Lesson 52: Moving Forward
Hello Revolutionists,
This is the last week of your Saving Revolution - for now. You've had 51 lessons over the past year, all giving you the tools you need to stay focused and on track with your saving goals.
Now it's time to move into the future.
You can do that by dedicating an afternoon to getting your financial files in order. Remember back in Lesson 2 when you had to sort, file, toss and organize? It's time to do that again. Go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing paper you don't need to keep and archiving the things you do.
You can buy archive boxes (they're not expensive) from stationers and office supply stores, or you can make one of your own. Gather the paper work you are going to archive and put it into labelled envelopes or manilla folders (I prefer the envelopes, nothing can fall out).
For example you have a section in your Financial Files for Childcare. Take all the receipts and any other paperwork that you won't need in 2026 and put them in a large envelope. Write "Childcare 2025" on the front and place it in your archive box. Do this for all your financial files.
NOTE: Remember to copy any receipts you need for tax purposes, archive the copy (marked "copy") and put the original in your 2025 -2026 tax file. Once you've done your income tax return, archive the receipts in the same manner.
Now is also a good time to go through your files and get rid of the non-financial stuff you don't need. For example if you were collecting information on new carpet, and you've finally bought it, get rid of the brochures, quotes, colour samples and so on. Only keep the order and invoice for the carpet you bought.
Be tough. Go through every section of all your files and shred and toss or archive as much as you can. You want your files to be as empty as possible to start the new year. This shouldn't take more than a couple of hours and won't be overwhelming if you set your filing system up for Lesson 5.
The tortoise and the hare
Now that the year has come to an end, take the time to look back at what you have accomplished. Did you complete every lesson? Did you start your Saving Revolution blog (some of you didn't!), did you set goals - and did you accomplish them? Did you create a written Spending Plan? Is your filing system organized? Did you learn to meal plan? Is your grocery shopping under control? Did you start an Emergency Fund? Are you contributing to it regularly? Have you started planning for your retirement? Did you get a will organized? Have you tried some new ways to save money? Have you started teaching your children to live the Cheapskates way? Do you save regularly? Are you more confident about handling your finances now?
That's a big list, and it isn't everything you've covered over the last twelve months. It's important to remember that not everyone will have accomplished everything on the list, and that's fine. Just like the tortoise, you can take your time and work at your own pace. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
It's All a Part of Life
Life is about change, it never stays exactly the same. And your Saving Revolution is about change too. Some changes may seem radical to you, others will be DOH! moments and still others will get a "doesn't everyone do that" reaction from you. Life changes, and so do your finances, every day.
It's how you handle them that brings about the success in your Revolution. So do you have a plan for moving forward? What will you do if you lose your job? Once your Emergency Fund is fully funded, what do you plan to do with that money? Your financial life is always changing and you need a plan to keep it in tip top shape and working for you. Take an hour this week to look at your financial notebook and make some plans.
Money Isn't the Be-All and End-All
A few years ago a client won first division of Tattslotto. It was a huge prize, many millions of dollars, and he was the sole first division winner. You'd think he'd be set for life, but within three years he'd gone from a happily married father of two, with a job he liked, living in the country town he grew up in and a respected member of the community to a homeless, broke, divorced shadow of himself.
It was sad to watch. He was generous to a fault with his family and friends, and his community. He bought a new house on acreage for his family, took them on overseas trips, gave money to his brother and quit his job.
He spent his millions as though he had a never-ending supply of money. Then one day the money ran out. He couldn't be so generous any more; he couldn't even feed his family let alone pay the day-to-day living costs because he'd quit his job.
Within a short time his wife had left him, the house was sold and he was worse off than ever before.
When I bumped into him again, he was back at his old job as a carpet salesman and he was loving it. Happily he'd reconciled with his wife and had his family back. They were living in a modest home they could afford and they were happy.
His words, and I've never forgotten them, were "I know what it's like to be rich. And I know what it's like to be poor. I'd rather be rich, but it means nothing if you don't have your family, your health and your friends. I like being poor with my family and friends, they're all that really matter to me."
And he's right.
So, whether you continue on with the Revolution in 2026 or stay where you are, I wish you success and happiness, and hope you make your fortune and live a long, healthy life to enjoy it. And I hope you always remember the things that really matter.
