Health and fitness expert Sam Wood reveals his top tips on how to get financially fit
Former Bachelor and health and fitness expert Sam Wood isn’t just concerned with his physical wellbeing, his finances are just as important.
I’ve always been a spender. In my younger years especially, I wasn’t too aware of how to manage my personal financial wellbeing, but it developed as I got older with experience and time, and by making mistakes. I’m a lot better with money now than I used to be, time forces you to develop the habits you perhaps should have developed a long time ago, especially as your responsibilities build – I have my four girls to think of now, not just me. That’s why I am working with ANZ as its Financial Wellbeing Trainer, I understand how important good money management, attitudes and behaviours are.
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Don’t be hard on yourself
When we make things too serious, too structured, we often get over it or go hard in the other direction. My motto is progress, not perfection. You want to move forward and take care of yourself but you need to enjoy life along the way. Your training and financial journey need similar approaches. Making small, sustainable changes bit by bit is going to be a lot more impactful than restricting everything all at once.
Make extra funds work for you
The best thing I took from the challenge is how clearly it helps you understand what is a want versus a need. Once you can understand where your money has to go, you can work through the best ways to save for the things you really want, especially if your disposable income has increased. People are spending less on holidays, transport and socialising due to the pandemic. So use this time to get on top of your financial wellbeing.
Flex your financial muscles
The intersection between physical and financial fitness overlaps in so many ways. At the start of each journey it is important to know where you’re starting from so talk about setting a goal, break it down into smaller goals, make small changes that are sustainable and celebrate the wins. Keep things exciting by using resources that are engaging and remember why you set off on the journey. Any progress is positive, just keep going and your financial fitness will thank you. Lots of positive changes can add up to big results and there is nothing more motivating than results to keep you going.
Originally published as Health and fitness expert Sam Wood reveals his top tips on how to get financially fit