We have all heard the saying "Been there, done that, got the
T-Shirt.”
When it comes to living in the real world and Managing Money Wisely, how many Financial Wellness Coaches
or Training Companies can honestly and confidently say to their delegates, ”I understand what you are going
through when it comes to facing and enduring hard financial times.."
Is the aim of attending a Financial Wellness Workshop not to learn from experience and not only out of a
work book?
Well - let me tell you a quick story …
At the age of 21, a very young and unmarried Genna purchased her first home with a boyfriend. Being young
and in love, it was an exciting time to have all the finer things in life. Not understanding the repercussions of
having such financial responsibilities, decisions were made, based on Wants and not Needs. Life was great.
Within 6 months, interest rates had shot through the roof and had a ripple effect on all monthly
expenses. There was no budget, no savings, and no emergency fund. The R100 000 overdraft approved by the
Bank sure came in handy.... Life was great, or so she thought.
Newly single, renting and having to pay creditors, career choices were made.
Some were good, and some bad. Some made her money, some cost her money. All stepping stones along the
journey, we call life.
Fast forward 10 years. A now Happily married Genna had weathered the financial storm and together with her
husband, was on a journey to reaching financial freedom along with a beautiful Daughter, a loving home, and
the luxuries life could afford. Life was great.
After celebrating 5 years of marriage, Genna's husband received the call no employee ever wants to receive.
As the main bread winner - he was soon to be out of a job. It was blamed on the economy. Within a few
weeks, Genna's employer had closed their doors too. Life was far from being great.
What were they to do? Monthly responsibilities and commitments had to be kept: school fees, bond
repayments, car repayments, medical aid, food, security, all their basic needs.
Faced with a very uncertain future, reality needed to be faced. Decisions needed to be made, priorities needed
to be re-assessed and put into perspective. Life was not great, and it would get worse.
Fast forward 2 years. Life is great. It is not perfect, but it is getting better every day.
Both Genna and her husband are now self-employed and are back on their journey to achieving financial
freedom again.
How did they manage to hold it all together? By making wise financial decisions, sticking to a plan and doing
something about it.
There is no one to blame for the lack of financial awareness and the bad
financial decisions which were made.
It is our responsibility to find out. If only Genna had empowered herself earlier, with the basic principles
of Money Management, would she had made the same costly decisions?
Ever heard the saying: "been there, done that, got the T-shirt, lost the T-shirt, bought the T-shirt again, and
now wearing it with pride"?
Genna sure has....
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