Money is simple. You earn it. You spend it. Sometimes, you even save it.
You make all those decisions.
Yet when you decide to get serious about saving, like investing for your retirement and investing in the share market, you ask someone else to make those decisions for you.
Why?
You probably think these 'money experts' know more than you. They use complicated words, lots of big numbers, have a very important job title, often work for a big friendly bank, so they must know what they're talking about. Right?
To be fair, they probably do know what they are talking about.
The shocking truth
But here's the shocking truth…
Although most financial advisors know what they're talking about, because of a massive conflict of interest, many put you in products that might be good for their wallet, but not so good for yours!
Money is simple. You earn it, you spend it, you save it, and you can learn how to invest it too.
You just need a plan, like this simple 3 step plan…
Step #1
Live below your means. Spend less than you earn. It sounds simple, but many people can't, or more to the point, won't do it. We call it the curse of the credit card.
Step #2
Save 3 months worth of wages into a high interest savings account. That way, you'll always have available funds for the unexpected things in life, like when the washing machine packs up or the car breaks down.
Step #3
Invest in the share market.
See, it's that simple.
Read, read and read some more about how to invest. Your 13 Steps To Financial Freedom is a great start.
We'll have lots more here at Fool.com.au in the weeks, months and years ahead. If you sign up to receive Take Stock, our free informative and amusing email, you'll never miss a thing.
Money is simple.
You don't need to have complicated financial products or elaborate arrangements.
Love Your Money
You simply need to care about your money. Care about your money, and it will love you back.
In the first instance, you need to understand how much money you are earning, how much you're spending, so you know how much you're really saving.
It's called budgeting. Income minus spending equals saving. Companies do it all the time. You should do it too.
Why not give it a go?
Easy investing
Learn about money. Learn about investing. Learn about the share market. For all the talk about P/E ratios, Elliott Waves, candlesticks and stop losses, we'll show you just how easy investing can be.
As with many things in life, the simpler you make things, the better.
If you simplify your financial affairs, the chances are you'll understand them much better, care about them much more, and want to know more about them.
And that's where The Motley Fool is here to help.
