1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: Start here. If you're starting from scratch with money, if 2 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: you feel like you're starting from scratch with money, or 3 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: even starting for the very first time, I want you 4 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: to know something before we go any further. You are 5 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: completely safe here. And starting from scratch can look so 6 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: different for everyone. For some people it means no savings. 7 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: For others, it means debt like credit card debt by now, 8 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: pay later, or for many it means no investments, very 9 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: little in superannuation, and a quiet feeling that you should 10 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: be further ahead by now. But before we talk about 11 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: the steps or the systems or the strategies, I want 12 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: to say this clearly, starting again is not failure. It's 13 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: an opportunity. It's a beautiful opportunity to do things very 14 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: differently with more life experience under your belt, with so 15 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: much more awareness and more clarity about what really matters 16 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: to you and actually what makes you feel safe, supported 17 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: and loved, and you are not starting from nothing. You're 18 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: actually starting from a place of knowing so much better, 19 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: and that is so powerful. When people tell me that 20 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: they're like starting from scratch all over again, what they're 21 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: usually describing is actually this, They're living from paycheck to paycheck, 22 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: they have no buffer. They have consumer debt, you know 23 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: the buy now, pay later credit cards or sometimes even both. 24 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: And money stress, money stress that is quietly sitting in 25 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: the background, often keeping them awake at night, you know, 26 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: avoiding those bank balances because they feel overwhelming, or tapping 27 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: their debit card scared that it's going to bounce and decline. 28 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: But none of that means you're actually bad with money. 29 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: It actually means life has happened. There has been a 30 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: shift in priorities, a relationship has perhaps ended, or you've 31 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: been on in survival mode for so long and you're 32 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: only just coming out of it now, or perhaps no 33 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: one ever taught you how to run your money and 34 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: have a clear system in the first place. But the 35 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: thing is the moment you decide that you want things 36 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: to change, that moment right there where you make that 37 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: decision for yourself, that is the starting line of a 38 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: new chapter, an exciting chapter, your chapter. This is not 39 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: a chapter that is around punishment. It's a chapter about comeback. 40 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: It's about rebuilding yourself and reinventing yourself if you like. So, 41 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: instead of judging where you are, I want you to 42 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 1: get curious, because the first thing we need isn't actually 43 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: money right now. It's powerful direction, before we say, before 44 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: we start investing, before we fix anything. You need clarity 45 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,839 Speaker 1: on these two things, and that is what does your 46 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: life need right now? And what do you want your 47 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: money to do for you? Do you need calm? Do 48 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,959 Speaker 1: you need stability? Do you need safety? Do you need 49 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: less stress? Do you need more flexibility, more choice, or 50 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: a greater sense of control. That's where goals and budgeting 51 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: come together. A budget on its own can feel boring, 52 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: let's be honest and restrictive. But a budget that is 53 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: actually connected to your goals, you're exciting goals, the goals 54 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: that you feel really empowered to have a go at 55 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: now that feels purposeful. Your goals do not need to 56 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: be impressive. Your goals just need to be honest and authentic. 57 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: So they might be things like a goal to have 58 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: financial order and calm, a goal to have financial security, 59 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: a goal to have financial independence, even financial flexibility, or 60 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: just simply reducing financial stress in your life, or what 61 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: I think is important, a goal to feel proud about 62 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: yourself again when it comes to money. These goals are 63 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: exclusively yours nor societies and definitely not social media's and 64 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: once you know what you're working towards, the next step 65 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: is learning how to budget in your life in a 66 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: way that actually supports those goals, even when money is 67 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: perhaps particularly tight. Now this doesn't mean complexity, It just 68 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: means simplicity. You don't need ten accounts or complicated spreadsheets 69 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: that look like international phone books. You just need a 70 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: really clear cashflow system that works with your life. So together, 71 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: we're going to start right here simplicity. I like to 72 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: keep this really simple when it comes to talking about 73 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: my cash flow system and the budgeting, and it's built 74 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 1: around two simple core accounts which I teach in the 75 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: Sugar Mamma Budget and cash Flow Academy. So the first 76 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: account is your everyday spending account. This is where your 77 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: income is deposited. It lands here, and this is where 78 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: all of your regular expenses flow from, so like rand payments, groceries, 79 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: you know, gym memberships, bills, fuel, you know, the everyday life. 80 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: Then the second account is what I call your financial 81 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: float account. Now, this account is not for investing, and 82 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: it's not your emergency money either. It is your breathing space. 