The bank returned a cheque to me this morning, stamped: 'insufficient funds.'

Is it them or me? Sorry, it’s always about you. No matter what the economic climate or anything else is, you are the centre and the reason for your world and you can change it right now ... and that includes your finances. It does, however, require you to do some work – to do something different.

Here’s what you need to do:

Firstly, realise that your finances reflect your thoughts about money – change that and you’ll change your financial situation ... permanently!

Secondly, get organised. I’ll show you how. Keep reading.

The Inside Work

Money talks. Trouble is, mine only knows one word: goodbye.

If your inner dialogue about making money – investing, growing money, being successful in business – is against you, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can do in the outer game that will ensure your success. We are all products of our environment and those we grew up with, however this is not carved in stone. Three questions will tell you what your inner money dialogue is:

1.   What were the most memorable/constant things your parents said about money? Chances are they’re the things you say and believe about money ... and your thoughts define your results.

2.   What did your parents do around money? Did they hate it, hoard it, lose it, win it, love it, despise it, spend it or save it. Chances are you’re doing the same right now.

3.   What specific incidents around money do you remember?

How your parents thought, spoke and acted is how you’ll be with money, right now.  So, if it wasn’t healthy money-talk and money-act, become really clear about what it was that ended up in your brain and then clear it out. This is your life, your money and you can choose to think, talk and act with it in your (probably) different way.

Your money will only grow as big as you are so do the personal development and keep growing so your money does.

The Outside Work

Step 1 – brains, not guts.

Greg Seker, founder of Trader University, London, and one of Britain’s most successful share traders would tell you to forget the rumours, news and pronouncements around the share market. Just look at the charts. Greg knows that people are illogical, irrational and deal with money from their feelings – they tell lies to themselves (as above) and then justify their mistakes by blaming outside circumstances. Greg doesn’t. He just makes millions. How? By studying the facts, the figures and the science.

Between 1984 and 1995, the average mutual fund had an annual return of 12.3%. Yet the average investor earned 6.3%. These investors would have made nearly twice as much by buying and holding the average mutual fund, rather than chasing around, buying and selling, after each rumour.

Step 2 – organise your finances

T Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind and multi millionaire, would tell you (after you’ve done the Inside Work and not before) to set up six accounts into which your income is distributed:

50% - Necessities Account for your usual daily expenses.

10% - Long Term Savings for Spending Account for long term spending goals like holidays, cars, houses and so on.

10% - Education Account for courses, books and seminars on money, personal growth, spirituality and anything that helps you grow

10% - Give Account for giving to others, tithing.

10% - Play Account. This money you must “blow” every month. It’s to balance all the saving you’re doing with your other accounts and is the emotional outlet needed. Otherwise, you’ll just blow your savings and investments.

10% - Financial Freedom Account for investments and buying or creating passive-income streams.

And, lastly (and most importantly) a clear glass jar (so you can see the contents) which is your Financial Freedom jar. Each day, drop some coins into it and watch it grow. This is a powerful psychological tool as you can see your money grow. It also “magnetises” money to you – whatever you focus on grows.

Now, right now, more than 50% of your income may be taken up with daily necessities. That’s OK. Still open those six accounts and put whatever you can into them, even if it’s just 20 pence a week. The above percentages are what you’ll end up with, if you do the work now.

If you do nothing you’ll only get what you have now. If you want a different result, you need to do something different. If not today, then when?