Know Your Money with Bronwyn Waner and Craig Finch

81. How Your Environment Influences Financial Choices and Well-being Wheel of Life 5

Know Your Money

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Can your surroundings really shape your financial well-being? Join Craig, Bron, and Warren on "Know Your Money" as we uncover the profound impact of your physical environment on your financial choices. You'll learn how assessing the real reasons behind wanting a bigger house or a new car can lead to more meaningful experiences and greater financial freedom. We share personal stories and practical tips that will help you declutter your life, make room for positive energy, and ultimately, gain better control over your finances.

Discover the unexpected benefits of a minimalist lifestyle and how making intentional choices can bring clarity and contentment to your life. From understanding the psychology behind our purchases to the liberating act of letting go of unused items, this episode provides valuable insights on creating a balanced relationship with your money and living space. Whether you're looking to optimize your home or simply want to improve your financial habits, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you live a more fulfilling life. Join us and start your journey towards a more organized and prosperous future!

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to Know your Money, where we will explore our relationship with money and how the psychology of it impacts our financial decisions, as everyone thinks about money differently. In our podcast, we'll be presenting a variety of financial topics in an easy to understand way, which we hope will assist you with managing your money. Hello everybody, welcome to Know your Money. Craig Warren, how are you today?

Speaker 2:

I'm good.

Speaker 3:

Bron, you and Warren, how are you? I'm well, bronwyn, how are you?

Speaker 1:

I'm very good, thank you.

Speaker 3:

Good to see you guys.

Speaker 1:

Loving the series yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, where are we now today, warren Another pizza slice, I believe.

Speaker 3:

What did we do? We did fun and recreation. Last time was it Yep.

Speaker 1:

So this one is Physical environments.

Speaker 3:

Okay, yeah, that's an interesting one. Yeah, well, let's hear more about it please.

Speaker 1:

Before we get into it, I just wanted to ask, if anyone is watching this on YouTube, if you could subscribe to our channel. That really would be awesome, just so that we can add more stuff, and if you have any comments or content that you want us, please feel free to bring it in. Like the whole reason we're doing this podcast is for you as the audience, and we just want to make you enjoy it more.

Speaker 3:

I guess it's a little bit for us as well, because we enjoy it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we absolutely.

Speaker 3:

And share it with your friends and family.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, please, we are learning by it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so today is physical environments, and by that we mean it's like where you live, what you kind of purchase, how things are around you. And I think the important thing with that one is sometimes people may feel like, oh, I need to be in a better home because of this and I need to have a better car because of that. And I think stopping and checking those reasonings behind it is so important and sometimes not buying that bigger house and just waiting for a second so that you can have more money to go and do the fun and recreation to, I don't know, be with your family and friends.

Speaker 2:

Those are good things to check.

Speaker 1:

Is that making sense?

Speaker 2:

Because I think I've learned over the years that less is more actually and you create all this clutter in your life. Just think of your clothes cupboard. How much stuff is in that cupboard. And there was a TV program I saw there was a Japanese lady who helped Japanese again.

Speaker 2:

You see, they're in the series they're wise people, good people and they and she said take the clothes that you don't wear and, if that, take your shirt out. If that doesn't make you happy, you acknowledge the shirt doesn't make you happy, you fold it up and you say thank you to that shirt for being with you for all these years and you pass it on and you give it away to charity and that's so. You can less is more in those areas and also you can declutter your house as well with lots of stuff that you don't really need, as you say, you know and you think, well, I should get this bigger house down in a better neighborhood. I think if you're physically safe where you are and you're happy with where you are, a house with four bedrooms, I mean there's not much difference with houses.

Speaker 2:

to be honest, Of course there are some really published areas and that's a different story, but I think that a lot of times less is more.

Speaker 1:

And also decluttering is making room for positive stuff in your space. So, from like a manifesting perspective, when you have clutter you're not allowing any newness or positivity. Even like we've spoken spoken, craig, about clients sometimes when they're leaving, like it is sometimes hard, but to let that client go with love, you open up and bring in room for people that align with you and resonate with you. So I think, yeah, your physical environment and even just having a handle on anything that you're doing, like segmentation or things like that, makes such a difference.

