The Art of Investing Tip of the Month:

Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides: After a recent meeting with my favorite clients they suggested Cubs and Scouts as an excellent and cost effective activity for children. Entertaining kids can become a very expensive exercise these days. With these groups they will not only have fun and make friends, they will learn valuable skills and also it won't cost parents the earth!

Previous Tips:

Make your own:

When looking for a new hobby, try something that will not only entertain you and pass the time but will also provide you with something tangible. Join a sewing club, make your own things. Take art classes, design your own wall hangings. My wife has wanted to learn to sew and desires to make her own dresses just like her Nan used to. Go on, take the first step!

Designer Beverages: With boutique wineries and smaller craft breweries popping up all over the place, why not try it out for yourself. Daring to try different ingredients and pushing the limits of convention is what it is all about. Not only does it work out cheaper but you are able to fashion a drink just the way you like it and also take on a new hobby!

Cheers!

Get a money box, money tin, jar or container and start putting loose change in it when you get home at the end of the day.

After a few months open it up and the amount you have accumulated might come as a surprise!

It's Sale Time! Look at all the unwanted items around your house and look at what is in good enough condition to sell and head straight to eBay, GumTree, Trading Post or have a Garage Sale. Not only will you free up space but you will also have more money in your pocket!!

Hit the books! Invest some time learning a new skill. By building your knowledge you in turn become a more valuable asset. It could be a course related to your current job or the job you want to get. It could relate to a business idea you want to get off the ground. Some think things will happen, some want things to happen, some make things happen!!

Put more hours in your day! Use the same hour to do multiple things and you willsqueeze more into your day. Example: if you drive to work takes you 30 minutes instead of listening to mindless breakfast radio listen to a Learn a Language CD and upskill yourself. You could ride your bike to work. This way you are  using the time getting to work but also using the same time to improve your fitness. Just think of how much more you could fit into your day by doing this?

Simple changes all add up! By making some very simple changes to your current lifestyle or habits you can save a considerable amount of money over time. For example quitting smoking will not only improve your health but create a massive savings opportunity. Reading the newspaper online rather than buying a paper will not only save you money it will also reduce waste in the process. Catch public transport instead of using taxi's. All great and simple ways to reduce your spending. The savings can then be used for the things that are most important to you.

From trash to treasure: Living in Melbourne I have notice a lot of funky new restaurants crafting furniture etc from items that would normally be thrown away. Most of the ‘usless’ items we discard daily can be used again, we just need to uncover the use. Be creative and what you can make and what you will save will astound you!