This is the last week of your Saving Revolution - for now. You've had 51 lessons over the past year, all giving you the tools you need to stay focused and on track with your saving goals.
Now it's time to move into the future.
You can do that by dedicating an afternoon to getting your financial files in order. Remember back in Lesson 2 when you had to sort, file, toss and organize? It's time to do that again. Go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing paper you don't need to keep and archiving the things you do.
You can buy archive boxes (they're not expensive) from stationers and office supply stores, or you can make one of your own. Gather the paper work you are going to archive and put it into labelled envelopes or manilla folders (I prefer the envelopes, nothing can fall out).
For example you have a section in your Financial Files for Childcare. Take all the receipts and any other paperwork that you won't need in 2026 and put them in a large envelope. Write "Childcare 2025" on the front and place it in your archive box. Do this for all your financial files.
NOTE: Remember to copy any receipts you need for tax purposes, archive the copy (marked "copy") and put the original in your 2025 -2026 tax file. Once you've done your income tax return, archive the receipts in the same manner.
Now is also a good time to go through your files and get rid of the non-financial stuff you don't need. For example if you were collecting information on new carpet, and you've finally bought it, get rid of the brochures, quotes, colour samples and so on. Only keep the order and invoice for the carpet you bought.
Be tough. Go through every section of all your files and shred and toss or archive as much as you can. You want your files to be as empty as possible to start the new year. This shouldn't take more than a couple of hours and won't be overwhelming if you set your filing system up for Lesson 5.
The tortoise and the hare
Now that the year has come to an end, take the time to look back at what you have accomplished. Did you complete every lesson? Did you start your Saving Revolution blog (some of you didn't!), did you set goals - and did you accomplish them? Did you create a written Spending Plan? Is your filing system organized? Did you learn to meal plan? Is your grocery shopping under control? Did you start an Emergency Fund? Are you contributing to it regularly? Have you started planning for your retirement? Did you get a will organized? Have you tried some new ways to save money? Have you started teaching your children to live the Cheapskates way? Do you save regularly? Are you more confident about handling your finances now?
That's a big list, and it isn't everything you've covered over the last twelve months. It's important to remember that not everyone will have accomplished everything on the list, and that's fine. Just like the tortoise, you can take your time and work at your own pace. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
It's All a Part of Life
Life is about change, it never stays exactly the same. And your Saving Revolution is about change too. Some changes may seem radical to you, others will be DOH! moments and still others will get a "doesn't everyone do that" reaction from you. Life changes, and so do your finances, every day.
It's how you handle them that brings about the success in your Revolution. So do you have a plan for moving forward? What will you do if you lose your job? Once your Emergency Fund is fully funded, what do you plan to do with that money? Your financial life is always changing and you need a plan to keep it in tip top shape and working for you. Take an hour this week to look at your financial notebook and make some plans.
Money Isn't the Be-All and End-All
A few years ago a client won first division of Tattslotto. It was a huge prize, many millions of dollars, and he was the sole first division winner. You'd think he'd be set for life, but within three years he'd gone from a happily married father of two, with a job he liked, living in the country town he grew up in and a respected member of the community to a homeless, broke, divorced shadow of himself.
It was sad to watch. He was generous to a fault with his family and friends, and his community. He bought a new house on acreage for his family, took them on overseas trips, gave money to his brother and quit his job.
He spent his millions as though he had a never-ending supply of money. Then one day the money ran out. He couldn't be so generous any more; he couldn't even feed his family let alone pay the day-to-day living costs because he'd quit his job.
Within a short time his wife had left him, the house was sold and he was worse off than ever before.
When I bumped into him again, he was back at his old job as a carpet salesman and he was loving it. Happily he'd reconciled with his wife and had his family back. They were living in a modest home they could afford and they were happy.
His words, and I've never forgotten them, were "I know what it's like to be rich. And I know what it's like to be poor. I'd rather be rich, but it means nothing if you don't have your family, your health and your friends. I like being poor with my family and friends, they're all that really matter to me."
And he's right.
So, whether you continue on with the Revolution in 2026 or stay where you are, I wish you success and happiness, and hope you make your fortune and live a long, healthy life to enjoy it. And I hope you always remember the things that really matter.