About 18 months ago, I joined a gym. At the time, I’m not quite sure why, but there was a promotion and I was passing by. I used to laugh at what I called the “fitty mcfits” exercising at 7am as I drove past and now I am one of them and I get it.
I work out 6 - 7 days a week, I no longer have to drag myself out of bed, and I love it!
I go to work out, but the real reason is the shower at the end. There’s something indulgent about stepping into a freshly cleaned space, enjoying a hot rinse in a bathroom that I do not have to clean. I have the world’s smallest, darkest, coldest bathroom with dreadful water pressure at home. Even standing outside under a drain pipe would be an upgrade.
That gym shower is my little luxury, and it’s taught me a lot about money, especially when it comes to using other people’s money, in a healthy, positive way.
Exercising every day keeps me grounded. It clears my head. It strengthens my body and my mind. It gives me structure and routine in all areas of my life.
If you are a woman in your 40s, earning well but struggling with overspending and credit card debt, you are not alone. You are successful, you make huge decisions every day in your professional life. However, when it comes to your teenage children asking for something, you may find yourself being overly generous and not setting healthy boundaries. Is there a guilty voice in your head saying? “I should be able to get this under control.” You may simply be stuck in a cycle.
You are doing the work, but the work is not working.
My favourite part of exercising is that luxurious, hot, uninterrupted shower. I have all the benefits and none of the heavy lifting and you can too.
That’s how credit cards should work.
When you use them with a clear conscious spending plan and pay them off in full each month, by direct debit, you are getting a free short-term loan. You are using the secrets of successful banking, learning to use other people’s money responsibly and ethically.
However, if you are carrying debt, you are not using a clean shower. You’re standing in the one at home that has not been cleaned in three weeks. And you’re still paying for the gym membership on top of it.
Life can get loud and busy. Teenagers push buttons. Online ordering is easier, and that’s ok, I’m a big advocate for ways to make life easier. The trick is using other people’s money to your advantage and making a conscious spending plan.
Just like fitness is about consistency and intention, so is money.
Just like daily exercise helps me feel stronger, clearer, and more in control, so does taking daily action on my finances.
You don’t need to be perfect. You need a system and structure. Ironically, structure gives you freedom.
Credit cards are the enemy. Debt is not failure. You have the power to use other people’s money wisely. And when you do, you free up your mental energy, your income, and your future.
Would you like a simple script that will save you hundreds if not thousands of euro every year? If so, keep reading.
Renegotiating utilities can be a bit of a chore, so why not make it fun?
This simple sentence will change everything.
Step 1 - Every time a utility or insurance is due for renewal, I ring them up and say, "Hi, how are you? Can you remind me how long I've been a customer of yours, please?" I already know, but I want them to look up my file and realise how much I have spent so far.
Step 2 - They give me the answer, for example, 4 years, and I say "wow, that long, I wonder if we can make it 5?". Prefixing your question with "I wonder" presents an element of curiosity and the other person's subconscious mind is starting to wonder too. Asking powerful questions results in powerful answers.
Step 3 - Silence! That's it, stop talking, don't say anything, tape your mouth shut.
In most cases, you will be offered a further discount. If not, don't panic, there is always another supplier more than happy to take your business. In the words of Jack Canfield from The Success Principles, SWSWSWSW - some will, some won't, so what, someone's waiting.
One of the most common questions I am asked is "What should I invest in?"
My answer is always the same. It depends on what you value.
I enjoy art and art galleries. I invested in a year's membership of the National Gallery in Ireland. This gives me free access to paid exhibitions, a discount in the cafe and the shop (very handy for last minute unusual gifts), and so much more. Most of the National Gallery is free anyway but membership gives me a few little extras.
Sunday is my switch off day. One of the ways I switch off is to walk around a gallery or museum.
If there is a location or activity that you enjoy and go to regularly, why not consider an annual membership if it is available? It often works out considerably cheaper and gives so much more. Many years ago, when I lived close to Dublin Zoo, I had an annual membership so that my son and I could visit as often as we wanted at no extra cost.
As Ramit Sethi, the author of I will teach you to be rich says, "spend extravagantly on the things you love and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don't".
This does not mean you ignore your basic utilities, however, knowing your values and understanding what is important to you will help guide your spending decisions.
My working day starts at 8.30am. I get up at 6am, do some journaling, drink a green smoothie before heading to the gym.
My secret to motivating myself to go the gym every morning at 7am is that I get to have a gorgeous, long, hot, uninterrupted shower at the end in a bathroom that I do not have to clean. I have lots of space to do my hair and make-up. My house has the world's smallest bathroom.
Leveraging resources is one of the key steps towards financial freedom.
Using a credit card properly is one way to use other people's money for free. I am a big fan of credit when used correctly.
The more I move my body, the more flexible I am. Your personal spending plan should not feel restrictive, it's yours, you designed it. By taking a more zen approach to life in general, your physical and financial fitness will improve.
The other hidden benefit to being a regular gym visitor is that I get to wear fancy yoga pants.
