Each morning during my mini meditation, then late afternoon when relaxing with mocha & biscuits and then as I’m going to sleep I repeat the words “Be still, Go empty”. I’m focusing on stilling my mind and body. Once I feel relaxed I create a picture in my mind that my body resonates with (eg speaking in front of 8,000 people, getting “that” phone call or seeing my bank balances as I want them to be). Once I feel all excited like when we were little waiting for Santa, I know I’ve got the right picture. I call it a Mental Orga*m and I’ve actually trademarked the term. And while not every picture occurs the way I saw it the outcome is in alignment with my intent. I WAS invited on stage with Sir Richard in Oct 2011 by Eddie McGuire, I DID get that phone call and most of my bank balances are already there

SO.. Whip your wallet into shape this month by adopting one crucial habit for less than 3 minutes a day!! I’d love to hear how you go!  And please share this if you like it – the sooner we’re all financially literate the sooner we can semi retire so everyone has a job Thank you xx

1. http://www.moneysmart.gov.au has calculators to see how long your super (401K) will last, as well as compound interest and credit card calculators, plus much more. Some are basic calculators but there is also a financial health check.
2. http://www.yourmoneymistress.com has a “With compliments” page that gives you basic forms to fill out and start you thinking about your goals. The Scenario budget should be filled out twice, one for your present spending (which we aim to improve) and another for your desired situation in retirement.

Everyone has different requirements and thus different amounts for what is “enough”. The best way is to record what you spend now over a 6 month period which will enable you to accurately fill out the Scenario budget (ie do it in pencil then come back and adjust the figures after 6 months of recording). Remember that someone who can live on $500 / week will be able to retire earlier than someone who “needs” $1000 / week. Ultimately it comes down to the lifestyle we lead determining how much money we need, now and into the future.

And the 2nd point is that “if you want different results you’ll need to do things differently”. This means looking at where you went wrong last time (yes, all financially independent people take responsibility for where they are , and work out what you can do to improve & when you will discuss this (eg Money Mondays or Wealth Wednesdays). You can always buy a copy of my book too at www.yourmoneymistress.com as well as using the forms on my With compliments page  May you have a beautiful blended relationship!! xx

1. Work out what you want with clarity (ie already believe is within your reach with a bit of stretching   Picture it with your eyes closed & how everything will smell, feel and taste etc when you achieve it. Create a vision board (with your picture in it) to support this & more importantly KNOW WHY you desire it. The WHY is more important than the HOW.
2. Have positive statements / questions everywhere & say them morning & night. One of my short ones is “Why is it that today, like everyday, I am connected to my purpose & the source of unlimited abundance?”
3. Create the bank statement of your dreams by writing in your desired amounts & visualise logging in and seeing it there.
4. Believe in the unseen EG the electromagnetic energy attracting and resonating with what we send out. Seriously I’ve had a $50,ooo contract come out of the blue that had no logical lead up (ie an old acquaintance I haven’t had contact with in over 20 years heard of me through the grapevine). So just believe that things will happen when you’re in alignment.
5. Habit is everything & baby steps are more sustainable so adopt small changes which will snowball. Have a mutually supportive person you’re accountable to & remember that just like physical fitness (diet, exercise & other), achieving your goals incorporates attitude & belief, practical daily actions including budgeting, & incorporating a balance between internal and external wealth.
6. And the bonus tip is get along to one of our courses or have a look at the resources at www.yourmoneymistress.com and www.financialfitness.com.au    Have a great New Financial Year!! (or mid Fiscal year xx

My recommendation is record your own expenses (including a weekly amount for annual expenses) to see your total weekly expenses amount. After deleting those expenses you won’t have in retirement (eg the mortgage, provided it’s paid off), you’ll have your weekly “retirement requirement” after tax amount. You can then go to an online calculator to work out how much of a nest egg (lump sum) you need in order to sustain your lifestyle for the number of years you expect to remain on this plane(t).

• Sleep
• Domestics including shopping (notice shopping is not a hobby)
• Spiritual & mental fitness
• Physical fitness
• Relationships including intimacy
• “Work”, volunteering & zero footprint (the garden & other hobbies)

Now the order does not reflect importance but rather necessity. I may reduce sleep /domestics in order to satisfy the other. So have a look at your own situation and start a time jar where you put money in it every time you say you don’t have enough time. I started one in Oct 07 and by Dec I had changed my thoughts & words to say “I have all the time in the world”. Then in Aug 08 I moved to Maui for 3 months with the intention of staying longer – but that’s another “relationship story” Indeed the time jar & being aware of your “time spending” habits really does work!!

