or $43 a month through World Vision to sponsor a child in need and to give them back their life. Consider skipping just one $3 coffee a day at work to free up $60 a month or packing your lunch once a week instead of spending $10 to free up $480 a year. It's a matter of looking through your annual spending plan and examining your priorities.

Now I have to applaud you for getting this far... because I know that money and finances are not everyone's favorite topic and this has been a lot to digest. You may even be tempted not to pick up that calculator and work out your personal financial situation, trying to forget what you've just read. Unfortunately, as Oliver Wendell Holmes stated a mind once expanded by a new idea can never return to its original dimensions so it's no longer possible to return to blissful ignorance.

So if you are one of the 80% that are living in "financial crisis" and want to get control of your finances, learn how to manage your money and create a plan toward your financial independence then please take action today and contact Luca at www.propertyempowerment.com.au about getting basic Financial Coaching and in only a few hours, you will get both your finances and your life on track.

To your empowerment,

Luca Ricciardiello

Property Empowerment

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