| WATCH THE BIRDS, AND BUILD AN EGG NEST | | | | chances are that you will uncover any flaws and |
| FOR YOUR FUTURE | | | | hopefully, rectify them before things really get out |
| Take a walk into the fields and watch a bird at | | | | of hand. Remember the adages: 'A stitch in time |
| work, building its nest. It is such a pretty sight. | | | | saves nine', and 'Make hay while the sun shines'. |
| The bird travels far, picks a piece of straw in its | | | | Believe it or not, time is the greatest enemy of |
| beak, and darts back to the building site, tack the | | | | mankind and has to be utilised resourcefully. |
| straw in the right place and off it goes again. | | | | State pension and national insurance schemes |
| There is a splendid display of purpose, drive, will, | | | | have been in shambles for a long time, and |
| tact and planning. Learn from these little | | | | numerous occupational pension schemes are |
| creatures, and you can be successful in saving | | | | running deficits. You should be clear about the sort |
| towards your dearest goals. You will be an expert | | | | of retirement you want to experience. Would you |
| in building an egg nest for your future. | | | | like to maintain the same lifestyle you are |
| A lot of people find it difficult to save because | | | | enjoying now or even improve on it during |
| they lack a sense of purpose for the money they | | | | retirement? Needless to say you must make |
| want to amass. I suppose you know the sort of | | | | allowance for the fact that sicknesses are |
| situation you can get yourself into when you're | | | | rampant amongst the aged and that you may |
| bored at home and get out of your house to go | | | | need to contribute massively towards care. You |
| for a walk, without an exact place in mind you | | | | may have to commence saving towards personal |
| want to go to. You might even get lost, with such | | | | pension to top up shortcomings in state and |
| lack of direction and destination. Sadly, most | | | | occupational pension. |
| people who claim to be purposeful cannot tell you | | | | Failing this, you may have to continue working |
| the definitive reasons why they are trying to | | | | during retirement, retire a lot later than you |
| save. | | | | should, or live a life much below the standard you |
| You can enhance your ability to save if you start | | | | anticipate when you retire. I'll entreat you to give |
| by actually enlisting your purpose or purposes for | | | | due attention to 'you' in the future, perhaps even |
| saving, and proceed further to attach to each | | | | more than you give to 'you' now, the reason |
| purpose specific goals. Goals serve as landmarks | | | | being you are a lot stronger now than you will be |
| in your journey towards the purpose. | | | | then. |
| In order to set a realistic purpose it is crucial that | | | | Everything, including savings can be achieved if |
| you carry out a detailed assessment of the | | | | you put your mind to it. Consider the size of ants |
| resources you presently, have and find out the | | | | and the gigantic hills they erect, and believe that |
| extra resources you will need to realize your | | | | you can save towards any purposes and goals. |
| purpose and its associated goals. The birds can | | | | Why do you have to wait till the morrow? Start |
| really teach you to save. It becomes a lot easier | | | | now, take your own future in your hands and |
| once you establish a clear sense of purpose. | | | | make it brighter. |
| Time is of great essence when considering | | | | David Opoku |
| savings. The time for action is now; you must | | | | BA Hons. in Accounting and Finance.(Currently |
| start now. You might already have an investment; | | | | specialising in Financial Advising/Stockbroking in a |
| the earlier you begin reviewing it the greater | | | | leading Financial Services company). |