An expert’s advice on financial balance

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In order for anyone to obtain sustainable wealth, one needs to take a balanced approach of thinking with discipline in mind.
The balance only comes when we prioritize the things that are important in our respective lives.

This can be done through implementing critical thought followed by the disciplined practice of managing our time between our areas of importance.
Only then do we begin to understand balance and the significance it brings in our daily living.

“There are only two ways to become wealthy, increase your means or decrease your wants, the most effective is to do both”

Benjamin Franklyn

The 7 Principles of Financial Balance

 

1. Pay yourself first! It is not how much you earn that matters, but what you keep that determines financial fitness. Be disciplined and save what you pay yourself!

2. Money is a gift! It has a specific role. This means you have a stewardship. You are to utilize money for things that matter, for family and beyond!

3. Live within your means. Always. No exceptions. Follow a good budget. Give your spouse a small allowance for discretionary spending each month and do not nit pick each other on the little things.

4. Stop getting financial advice from broke people. Get advice only from those whose finances you want to emulate. Do not make the mistake of assuming someone with a high income can give sound financial advice as many of these live beyond their means.

5. Learn to delay gratification. Consistently budget and save for unexpected expenses. Replacing appliances or a roof is an expected expense and should be saved and budgeted for separately.

6. Pay 10% of net income to tithing. Give even if you are broke. Giving puts us in the mindset of abundance and puts any financial anxiety in their proper perspective, so it should not be limited to tithing. The Bible categorizes giving as 1. Tithes and 2. Offerings

7. Using one’s time, talent and treasure to genuinely help others naturally increases our happiness. Seeking money for money’s sake may or may not influence our happiness, but seeking money in order to fulfill our stewardship to serve and bless others automatically increases it.

Putting these time-tested principles into practice brings forth balance and sustainability, it changes our mentality for the better. Building balance in our lives is not an easy undertaking. Balance requires a higher degree of free thinking. ie (One who forms opinions on a basis of reason independent of authority).

Keeping up with the Jones’ is in most cases a recipe for financial failure. For the past 50-60 years the western world has practiced the unsustainable path of using credit to obtain financial freedom. We have become accustomed to using various instruments of debt ie. Credit cards lines of credit and other avenues to obtain our wants, this experiment has proven to be a great failure. Before this time, our parents and grandparents had the right balance, they purchased what they needed with what they earned and saved for their wants. They lived within their means.

The good news is, there is a path back to balanced Financial Fitness. If we choose to follow the 7 principles with discipline, we will achieve sustainable wealth.

Once you achieve wealth, keeping it is the next focus.
We are very quick to insure our lives/homes and auto’s. Why is it few insure their wealth?
Historically, if one held 10% of their net worth in physical Bullion/Gold/Silver or both, it has protected their wealth. It has proven to be the best financial refuge during very uncertain times throughout history.