The lack of money is often not our problem, it is the way we spend it. Wealthy people tend to spend money on things that increase in value or provide them with a return on their investment. People who are not wealthy spend the bulk of their money on items that perish, depreciate or have no return on their investment. Even the family home, which is often the most expensive item that most people purchase, usually provides no return on their large capital outlay.

In order to invest wisely, you need to have a suitable investment plan that will ensure the appropriate amount of growth for you. Your investments will also need to be safe and easy to manage.

Developing an Investment Plan:

The first step in developing an investment plan is to identify what type of an investor you are. Investor types are often determined by their stages in life.

There are two sides to wealth creation, earning money and spending it. In essence, if we spend less than we earn, we will ultimately, progressively become rich.

However, I also like to reinforce the other side of the wealth equation, income, because most budgets and money management programs focus too heavily on reducing the expenditure, which is often restrictive and sometimes depressing.

There are two reasons why goals fail or we give up trying to achieve a specific goal. When I first learnt this, I knew I finally found the Holy Grail of goal achievement.

The first reason is the "Brick Wall". Often if we make an attempt or several attempts at achieving a goal, we can hit what they call, a Brick Wall. That is often the main reason for failed goals.

A few years ago, I designed a game to teach people how to master wealth creation. For this, I used the basic Monopoly game but changed the rules somewhat to create a situation that follows the six stages of the Money Program. In my version of Monopoly, in order to win, the players need to negotiate between themselves in order to obtain a complete street before they can build houses and hotels.

It is great that many people are now searching for good financial advice. With past generations, the typical financial advice passed down from parents to children was: buy a home, pay it off as quickly as possible and then - if you are really good at managing your money - buy an investment property.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who think this is the safest and smartest way of increasing their wealth.

First, your creed should always be: "Abundance is My Natural Birthright".

As inhabitants of our beautiful planet, all we have to do is look around to see that abundance is our natural birthright. Nature is magnificently abundant; rich in color, growth and expansion. There is no scarcity on this planet, except that which exists in our minds.

By making a commitment to eliminate your debt, you are taking the first giant leap towards becoming financially free. Imagine the wonderful feeling of total financial freedom. No debts, no financial worries, and best of all not being tied to a job you don't like just to pay the bills. Research has proven that it takes three things to accomplish anything: Passion, Motivation and Accountability.

More and more people are now clamouring aboard the former trails emblazoned by the seasoned investors. Money advice, tips and strategies abound. Get rich. Save for your retirement. Make a million to retire on. Pay off your home in only 5 or 8 years. Financial freedom. Live your own lifestyle. Buy a boat and sail the Pacific. Fantasies come true.

Over the years I have extensively studied and used goal setting techniques and found that there are a few simple rules that help to make them work. These include:

Make a long list of all the things you want, and then prioritise them. Start working on just the first 3 or 4 items. When they have been achieved, cross them off and begin on the next ones.

Recently, several people have asked me various questions about how to improve their writing. I love writing and I encourage anyone who wants to write to try. Many of you have amazing stories, valuable information to pass on to others, or dormant imaginations yet to be awakened.

WRITER'S BLOCK

Most writers experience writer's block at some time or another.