Don't Forget Yourself
The best investment you'll ever make
When it comes to financial advice, you've probably heard it all: budgeting tips, the importance of an emergency fund, maybe even the best way to brew your morning coffee to save a few bucks.?
In fact, I know you’ve heard it - I’ve said it!
But here's something that you might not have heard as much: invest in yourself.?
Investing in yourself can mean anything from hitting the gym regularly, starting running, speaking to a therapist or reading self-help books. Most people actually try all of these and more. They focus on their diet, keep a journal, and learn new skills.
The forgotten investment
Unfortunately, investing in one’s own financial growth hasn’t quite taken off yet (although it is getting there). I think it’s because most of us think, or thought, that simply growing older, increasing salaries and more worldly experience would sort us out financially.?
But that’s just not the case. Instead, as we grow older, our financial habits simply become more ingrained. If we struggled to save in our 20s it’s going to be harder for us to do so in our 30s. If we don’t get used to investing early in our lives, we’re going to struggle to invest later.
Worldly experience will sadly never teach us how to invest or lower our taxable income. Nor will the University of Life show us how to manage credit card debt or effectively save and plan for future financial freedom.?
I think one of the reasons why we haven’t fully grasped the financial revolution - for lack of a better term - is that most of us don’t truly know how our families and peers are faring financially. We know they work, earn, buy stuff, and cover rent or mortgage payments, but very few of us know their financial ins and outs. Probably because talking about finances was (is) seen as taboo.
For example, most of us didn’t know if our parents worried about credit card debt, putting food on the table or buying enough toys at Christmas. Things just worked or didn’t work. I think we’ve grown up with the same expectations for our lives.
Things are making a change though. Our parents didn’t seek out therapy (even though they probably needed it) but we are. Half of us didn’t wear helmets when we were kids, but I’d like to think that trend is changing. And, we consider nutrition, our impact on the environment, inclusivity and equality, which is all great.?
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So what now?
Your Growth
The next natural step is that you also assume the same responsibility for growing your financial literacy.?
Challenge yourself to improve your financial IQ by trying one of the below:
What do I do?
I invested in myself!
Over the past two years, I have been investing in myself and I’m happy to announce that I recently passed my final exam. I’m now the proud holder of the CISI’s Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma. (Basically, this is the qualification that I need if I were to work as a Financial Advisor in England.)?
NOW
If this article has pushed you to do something about your financial growth, consider joining my free ~45-minute webinar at 9.30am this Saturday (22/06, Indochine Time)!
It’s for beginners and you’ll learn all the basics like how money is made through investing and where you should start. Book your spot HERE.