Every time we say ‘YES’ to something new, it seems to just make our life more complicated down the line; more events to attend, increased responsibilities and less time to relax and do what we really want to do.

Finding just the right amount of order in your life is one of the secrets to making your life easier (learning to say ‘No.’ is another secret…)

Whilst we can’t just stop growing and adding more to our lives, we can look at ways to make other things in our life easier. From planning our budget to organizing our laundry, no task is too mundane to refine and review!

There are so many great ideas on the web – but here are some of them from www.harvardhomemaker.com.

THE THREE BAG LAUNDRY SORTER

Whether you run a household of seven or live the single life, laundry has to be sorted. It seems completely pedestrian to ‘plan’ your laundry sorting – but it will save you time and frustration which ultimately opens up space in your life.

Set up three baskets or bags – one for whites, one for darks and one for colours. Label it and make sure everyone in the house knows what’s potting. This way – when one bag or basket is full – that’s the load you do. You’ll save loads of time on every load of washing!

THE DOUBLE-COOKING PLAN

When you’re cooking a pasta, rice or curry dish – prepare double the amount that you need and freeze the leftovers. This requires two levels of discipline – the first is in the planning and the second is in the eating!

Cooking double what you need DOESN’T cost you double. In fact, it costs you less: buying ingredients in bulk, using electricity once, and cleaning up pots and pans once. It does require some forethought, it’s not something you can easily do at the last minute on a Tuesday night. Many people who employ this trick will plan and cook meals on a Sunday for the week ahead.

When it comes to dishing up, only put out half of the food to avoid the temptation of having seconds simply because the food is there. Once in the freezer, you can easily enjoy that savvy meal up to a week later.

THE FILING CABINET

These are not just for work! When you receive statements in the mail, have important documents (IDs, passports and certified copies) or information packs that come with your digital devices (these also often have important codes that you may need later), have a filing cabinet or draw where you can store them vertically (like a concertina file).

When you have easy access to this information and the space to store it you will be more likely to file it away safely instead of piling it on the nearest counter to fall over and cause frustration in your life.

Making your life easier is not about changing one thing, it’s about learning how to adjust to the constant change in your life.

Every day our lives get a little more complicated. That’s the reality of the world that we’re currently living in. It’s not easy to keep order in your life – even if you’re one of the few who excel in keeping things in line!

Finding just the right amount of order in your life is one of the secrets to making your life easier (learning to say ‘No.’ is another secret…)

When you can find what you’re looking for, quickly and easily, you will have more time to be creative and work on projects that will help you grow, but you also won’t need to go out and ‘buy another one’…

There are so many great ideas on the web – but here are some of them from www.harvardhomemaker.com.

USE ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING

Think about it: do some clicking in the comfort of your own home at night; select your delivery option – and it’s done. The groceries magically appear – you (and your family) don’t even have to get into your car.

Most of the local online grocery options also enable you to order previously purchased products, keeping a list of your popular items – making it quicker and easier to top up your fridge and pantry each time you log on to your account.

Both Pick ‘n Pay and Woolworths offer great options.

USE HANGING SHOE HOLDERS – NOT FOR SHOES THOUGH…

Whether it’s behind the bathroom door for extra toiletries and medicines, hanging inside the broom closet with your detergents or in the garage with tools, paints, chemicals and odds and ends – these simple, ridiculously-cheap, organizers can be hidden away and hung almost anywhere discreet and give you considerably more shelf space – and allow you to see the full scope of what you have.

You’ll never buy too much jik, or lose your spare razor blades again!

USE A TASK SCHEDULER THAT IS DIFFERENT TO YOUR EMAILS

This is great for your work ethic!

When you’re trying to be super productive at work, nothing is more disruptive than an email coming through that is asking you to ‘quickly’ do something. It breaks your creative work flow, slows you down and increases your stress levels.

Many of us allow our emails, texts or phones to govern our task scheduling. We start off the day with one project in mind – and then if a message comes through, instead of prioritising and scheduling it for later, we deal with it now because we know that if we close that message… we might forget.

