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1-Page Summary of The Barefoot Investor
Overview
Most people have trouble managing their finances and planning for the future. They tend to ignore it or pretend that they are doing fine, but sooner or later they will have to deal with it.
So why not start now? It requires a bit of effort, but it’s worth the extra time.
There are many ways to save money and manage your finances. You can open bank accounts, automate the process of saving, and invest. To learn more about these methods, watch a presentation by Scott Pape where he shares his insights on the topic.
In this article, you’ll learn that Warren Buffett will invest his money in a company when he dies. You’ll also find out the best place to store your credit cards and how fire extinguishers can help save people’s lives.
Big Idea #1: Everyone has the potential to have more money thanks to a little canny planning.
We don’t like thinking about our financial situations, especially when we’re in trouble. When that happens, the solutions we come up with are often drastic and silly. We might think of starving ourselves to save money or not having fun anymore. It doesn’t have to be that way; there are sustainable ways for us to feel like we have more money than what we do now.
First, stop making excuses. People think that they can’t turn their financial situation around because it’s too late or they don’t have the discipline to stick with a plan. However, you shouldn’t make extreme changes and instead should focus on small ones. You need to change your habits according to what is possible for you at this time in your life. Also, people who are low-income also give up easily and think that their financial situations will never improve – but those thoughts can be overcome by focusing on changing one habit at a time and staying focused on the end goal of improving your finances over time.
If you’re living on a minimum wage, your financial planning will be different from someone who makes more. But it’s still possible to save money and live well while making less. We’ll discover how that works in the upcoming key points. Second, saving is important for securing your financial future—it’s not just about spending less than you make.
Research has shown that the feeling of powerlessness associated with a poor financial situation is actually not dissimilar to physical torture. It’s therefore imperative for you and your family to learn a little self-discipline so that you can be secure in knowing that there will always be a safety net on which to fall back.
Big Idea #2: Bank accounts make money more manageable.
Banks are not something that most people think about very often. However, it’s important to take the time and secure your financial future so you don’t have to worry about money.
You need to have five bank accounts. Open ones that charge no fees and look for one with a high interest rate where you can save money.
There are five bank accounts: one for daily expenses, another for small pleasures like eating out or buying clothes, a third account to save money for expensive things like holidays and large purchases such as homes or cars, a fourth account to pay off debts and other costs of living, and a fifth account that should be used to save for retirement.
It might sound complicated, but these accounts work together and are in harmony with each other.
You should set up an account that will serve as your daily expenses. Put 60 percent of your income in this account and use it for rent, bills, food, insurance and travel costs. This is the money you need to sustain a normal life. Next put 10 percent of your income into another account called “fun.” Get a separate debit card for this account; it’s there so you can have fun but not too much because the money will run out every month.