Inside Report with Basch: Starting off strong

You can see in the faces of people around you the look of “please hurry payday as there is no food in the house and my car is running on fumes”.

Yes January and well into February, March can be a challenge for most households. So here is my tip for starting the year off strong. Firstly deal with reality, nobody likes doing accounts most of us try create a mental picture of our debt, we know we owe and pay this with a little of that trying to balance the situation hoping we make it through another month.

We can only change what we know so get out a piece of paper and write down exactly what you owe to who and what the monthly costs on them are. Having a clear picture means you can plan properly, work out your income less your expenses and put into place a budget.

Budget for your accounts, your living expenses, your food and where possible your entertainment. Sounds easy but takes commitment and dedication to stick to it.

Secondly define your happiness; we all too often end up wasting a huge portion of our money trying to find happiness. Those new shoes or a night out with the boys or a new car, all material things designed to make us feel a sense of happiness.

This is not true happiness but a rather a window to happiness. What is it about a new pair of shoes makes you feel happy? Is the confidence the shoes give? “Look at me society, I have new shoes.” I say work on your self – confidence so that you may walk tall and proud no matter what shoes you wear, surely this is real happiness?

This way you don’t incur any further debt and if you stick to your budget you will be able to save for those wants and still take care of the needs and soon enough you will have the new shoes but you won’t need them to define you, instead you will define them.

This is a year of opportunity, but it will require work and that starts at home and starts with you. Only you will define your outcome and only you can create your success. So give it some thought, happiness is mostly found in the simple and usually simple things are cheap or free.

Taking the dogs for a walk, playing with your kids or even climbing a tree to read a book and all too soon the debt will be paid and you can return to your frivolous lifestyles once again.