The Simplicity of Simple

I was recently sitting in a coaching meeting with a couple when the wife made a proclamation about her husband. "It changed him. I've never seen him less stressed about spending money." Wow, what was "it?" What's the magical secret that caused such a dramatic shift in this man?

Truth is, it's something simple. The best, most impactful ideas usually are. Set up a separate savings account specifically for travel. Call it "travel fund." Budget money for travel each month. Physically move said money into the travel fund. Travel. Feel zero guilt. I told you it was simple! It's literally the simplest idea in the world, yet oh so powerful. When we set aside money for a specific use and clearly name it, we're able to let go of the guilt. Why? Because that's what the money was supposed to be used for. There's no second-guessing, asking, "Can I afford it?", or playing the there's-a-more-responsible-thing-to-do-with-this-money game. It's the simplicity of simple.

The entire financial industry endeavors to take simple things and make them complicated. It's a great way to justify your existence and create everlasting demand for your products/services. Meanwhile, I firmly believe we should be doing the opposite: making complicated things simple. Or better yet, making simple things simpler.

This is the key to true literacy and widespread adoption in any field. If we pursue the art of simple, we can better connect with those we wish to serve. Not because we think people aren't smart enough, but because they deserve to have it delivered in the most effective and efficient means possible. Whenever people tell me I make things too simple, I say, "thank you."

If you're struggling with finances, simplify. Less (or no) credit cards, combined finances with your spouse, streamlined processes, automated payments/transfers, consolidated investment accounts, rounding transactions instead of obsessing about every penny (this one makes accountants sweat), and a cushion in your checking account so you don't have to freak out about the house payment coming out before the paycheck is deposited. Simple tweaks, powerful results.

It's the simplicity of simple. Here's my challenge for you today. Find one area in your financial life that you can simplify. Just one. One tweak or modification that will make it easier, quicker, or more enjoyable to manage your finances. Have an awesome and simple day!

Simplicity For the Win

Later today, I’ll be hosting a workshop in Los Angeles about getting a better grasp on our finances. The general expectation in the room will likely be for me to launch into a diatribe about budgeting, spending less, and saving more. If I’m being honest, that would be boring. For as simple as that topic is, I want to go even more simple. Behind this idea is my theory that we humans tend to overcomplicate things every step of the way…..our money included.

Asking someone to do simple things when they’ve already structured their base financial life in an unintentionally complex way is a fool’s errand. This is one of the biggest reasons people are unable to change and make positive strides with their finances. To get one level simpler, I like to discuss core values, basic account structure, and to gain self-awareness of what’s happening in their life. It’s only then we can move into budgeting and other similar topics. Once we know some of these basics, we can begin the process of simplifying and consolidating to whatever extent is needed.

If we start complex with our finances, it will inevitably get more complex over time. If we start simple, we have a chance to build simple. Then if we build simple, we have a chance to continue building simple. It takes a lot of intentionality, but it’s worth the endeavor.

“Travis, you try to make things too simple.” That’s one of the best insults I can get. If someone is thinking that, then I know we’re on the right track. Complex doesn’t mean we’re smart or sophisticated. It just means we are complex. Simplicity, on the other hand, can free us and empower us. The simpler we can make it, the less brain power and more energy we can put behind it.

So ask yourself the same question I try to ask myself (and my clients) on a regular basis: “Is there a way to make this simpler?” If the answer is yes, we have work to do. If the answer is no, then we’re as simple as we need to be. Simplicity for the win.

Simple, But Hard

When talking to friends and acquaintances throughout the course of life, I regularly hear criticisms and complaints about financially irresponsible people in their life. Maybe it’s their grown child, neighbor, sibling, friend, or colleague. Since I’m the guy who helps people with money, they perceive me as a good outlet to vent these frustrations.

On one hand, I completely get where they are coming from. We should handle money better…..and doing so is simple. However, just because it’s simple, it doesn’t make it easy. I believe personal finance is really, really simple, and really, really hard. Telling someone in your life to “do it better” is a fool’s game. That would be like me unsuccessfully trying to rotate the tires on my car and having my mechanically inclined brother-in-law tell me to just “do it better.” It may be simple, but it’s hard. I was never taught, so how would I know how to do it?

But here’s where it gets beautiful. If I desire to learn how to rotate tires AND my brother-in-law is willing to teach me, I too will learn the art and science of rotating tires. It’s simple, but hard.

Finance is the same way. If there are people in your life who struggle with finances and have the desire to get better, you have the power to teach them or connect them with the resources that can. It’s simple, but hard.

If you’re looking for a cheap and simple resource, we have a podcast. It’s free, it’s good (I’m totally biased), there’s a ton of content (170+ episodes), and its packaged in succinct 10-15 minute bites.