83 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: It is where you put money in each pay cycle, 84 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: even if it's only a smaller amount. Initially that money 85 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: must flow into this account on a regular basis. But 86 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: what this account does is actually incredibly powerful. It's like 87 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: the dark horse of your cash flow system. It absorbs 88 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: the irregular expenses, it smooths out your cash flow, and 89 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: it completely reduces that cash flow panic. It stops you 90 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: living right on the edge in between paydays. So for 91 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: many people, just setting up this second account dramatically lower 92 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: stress because suddenly life's little surprises don't derail everything. They 93 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: cover those strata bills, the quarterly energy or gas bills, 94 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: the car red Joe and CP, those Christmas presents or 95 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: that best friend's birthday gift. And once you've done your 96 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: budget and actually set this very simple system up, you 97 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: can clearly see what is actually left and what can 98 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: be adjusted and where money can actually be redirected. But 99 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: before we go and get tempted to use any spare 100 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: money to chase these exciting goals that we're thinking about, 101 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 1: there's one thing we've got to prioritize first, and that 102 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: is my friend's emergency money. Because growth without stability creates 103 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: major anxiety. Emergency money isn't about being pessimistic it's actually 104 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: about being intelligently proactive or even intelligently protective. It's not 105 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: about expecting disaster, but instead about giving yourself options when 106 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: life happens. Having some money set aside is better than 107 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: nothing at all. Don't get me wrong. But the real 108 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: goal isn't actually a generic number or formula like three 109 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,559 Speaker 1: months of living expenses. It's more than that. It's deeper 110 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: than that. It's actually about having the right out of 111 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: money for your life and emergency money. That is, your 112 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: amount of emergency money should reflect your real life risks, 113 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: the kind of destructions your life could actually face, and 114 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: enough time to recover without mad panic, and enough space 115 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: to keep moving forward. And this money should live in 116 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: a separate account, away from temptation. It should not be invested, 117 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: It should not be touched for every day spending or 118 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: even irregular spending. And should you ever need to use 119 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: this money, such as for an emergency, only, replenishing that 120 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: account balance is your number one first priority. What emergency 121 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: money gives you is so powerful, and you probably don't 122 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: realize this until you've actually got it there, but it 123 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: gives you a sense of calm, It gives you a 124 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: sense of confidence, It gives you a sense of financial 125 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: resilience and the ability to bounce back quickly. But just 126 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: as importantly, it creates the environment where you can actually 127 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: safely take on more risks in your life later on, 128 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: when you're ready, because you've actually built that safety net first. 129 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: Emergency money takes patience, patients to build it up, and 130 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: it's painfully slow and boring. But you know what, that's okay, 131 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: that's fine. You are not here to rush your growth. 132 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: You're actually rebuilding stability first. And once that stability, that 133 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: financial stability, is in place, this is where things can 134 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: shift and start to accelerate into the next gear. But 135 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: this is where we must start beginning first. And that 136 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: doesn't mean we try and do by the way everything 137 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: at once. It means choosing one small, consistent action that 138 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: actually moves you forward. So let's talk about that. So 139 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: what does it look like to move forward once you've 140 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: built those emergency savings, Well, it might be saving on 141 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: a regular basis, or it might be starting to invest, 142 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: or restarting to invest, or finally engaging with your superannuation. 143 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: And that may look like getting some advice around consolidating 144 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: your accounts or simply learning where your superannuation money has 145 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: actually been invested and what contributions have been going in 146 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 1: and looking at some numbers as to where you should 147 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: be at and what you need to do to maybe 148 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: perhaps make up for lost time. Progress though, is at 149 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: this particular stage is not about speed. It's actually about 150 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: consistency and building your own knowledge. And this is where 151 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: everything starts to loop back into the budget that we 152 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,599 Speaker 1: just spoke about. Because goals don't just happen by intention alone. 