Kia Ora Friend,

I'm taking a bit of a break from writing. I finished a series of posts about building financial security - see this on reddit.

In case you missed any of it, please check it out:

Step #1: The Budget

The first step is knowing where your money is going. After establishing the budget, you what you are spending on your bills and what can be put away for saving, and long-term investing.

Without a budget, it is easy to overspend or even underspend, making life difficult.

Step #2: The System

Creating a system of automatic payments puts your budget to action.

Money is automatically put away for savings, investing and paying debt and bills. Without much further thinking required, you are free to focus on your life, as well as finding ways to make or save more money.

Step #3: The Emergency Fund

Once your cash is flowing in the right places, you need to have some buffer in case things go wrong.

Instead of taking on debt or ruining the system you have created, your emergency fund can give you a bit more confidence to tackle tough times.

Step #4: Dealing Debt

Debt costs you financially and psychologically.

Reducing debt becomes your next target once you have a large enough emergency fund.

Step #5: KiwiSaver King

Your salary, your employer, and the Government contribute to your KiwiSaver. Your KiwiSaver can be kept away for retirement or to purchase your first home.

Simple steps can maximise KiwiSaver, saving you money in the long run.

Step #6: Simple Investing

Investing is where money makes more money.

Cash in the bank works well for the short-term and emergencies but not for the long-term, where you lose out due to inflation.

Step #7: Navigate Insurance

Sometimes your emergency fund won’t be able to cover big life events such as a written-off vehicle, a disaster to your home, or health problem.

Additionally, insurance can provide you with a comfort barrier, giving confidence in your life.

Step #8: Putting it Together

If you have followed the above steps, then congratulations! Pat yourself on the back.

I want to now focus on the philosophy, moving beyond the spreadsheet to focus on you as a human being.

Please forward this on to whānau and friends so they can find it useful too.

Thanks for reading and all the best for the week ahead. Be back next week.

Ngā mihi,

Shivan :)

Kindle Highlight of the Week

Let us praise even the slightest improvement. That inspires the other person to keep on improving.

Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

Podcast of the Week

The Uncomfortable Truth About Being A Māori and Pacific Doctor (Part 1) - SubCut — player.captivate.fm

Great podcast given by Justin and the team who interview two guests about health challenges faced by the Maori and Pacific community.

Video of the Week

How to Be Limitless Without the Pill — www.youtube.com

Limitless the movie? Forget it. Captain Sinbad gives tips on how to unlock the potential of our minds.