Aegon : Tidying up your finances with the KonMari method

What does a Netflix show have to do with financial planning?

The KonMarimethod actually follows the same principles as planning for a successful financial future. Mike Mansfield, Program Director Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement at Aegon, explains that financial planning is simple in theory, but like many things can become overwhelming in practice.

'Financial planning starts with proper planning, but it doesn't need to feel like a chore. Just like the KonMari method, you're planning for the future you want to have and are learning about yourself and what you find important in the process,' explains Mansfield.

One of the first things he suggests is to think about what you want in the long and short term. What does the thought process around long term look like? The thought of planning for the future or a retirement that could be as long as 20 years can be a daunting task. It becomes easier if you break things down into categories and start setting manageable short, medium and long term savings goals for each category.

A short-term goal could be saving for the deposit on a starter home that you plan to live in while your family is growing up and then long-term to downsize and move to a house by the beach when you retire. As well as setting financial goals, it is also important to think about what you are going to do to maintain your good health so that you can enjoy the retirement you have worked so hard for.

'One of the hardest things for people to do is to admit what they want out of their life, and say it's ok to save money for it.'