Comments, questions, sharing of your own tips appreciated xx

a. You don’t think it’s fun
Solution: Make a half hour date with yourself and any significant others (ie Money Mondays, Wealth Wednesdays or Finance Fridays) and create the environment (eg grab your favourite food, laze on the floor, favourite music, colourful paper, calculator etc). Reward yourself for taking the first step of your healthy habit with a foot massage or bubble bath or leaving the housework to play with the children instead. You have 168 hrs a week to play with so prioritise your long term security over short term cleaning that will still be there and can be done next week. On your deathbed you’ll be glad you had money for hospital care as opposed to being glad you cleaned the house (again) ;-)

b. You don’t have an exciting goal you’re aiming for
Solution: What gets you bursting out of your skin with excitement? When have you felt this in the past? Cut pictures or colourfully draw what you want. Imagine you had the financial security to do this for the rest of your life and share it with others! If it’s buying something like a house go to open houses. Each morning before getting out of bed and each night for 3 minutes, visualise what it feels like (what can you see, smell and hear when you’ve achieved this goal?). If it doesn’t excite you it’s not the right goal.

c. You think you have to stick to a budget
Solution: It’s completely unrealistic to say you”ll spend the same amount every week. The Basic Budgeting process we teach is simple and very effective like velcro. Live by the spreadsheets, not your bank balance and just keep the bottom line positive. Contact us via www.yourmoneymistress.com or www.financialfitness.com.au) to find out about a Queanbeyan course starting 27th March and Campbelltown NSW course starting 2nd May.   

There is so much more that could be said but I’ll open it up. Please share your thoughts and questions too. Thank you and may you have a great month!!

One of my answers is because two years ago I realised that I had a subconscious limiting belief that if I succeeeded in business I would lose my father’s love. This is because I’d always heard and still do that people in business rip people off. Despite Dad trying to now focus on the positive people in business of course there will always be those at the other end of the bell curve. So now that I’m consciously aware of this I’ve been able to deal with it. So now I see myself on the upward swing of the exponential curve of success and believe me, 2012 is shaping up to be a good year!! What answers do you have for having 2012 as your best year yet??

And so… at this time of year I remember my Dad saying that a sale isn’t a saving unless you were already going to buy it. Taking that one step further, when you’re looking longingly at another piece of “stuff”, look at the price and imagine that amount of money being deposited into your account or coming off the credit card or personal loan. Indeed there are amortisation calculators that will show you what you can save with a lump sum payment. For example, a one off payment of $200 off your 30 year $250K home loan, 6 months into it, saves you $1,500. That’s a 650% return on your money! So check out a few different sites to compare. One I used was
http://www.yourmortgage.com.au/calculators/repay_advanced/
 and to check it I used
http://www.hsh.com/calc-amort.html
 Sorry I couldn’t find an official site that showed one off payments. Would love to know if you do.  Until next..stay healthy, happy & wealthy! xx

Most importantly, give yourself at least one hour (preferably a day) between Christmas & New Year to reflect and create. Look at how far you’ve come (what ended & new beginnings) and how you will shape 2012 (what you’ll change & what you’ll keep doing). Set an EXAMPLE for those around you. If children want to watch as you “BRING YOUR DREAM TO LIFE”, ask them to be quiet, let them have their own sketch pad and textas, and have them do the activity too. Maybe have music and your favourite food, be in a park or by water and relax! Make sure, as you plug into this natural energy, that you look at your finances: what has been the change in the bank balance and nett equity? Look at the numbers with calm, realising they are only part of the BIG picture. Would love to hear when / where you plan to do this. For me, it will be a place called Razorback near where I grew up that I have not stopped at for years – the lookout looks over Sydney & the Blue Mountains. Have a great Xmas & Fantastic New Year!! xx

Have this discussion with significant others so you all have a stake in the rewards of “healthy, happy family members who can semi retire in their 40′s”. Yes it’s hard if bad habits have already manifested but the longer you leave it the harder it will be. Use the GFC as an excuse if you have to

People say I have this energy, this glow and I firmly believe it’s because I don’t have the burden of bad debt. Sure my house is small by today’s standards but it’s fully paid off. My vegetables are starting to grow and I feel fantastic! I don’t need the big city office and I’m doing more for the environment by working from home. This mental health helps when things don’t go according to plan.

