Learn to manage your finances

March 10, 2008 Leave a Comment

Take a read of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert T Kiyosaki (with Sharon L Lechter)”. I thought this book was great! Along with being a very pleasant read it had many valuable financial lessons to teach us. I’ll quickly go through some of the very important points.

We really don’t get taught anything about financial management in school. I’m shocked at how many of my friends know nothing about how their credit card works, let alone how to use simple accounting to correctly assess their financial position. We need to have financial literacy to survive.

The book explores the types of financial management lessons the rich teach their children. These are the lessons that the poor and middle class miss out on. They are simple and basically revolve around learning as much as possible so that you can make educated decisions about money. Most importantly, this book gives you some basic ideas of things you will need to learn more about.. so you’re not just learning useless facts and you are in fact learning the right things to become financially literate.

A most important thing to learn from this book is that you don’t get rich working for money. Wages will only keep you just above broke. Seriously, how many times do we have to be told this before we believe it enough to change our lives? Get out of the rat race!

“Most people never see the trap they are in.” — Robert T Kiyosaki

Most people work because they are afraid of not having money or they desire things that they think will make them happy. Then they are stuck working for fear of losing that income. They want security. The aim is to not let money run your life. Curb your desires and don’t be afraid of having nothing. Beware of the hole in your pocket. Don’t let your emotions rule your decision making. Think with your head!

“With each dollar bill that enters your hand, you and only you have the power to determine your destiny. Spend it foolishly, you choose to be poor. Spend it on liabilities, you choose to be middle class. Invest it in your mind and learn how to acquire assets and you will be choosing wealth as your goal and future. The choice is yours and only yours. Every day with every dollar, you choose to be rich, poor or middle class.” — Robert T Kiyosaki

Learn to correctly identify assets and then buy assets. For most people, a home is a liability not an asset. Assets put money back into your pocket. Make every dollar you get work for you. Invest it. Then it will come back as more income. Easy!

“Build and keep your asset column strong. Once a dollar goes into it, never let it come out. Think of it this way, once a dollar goes into your asset column, it becomes your employee. ” — Robert T Kiyosaki

Always make sure you pay yourself first – and that means assets, not splurging! If you invest your money wisely it will create the income you need to pay the bills later. Plus, it will scare you into making your brain think about how to create some more money in the meantime. Forbid the words “I can’t afford it” and replace them with “How can I afford it?”. You’ll turn your brain on and force it to come up with a solution.

Learn legal ways to avoid paying so much in taxes. Protect your investments through corporations. Corporations pay less in tax than the highest income brackets. Now, due to the tiering structure in Australia you’d have to be earning quite a bit before a flat 30% tax rate was less expensive than your tiered rate. But the point is to LEARN. Find out about taxes and legal ways to minimise them. Talk to an accountant about your current situation. Hire intelligent people to help you.

Don’t just do what everyone else does. Educate yourself and then take educated risks! You’ll get better at it every time you try it.

“Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” — Robert T Kiyosaki

Ensure you have enough money not tied up to be able to take advantage of good opportunities. Just like when you are playing Monopoly, you need to ensure you have sufficient cash to buy properties in auction or you could miss a bargain.

Young people should develop investment portfolios before deciding to own a house. The benefits of the extra years on the portfolio are phenomenal. What are the best types of assets? Things that make money by themselves: Businesses that don’t require your presence, managed funds, stocks, bonds, royalties and income-generating real estate.

“Money is only an idea. If you want more money simply change your thinking” — Robert T Kiyosaki

To start off with, most people need to earn a wage to get their initial funds for investing. This doesn’t have to lead to a career. Choose jobs according to what you will learn from them. Groom yourself as a CEO would groom an young, rising star. Learn a little bit about everything and try not to over-specialise. Specialisation is a risk in itself. What happens if that profession becomes redundant? Where will you be then?

Get over your fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits and arrogance. Fear of losing, rejection, lack of money. We learn by making mistakes. Make some! If what you’re currently doing isn’t working you have to change it. Stop being a cynic and ask wealthy people you know how they did it. Find role models. Read books. Look for new ideas. Go to seminars. Learn! Beat laziness by asking yourself “What’s in it for me?”. Get off your butt and do something about your situation. Now!

“A person needs to sit down and ask, ‘What’s in it for me if I’m healthy, sexy and good looking?’ Or ‘What would my life be like if I never had to work again’ Or ‘What would I do if I had all the money I needed?’. Without a little greed, the desire to have something better, progress is not made.” — Robert T Kiyosaki

To receive you must give. Give generously. Teach others what you know as you will learn more also. Help others to have what you want as you will gain also. Give money to charity. Smile at people. Help others gain contacts and sales. What you give will come back.