Asana and Monday.com are great tools to use – the former has a free version whilst the latter is a paid-for solution.

Having a task programme that is separate to your emails, allows you to transfer requests, schedule them and stick to the job at hand. And you won’t miss a beat.

Hopefully these ideas help to make your life a little easier and less complicated!

After owing its name to the mindful Fransciscan monks, the Capuchin friars, many of us overlook our daily cappuccino (or other frothy delight) and how much we spend on these little luxuries in life.

One of the best ways to add meaning to our money is to be mindful about how we spend it, and our financial well-being is closely linked to how we feel about our money and what it means to us.

If we use the example of buying a daily cup of take-away coffee (this could be from Woolies, Starbucks or your local hipster cafe) – we can learn a lot about our spending habits and bias.

Many people savour the flavour of this power drink each morning, and many caffeine addicts can happily knock back a few in a row. However, some calculations show that if you’re willing to give up just one of those daily cappuccinos, you could save nearly R40,000 in five years and over R90,000 in a decade. 

With the ominous effects of inflation and the cost of living on the rise around the world, it can often seem impossible to save more money without the help of a big bonus or salary increase. However, Hildegard Wilson, a member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa’s investment committee, is quick to ascertain “that you can save without compromising your overall standard of living. With the power of compounding, where growth on your investment earns additional growth, these kinds of ‘breadcrumb’ savings can turn into large amounts over time.”

If you buy a cappuccino from Monday to Friday at an average cost of R25, your coffee habit is costing you roughly R500 a month. If you opt to forego the cappuccinos, you could alternatively commit to investing R500 a month in a multi-asset high-equity unit trust fund. Over the past decade (calculated up until March 2017), high-equity funds have delivered average annual returns of 8.2%. Although this figure offers no guarantee of future performance, if your investment were to achieve an annual average return of 8.2%, you would have just over R37,180 after five years and R93,130 after 10 years.

Foregoing just one cappuccino a day, you could generate a significant lump sum, which could make a serious dent in your debts, or top up an education or retirement fund.

The goal is not to give up a cappuccino, it’s to be mindful of how you use your money and acknowledge that the little things all add up in the end. So… next time you order your beverage of choice, hopefully it makes you think!

For many, the way in which we save and invest is not a daily conversation, so it’s easy to forget what we have in place AND WHY we have it in place. Here’s a quick reminder!

An RA… or Retirement Annuity is one such product that can often confuse many.

RAs have been around for a long time and are basically private pension plans that help you to save for retirement. As we near the end of yet another tax year, we move into a period that is often referred to as RA season, which is a good time to weigh up the advantages of this investment product. 

These investment products have evolved into much more flexible and affordable investment vehicles than they once were, and investors can now benefit from “new-generation” RAs on linked investments platforms (LISPs). These offer a vast selection of underlying unit trusts, and they allow contributions to be made at the investor’s discretion, without penalties for missed contributions.

The most significant benefit of having a retirement annuity is the tax deductibility of contributions. Exactly what these deductions and allowable contributions look like are dependent on legislation, so it’s always best to check in on your portfolio to ensure that you’re maximizing the benefits.

An investor can expect to receive an annual tax refund in line with their income, and this RA rebate can considerably boost your retirement benefit.

Capital gains tax normally needs to be paid for any discretionary investment, but this isn’t the case with an RA. Interest and dividends are also not taxed in an RA, which means that the entire growth of your investment is tax-free, which makes a significant difference over the long-term. 

When you retire after the age of 55 and are allowed to take up to one third of your RA in cash, you will have to pay tax on the proceeds taken. However, a portion of the lump-sum benefit is tax-free and the rest is taxed on a sliding scale. And, as you have deferred paying tax on the proceeds, a larger investment amount has had the chance to compound tax-free over time. 

