Motivation Monday #13 : Road to Shareholder

Writing this title was surreal. Never did I think I would one day be talking about being a shareholder. That's because it was never in my thoughts or plans. My relationship with finances was always that of struggle and lack. Until I had an anchor moment, that moment where your thinking on an issue is challenged and changed forever. I attended a talk by Dr Douglas Mboweni some years back. Although he was and still is CEO of Econet Wireless, he conducted that talk as an older person who just wanted to input into the lives of young people around him. And input he did. He spoke about Jewish principles of handling money and he gave the following guideline of how to use your income:

• Tithe 10%
• Offering 10%
• Savings 10%
• Investment 20%
• Rent, Upkeep, Bills 45%
• Entertainment/Clothing/Other 5%

What stood out for me was when he said if you spend more than 45% of your income on rent and bills then you are living beyond your means, find accommodation that costs less than 45% even if it means downgrading the type of accommodation or area in which you live. Secondly I had never considered "investments" before. I was a twenty-something year old who was new to the working world and didn't think investments applied to me. But from that day forth my life began to change. I re-looked at my little salary and started to record how I was spending money each month. I began to look for ways I could invest small amounts and I even downgraded to living in a little single room. Since then I have been able to save and invest in ways I never thought were possible even with a Zimbabwean dollar based salary. A year or two ago when I wanted to up my investment game I then researched on how one can invest in the Zimbabwean stock market. It turned out simpler than I thought. Fast forward to today, I have been able to buy several shares in local thriving companies and now receive emails addressing me as "Dear Shareholder."

Now over to you (yes you!) : do you know that for as little as zwl500 (that's just 5usd) you can buy shares on your own online at zsedirect.co.zw? Don't let the prevailing economic conditions be your excuse, others who are earning as little as you are doing it. Start now, do it!