153 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: They happen when they're intentionally built into your cash flow system. Again, 154 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: this is something I teach as part of the cash 155 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: Flow Academy, and I'll link this obviously in the podcast notes. 156 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: But this cash flow system is where you return to 157 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: your budget and you deliberately plug in those goals, ideally 158 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: through automation where you can so they can quietly happen 159 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: in the background without having to rely on your will power, 160 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: your organizational skills, or your self discipline. But once you 161 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: start doing that, setting up the actual mechanics and prioritizing 162 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 1: those goals in your budget, something really important needs to happen. 163 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: You need to start tracking your progress, not obsessively, not intentionally, 164 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: but if progress isn't visible, your motivation will start to fade. 165 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: Trust me on that. This is why I always say 166 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: progress fuel success. So this is why you've got to 167 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: be tracking your numbers and you can see what matters 168 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: your cash flow system, your emergency money, your savings, your investments, 169 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: your engagement with your superannuation. Seeing that progress, even the 170 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: small bits, the one dollars, the fifty cents, I don't 171 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: care what it is, this builds confidence within and that 172 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: confidence then goes on to build momentum. Now here's something 173 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: really important for you to remember. In the early stages, 174 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: progress often shows up emotionally before it shows up financially. 175 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: So instead of only checking the balances and the passive income, 176 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: check in with yourself, take a moment to take a 177 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: deep breath and see how you're feeling since starting this progress. 178 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: Are you feeling calmer, You're feeling less of avoidance around money? 179 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: Are you feeling just a little bit more in control 180 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: and hopeful for your financial future? Even just a one 181 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: percent shift in your mindset is so powerful. You know, 182 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: confidence always grows way before the balances do, and that's 183 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: exactly how it should be. So if you're feeling overwhelmed 184 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: right now. I don't want you to try and fix 185 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: everything today. I just want you to take one simple 186 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: step at a time. I want you to open up 187 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: your banking app. I want you to look at the numbers. 188 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 1: I want you to write them down, no judgment. That's 189 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: just simple, refreshing awareness, and that's your starting line for change. 190 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: From this very moment, you can build the cash flow system. 191 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: You can do your budget. You can start creating space 192 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 1: in your life to allow more money and to allow 193 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 1: your goals to start being achieved and what yourself financially flourish. 194 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: You can choose one simple goal, if you like, that, 195 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: one simple goal that you would feel so proud of achieving, 196 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: particularly as you look back in a few months time 197 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: or even at the end of the year, you start 198 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: to feel stable, and then from there you can continue 199 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: on to grow and stretch for bigger, better things should 200 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: you wish. But starting from scratch is never a disadvantage. 201 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 1: It is a chance to rebuild your financial life with clarity, 202 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: with intention, experience, and self trust, something you can be 203 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: deeply proud of and something you built carefully, intentionally and 204 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: of course deliberately. You're never behind, You're at the beginning 205 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: you're the beginning of something really exciting and that matters. 206 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: That matters to you, and that actually really matters to me. 207 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: If this episode really resonated with you and you'd like 208 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: me to continue on sharing more beyond this point of 209 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: doing your budget, building your cash flow system, and working 210 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: on those simple goals, make sure you send me a 211 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: DM on Instagram and let me know your thoughts. And 212 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: of course, in the meantime, please take the time to 213 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: share this episode with someone who really needs to hear 214 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: about starting or restarting from nothing, because remember, it's not 215 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: the end. It is just the beginning of a very 216 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: exciting chapter. Now, if you ever have any questions where 217 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: you'd like me to answer your start here, or you 218 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 1: have any particular topics that you want me to address 219 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: on either Sugar Mama's Fireplay or start Here, just contact 220 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: me through Instagram at sugar Mama TV, or of course 221 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: Canna Campbell Official. All right, I'll see you next Monday 222 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: for Sugar Mama's Fireplay. Chow Funny