February is just two days away – how are the New Year's resolutions going?
Most resolutions involve losing weight and gaining wealth, and you are probably battling both as the weight stays on and the credit card bills start arriving.
![Lifestyle changes need to be permanent for long-term success.](/web/20170130234147im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/y/v/n/b/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtyvmw.png/1485389182201.jpg)
Don't despair, it's not too late – and what really stands out is that exactly the same rules apply to each. Today, in the interests of good health and wealth for us all, I'll share them with you.
Rule 1. You must have a concrete goal. It is as pointless to say "I want to lose a few kilos" as it is to say "I want to have more money in the bank". It is essential to have a specific goal and a timeframe, such as "I want to lose 5 kilos by the end of March" or "I want to increase my savings to $10,000 by 30 June".
Rule 2. Focus on the benefits, because this is what will help you stay on track when the inevitable temptations arise. Shedding a few kilos will certainly improve your health and make you feel better; retiring with a substantial superannuation balance will open up a whole new world of freedom and choice.
Rule 3. It must be a permanent lifestyle change. Dr Garry Egger of GutBusters says the word DIET is short for Diabolical Ineffective Expensive Timewaster. Most people who go on a crash diet put all the lost weight back on when the diet inevitably becomes too hard. It's exactly the same with money. Scrimping and saving for a month is pointless – becoming wealthy is usually the result of a process of managing your money well over the long haul and letting compound interest work its magic.
Rule 4. Understand the 70/30 rule. Seventy per cent of a successful weight-loss program will be attributable to your eating habits, and 30 per cent to exercise. Seventy per cent of building wealth consists of managing your money to spend less than you earn – the rest of it consists of good asset selection and tax-effective strategies.
Rule 5. Don't try to do too much too soon. The reason most New Year's resolutions fail is that they are normally made in a moment of alcohol-induced euphoria and are not carried through in the harsh light of day. The trick is to start small and build on it. To lose weight you might decide to focus on two healthy eating days a week. To get your finances in order you could start with a simple budget coupled with moving your home repayments from monthly to fortnightly.
Rule 6. Expect roadblocks. There will be times, especially around Christmas, when your budget and your belly will take a battering. By all means, prepare for these occasions to the best of your ability, but don't give up if you have a setback. Just treat it as a period of consolidation while you prepare to start moving forward again.
Rule 7. Keep track of your progress but not too often. Both your weight and your portfolio are going to be bouncing around for the rest of your life, and getting excited or depressed because of a good or bad day tends to put you on an emotional roller coaster that leads to impulsive and flawed decisions. As long as you are making steady progress towards your goal you are on the right track.
Rule 8. Mix with people who share your goals. It's much easier to refuse dessert when nobody else at the table wants it than it is to watch everybody else eating it. It's easier to live within your income if your circle of friends shares your financial aspirations.
The great thing about having a variety of goals is the way you can make them work together. Let's face it, much of our discretionary spending these days is on food and alcohol, and cutting back on these will save you dollars as well as kilos. It may be difficult at first while you are slowly changing lifelong habits but eventually new habits will form. Then you can enjoy the results.
Noel Whittaker is the author of Making Money Made Simple and numerous other books on personal finance. His advice is general in nature and readers should seek their own professional advice before making any financial decisions. Email: noel@noelwhittaker.com.au