Money is something we all deal with, so why are we rarely taught how to manage it? We’ve been changing that at our Simplicity Budgeting to Invest events this year!
Money can be such an intimidating topic, especially when you feel like you’re supposed to know what you’re doing but no one ever actually taught you how to budget, save, invest or plan for your future.
One of my favourite parts of the night was seeing how open everyone was to asking questions, sharing experiences and having honest conversations about money. A massive thank you to Simplicity for helping us make money conversations feel approachable and accessible, and for sharing so much knowledge with our community.
There were SO many great conversations throughout the night, so I wanted to pull together some of our biggest takeaways for you to come back to.
1. Your money needs a plan, not perfection.
Budgeting doesn’t have to mean never going out for dinner, cancelling your holidays or saying no to everything you enjoy.
It’s about understanding where your money is going and making intentional decisions about what matters to you.
The goal isn’t to create the “perfect” budget. It’s to create one that actually works for your life.
2. You can’t invest what you don’t have.
Before jumping straight into investing, it’s important to understand your own financial position.
Knowing what comes in, what goes out, what you’re saving towards and what you can realistically put aside gives you a much stronger foundation.
Investing is important, but so is getting comfortable with your everyday money first.
3. Small amounts really do add up.
You don’t need thousands of dollars sitting in your bank account before you can start thinking about investing.
Starting small and building the habit can be more achievable than waiting until you feel like you have the “perfect” amount of money to begin.
It’s less about trying to do everything at once and more about getting started.
4. Know where your money is actually going.
It’s SO easy to look at your bank account and wonder where your money disappeared to.
Take the time to look at your spending and actually understand your habits.
What are your non-negotiables? What do you genuinely value spending money on? And where are you spending simply because it’s become a habit?
Awareness is the first step.
5. Your future self deserves a spot in your budget.
It’s easy to prioritise the things we want right now.
Dinner with friends. New clothes. A holiday. A weekend away.
But your future self also needs to be considered.
Whether that’s building an emergency fund, saving for a house, investing or simply creating more financial breathing room, putting something aside for future you can make a huge difference over time.
6. You don’t need to be a finance expert to start learning.
There can be SO much financial jargon thrown around that makes money feel more complicated than it needs to be.
You don’t need to understand everything before you start.
Ask questions. Listen to podcasts. Read books. Follow people who explain things clearly. Learn one new thing at a time.
The more you understand, the more confident you can become in making your own financial decisions.
7. Don’t compare your financial journey to someone else’s.
Everyone starts from a different place.
Different incomes. Different expenses. Different goals. Different family circumstances. Different stages of life.
Someone else’s financial goals don’t need to become yours.
Work out what you want your money to help you achieve and build from there.
8. Keep learning.
Money is one of those things that you can continue learning about throughout your entire life.
A few podcasts we love if you want to keep learning:
The Curve with Soph and Vic
A great listen for conversations around money, investing, careers and building your financial confidence.
Money Made Simple with Simplicity
A really accessible place to learn more about money and investing without needing to already know all the financial terminology.
Friends That Invest
Perfect if you want to learn more about investing and hear conversations that make the topic feel a little less intimidating.
Cheques & Balances by Lighthouse
Another great resource for learning more about money, financial wellbeing and making more informed decisions.
WHAT’S NEXT?
We’re taking our Simplicity Budgeting & Investing event on the road!
Tauranga: October 22nd
https://dearcommunity.co.nz/products/tauranga-october-simplicity-budgeting-to-invest?_pos=2&_sid=510933876&_ss=r
Christchurch: November 12th
https://dearcommunity.co.nz/products/christchurch-november-simplicity-budgeting-to-invest?_pos=1&_sid=510933876&_ss=r
TICKETS LIVE NOW!
And remember: you do NOT need to have your entire financial future figured out right now. It's time for you to have conversations around budgeting, saving, investing and build your financial confidence.
Start where you are. Learn as you go. Ask questions. Make a plan. And give yourself permission to change that plan as your life changes.