Speaker 3:

I'd also say, you know I'm a big believer. If it's not broke, you know, don't fix it, don't buy a new one. So many people will go through life thinking that if I get the new iPhone 15, it'll make me happier If I get this, if I get that. So if we even put it down to a financial thing because you know I'm a bit of a scrooge when it comes to money but there's a reason behind it. It's not just that I hate spending money, it's that I don't want to put financial pressure on myself because I'm searching for something that I think will bring me happiness when you know. I love where I live now. I love my house. It still needs work, but I love it.

Speaker 3:

I'm not going to go and buy a new house just because I think it's going to make me happy.

Speaker 1:

I'm not going to buy a new car because I think it's going to make me happy. But the thing is, you did buy this house and you have improved this physical environment.

Speaker 3:

And it's been really hard.

Speaker 1:

But the beauty of that is you get to wake up in this kitchen that you've built and just by improving that physical environment and making it your own is going to allow you to shine and be better in all those other areas. So sometimes that's good 100%.

Speaker 3:

If you feel good about where you live and you feel good about your home. I mean, I know it sounds silly, but some of my parents have some wealthy, wealthy friends that live in a massive house and I go in there and I'm just like it's just a bit cold. You know, like Kirsten may often say like it's enormous, but we wouldn't want to live there.

Speaker 2:

It doesn't feel like a home and you see those programs when they've got these little trailers that they jazz up and they make it into beautiful little homes or whatever you think they live. They really beautifully done and they tiny little.

Speaker 3:

They got everything there shower, bathroom, everything little kitchen, kitchen place for your dog's bed, everything you know I was. I saw those and I thought if I was 18, if I would probably do something like that just down the road for a year or two.

Speaker 1:

That'd be fun yeah, and then you'll save up to buy that house. And I think like if you can sit and think about three things that you really are grateful for around in your physical environment, it can help you appreciate what you have now and not need to go and do something that can go towards another area of your life.

Speaker 2:

Like you say, you buy a brand new iPhone, whatever 15, or you go and buy a new car. It's only a nice new car for about two weeks and it's just another car. Then it's just another car. Yeah, it's just incredible how that turns out.

Speaker 3:

You know I keep saying it to Kirst, and I believe that once your basic needs are met and you're happy with those, the way you've met them, so we're talking housing, food safety, all that. The rest is fluff.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 3:

And if the fluff matters to you, fine, good for you. But you need a job that can pay for the fluff, then oh yeah, sure.

Speaker 1:

And also just that the fluff mustn't be impacting the other areas. So if that big house is what you want, that's fine. But is your retirement in check?

Speaker 3:

Yes, Are you spending time with your family?

Speaker 1:

Are you working 24-7? Exactly, do you have medical aid? Are you doing?

Speaker 3:

all of those things? Is the stress of working so much affecting your health? There's so many things, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Think of that wheel in total and not just on the area. I love the series.

Speaker 3:

I love the idea of the balance. Finding balance is you know, I remember the term in chemistry, I think I've mentioned it on the podcast before but dynamic equilibrium, where everyone thinks equilibrium is, everything settles in its place eventually. But the idea of dynamic is outside factors affect that equilibrium.

Speaker 3:

So, even though today I might feel nice and balanced, in a year's time the political situation in South Africa, my financial situation, whatever it may be, the world economy may have changed and the balance goes out again. Well then, I need to go back to the wheel and figure out where I can find more balance.

Speaker 1:

I mean I will load it onto our website, but there was a talk that I did about you can make money in two different areas and then there's five sort of ways of spending. Yeah, and it's inevitable to spend. You know, often we say we want to stop curse from spending. You actually don't. You want to let her spend in those other areas to find that dynamic equilibrium. I just want her to spend responsibly.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so it's balancing those different things and, yeah, I think it will happen, but your physical environment and your happiness in that environment is a massive factor in how you're going to enjoy your life, and would you consider environment also where you work?

Speaker 3:

Oh, absolutely, because you spend so much time there.

Speaker 2:

Oh, 100%, yes, for sure, yeah, very much so. So check it out, I guess.

Speaker 1:

Thanks everybody.

Speaker 3:

Guys, have a lovely week Until the next one.

Speaker 2:

Until the next one.

Speaker 1:

Bye.

Speaker 2:

Bye. Thank you for listening. If you have enjoyed this podcast and would like to subscribe, please visit our website, wwwgrowthfpcoza. The information we have provided in this podcast is our personal opinion. For more detailed information, the information we have provided in this podcast is our personal opinion. No-transcript.