Come retirement, the other two thirds of the proceeds from your RA will be used to purchase an annuity, which will then provide you with an income to sustain you in your golden years. You will need to pay tax on your monthly “income”, but many individuals’ personal tax rates decrease after they retire. 

An RA presents another advantage when it comes to estate planning, as it falls outside of your estate, so the proceeds from your RA will be paid directly to your nominated beneficiaries when you pass away, without the estate duty or executor’s fees. For the most part, your money is also protected from the claims of creditors, which is another great RA-minder! 

In spite of this list of positives, many investors feel uneasy when it comes to retirement annuities and are reluctant to consider them as an investment option. However, it’s important to understand that RAs have evolved significantly, become much more affordable, and new regulations have been implemented to minimise risk and force investors to diversify.

This may not be considered as a positive thing by everyone, as Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act does restrict investors to a maximum of 75% allocation in shares, which many people debate as shares have managed to outperform all other asset classes over the long-term. However, this risk management method was implemented to benefit broad spectrum investors in different environments, and it offers more investment protection when markets become volatile.

If your objective is to specifically save for retirement, a retirement annuity could be the best vehicle for you.

Is it time for some romance without the rands? You can sweep someone off their feet whilst keeping yours on the ground.

Valentine’s Day has gained the reputation of being a Hallmark holiday that promotes Lindt rather than love. 

Ahead of rushing off to the shops to buy a big bunch of flowers or box of chocolates, you may wish to take a moment to reflect on the meaning behind the day and how you can best show your affection. 

THE STORY BEHIND THE HISTORY

Valentine’s Day is thought to go back to a fertility festival held on 15 February that was dedicated to a Roman god — the traditions of which were believed to guarantee fertility and ease the pain of childbirth. However, the rise of Christianity resulted in pagan rites being outlawed, and the festival was replaced with another annual highlight that revolved around the story of Saint Valentine.

He was a priest who secretly married young people during a time when it was forbidden, as unmarried soldiers were thought to be better fighters because they didn’t have the fear of leaving a wife behind. He was eventually imprisoned and sentenced to a three-part execution consisting of a beating, stoning and decapitation for his crime of defying the then-Emperor’s edict.

However, by remaining resolute in his belief about the sanctity of marriage (in spite of the risks and his eventual punishment), he is regarded by many as a martyr to his Christian cause; and 14th February — the date of his execution — is now celebrated as a day of love.

He also allegedly healed the judge’s blind daughter, and he ended a letter he wrote to her with the words “from your Valentine”, which has become a focal part of the modern love missive.

THE SAVVY OF HOW YOU CAN SAVE

Nowadays, the amorous event is celebrated in a variety of ways across the world. In South Africa, for example, some women pin the name of their sweetheart to their sleeve, and this is how men can discover that they have a secret admirer. 

For the average South African, spoiling that special someone on Valentine’s Day can become quite a costly affair, but you can still be romantic without splashing too much cash unnecessarily. The key is to plan in advance and budget accordingly. Also consider more experiential or bespoke gifting options that are personal to your relationship.

Write a list of things that your loved one loves, along with how much each thing costs —  be this a night out at the movies, or a gift of jewellery. Once you have an idea of prices, set a feasible budget and make a plan of action that sticks to this. 

Blowing all your savings on one day isn’t actually very romantic if it means you wind up begging for loans or eating plain pap for the rest of the year. It’s better to be realistic about what you can afford, and prioritise meaningful presents or experiences over sheer decadence. Alternatively, you may wish to consider skipping some luxuries now so that you can save enough to make your other half happy on the big day itself. 

You can also spread the love without breaking the bank by making a gift rather than buying one. For example, rather than getting into debt by taking your date for a seven-course tasting menu at a fine dining restaurant, try creating a romantic atmosphere in your home and cooking a delicious dinner that you both can enjoy by candlelight. 

Furthermore, if you want to do something particularly special, have a look for any deals that can make an enjoyable day more cost effective. You can still have fun at a low price, and a bit of effort and consideration can be worth far more to someone than simply picking up a large bill.

