Financial fitness for peak performance

Financial success has a different meaning for everyone. Some simply want "enough" to enjoy life without the stresses of money, while others have very different thoughts on the matter. 

It's really up to you about what you want, and it's worth the time and focus to think about what success means to you and what you value. 

Wherever you find yourself, financial success starts with healthy financial habits and getting your money fit. 

What is financial fitness?

Being money fit means working on your finances and taking the necessary steps to achieve your goals. Instead of simply hoping for the best, you're actively and intentionally focusing on building healthy financial habits, educating yourself to make better money decisions, and building on your successes. 

Success in any area doesn't happen by chance, and it's no different when it comes to your finances.

Fit money is money that's working for you. It's being efficient with what you have and striving for peak financial performance. It's not about how much money you earn, but how you manage it and what you do with it that matters.

How fit is your money?

Sign up now for the 5-Day Money Fit Challenge!

Where do you start?

Getting your money into shape may feel overwhelming, but it's important to remember that we just need to take small steps at a time and build on each little success.

"Success is not a destination; it's a journey."

Zig Ziglar

The first step towards getting your money fit is looking honestly at where you are.

•  Are you managing your income and expenses each month?
•  Do you have a healthy cash flow?
•  Do you have an emergency fund?
•  Do you have goals in place that you can work towards?

As you start your financial fitness journey, you need to get these fundamentals in place.

Managing your income and expenses

Knowing how much you earn and spend each month is important. This may seem obvious, but it's, unfortunately, something that's often neglected. Tracking your expenses and understanding how much you spend on various categories will help you stay in control of your money. It also lets you change your spending and savings habits according to your priorities and needs over time. 

Knowing where your hard-earned money is going each month puts the control back in your hands.

An emergency fund

An emergency fund is a great way to manage your cash flow as it will help you stick to your spending plan, even when life throws curve balls. It's often the unexpected expenses that throw us off course, the things we have to deal with even if we don't want to or don't have the budget. The excess on an insurance claim, replacing appliances due to load shedding, or your kid's school uniform getting ripped. You just need to roll with the punches; your emergency fund can help you do this.

Effective goal setting

Setting goals can be fun, but one needs to be SMART about it. Each letter of the word SMART will help you set effective and attainable goals.

Specific

Be specific about what it is you want to achieve! Instead of starting your goal by saying, "I want to be better at saving…" rather, say, "I want to save x amount by…."

The more specific you are, the better your chances of achieving the goal.

Measurable

How can you measure your success? This goes hand-in-hand with the specifics of the goal. There must be a way to determine how close (or far off) you are to achieving the goal.

You can't improve what you can't measure.

Attainable

Goals should stretch you, and they should be hard to achieve. It's a challenge, after all. However, you should be able to achieve them. So be realistic about what you want to do, think about what is difficult but not impossible, and push yourself.

Relevant

Be sure that your goals are relevant to where you are in life and your priorities. You may want that new car, but is it relevant now? Of course, there's nothing wrong with a long-term goal, but think about where to start and where you want to focus your energy.

Time-based

Finally, by when do you want to achieve your goal? This may be by a certain age or a specific date. It could be 3 months from now or 3 years. It's better to start with a few goals you can achieve in a year or less. It's easier to remain focused and motivated on a short-term goal, and once you've tasted success, set bigger and longer-term goals.

The Get Money Fit Challenge

The team of money coaches at Momentum Velocity Club have put together a 5-Day Get Money Fit Challenge to help you get your money into shape. As trusted financial advisers, we truly understand the importance of getting your money fit, and we know how to help you do this!

It doesn't matter what fitness level your money is at right now. This challenge will take you through some fundamentals of personal finance and help you get on track in areas you may have lost focus. 

Things like: 

•  Managing your income and expenses
•  Creating and using an emergency fund
•  Effective goal setting
•  Looking at what you can achieve when you set your mind to it

This is all about getting your money fit and ensuring that your money is working for YOU. Our aim is to empower you to make great financial decisions with confidence and achieve financial success.

The Get Money Fit Challenge will be delivered straight to your inbox, and even though it's a personal challenge, you'll be part of a group of like-minded people. 

You'll be able to share experiences and see what others are up to via our Facebook group. No special knowledge or skills are required, and everyone is encouraged to join.

Sign up now for the 5-Day Money Fit Challenge!