Medium

When it comes to money, your priorities, needs, and goals change as you move through life. In your twenties, you have a vastly different relationship with money than you do in your sixties, but it is important to recognise that at each stage of your life, the financial decisions you make can impact or enhance your financial future, regardless of how far away that might seem.

Whilst renting a property has some advantages, such as being able to live in a location you’d otherwise not be able to afford, the distinct downside of renting is that you ultimately have little to show for the thousands of Euros you pay out in rent each year. 

As retirement approaches, many people can have conflicting feelings. The opportunity to stop working and spend more time doing the things you enjoy and seeing more of the people you love is an exciting prospect. However, having worked for, perhaps, 40 or 50 years, the prospect of such a dramatic change can be deeply unsettling.

When the temperature starts to rise and the days lengthen, spring is clearly upon us. For many people, the changes of the season, from Winter to Spring, inspires them to declutter and spring clean their homes in preparation for the warm, sunny months ahead. This year why not also take the opportunity to give your finances a thorough dusting down, to ensure they are also in good shape for Summer and beyond? Here are a few tips to help you do it:

4. Choose the right time

As with many things in life, timing can be everything when it comes to asking for a pay rise. Don’t try to have a conversation with your manager in the middle of a busy office, at the end of another meeting or just because you are both in the kitchen making a coffee!

In an ideal world, our employers will always value the work we do and pay us what we are worth. That doesn’t always happen though. For many people, the pandemic has increased the likelihood of them feeling undervalued and underpaid, as working from home has made them less visible to their line managers, roles have changed, and greater demand is put on us in order to help our employers navigate what has been an economically challenging period.

A group of people who are frequently overlooked when it comes to financial tips and guidance are those who fall into the “middle earner” bracket. Middle earners are neither the highest paid, lowest paid, or the poor and, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) around 60% of workers across Europe fall into this category.

Better living conditions, medical advances and healthier lifestyles mean that people are living longer. Around a fifth of the UK population is now over 65 years of age and, it is estimated that by 2050, it will be one in four people.

As we go through life, we rely on our parents to care for and support us. However, with people living longer, it is increasingly likely that the roles will one day be reversed, and you may need to care for, and support your parents in the future.

Insuring your life is a slightly odd concept as it is one of the few things you pay for that you never actually benefit from! However, knowing your family will benefit financially if you die can be a great comfort to some people, but do you need it?

Having an active, healthy immune system is key in avoiding certain illnesses, such as colds and other respiratory diseases. A good diet and healthy lifestyle habits are key in maintaining properly-functioning immunity.

One of our allies in protecting our immune system is antioxidants. Their function is clear: to prevent the oxidation of the molecules that are exposed to free radicals. In other words, they slow down the deterioration of our organs, tissues and skin. And, of course, they keep the immune system healthy.