'Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.' - Benjamin Franklin 'Money Talk' should not always make you feel uneasy, anxious or miserable. It is about the art of money management and keeping things simple. You deserve to have fun and enjoy your wealth. If you are too serious about your own finances and money management is not your cup of tea, try to relax and take a look at the following helpful guidelines: You can make an automatic payment into a savings account, even if it is a small amount. Once you start putting aside some money regularly, you will feel good about possessing it. It is a state of mind and a great way to turn your economics around without denying yourself happiness. Get a Money Mentor. He or she may not be an expert or professional. There may be an uncle or aunt whom you have always admired for their sound financial judgment. Or you can ask your parents to recommend a competent mentor for you. Remember, 'talk' is cheap and 'loss' is dear. Your parents may or may not be your money mentors. For some of them who just don't know much about personal finance, it can be quite confusing or even frightening. All those jargons such as leverage, price-earning ratio, equity fund, bond yield and option trading are enough to intimidate any individual trying to understand personal finance. There is a myth that to excel in this field, you have to be good at mathematics. But many 'money experts' who might have failed their HKCEE mathematics are still in a good position to help you because they have great experience in investment and risk management. So why don't you start building up your own personal finance experience? You can learn how to use budget software, accounting programmes and a financial calculator. Once you organise your spending pattern, you will be more confident about your lifestyle. Do not spend more than you earn. You do not need to keep up with the Joneses in order to impress others. There is no mystery about the role of money in your life. Practice makes perfect. Like it or not, you still need to experience the good along with the bad so that you can refine your methods. Dr Sze is the president of the Society of Registered Financial Planners If you have a money-related question, send it to yp@scmp.com with Money Matters as the subject
