2017 is now upon us and the New Year is the perfect time to try and get your finances in order. Here are five financial fundamentals to get you off to a kick- start.

Figure out your finances – The economic climate of today should be enough to tell you how important it is to figure out your finances. Only when you’ve got a grip on where your money goes, spending habits, expenses and the rising cost of future living can you start to manage your money more effectively.

Find your net Worth – It’s time to take inventory and find out exactly how much you’re worth. Calculating your net worth will give you an accurate picture of where you stand financially. If you have any financial plans for the future, such as sending your children through university or retiring by a certain age, It’s especially important to know your current financial state. Net worth is the amount by which assets exceed liabilities. In other words, your net worth is the difference between what you own and what you owe.

Focus on your driver – One of the first steps you need to undertake is to successfully identify your main driver/s.  Without underlying goals, values, and plans you have nothing to aim for. So the first stage is really quite important.  What is most important to you and what will it take to adequately support those values and desires? Select only the most important ones so that you have a clear target to aim for.

Follow a plan – Once you have worked out your income, expenditure and have a clear target, you can then begin to set a basic framework of how to spend, use and save that money in line with your personal goals. While it’s important to set realistic goals, don’t be tempted to give yourself an easy ride by making them too soft. Stick with it. Don’t waste the opportunity you have and take advantage of your expat status.

Forget about it – Of course it is good to review your plans and your savings to check that you are on track but you don’t need to get bogged down with it. Automatic deduction is probably the most painless and simplest way to save. In time, you’ll completely forget about it, but your savings account won’t. The trick is not to worry or concern yourself with it too much. Rather just get on with it! You will be rather surprised how quickly it all adds up.