Here’s all you need to know about houseplants!

We live in increasingly polluted environments – both inside and outside! Trees and plants remain the best ‘machines’ for pumping down carbon dioxide and supplying us with clean air.

Without good, clean air, we have less energy and are more prone to allergies and poor health. If you want to improve your home or work space, here are a few reasons why you could consider plants in your home and office.

Choose the plants wisely

If you decide to go for indoor plants, do your research around what different types of plants contain and where they can work best. You’ll find that some plants work best with pets whilst others are toxic to animals and children. Some too are better for the kitchen, others work well in living spaces and others are great for bathrooms and bedrooms.

Are you caring enough?

Caring for living things, like plants and pets, gives you a bigger sense of reward and develops your caring character. Be willing to take care of the plants when you introduce them into your home. As part of your research you can learn about the best ways to take care of the plants.

Don’t have more plants than you can manage, as you have to regularly take care of them.

Cacti and succulents are said to be good plants if you’re a beginner with indoor plants. Plants like Garden Mum, Peace lily and Aloe Vera are great options that are easy to grow and they come with serious health wins. Some, like lavender, release a beautiful aroma into your home whilst ferns are super for filtering the air.

Plants also jazz up your space

A nice looking plant is also a cool decoration for your home. Some say seeing greenery can make you feel more relaxed and calm – good for your everyday mood!

Group your plants together nicely according to different widths and heights. The size difference gives a more organic look than plants of the same size. Setting up plants of the same colour together can be a good idea too.

To make a well-informed decision about your plants and how best to use them as air purifiers, chat to your local nursery and remember, start with easy plants!

Breathing cleaner air doesn’t have to come at the expense of high-end air conditioners – use nature’s purifiers!

Having an eager desire to achieve more is a key motivator for success. If you want to achieve more in your investing, why not consider setting new wealth goals and not just new health goals for the new year?

New and revised goals require a new plan, so for continued success with your investments into this year, start planning properly.

Here are four strategies to get your new investment year started on solid footing and continue building your wealth.

1. Use the end of the financial year to plan for what you want from the new one

The end of the year is a great time to think about new commitments. It’s also the best time to do a full personal review of how you did on the goals you have set yourself previously.

This helps you get organized as you identify habits that are either helpful or harmful to your investing goals. You can review your spending habits, pinpoint weak areas and set clear boundaries for the next step in your journey – all of this helps you make the link between your money and what your money means to you.

2. Organize your money habits

Once you’ve identified your habits, it’s much easier to try and control them. Automate your investing where possible (with debit orders or repeat payment profiles) so that you can stick to your commitments to save money.

When it comes to spending, ordering goods online can be a good way to shop within the limits of an achievable budget. You’ll be mindful about what you’re buying, the overall cost and you’ll be less prone to impulsive buying.

Try a financial software app that lets you snap photos of your receipts so you can keep track of where your money goes each month.

3. Be mindful of your options and opportunities

If you really want to improve the way that you invest for the new year, having a mindfulness about your money will also improve your understanding of financial markets, not just the inflows and outflows from your bank account. It also helps you have a better relationship with your financial adviser as your money and how it is managed will have a deeper meaning for you.

4. Expand in a relevant way

The beauty of a diverse portfolio is that you are able to leverage multiple opportunities in the market whilst mitigating risk. When you look to expand your investment strategy for the new year, to successfully profit from diversifying your portfolio you have to map out a winning strategy that is unique to you.

Diversifying your portfolio should be done for reasons that are applicable to you; in other words, for goals that matter to you. Develop a strategy that considers your comfort levels with different market options but also has benefits for your desired outcomes, and are not simply the latest trend.

The best teams have coaches who design a game strategy that’s based on what their strong and weak areas are so that they can leverage their position to win.

Start rolling out your plan of action as soon as possible. Start prioritizing your bottom line now. Adopt a hands-on approach to managing your wealth in collaboration with your adviser.

