Your independence means a lot to you, so you manage your money to make sure you can keep living your life, your way. If that means taking out cash for the week ahead, so you don’t spend beyond your budget, you’re happy to do it. Family and friends are important too, and although you’re strict with your budget, you can’t put a price on how it feels to spend quality time together.
You’re not materialistic and you love nothing more than getting a bargain, be that through rummaging around a good vintage store (or charity shop), or looking out for a high street discount. Life can get pretty busy at times, so you’re always looking for the most convenient way to do things, including managing your finances.
You’re practical and creative, thrifty and resourceful. You’d rather spend hours creating a home-cooked meal for everyone, than go out to an overpriced, ‘must-try’ restaurant.
When it comes to savings, you’re prepared for unexpected bumps in the road. Day-to-day you’ve learnt to make your money stretch like an elastic band – which means you’ve managed to build up enough of a ‘buffer’ to take a break if you need it.
Does this sound like you?
- You’re not very materialistic: you don’t have to buy expensive things to make you feel good.
- You’re a strict budgeter, but you’re happy to spend money on friends and family.
- You’re thrifty and resourceful (you’ve been known to ‘make do and mend’).
Psychologist, Dr Oliver, shares his tips that could help improve your financial wellbeing…
You’re likely a lateral thinker and creative at managing your finances. You don’t usually plan by making lists or keeping a spreadsheet of all of your day-to-day expenses, so using strategies that make use of the way that your brain naturally works could help you.
Try the following tips:
- Mind maps may help you visualise your goals, without the need for writing a rigid list. You could plot out your own values around money, with lines coming off this with words that represent what’s important to you and your financial wellbeing. Then, attach images or other ideas that connect to them. If you search on the internet for ‘money mind maps’, you’ll find lots of examples to inspire you.
- Organise a get-together with friends (virtually or in-person) to share ideas for how to make the most of your money that fit with your priorities and values. If this feels a little daunting, you could see if there are any online forums or groups on social media where you could ask the question. You may not always get the tips that are right for you, but it could inspire you to look at your finances a little differently, or find new ways of maximising your budget.
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