Many have struggled financially during the pandemic, and they will need to bring their financial house back in line. Others have thrived on working from home and may never return to their offices, many saving thousands each year in travel, food, and new office outfits.

At the same time, we’ve all not been able to spend as we would have otherwise done; holidays have been cancelled or postponed, socialising has been put on ice and some have delayed their home improvement plans.

But all that spending has not gone away – it has simply been delayed, and it’s beginning to come back. I appreciate we can’t take last year’s holiday along with this year’s (fingers crossed), but we’re all longing for our holidays and seeing the sun, and meeting up with friends and family for drinks and a meal.

That’s a lot of pent-up demand for life as we knew it. And in our economic wheel, one person’s spending is another person’s income, so I believe our future purchasing power will help make the next decade the ‘Roaring 20s’.

Date of Recording : 27th February 2022

Life is never a straight line; we have highs and lows. Our spending is no different. I was speaking with my children this week and explained that when you have an expensive month, like we did in December, it’s right to reign in the spending a little, to offset, otherwise you could easily find yourself in debt.

That’s coming into sharp focus now as December credit card statements arrive in inboxes and on doormats. For some, the statement will reflect Christmas extravagance. Some balances will even include purchases from 2020!

Date Recorded: 3rd February 2022

We like to do things in life that we enjoy. We find these things easy to do, they take little effort, and we know we’re going to have a good time doing them.

Contrast this to our finances: most of us don’t review our money or what’s happening with it because we think it’s difficult, it can be worrying to look at our situation, or we don’t know how to change things. So to protect ourselves, we shut it out of our mind and avoid it instead.

Sound familiar? Find out how you can get on top of your money matters, step-by-step.

How to make the most of your savings is an essential part of getting ahead financially, and it is especially true at a time when inflation is increasing. It can be difficult to maintain the real buying power of your pounds.

With having a savings platform, when you open your savings account, you can allocate your savings across several different time periods with differing interest rates. Watch this video to discover more.

For more help and guidance on savings & investing visit:

https://www.warrenshute.com

For more information about Aviva Save please visit:

https://www.aviva.co.uk/investments/aviva-save/

Not surprisingly, I’m a big believer in planning. That’s especially true when it comes to the golden years of our retirement. But will those years really be golden, or more like copper?!

Discover the secret to a happy retirement and plan ahead to help make your retirement the best years of your life.

It’s essential we use this period to organise our finances. Part of that means supporting local businesses whenever you can, because one person's spending is another person's income, and it could be helping you further down the chain.

If you know your numbers, money isn’t as complicated as you might think. Clarity gives you the enthusiasm to make better decisions and live the life you want to live. I often refer to ALIE as every financial planner's best friend; assets, liabilities, income and expenditure.

The last 18 months may have played havoc with your finances, but this period could also be giving you more of something you don’t typically have: time.

If you’ve been furloughed, or you’re saving hours in commuting, use the extra time productively to sort your finances out.

The hardest step is the first one – so where should you begin?

Life is not a continuum: precious time is running out for us all. Securing your future is essential, but so is enjoying the present moment. So few people ever actually achieve this balance, which I refer to as true wealth.

Being rich can be nice, but true wealth – which money can’t buy and death can’t take away – is figuring out what you really want to achieve in life and going for it. It’s in reach for us all… if we just decide what we want.

Family Finances for Father's Day. It’s no surprise that raising kids comes at a cost, but it’s also an opportunity to learn – for children and parents, check out my latest Money Planner Podcast below.

Inflation is normal, we shouldn’t be afraid of it, but when its momentum builds it can get out of control and skyrocket, which typically means things become more expensive.

Something that’s overlooked with inflation is the impact on your cash. Why? Because inflation is effectively a constant tax on the value of your money and assets, a tax that we all collectively pay.

Inflation is like carbon monoxide to your money: it’s a silent killer of wealth creation, which few people are aware of. So what can you do? watch this video to discover more.