Ever set yourself a goal to get your ‘summer body’ ready? On some level, all of us have moments when we’re not happy with our bodies and the way they look – whether it’s seasonal, emotional or hereditary… and we resolve to do something about it.

For many of us… these turn out to be short-term goals.

We could work at the change for a few weeks, or even a few months, but if we manage to maintain that goal throughout our life we will have managed to turn a short term goal into a bigger vision of a healthy lifestyle.

Achieving your summer body is similar to an aeroplane on the runway – preparing to take off. If the plane starts to pick up speed, but can’t actually take off – consider it a short-term goal. But, when it takes flight and leaves the ground, continuous work and attention are needed throughout the flight – and this is a long-term goal achieved!

With the right flight conditions and enough fuel (motivation and determination), you can turn small “summer-body” goals into larger life goals of healthy, wealthy living. Moving on from summer-body goals requires motivation that doesn’t have to be hard to find. It often begins with changing the way you think, and changing the way you think about happiness and success is often a good place to start!

Success doesn’t breed happiness, it’s the other way around. Instead of being frustrated with yourself as you are now, choose to be happy that you have decided to act on your health goals. Even if you relapse along the way, be happy you still remember your health goals.

Learn to be happy along the way to your transformed self, don’t wait until the journey appears to be successful to be happy. Be happy because you are already living a healthier lifestyle. Enjoy who you are becoming. Enjoy the moment.

After setting clear health goals, it is important to tell yourself that you will continue to act on them to develop a habit of making healthy decisions; this is how you keep to your vision.

Once you’ve achieved one summer-body goal, you are more likely to be better engaged with achieving your next goal – which can extend far beyond your personal health and wealth and can start to influence and support others.

Leading entrepreneurs are successful because of the way they are able to build into people around them and solve problems that others haven’t yet solved. But just as they help others, they too are supported by people who believe in them.

As you set more goals and change short-term goals into long-term goals, it’s vital to have an accountability partner, someone to offer a different perspective and encourage you.

If you’ve been doing it by yourself all along and now feel you could use an accountability partner, reach out to the people you trust and start talking more about how you appreciate and value their support. Start seeing your summer-body goals as the first steps to greater things and not simply another New Year resolution that didn’t make it past January.

How you finish your year is a powerful way to create momentum for the new year. How much you achieved (or didn’t quite manage) this year can inspire how much you aim to achieve next year. In the same way that an athlete pushes harder in every game, or an artist stretches their skills with each new work, so too can we set our sights higher for the year ahead.

And, planning for it now presents us with an opportunity of walking into the new year knowing what we want to achieve, right from the starting blocks!

Here are some tips to help you set next year’s goals.

Reflect on the current year’s achievements

What you want is most effectively framed by looking at what you already have. Reflecting on the goals achieved this year gives you an idea of what you could strive for in the new year.

Take some time to reflect on your current plans and check how much progress you’ve made. Reflect on what you drew motivation from, for example; consider the books you’ve read that gave you new insights, or flip through your playlists for music that made you feel productive, creative and positive.

Reflect on your hurdles as well; this can help you know what you need to work on in order to achieve more next year and complete the goals that you haven’t ticked off your list yet.

Think about your short and long term achievements

Seeing all these goals as part of your overall life plan will give the confidence to continue pursuing them. So, as much as it is important to attach a timeframe to your goals, keep in mind that 12 months can be a short time to achieve everything. Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to lengthen your timelines.

Set S.M.A.R.T goals

Many people love this approach to setting achievable goals.

• Specific – Set simple and specific goals. Try brainstorming your goals and discuss what you want to accomplish, why it matters, who is involved, where it’s located and which resources are required.
• Measurable – Measure your goals and keep tabs on your progress. You can measure your goals by asking yourself questions like, How will I know when it’s accomplished?, How much effort do I need to put in?
• Achievable – Set realistic and attainable goals that are within your abilities to achieve. An achievable goal is something that you can easily figure out how to accomplish within your constraints.
• Relevant – Set goals that matter to you and align with your life goals. Just because you see your friends swimming in the deep end, doesn’t mean you should start there when you learn how to swim.
• Time-bound – Instead of simply saying “Next year I want to learn how to swim”, set a specific timeframe for you to accomplish that goal. Attaching a time to it, is designed to prevent you from being complacent and remember your deadlines.

