How to Make Money Fun

When we see little kids play, they are having fun.  My daughter will prioritise fun over everything else (and I mean everything - even eating and sleeping!).

Somehow, as we grow up, "adulting" kicks in, and the time we have for fun decreases dramatically.  So, when we do get to have fun, we really prioritise the things that bring us the most joy.

A similar approach applies to the things that aren't so much fun - like business and life admin.  Like money.  We procrastinate and do everything else we can find to do before we delve into our finances.

This is completely understandable, even though it doesn't help us in the long run (which deep down we already know).

So, this blog post is aiming to help you see that money can be more fun - particularly the outcome that getting your finances sorted will give you.

STEP 1 - Look

This first step, I will admit, is not fun.  So, if you want to jump to Step 3 to see the result and then come to this step, go and do that!

Looking at your finances is unavoidable.  Firstly you need to identify what expenses you can control and what you can't.  As in, what is essential and what is a choice. 

I often find there are quite a few expenses in the "choice" side that can easily be removed, saving you money to put into Step 2.

In the Essential side, you can also save money by hunting for better deals and asking for discounts.  Most providers will give you a discount if you ask.  Even if they say no, you never know until you ask!

STEP 2 - Save

Saving is a bit of a topic on its own, so in this post I'm specifically talking about saving for fun things.  

It's much easier to save when you have something to save for.  Just putting money in a bank account will soon be drawn out again for something "urgent".  I've seen this happen time and again.

This is why it's important to know what sort of fun you're saving for - is it a holiday, a jet ski, a guitar, going to the theatre, or a fancy dinner?

Take some of what you saved in Step 1 and put this money into a high-interest bank account every month.  Once you start to see this balance grow, you will get excited and start to enjoy the process of saving.  Why?  Because it means you can have guilt-free fun!

You might even find it "fun" to look for more savings in Step 1.

Then comes the really fin part...

STEP 3 - DO!

Book in the fun!

Actually spend the money on the fun thing that you want to do.  Having those funds there will make the whole process of sorting out your finances even more valuable, and you will want to start to look at other areas and ways that you can improve your finances.

It doesn't have to be all done at one time.  Take things step by step and build on your knowledge and set things up bit by bit. 

The important part is to start and keep on going!