Three Steps to Financial Enlightenment Separate Allocate Reincarnate Justin Hayes
Important Notice The information in this book has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information in this book, Money Bodhi recommends you consider whether it is appropriate for your personal circumstances. Published by Money Bodhi Money Bodhi 2015 moneybodhi.com moneybodhi.com 2
Contents Introduction 4 Step 1: Separate 6 Organize and Compartmentalize The Accounts: Definitions and Examples How to Set Up Your Accounts Step 2: Allocate 16 You, Your Values and Your Spending Your Reality How Much to Allocate Automatic Transfers How to Manage Your Spending Adjust as Needed Step 3: Reincarnate 32 A New You Financial Statements Your Net Worth Your Profit or Loss How to Record Your Financial Statements Conclusion 45 moneybodhi.com 3
Introduction Scenario Imagine this. It s December, you re in the kitchen grabbing yourself a drink, happy to be home after a long day at work. As you pour the glass, the events of the whole year circle around in your head. It s had its moments, you think, but really you ll be glad to see the year over and done with. One challenge after another, just pushing you further and further to thinking you re ready to throw in your job and look for something else. You hear your phone and you take your drink over to check it. It s a message from a friend. I m thinking of getting away for a few days. Are you in? You re thinking, yeah, I d love to. You could really use some time out now, a bit of time to get rid of all the tension and have some good laughs with a friend. You look at your phone and you so badly want to reply, Yep, let s do it, but what s really going on in your head is, I want to but can I afford it? You put your phone down to sit on the idea before you reply. You ve learned that it s better to think things over first before making any rash decisions. As you take a seat, you see an ad on TV for a department store. Oh great, you think. December, shopping, that can only mean one thing Christmas! More specifically Christmas presents! Now, how are you going to do this, you think. You start to calculate the costs in your head. Accommodation, travel expenses to get there and back, food out money just disappears when spending time away and and and Christmas presents. You know you have a bit of money in your bank account, but you don t know if you have enough for both a holiday and Christmas. You can t just abandon Christmas, but after a bit more thinking you make a rational decision. You will go on holidays. After all, you deserve it after such a stressful year. It ll be good for your health and since when does money come before good health? You ll spend what s in your bank account and if you need any more, you ll just put it on the credit card. That s OK. You have a job. You can afford it. That s what credit cards are for. You pick up your phone to write to your friend. But then, right next to where you put your phone, you see the logo and brand name of your electricity supplier. Your electricity bill is due in two weeks. moneybodhi.com 4
About this Book The above scenario is not uncommon for many people. It doesn t matter whether it s a holiday, Christmas presents or electricity bills, or whether it s clothes, nights out, furniture or a new car, we ve all been in the situation where we have had to ask ourselves, Can I afford it? This book makes the confusion and the anxiety of that question disappear. This book isn t about getting rich so you can afford everything you want. Sometimes, or very often, we do need to say, No, I don t have the money. It s not about how to invest your money or even if you need to invest. It s not about how to increase your income or reduce your spending. This book is about enabling you to say, with clarity and confidence, either, Yes, I have the money or No, I don t have the money. No blurred lines, no umming and ahhing, no shadows, just plain and simple, Yes or No. This book is about enabling you to see your financial situation clearly, in full awareness, in full light, in three steps. 1. Separate Separation is key to organization. You will learn how to both separate and categorize your money into different bank accounts so that you will have money for specific purposes and see easily if you can afford something or not. 2. Allocate In this step we will strip away illusion and delusion to take a good hard look at reality. You will explore who you are as a person, where you spend your money and how to allocated money to where you need it, now and in the future. Whilst the old saying goes, You are what you eat, you will see a more accurate expression is, You are what you buy. 3. Reincarnate This final step explains that you and your life are constantly changing, constantly being reborn, and therefore, being aware of your financial situation is an ongoing process. Here you will learn how to routinely record your financial situation so that you will continue to be clear about your financial situation. moneybodhi.com 5