Create a strategy for success

Have a plan of action for your goals. Write out the next steps you need to accomplish them. Develop a map and routine for your goals.

For example, if you want to lose weight. Your plan would look something like this:

• Your why: To feel light, healthy and athletic
• Action 1: Drinking at least eight glasses of water per day and substituting the Friday afternoon beer with a vegetable shake, for the next 6 weeks.
• Action 2: Go running twice a week and do more chores – learn to be busier and active.
• Routine: Weigh yourself at least once a week to keep track of your progress.

Have someone who will hold you accountable

This is powerful! Choosing someone who you trust and will listen to will keep you motivated and remind you of what you wanted to achieve. It’s as valuable as a snooze button in the morning… sometimes you need a second alarm to wake up properly.

Even if one of the ideas above helps you, remember, these are YOUR goals. They’re not a chore or an obligation; they’re your commitment to a better you.

Whilst the holiday season holds many treats and treasures, one of the most stressful errands is shopping for gifts. Finding the perfect gifts for your family, friends and colleagues isn’t a simple job. In addition to trying to find thoughtful and affordable gifts, battling the queues and parking frenzies only adds to the stress.

Thankfully you can do your shopping from the comfort of your own home – online. Finding the best online gift sites is now one of the first things that come to mind when people shop.

If you’re trying to find something awesome fast – try these sites out first.

Yuppiechef.com

Yuppiechef offers the latest leading kitchen cookware for less. Founded in 2006, this online gem is best for finding novel items to stock up the kitchen and living area or for the perpetual entertainer who ‘has everything’.

They also offer a 30-day return policy as well as a newsletter which has exclusive information on latest releases and sales events direct to your inbox.

Zando.co.za

For the fashionistas in your crew, this is where you will find an impressive selection of trendy clothing brands at affordable prices. They are ideal if you’re looking for fashion labels you can give as gifts without breaking your budget.

Zando also offers free delivery on all orders without any minimum spend as well as seven ways to pay. You get up to R200 off when you sign up for their newsletter and they also promise easy collections and returns.

Takealot.com

This online store sells everything, from the latest tech to clothing, camping gear and cookware. Consider them your online wholesaler with a massive catalogue which includes books, entertainment systems and games.

With Takealot you get free delivery with purchases over R250 and they run superb daily deals.

Exclusive Books

South Africa’s leading book retailer’s website is loved by bookworms because the wide range of book genres that they offer, from history to fiction, from self-help to spiritual gurus, you’ll definitely find international and local best-sellers all on their list.

Sure, few things beat the experience of smelling a book and perusing the aisles of a bookstore on a lazy day, but when it’s busy… it’s way less fun. You qualify for free delivery when you make a purchase of more than R350, with which you also get 21-day returns.

Makro

Another store that has a variety in their stock. You get a fantastic range of gym and sports equipment, outdoor gear, kids’ toys, necessities and groceries. If you’re looking for gaming consoles, TVs, computers and other electronics then check out Makro.

You have the choice of collecting your order in-store at your convenience or having it delivered to you. If you’re running out of time and simply want to bypass the queues, this is a good option.

Woolworths

Woolworths is another premier option for all your apparel, home accessories, food, and generally great gift ideas. They have a handy gift guide for him, her and the kids.

For first time order they offer free delivery. There’s also a 60-day return policy and food items will be available for next day delivery.

Order from Woolworths online and skip the supermarket checkout queues and get all your gifts delivered to you.

Remember, it’s the thought that counts – so if you don’t have the budget or the means, a handmade gift, home-baked goods or handpicked posey often mean so much more!