life

Happy Vibes

~ gretchenbetts ~ Leave a comment

eb7b7fcf5f46a5823c3d18009827ee81

This weekend was meant to be a quiet one… but it didn’t turn out like that, although I did have a lie in on Saturday and Basil gave me lots of head butts and nose bops!

Even though it turned busy – it was full of lovely stuff.  I saw friends who I don’t see that often and tried to catch up on everything – but that’s near impossible! I saw my godchildren for giggles and Basil and I had visitors on Sunday, some who he was more comfortable with than others (children move a bit quick for his liking).

Jackson also turned one this weekend – where has that time gone? I didn’t see him, but Grandma and Grandad Betts visited him and I sent a video of me singing happy birthday. He had lots of gifts, visitors and fun.

So, I sat on the sofa last night, reflecting on my weekend and just how proud I am of all my friends and family.

Many of my friends are going through tough times. You don’t realise how hard it is until you see them for a short time and even then, only hear snippets of their concerns and the things they are dealing with.

Money problems, elderly family issues, disagreements with parents or partners, health problems, new jobs, courses and juggling the children. To be honest it all is pretty exhausting and any one of them I would have excused if they wanted to wear their pj’s all day and not bother to meet up. I think together we could probably write a soap opera!

Yet each one of them this weekend still made an effort to find the time to talk, visit, share, support and be positive and smile!

One of my friends text me after we met, saying she had meant to say how much she has enjoyed this blog and my positive outlook! That made me proud – so thank you for saying it!

But to be honest, its easy when you have lots of wonderful, inspiring, strong friends, colleagues and family around you. Each of you inspire me in different ways and I am super happy and proud to have you all in my life. I am so lucky!

Here’s a few special messages:

Happy birthday Jackson! And to mummy Geraldine, I am so so proud of everything you have done this year and you really have risen to the challenge.

Well done Becca for passing your driving test – love the new wheels! If I was a cat I would have *proud ears* right now!

Ruth – hearing you speak about the new job with excitement, despite the week you had and everything that was thrown at you, was wonderful and inspiring!

Cerian – juggling two young children, work, snails with 100’s of babies, money, and family stress – you are doing so so well!! Stay positive!

And everyone else – thank you for being happy, loving and supportive.

Turning Points

~ gretchenbetts ~ Leave a comment

turning-point

As a Financial Planner I say to clients that I want to help guide them through the ‘turning points’ in their life, to help them plan with confidence.

These turning points happen to everyone. A major shift happens in life, maybe someone dies or becomes ill, you lose a job or you get a divorce. Or the event could be something positive like a new marriage, new baby, a mid-life career change, or moving into your dream house. Either way, it can change your perspective on life.

My job is to help people navigate life’s changes and provide the financial tools and resources to give those important choices clarity and direction. So that when it happens and you have those feelings of excitement, grief, or worry, that you are confident that you don’t have to be anxious about your finances. That’s the last thing you need to be fretting over.

It’s when you focus, plan and consider these turning points, that you see what’s really important in life.

These have been some of my turning points:

  1. Deciding to not pursue Ceramic Art as my career and do this instead!.
  2. When my Granny died, realising how much she enriched my life and how I would miss her, especially for the little things. She was the most loving and un-judgemental person I have known.
  3. My latest job change.
  4. Becoming Auntie Gretchen last week.

Jackson, the tiny one

~ gretchenbetts ~ 1 Comment

Gretchen and Jackson

Jackson David Strong arrived last week. My first nephew and oh how beautiful he is… 6 tiny pounds of loveliness.

He is my sister and brother-in-law all rolled into one – and it’s wonderful to see them so happy. I could have held him all day and I certainly did not want to leave to come home.

Our family (the Betts-Strong clan) has grown and things will change.
It really is a turning point for us all and what a wonderful one.

I should add that his Grandad and I immediately talked about savings for him!!

I found this poem online and since it was #poetryweek when Jackson was born, it made sense to share it here.

A Baby Changes Things

A baby changes things;
They’ll never be the same;
Your life is filled with wonder,
Since your little miracle came.

There’s lots of things to do now,
But with the new tasks you face,
Your family gains more love,
And bonds time will never erase.

Source: http://www.poemsource.com/baby-poems.html

Everything about life is a risk

~ gretchenbetts ~ Leave a comment

There comes time in everyone’s life when we are faced with a choice that involves risk. Perhaps a change of career, moving home, starting a new relationship or having a child. Risk is by nature, scary. Uncertain. Unpredictable. Unchartered territory. I’ve been there recently.

We actually risk everything, every day of our lives without knowing it – there is no such thing as a ‘risk free’ environment. We spend our lives managing risk. There is always a chance that walking outside will kill us. There’s a chance that we’ll never make it to our destination, a chance we won’t get to see our loved ones again, a chance that tomorrow will never come. Life is all about risks – and we all take a different approach to it.

In the same way, there is no such thing as a risk free investment. Every type of investment involves risk, the important thing to assess is the type and degree of risk and the potential consequences, both good and bad, of taking it.

Even money deposited in a bank will be at risk, because in an inflationary environment, its future purchasing power is unlikely to be as good as it was when it was put there. The risk is that leaving money on deposit for long periods will cost you money when compared with other investments and is known as opportunity risk.

So, if you want your money to have the opportunity of working for you and potentially increasing its purchasing power, you have to accept different types of risk and some degree of volatility. The degree of risk that any one person needs, or wishes to take, depends entirely on their personal circumstances and outlook.

There is no magic formula for managing risk, but with careful preparation and forethought, you can minimise the risk and maximise the odds that you will succeed.

The life you live depends on the choices you make, the risks you take, and how lucky or unlucky you’ve been. #planitwell

This is from a book my Father brought for me a few weeks ago:

Be Curious.
Be spontaneous.
Be brave.
Take risks.
Go on adventures.
Forgot your inhibitions.
Believe in yourself.
Trust yourself.
Love yourself.
Remember it’s now or never.