FI Investments, LLC
An Investment Management Company
You Pushed the SPEND Button!!
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Well I'm glad you're here. You're an honest soul. Most people don't know what they're
spending each month - and you're honest enough to admit it. This is really where the
rubber meets the road when it comes to getting control of our finances.
There was an infamous study done once where people from all walks of life were interviewed
about their finances. There were doctors, trash collectors, executives, mailmen -- the whole
gamut of people earning a wide range of different incomes. Among other things, each was
asked if they had a comfortable income. Each was disappointed with their income. They
were then asked how much more they would need to be "comfortable". In each case the
answer was 10% more. Hmm. Do you see a pattern here?
Truth is, the one thing we must learn to get control of is not our income, it's our spending.
The first step in getting control of our spending is to Measure it. Measuring our spending
can be done in a number of different ways. The most basic way it to carry a tiny notepad
with you everywhere you go, all day, every day. Every penny you spend is then recorded
on this notepad for a month. You'll need to create categories such as:
1. Auto
2. Home
3. Food
4. Entertainment
5. Donations
6. etc.
Another way to keep track of your expenses is to use a computer program such as Quicken.
I have used this software for 20+ years. It makes it very easy for me because every time I
open the software it downloads all my transactions since the last time I used it -- from my
bank -- via the Internet. I then quickly go through these transactions and assign them to my
categories and -- zip, boom, bam -- I can create a monthly expense report.
As you keep track of your expenses throughout the month you will discover that there will be
a few extraordinary expenses -- but then there always are extraordinary expenses aren't
there? Add up what you spent in each category. How do you feel about how much you
spent on each of these categories. Are you embarrassed by some of them? Enough to
make some changes?
More than likely you'll need to make some changes in your spending habits. It's a matter of
looking at each category and deciding what's REALLY important. For example, if you have
gone through the exercise of writing down your dreams and envisioning your future as a
person who is Financially Independent you will be highly motivated to put at least 10% of
your income in savings/investments. This is called "paying yourself first". What are you
willing to sacrifice to get that 10% into savings/investments? Which categories will you
squeeze to get the 10%? Now you'll need to continue to measure your spending and
compare it to a budget you have created -- for the rest of your life. This requires
self-discipline and sacrifice -- giving up something good now for something better later.
Got debt? Who doesn't? Debt is a major roadblock to becoming financially independent.
Would you like to learn some magic that will get you completely out of debt in the shortest
amount of time? If so, press the
DEBT KILLER BUTTON
If debt is not an issue then - good for you! Go ahead and push the Big Number Button and
we'll return to where we were when you pushed the SPEND Button.
BIG NUMBER BUTTON
spending each month - and you're honest enough to admit it. This is really where the
rubber meets the road when it comes to getting control of our finances.
There was an infamous study done once where people from all walks of life were interviewed
about their finances. There were doctors, trash collectors, executives, mailmen -- the whole
gamut of people earning a wide range of different incomes. Among other things, each was
asked if they had a comfortable income. Each was disappointed with their income. They
were then asked how much more they would need to be "comfortable". In each case the
answer was 10% more. Hmm. Do you see a pattern here?
Truth is, the one thing we must learn to get control of is not our income, it's our spending.
The first step in getting control of our spending is to Measure it. Measuring our spending
can be done in a number of different ways. The most basic way it to carry a tiny notepad
with you everywhere you go, all day, every day. Every penny you spend is then recorded
on this notepad for a month. You'll need to create categories such as:
1. Auto
2. Home
3. Food
4. Entertainment
5. Donations
6. etc.
Another way to keep track of your expenses is to use a computer program such as Quicken.
I have used this software for 20+ years. It makes it very easy for me because every time I
open the software it downloads all my transactions since the last time I used it -- from my
bank -- via the Internet. I then quickly go through these transactions and assign them to my
categories and -- zip, boom, bam -- I can create a monthly expense report.
As you keep track of your expenses throughout the month you will discover that there will be
a few extraordinary expenses -- but then there always are extraordinary expenses aren't
there? Add up what you spent in each category. How do you feel about how much you
spent on each of these categories. Are you embarrassed by some of them? Enough to
make some changes?
More than likely you'll need to make some changes in your spending habits. It's a matter of
looking at each category and deciding what's REALLY important. For example, if you have
gone through the exercise of writing down your dreams and envisioning your future as a
person who is Financially Independent you will be highly motivated to put at least 10% of
your income in savings/investments. This is called "paying yourself first". What are you
willing to sacrifice to get that 10% into savings/investments? Which categories will you
squeeze to get the 10%? Now you'll need to continue to measure your spending and
compare it to a budget you have created -- for the rest of your life. This requires
self-discipline and sacrifice -- giving up something good now for something better later.
Got debt? Who doesn't? Debt is a major roadblock to becoming financially independent.
Would you like to learn some magic that will get you completely out of debt in the shortest
amount of time? If so, press the
DEBT KILLER BUTTON
If debt is not an issue then - good for you! Go ahead and push the Big Number Button and
we'll return to where we were when you pushed the SPEND Button.
BIG NUMBER BUTTON
| The advice contained within this website is general in nature, only for the use of FI Investments clients, and should not be relied upon without first consulting with FI Investments. |