So do you have healthy coping mechanisms? Do you talk lovingly to yourself, your spirit or soul, and support yourself as you would a friend? Indeed your financial situation improves when you do. When you realise that your inner passion, your positivity and purpose will get you through, you don’t need to spend money to feel good. When you connect with something greater than yourself, you’ll want to enjoy all that this wonderful life has to offer. You won’t want to spend time spending on material possessions. Can you see that by connecting with yourself how will you see your life improve?

Til next xxxx

While this wasn’t me, I did have time to think about the small business that I thought might become big business. Yes I want to make the world a much better place. Yes I want to provide jobs and see people financially independent, without concern for food security. But where do you draw the line? Think about where you would draw the line if suddenly you couldn’t work. Would you forgo the new TV or holiday? Would you do a budget and look at your financial affairs? So what’s stopping you from doing that now? Indeed look at these questions now and realise that your wealth is all about what’s on the inside. When you cultivate this internal wealth, your financial affairs improve because you don’t waste money on unnecessary purchases. You already love life, needing little else.

PS Thank you to my father who bought the prescribed drugs needed when I wished I was unconscious. May no-one ever have what I did (still undiagnosed but now at least, no more than a memory).

Well, listen in tonight to 100.3 FM (yes you can stream it via www.2MCR.org.au). From 10pm EVERY Thursday Your Money Mistress will be hosting More Love & Less Debt, talking mind, body, wallet, as well as relationship tips. Connect on the Face Book page More Love & Less Debt to ask your questions, have a say and request songs. See you on the airwaves xx

So when you look back will you be happy with what you focussed on? And what are your top three focii for the next six months? Yes I’m happy when I look back and for the next three months (because my health is already subconsciously running well), I’ll be focussing on:

1. National Financial Fitness Licensees (www.financialfitness.com.au)

2. Getting Your Money Mistress into the mining and building industries (www.yourmoneymistress)

3. One strategic alliance in each business stream.

I look forward to hearing what yours are (here or privately). xx

people in a library. If you’d like more tips sign up for the complimentary newsletter at www.financialfitness.com.au and if you live OR work in NSW, Australia you may like to attend our course starting on 22nd June in Queanbeayn – enquire via the Financial Fitness site.

And now: One hour a week habit

http://www.youtube.com/user/YourMoneyMistress?blend=6&ob=5#p/a/f/0/dodLSKkg8Hw

Canberra (19th May) and Sydney (25th May) will be up on the page. And the News & events page on www.yourmoneymistress.com has a flier for Canberra. NOW, to your attitude of gratitude. Last night I attended the NSW Premier’s first Community forum and heard the plight of the homeless and disadvantaged - one story in particular pulled the heart strings. So if you have a roof overhead and food on the (coffee) table you are doing much better than many Australians (indeed than a lot of people worldwide).

By being GRATEFUL you are conditioning your mind to be positive. This automatically allows you to hear conversations and see opportunities that will improve your situation. This is because the Reticular Activating System (the “gatekeeper” to what goes into your conscious allowing you to “pick up on things”) will have been stimulated positively. If you have a negative attitude the RAS will filter out the positive and let you see just what you expect (more doom and gloom). So Adopt your Attitude of Gratitude and let me know your thoughts – here or preferably on the Face Book page  
http://www.facebook.com/pages/More-Love-Less-Debt/168810139839502
Thank you! xx

set about working on our connection with them. So write down a word / words you’d like to change the meaning of (eg tax time). Now this is where some effort’s required. Write down the positives to this word. (eg if it wasn’t for taxes we wouldn’t have clean drinking water / schools etc).  Then for maximum benefit, you need to practise this new neural association daily by saying out loud (in the  bathroom if you must) ”I’m so glad I’ve completed my tax return because….

In Australia, we do a tax return for the year ending 30 Jun and of course you can apply this process to anything. Once you’ve done the easy words try the hard ones like ex-partner, lawyers (sorry guys but you’re used to it), bank fees and maybe even the word intimacy. Right now as it gets cooler  I’m saying “I enjoy the cooler weather because I can have more hot chocolates.”

There’s more on my new Face Book page More Love & Less Debt. The old “Your Money Mistress” page was removed by Face Book so please let’s show them that the More Love & Less Debt message is supported. Thank you.

To help you get started here FINALLY are the two revamped websites:

www.yourmoneymistress.com

www.financialfitness.com.au

Would love your feedback! Until next, may you have more love and less debt! xx